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Post by JJShaw on Mar 25, 2021 15:20:10 GMT
I think its a shame that the Disneyland California 1 hour version (which apparently was done as sort of a 1.0 version of what they could do in a broadway production) is so much better than the Broadway version. Originally it was about 1hr 20, had Frozen Heart and a young Kristoff before getting trimmed and cut, but you can watch it on youtube.
The Broadway version falls victim to Aladdin, an uninspired yet serviceable production which will satisfy children but not adults, let alone theatre people. It's amusing because when Disney first came onto the theatrical scene people really pushed back and didn't like them, but they wowed with BATB and Lion King (although BATB was mixed reviews originally, basically like Wicked haha). Now they have proven there is a market for Disney on Broadway and what they can achieve they just... stop trying? Frozen was fast tracked we all know that and went through directors and casts before arriving but it just doesnt have a unique point of view or a creative visual storytelling.
I wonder if Frozen will be the first Disney musical to get a revival one day, and how different that could be. I guess BATB is getting one over here and there have been rumours for Broadway, but a revival of Frozen might overhaul the things that make this show clunky.
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Post by JJShaw on Mar 25, 2021 11:54:16 GMT
I've seen bits and pieces of another hundred people but not seen or heard anything about end of Act 1 change, would you mind describing it please? Bobbie ends Marry Me A Little in a rainstorm on stage, rather than just standing there like London. She gets soaked! Oh my gosh that sounds amazing, almost like a spoiler! Its not but wow if I watched the show not knowing that was going to happen I would have been gagged, I bet it looked amazing.
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Post by JJShaw on Mar 24, 2021 12:52:58 GMT
Cast someone off the telly' as Zack (?) and then give us theatres finest for the rest of the cast. Becky Lock would make a great Sheila. That was my thought as well, stunt casting Zack seems like a no brainer and wouldn't affect the show
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Post by JJShaw on Mar 23, 2021 14:22:49 GMT
I hope one day it can return to a theatre, gorgeous facade, although its a larger capacity more theatres mean more shows!
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Post by JJShaw on Mar 19, 2021 10:48:43 GMT
JM and the big orchestra sound amazing on the recording. I've listened to it a lot since it came out and sadly it's my least favourite of the three. I find with all the TER recordings that something is generally lacking, they are mostly a studio recordings and sound very much like one. Still it's wonderful to have a complete recording of that glorious score. I sound like a moaner I'm greatful for it, but... I totally understand what you mean. I'm hugely grateful that they included every single piece of transitional music and the orchestra sounds gorgeous, but with a studio cast I often find there's just a little lack in... energy? Spontaneity, character choices? But it's one of my fave scores so to get everything from the prelude to the exit music I think is quite rare. Not since the H2$ revival has a show recorded every single interlude, that I can remember!
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Post by JJShaw on Mar 18, 2021 12:34:49 GMT
Just got my hands on the new Anyone Can Whistle recording, I believe it's on apple music too, and wow already Julia Mckenzie optioning up on Me and my Town im living!!
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Post by JJShaw on Mar 3, 2021 11:44:18 GMT
I really liked it too, it felt quaint and charming. Loved the spinning rotating set pieces, very clever on a postage stamp sized stage, and thought the performances were good
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Post by JJShaw on Feb 22, 2021 11:28:32 GMT
Thanks for the heads up, didnt know about this! I always love the backstage side of things and there are some of my fave shows here.
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Post by JJShaw on Feb 8, 2021 11:34:12 GMT
Any musical made into a film will have one added so they can go for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Cynical, moi? Absolutely not cynical! Especially since its pretty much true for every single one! I can think of Hairspray and Into the Woods who decided to cut their additional song (although Hairspray still had their end credits one which I love!)
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Post by JJShaw on Feb 4, 2021 23:25:46 GMT
Ok so Ginny just walking off was ICONIC on its own but I’m so disappointed that they cut her supposedly telling Ru to f*ck off beforehand (according to rumours from the Daily Fail), that would have been tv gold. I imagine that it got leaked someone just left and didn't lip sync, and they might have described it as "oh yeah she just told the show to F off and left" and the rumour spiralled to all of that (I assume Ginny doesn't seem malicious!) UK Drag Race once again proving to be full of twists, turns, and a competition I am actually invested in! I do think Awhora was the clear winner, Laurence feels like she's being carried ala Eureka but I don't think she needs to be pushed, she has the talent and the chops but its clear production pegged her as a top 3, like Baga not being in the bottom for her scour brush dress. Will be interesting next week, is it a whole non-competitive episode following the queens post lockdown? And who will have changed what with the 6 month break?!
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Post by JJShaw on Feb 2, 2021 17:21:44 GMT
Hello! I'm trying to compile a list of songs that, for whatever reason, were added after a show opened. Examples: Our Little World: Into the Woods You Make Me Happy: Annie A Change in Me: Beauty and the Beast Forever: Shrek
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Post by JJShaw on Jan 18, 2021 21:45:07 GMT
I've never been able to find any more information about this supposed 2014 gender swap production other than this same copy-paste quote:
"In 2014, the musical was reimagined in the hands of the director Joil Newman who exchanged the female role of Fanny with Funnie Brice, a male. The actor Julio Cesar Arturo Valverde Monje was hired to play the iconic character. The first tour started in Buenos Aires, Argentina at the Teatro Opera, and the cast then traveled to Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama. The cast then traveled to the rest of South America with the Funny Girl South America Tour 2.0."
It used to be on the Wiki page but has now been taken off there, can anyone shed any more light on this? I for one think with the right tweaks this could be a great show to gender swap, especially considering we never see Fanny pregnant so when they start a family we dont have to navigate that!
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Post by JJShaw on Jan 16, 2021 16:03:12 GMT
I agree this week's episode was much more engaging! Nicole Byer should be a rotating judge she was fantastic.
I am excited to start the competition though, two episodes of the same mini challenge and song writing, while i like them, is just repetitive so lets gets this show going!
From next weeks preview i think a RuPaullmark movie is a great idea, especially as theyve been gaining popularity recently.
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Post by JJShaw on Jan 14, 2021 20:27:05 GMT
Felt a little underwhelmed with the first episode of Drag Race UK tonight. Didn't get the same feeling as Season 1 and honestly some of these queens are annoying AF and some of them are rough AF, as were some last year but the difference is last year the rough ones still had good personalities. I dunno, it didn't quite hit it for me but of course the season could grow. I like Laurence so far and for some reason Tayce just cracks me up. The elimination was a pretty bizarre choice though. Pretty much share all your opinions and thoughts! It wasn't bad, it was good, but yes there was just something that didn't quite hit right. Certainly potential, bizarre to say that a second season needs to 'find its footing' but thats what it felt like. Perhaps now the UK queens saw the success of he first season and are going in trying to 'edit' themselves which is a big criticism the US queens get. The elimination? Odd.
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Post by JJShaw on Jan 13, 2021 10:35:02 GMT
What an amazing find thank you!
I'm sure it would take a bit of researching but I love this idea of being able to preserve and see what really made the classics classics, and see how things have changed now.
I'm trying to think now of a list of old shows I'd love to see but I feel daunted! Perhaps some of Hal Prince's early works like The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees, or Bob Fosse's Sweet Charity, Chicago?
Thanks for sharing!
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Post by JJShaw on Dec 28, 2020 23:27:09 GMT
Put the above in English. Toronto used to be a massive sit down city, until 9/11 changed everything. Very interested as to why you think that, would love to know more please! Also am I wrong in thinking Book of Mormon was trying to have a sit down in Manchester or again was it an extended stay before kicking off the tour?
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Post by JJShaw on Dec 19, 2020 22:25:53 GMT
Oh if this is true that would be amazing news! Was literally just saying that I am really not sure if the show will reopen so this would be delightful! What is the source for this news? I’m hardly going to reveal my ‘source’ am I? Needless to say ALL of the cast have agreed to come together for the week of performances. Watch this space. I'm sorry I didn't know if you had read it from a press release or if it was insider knowledge sorry! Thank you for sharing, it certainly brightened up my week with all this gloomy news, I do hope it is able to come to fruition.
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Post by JJShaw on Dec 18, 2020 13:32:42 GMT
Oh if this is true that would be amazing news! Was literally just saying that I am really not sure if the show will reopen so this would be delightful!
What is the source for this news?
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Post by JJShaw on Dec 14, 2020 22:01:35 GMT
Watched it tonight and I'd say it was very nice. Nothing spectacular and certainly not a train wreck.
I was familiar with two songs and the general plot but not much more, it felt very American is the way to describe it (not a bad thing, but the language and coming out, if you compare it to say Everybody's Talking About Jamie, the treatment of characters and accepting yourself and such if very different and I prefer it but I am British so it's just what I'm used to. Some of The Prom felt a bit saccharine at times but I fully understand that for some young people that is the story they need to be told.)
I watched with a friend who loved the broadway production who could help me with some Q's about changes, she said very little was changed from stage to screen which is nice to hear, and funnily enough while watching Andrew Rannells' song I said to her that I would have reversed the order of Love Thy Neighbor and Alyssa's song, which is actually how it plays out on stage (Alyssa's song then LTN) how funny that even watching a movie sometimes you just know the dramaturgy of shows!!
Nice songs, loved Nicole Kidman and Kerry Washington, Meryl and Keenan were great, Andrew was great in a rather bizarrely sized role (Same with Nicole but she got more chances to flesh out her character). I didn't take offense to James Corden's portrayal but I certainly grimaced every time he opened his mouth to start with that awful accent. His singing was fine.
Apologies I forgot her name but the actress playing Emma was lovely! Very warm on screen, very Drew Barrymore. The pacing of the film felt a bit wonky at times and moved so quickly I couldn't quite get really invested in what was happening since we just zipped from scene to scene (sorry zazzed!) I did absolutely loathe and despise the constant blue/pink colour motif that was so obnoxious throughout the film, the lighting the costumes the little sofas in the mall it was just bizarre!
Certainly a positive step forward in getting movie musicals a good reputation back, personally after the flat disappointment of Into the Woods I thought Chicago and Hairspray were flukes but this does show that you can do them well.
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Post by JJShaw on Nov 19, 2020 23:25:37 GMT
So exciting for Megan Mullaly! Genius! And amazing to see its going to be a reimagined version of the amazing 2011 Broadway production, cant wait!
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Post by JJShaw on Jul 23, 2020 10:51:04 GMT
I thought there was a small chance that it might return for a month or so because The Drifters Girl had postponed their dates that were meant to be prior to the Garrick ergo they would be postponing going to the Garrick. But unfortunately it is understandable and im sure this wasn't a decision they made with pleasure.
A shame for all involved and those who loved the production five years ago and were elated to see it come back, if they can bring it back in any capacity that will always be marvellous in my mind! I am very glad I called in sick at work and saw it while it did play in the Garrick.
Unbelievable how many producers are letting social media know before cast and crew, and especially since DEH got called out on it first!!
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Post by JJShaw on Jul 16, 2020 11:00:53 GMT
Mine was the first preview for City of Angels, I called out of work to go see it and I'm so glad I did!
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Post by JJShaw on Jul 2, 2020 21:36:02 GMT
fantastic news! and hearing it has been having dwindling audience numbers I think will see them sell very well!
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Post by JJShaw on Apr 9, 2020 13:22:46 GMT
Wish I'd been able to see more Sondheim, who doesn't?!
Most have already been mentioned and I agree with but I wanted to give a shout out to Road Show and Anyone Can Whistle at the Union; the latter being so enjoyable for me that it creeped into my top 5/10 shows!
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Post by JJShaw on Apr 5, 2020 23:50:06 GMT
The Untold Stories of Broadway are really good and I believe the first volume is for free on e-readers right now, along with the author doing "live read a longs" to the chapters! It anecdotes in chronological order about every single Broadway theatre, from ushers to actors to house managers, there's three volumes out so far and they're quite hefty so you won't run out of material in a hurry. If hearing about the history of Broadway is interesting to you (and of course they dip into shows that are universal, I have just finished The Gershwin Theatre and there were stories about the original productions of Sweeney Todd, Wicked, and Starlight Express) I would highly recommend looking into them.
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Post by JJShaw on Mar 6, 2020 14:00:14 GMT
Are there lots of gunshots in this? And if so are they live or recorded? {Spoiler - click to view} No. From memory perhaps 5, although three happen at once. They were not very loud so I assume recorded. If you've seen The Comedy About A Bank Robbery those gunshots are extremely loud and live and the gunshots last night were nothing like that, I didn't jump out of my skin. So I would say recorded.
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Post by JJShaw on Mar 5, 2020 23:40:48 GMT
Been to the first preview. First thoughts, but very impressed by Nicola Roberts. Theo James in good voice. Rosalie and Rebecca both fantastic in my opinion. Same. Thought Nicola Roberts was excellent, and Hadley Fraser makes an even better Stine than he did five years ago. Loved the two jokes thrown in there for pop fans... What were the pop jokes? Perhaps I missed them! I was there too and had seen the Donmar one too. Im so happy that this production is back, its one of my favourites ever. Cast are all in good form, I think some will only get better and grow into their roles more. They have beefed up the set a little and the projections, most of which I liked very much. I was sat behind two ladies who brought their tickets last minute, not knowing anything about the show it sounds, and they were bowled over. If it can get the reviews and word of mouth I think it will have a very stellar six month run.
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Post by JJShaw on Feb 14, 2020 13:48:59 GMT
I would have said City of Angels but I cannot believe we are getting a remount 5 years later!
I know it wasn't may peoples cup of tea but I loved Urinetown. Quirky music, interesting premise, original storyline, I personally loved the set and staging. I always like it when the West End gets original Original shows!
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Post by JJShaw on Feb 7, 2020 14:15:46 GMT
I'm seeing it tonight. That's all. I'm glad JJ is not in it yet. Seeing him in SMASH just ruined it for me forever. He would have been a better replacement for Christian Borle. Thats what I thought! He'd be a fantastic fit for the Dentist. I've heard great things about Gideon Glick so I hope you enjoy the show.
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Post by JJShaw on Feb 5, 2020 16:52:51 GMT
Don't know if its of any interest but they have just cast Jeremy Jordan as Seymour.
Regardless of his talent and skill, I'm not a huge fan of casting hot actors as Seymour and other roles where its in their character that they are not hot. Just because you put a pair of black rimmed glasses on an actor does that detract from him actually being sexy?!
I know its not a huge thing and im being over the top partially to be humorous, but was wondering if other people felt the same or different about things like this? Character actor roles that are also leads are few and far between (my first thought was Elder Cunningham). Would love to hear other peoples opinions!
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