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Post by theatre on Sept 16, 2018 15:04:21 GMT
Saying that it would be interesting for a woman to play that role! I’d also love to see a woman in the role - Carmen Cusack did a great job at Miscast!
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Post by theatre on Jul 13, 2018 13:17:51 GMT
I don’t know at this point if that could be true for some roles, but the offers I know of so far are not members of the Hamburg cast.
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Post by theatre on Jul 13, 2018 11:46:03 GMT
Looks like this show is going ahead, as casting offers are currently being made for the leads.
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Post by theatre on Apr 4, 2018 15:27:08 GMT
That I don’t know I’m afraid - this has come straight from Theatrical Rights Worldwide, who license the show and have simply said rights are again fully restricted in these territories due to an upcoming professional tour.
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Post by theatre on Apr 4, 2018 13:31:59 GMT
Just heard that another UK/IE tour of this is in development - surprising being that the last tour only finished a few months ago!
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Post by theatre on Mar 3, 2018 19:15:01 GMT
I’m in tonight and am incredibly excited - Miss Saigon is my favourite musical of all time and I haven’t seen the show since London 2015 so I can’t wait to see this cast! My first thought is that I’m missing the lush ‘curtain’ that they had at the London production, in which all the pieces separated and flew off in separate directions - for me, it was a tiny thing but I absolutely loved it! Not possible for a touring show of course, and it won’t change the show in any way but isn’t it funny what you notice and what you miss?!
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Post by theatre on Mar 2, 2018 12:03:57 GMT
So I’ve just watched the new trailer for this and it’s actually put me off a bit. The vocals throughout seem off and pitchy, with Pippin often being just above the note in Corner of the Sky for a second or two before he allows his vibrato to fix it. I’m always quite fussy about vocal ability in London shows, and from the trailer I don’t think I’d be pleased, but perhaps it’s one of those things that didn’t come across on video properly - does anyone that’s seen the show have any thoughts on the vocals, how were they?
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Post by theatre on Feb 14, 2018 13:44:58 GMT
New ‘meet the Effie’s’ video up on the Facebook page, with pro shot clips of Moya’s AIATY, Marisha’s One Night Only and Karen’s I Am Changing - hopefully they will release the full pro shots on YouTube but somehow I doubt it!
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Post by theatre on Feb 14, 2018 3:12:27 GMT
Wow, looks like this show could well outlive the 18 months-2 year prediction many thought!
This means we could well see a third Dreamgirls cast, based off of the fact cast changes have been November thus far, though we will have to see if the show extends past the December date to know this for certain I guess!
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Post by theatre on Feb 10, 2018 14:12:06 GMT
I prefer the tune, the one that someone went to the bother of writing, as opposed to that bizzare interpretation. Have you by chance heard Henry Krieger’s original demo of this song? Taking the part of AIATY that Marisha songs in the trailer, the tune is indeed extremely varied I agree. However it’s also extremely different in Jennifer Holliday’s version, which we all presume to be the ‘true tune’ - it’s different again in Jennifer Hudson’s version and once again in Amber Riley’s. What I’m trying to say is that I think it’s the intent of the composer on this occasion to allow the melodic line to be up for interpretation with some freedom for ‘riffing’ for want of a better word. Otherwise, they’d all sing it like him! Just something that’s worth listening to and taking note of - this isn’t something that’s specIfic to Marisha and I personally like what she’s done with it, but each to their own!
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Post by theatre on Jan 1, 2018 13:42:56 GMT
So I have just seen the evening show. And I must say that the new Deena was incredible. Brenny has such a nice tone to her voice and brings a much more mature and raw side of Deena. The new Marty is decent. All of the rest of the cast were fabulous. Especially Kimye Edwards as Michelle, such an upgrade from Lily! However I felt extremely dissapointed with Marisha’s performance. Her aiaty was very weak and no standing ovation was given. It seems to be this will be a recurring theme as I think she can’t handle the amount of shows. I was so dissapointed with the second half, it was almost like she was gasping for breath. I think my predictions were true, she has way too many shows meaning that she can’t handle the stamina needed. So dissapointing as it seemed everybody was too. Karen and Marisha split opinion due to their very different types of voices so mabye Moya should get the most shows? She has the experience and the stamina it seems. She’s also the closest to Amber meaning that people will not be let down with the different “flavours” of Effie. At this rate the show will close I think as Marisha isn’t living up to expectation and she divides opinion. Such a shame. I think to say Marisha is struggling is a little harsh! Whilst it’s totally true she portrays a rawer Effie than others, it’s all part of her chosen portrayal of the character. Yes, there are points where she gasps for breath in the show but I don’t think this is her struggling at all, but her acting. As for the standing O for And I Am Telling You, I’ve seen the show 5 times now (3 Marisha and 2 Amber) and only 2 of those performances, one of each, got nearly full standing Os - the rest were partial and I think even the 20% you estimate for a MID SHOW ovation is amazing! On the topic of too many shows, Marisha has performed the role for months 8 times a week in Dallas, and has also done stints as alternate here in London in which she went a month without having a show off as well as all the outside promotion she does - that is not a girl that I think is struggling! Having said all that I do agree it would be nice for Moya to get another show if they’re going to insist on equal billing for the Effie’s, though as another user said above, I doubt the average theatregoer knows or minds who they see, or is even aware that the role is shared!
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Post by theatre on Nov 20, 2017 0:49:36 GMT
Hi all - I just wanted to pick your brains! For a Uni theatre project we're writing an original music with pre-existing MT songs and I can't for the life of me find a song to fit in this point of the story!
Basically, one girl has just caused the separation of a couple and the guy is really angry about it. I'm ideally looking for a angry/fight song that he can sing to her - sort of a 'what the hell are you playing at' style. If anyone has any ideas please do suggest them as I have totally hit a brick wall - there must be loads surely!
Thanks in advance!
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Post by theatre on Oct 19, 2017 12:41:05 GMT
This has some great footage of Moya on the national tour if you haven't seen it, I think she'll be great when fitted into the new direction!
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Post by theatre on Oct 18, 2017 14:55:48 GMT
I feel so sorry for Marisha here. She has worked her butt off in the last year in terms of both covering and out of show promotion and I think she really deserved the top billing on this, especially as her performance is a masterclass in the role. I'm very surprised Karen is sticking around, especially with equal billing. However, I am super excited for Moya, whose And I Am Telling You on YouTube is really quite something - very similar in her movements to Ms Holliday.
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Post by theatre on Oct 15, 2017 11:14:01 GMT
Saw this on Friday evening at Woking. It was good fun, but missed the mark for me hugely on the choreography in particular, which was appalling. The big dance moments were flat such as the cheerleading section in What You Want, and whilst I liked what they were trying to do with Gay or European, it wasn't quite there 100% though still a highlight of the show. I think new choreography would improve the show no end. Also I was not impressed with Callahan at all, he was played as a sort of mafia style figure not at all like in the broadway production (though one has to wonder if that's because they'd given some of his 'look' from these productions to Emmett!). The massive medley of EVERY SINGLE SONG at the end was not needed and felt like filler because act 2 was shorter than act 1. Lucie jones was great as was Rita Simmons. Whilst I wouldn't see this production again, I did have a good time and that's what matters! 3*
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Post by theatre on Oct 11, 2017 10:52:51 GMT
Also - did anyone else notice that Ibinabo Jack was up for the BroadwayWorld UK awards for Lorrell?! Are we sure that's who they mean and not Asmaret, being that she only played the role for around a month before getting ill? I don't trust them with this show since they reported a few months ago that Ibinabo was still in the show!
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Post by theatre on Oct 11, 2017 10:47:38 GMT
I don’t think it has repeat visit appeal for many. I found it a bit tedious and politely left my seat free for act 2. Speak for yourself, Ambers last will be my 4th time! That said, expect it to close around this time next year. Despite my excitement over the new cast, I don't think it is going to blow the box office up much. It will thrive on weekends but not so much weekdays I imagine. Agree with Daniel J on the repeat visit factor, I've now been 5 times, more than any show ever for me, and I wouldn't hesitate to go again! That being said I do try to vary my Effies between Amber and Marisha to keep it that bit fresher, and the other cast always seems to be slightly different due to illness which I guess is the same with any show but seems highlighted here particularly. As much as I would hate for this to close, I do think it's got another year in it at most unfortunately. I do however think it would do really well on tour with the right cast - wasn't there rumblings of a tour a while ago?
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Post by theatre on Oct 1, 2017 21:18:31 GMT
I was at the evening performznce of her first day, its definately not that performance of her first day as she got entrance appaluse from most in the Stalls when I saw her, but in this audio she doesn't so I imagine it was maybe early January when this was recorded! We must have been at the same show! I was there on her first show too and there was some entrance applause you're right, nothing on the scale of Ms Riley of course (though I think this is a tragedy!). I suspect you're right, sometime between the show I saw and the second one I saw with her in Feb I suspect. It's great to see how she's grown and settled into her own unique version of Effie though this version is still phenomenal! Marisha IS Effie White!
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Post by theatre on Oct 1, 2017 14:23:00 GMT
i wonder when the audio was recorded - Interesting as in that audio, Marisha's And I Am Telling You is rather like Amber's in the use of the of certain riffs such as what I like to call the 'scream' note for want of a better word before the final 'love me, love me, love me, love' movement - something she only did in this manner in the first time I saw her (her first day) and had been adapted to her extended 'looove, woo' that she favours in all recordings just a month later. Also that Lorrell is definitely not Asmaret - my bet is one of the understudies as I don't think Ibinabo and Marisha performed together much if at all. My point being I think this is a rather early performance shortly after Marisha came in as she has developed her own style of the songs more since this.
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Post by theatre on Oct 1, 2017 14:05:28 GMT
Theres a full audio of Marisha as Effie that has appeared on YouTube! One step ahead of you Daniel, it's already downloading to my laptop 😂
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Post by theatre on Sept 30, 2017 23:49:33 GMT
Any idea when we're likely to get a casting announcement for this? Less than 2 months now until the anticipated cast change I believe, which is from memory the time that casting announcements start to appear!
(As an aside if you didn't hear Amber Riley alongside Beverley Knight and Cassidy Janson on Graham Norton today Radio 2 then you totally should listen to it! Can't wait for their album!)
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Post by theatre on Aug 31, 2017 19:48:22 GMT
Thought I would weigh in with my two cents, even though they've been said here before. I've seen both Amber and Marisha twice live, and both are phenomenal. I saw Amber last night for the second time and she has massively improved in her acting since I saw her last a few months ago, namely in And I Am Telling You. The performance felt so much more emotional, in fact Amber performed it rather differently to last time, which was almost a direct copy of her on the cast recording (bar the 'I know you can' money note). This time seemed far more unique, crying through some of the lines and mixing up the vocal riffs and shaping - it was far rawer and a wild improvement on 'Amber Riley sings Dreamgirls' which was the vibe I got last time. Part of me wonders if last time I was comparing too much to Marisha though, who acts up a storm of passion and I am low-key obsessed with, and whilst I do love her vocals they are not as perfect in terms of cleanliness and tone (but I personally prefer the roughness in the role). This time I was also seeing the show with a newbie which might have helped! Overall, I'd say I still prefer Marisha in the role but that might be because she was my first Effie, speaking of which: Question for everyone that's seen the show live with different Effies: was the actress that evoked the strongest reaction in you the one who you saw first? I think a lot of people have a connection to their first experience of a show too which might count towards people's opinions.
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Post by theatre on Aug 23, 2017 13:11:30 GMT
First time Karen's been announced to perform, and they're bigging her up like something's different about this performance. Weird that they're finally mentioning her this late in the run.. This might have something to do with Marisha going on holiday in the States for a week or so - if they don't push Karen like they have done for Marisha this week, they may struggle a little on the now 3 performances which Amber doesn't perform in? Just a thought - they can't afford subpar sales for 3 shows , and I think Marisha has reached the point now where people do know her (of us theatre people anyway!) and would book to see her. Karen, I don't think is there yet.
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Post by theatre on Aug 15, 2017 23:09:49 GMT
Have noticed also that they're removing as many references to Amber as they can - the main page of the website used to feature the line 'Amber Riley (Glee) plays Effie White' in the paragraph about the show and Casey Nicholaw, but this has been removed (wisely) with the most recent update. I would be surprised if Amber was used at events and performances to promote this show now, since she is scheduled to be doing just over half the shows anyway, and is off in November anyway (if she stays that long, which I personally doubt )
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Post by theatre on Aug 5, 2017 0:10:27 GMT
Hadn't seen this show so thought - what better time to go than the final West End performance?! Paid through the nose for it mind you and broke my £50 ticket rule 😬 Hopefully it will be worth it for closing night! Anyone else going to be in?
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