There's No Business Like Show Business- Broadway, West End, and Other Theater

[peibeck]

Hillary Clinton introduces the cast of "Suffs" for their musical production.

 

[peibeck]

Final Best Musical production number from "The Outsiders." Meh.

 

[peibeck]

Revival of a Musical: "Merrily We Roll Along"

 

[peibeck]

Lead Actress in a Play: Sarah Paulson "Appropriate"

 

[peibeck]

Lead Actress in a Musical: Maleah Joy Moon "Hell's Kitchen"

 

[peibeck]

Lead Actor in a Musical: Jonathan Groff "Merrily We Roll Along"

 

[peibeck]

Best Musical: "The Outsiders"

Last award of the show. Good night.

 

[Sarah]

I’ve been listening to the outsiders nonstop for a few weeks so I’m thrilled for their win. Hopefully I’ll get to see it soon. I also really want to see Illinoise. And I’d like to see Suffs.

Super happy for Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff. Both of their speeches were wonderful and the tears between the 2 of them and Lindsay Mendez almost had me tearing up. I’ve followed Jonathan Groff since spring awakening (when i realized we shared a birthdate and grew up in neighboring counties so i always root for him).

 

[VGThuy]

"Cabaret" musical number. Let's just say nothing looks subtle about this revival.

That performance should have been adapted for the tv camera. The choreography and facial expressions looked so bad compared to what I saw in person in context of its home theatre with the circle stage… and me sitting in the Mezzanine….

I’m so happy Illinoise performed my favorite number, “The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us”. It was even better live and longer too. It was the perfect emotional crescendo to what the show had been building up to before and what will come after.

 

[peibeck]

That performance should have been adapted for the tv camera. The choreography and facial expressions looked so bad compared to what I saw in person in context of its home theatre with the circle stage… and me sitting in the Mezzanine….

I’m so happy Illinoise performed my favorite number, “The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us”. It was even better live and longer too. It was the perfect emotional crescendo to what the show had been building up to before and what will come after.

Facial expressions aside, even Redmayne having choreo with arm positions mimicking a swastika...? Like I said, not exactly subtle, and kinda cringe worthy.

Honestly the "Illinoise" and "Water for Elephants" numbers were the two best performances for me. "Merrily..." I'd see because... Sondheim but it's not his most accessible show, imo. I loved the 3 leads chemistry though.

 

[VGThuy]

Facial expressions aside, even Redmayne having choreo with arm positions mimicking a swastika...? Like I said, not exactly subtle, and kinda cringe worthy.

Honestly the "Illinoise" and "Water for Elephants" numbers were the two best performances for me. "Merrily..." I'd see because... Sondheim but it's not his most accessible show, imo. I loved the 3 leads chemistry though.

I think “Merrily” should have performed “Our Time” honestly because that song works the best out of context IMO.

 

[VGThuy]

Facial expressions aside, even Redmayne having choreo with arm positions mimicking a swastika...? Like I said, not exactly subtle, and kinda cringe worthy.

Yeah, they’re hammering it home that the people in Kit Kat Club who you would think would be the most targeted by the rising regime and would fight back are actually part of the rising regime or at least sympathizers. I actually liked it during the show because this isn’t a very a subtle time politically and how shameless people are acting these days. But on tv…

IMO, Broadway revivals have been getting rid of subtlety and bringing the subtext out in front with no more room for nuance and layers for like three decades now. The much-celebrated 1998 revival of Cabaret was disliked by Hal Prince and Kander/Ebb because of those issues. I wonder what Prince and Ebb would think of this one, although John Kander and Joel Grey attended a performance of this production about 2 months ago and they seemed happy… maybe it was because they were called to the stage and received a rapturous ovation.

I do kind of miss the old storytelling of Cabaret when Sally was so delusional in her title song that she’s not ragey or angry but is genuinely cheerful and laissez-faire because she’s so far gone into ignoring what’s going on with Berlin… or she’s accepting it but doesn’t care because life is life and the only thing she can control is making sure she keeps having fun even when there’s nothing fun going on around her.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

My biggest thought was that the opening song was incredibly boring and they really need to find a new host.

I saw this production of Cabaret in London and loved it. I saw it with Fra Fee and Amy Lennox, who were wonderful.

Overall, I am not a fan of Medleys for the Tony Awards. I think that something like what Merrily did with a group intro to a small group song can work or two songs that really thread together in a way that makes sense. But just dropping in a bunch of your biggest songs is not the best way to sell a show to me. Spring Awakening is a good example of one where I felt like the Medley choice did not serve them at all.

I thought the Merrily performance was good, and the two songs they put together worked, but I think I like this production of Merrily way less than most people. I think Merrily is a very problematic script. This is a very good production of it, and the entire cast is spectacular, but it doesn't make the script work to me. A lot of people have said that they feel like this production shows that Merrily was always a great script and I don't agree. I think it's a great production of a script with major issues.

The Hells Kitchen performance definitely cemented my feeling that it was not a show I need to see. And it was frustrating how much time was spent on Alicia Keys and Jay Z (who wasn't even there) when other nominated shows got way less time. I think the performance probably was the right thing for the audience they are looking for.

Illinoise also confirmed for me that I'm not the audience for this show. The performance was great, but I don't have the concentration for dance based shows without a plot, so I think the show is probably great but not for me.

I didn't really get the choices for Water for Elephants or The Outsides. The final song for Water for Elephants was good, but the medley as a whole I don't think sold the show that well? It didn't help that the sound mixing was a disaster.

The Outsiders was working for me on the first song but then I feel like the medley didn't really hold together and kind of un-sold me on the show, although I'm still going to try to see it.

Suffs made my preferred choice which is to do one song that highlights what the show is about. I was actually expecting them to do How Long, but I think the choice was a good one.

 

[VGThuy]

My biggest thought was that the opening song was incredibly boring and they really need to find a new host.

I saw this production of Cabaret in London and loved it. I saw it with Fra Fee and Amy Lennox, who were wonderful.

Overall, I am not a fan of Medleys for the Tony Awards. I think that something like what Merrily did with a group intro to a small group song can work or two songs that really thread together in a way that makes sense. But just dropping in a bunch of your biggest songs is not the best way to sell a show to me. Spring Awakening is a good example of one where I felt like the Medley choice did not serve them at all.

I thought the Merrily performance was good, and the two songs they put together worked, but I think I like this production of Merrily way less than most people. I think Merrily is a very problematic script. This is a very good production of it, and the entire cast is spectacular, but it doesn't make the script work to me. A lot of people have said that they feel like this production shows that Merrily was always a great script and I don't agree. I think it's a great production of a script with major issues.

The Hells Kitchen performance definitely cemented my feeling that it was not a show I need to see. And it was frustrating how much time was spent on Alicia Keys and Jay Z (who wasn't even there) when other nominated shows got way less time. I think the performance probably was the right thing for the audience they are looking for.

Illinoise also confirmed for me that I'm not the audience for this show. The performance was great, but I don't have the concentration for dance based shows without a plot, so I think the show is probably great but not for me.

I didn't really get the choices for Water for Elephants or The Outsides. The final song for Water for Elephants was good, but the medley as a whole I don't think sold the show that well? It didn't help that the sound mixing was a disaster.

The Outsiders was working for me on the first song but then I feel like the medley didn't really hold together and kind of un-sold me on the show, although I'm still going to try to see it.

Suffs made my preferred choice which is to do one song that highlights what the show is about. I was actually expecting them to do How Long, but I think the choice was a good one.

I’m with you in that I hate medleys for Tony Award performances.

Btw, I know what you meant with your post in wanting a more traditional book because that was my big apprehension too despite loving Sufjan Stevens’ music. That said, I’m replying only because I just wanted others who are reading to know that Illinoise does have a plot. Although there’s no spoken dialogue, there’s definitely a story with a beginning, middle, and end with the storytelling arc. Everyone who I saw it with told me that it took some time for them to understand what was going on at first, but that it didn’t take long for them to understand the story once the the show got going. I have to say that it is refreshing not to be spoonfed heavy-handed storytelling, and having a show simply trust the audience to get it. Of course, saying that, the first act does start out with people sharing their own stories a la A Chorus Line, but I think it all goes together and builds into what Act 2 and Act 3 give us.

 

[Wyliefan]

IMO, Broadway revivals have been getting rid of subtlety and bringing the subtext out in front with no more room for nuance and layers for like three decades now.

I came away from last night's show thinking Broadway in general has gotten very didactic. So many on-the-nose lyrics. Just another trend, probably, but I hope the trend doesn't last much longer.

 

[VGThuy]

I came away from last night's show thinking Broadway in general has gotten very didactic. So many on-the-nose lyrics. Just another trend, probably, but I hope the trend doesn't last much longer.

It has, and that saying something when the golden age gave us songs like “You Have to Be Taught (To Hate)”, but this new generation of lyrics and book writers are taking “on-the-nose” to a whole new level.

 

[peibeck]

"Illinoise" arrived as a last minute Broadway entrant to this year's Tony-fest, and was planned to be a limited run anyway (it's always been set to close August 10th).

We'll have to see how Tony love helps the other shows. A X/Twitter theater fan friend of mine is despondent about "The Outsiders" win though. He just saw it last week and didn't care for it at all. It and "Hell's Kitchen" have been selling to capacity already with some discounted tix, but they could both see big box office boons. "Suffs" wins for score and book should give it a boost as well from serious musical fans.

More interesting to me is how shows that got little (to no) Tony (or critical) love, like "Gatsby" and the revival of "The Wiz" have been consistently selling $1M+ in tickets weekly. Name recognition, yes. But if word of mouth isn't great those figures really surprise me.

 

[Wyliefan]

I was hoping for a Gatsby performance last night but didn't see one. Did I miss it while I was in and out of the room? I know it only had one nomination, but so did Tommy, which did do a performance.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I was hoping for a Gatsby performance last night but didn't see one. Did I miss it while I was in and out of the room? I know it only had one nomination, but so did Tommy, which did do a performance.

Only the nominees for Best Musical and Best Revival of a musical are invited to perform. Number of nominations are irrelevant.

Other shows can pay to perform but only if there is room. It is a massive expense either way.

Gatsby really is quite bad, but it’s got good marketability for tourists. It’s a spectacle with a title people know.

 

[Wyliefan]

Thanks for explaining that. The reactions I've heard are decidedly lukewarm, but I'm curious about it anyway.

 

[manhn]

Anyone in Toronto watching the new Tim Hortons musical, The Last Timbit? From the creators of Come From Away. I would so attend.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I didn't really get the choices for Water for Elephants or The Outsides. The final song for Water for Elephants was good, but the medley as a whole I don't think sold the show that well? It didn't help that the sound mixing was a disaster.

It turns out the sound mixing for W4E was actually a HUGE disaster:

Telecast Performance Mishaps, Jonathan Groff Playing Piano: Go Behind the Scenes at the Tony Awards

Playbill gave disposable cameras to 10 members from nominated shows to capture all the magic of the 2024 Tony Awards.

playbill.com

Did you have any near catastrophes or surprises?
Well honestly, our whole Tony performance was a near catastrophe. Something went VERY WRONG with the sound, and we couldn’t hear anything. Thankfully, Grant Gustin, Stan Brown, and Wade McCollum were able to somehow find where we were in the music which grounded us all. But circus is very dangerous if you can’t hear the music, because everyone needs to be in perfect sync for a trick to be completed successfully. Not to be dramatic, but it was a very scary 3.5 minutes for our company. But I’m so proud of us because we RALLIED despite our setbacks. And that’s what circus is all about. Coming together as one company to make the best of a shitty situation. And luckily you couldn’t really tell all that much on the telecast.

This weekend I went in to NYC with plans to see Stereophonic. I know people have had some mixed feelings, but I'm with the Tony Voters. I LOVED it. I also found it a lot funnier than I expected. The set and costumes are excellent. I don't think I will be listening to the cast album much, but within the play, the music serves the story very well. The cast was fantastic (with some replacements in from after the extension). I just enjoyed the whole thing so much. It is very long, but I feel like that honestly works for the plot.

We had two other show slots to fill and ended up seeing The Notebook (kind of an accident) and Water for Elephants (definitely on purpose).

I'm glad I saw the Notebook, because I like to form my own opinions, but my opinion is that it was pretty terrible. The music is like honest to god painful. It ranges from mediocre to completely cringy. The book fails to take advantage of any important moments and completely fumbles the ending. The costumes are inconsistent and very confused about time period. The set is the same set that Michael Greif forces onto every show he ever directs. And, unusually for all the Broadway shows I've seen, the acting wasn't great either. Older Allie and Noah were fantastic, Young Noah was great. We saw an understudy for Middle Allie. She was very good but her costumes were rough. Young Allie was stiff and awkward. Middle Noah was staggeringly unromantic. All in all, I've got nothing to recommend it.

Water for Elephants I very much enjoyed. I felt the score was the weakest link as it didn't have a strong identity and failed to highlight what should have been the major musical moments. It wasn't bad, just deeply unnotable. The cast was fanatastic (we now have the replacement for Jacob and he was great), the set was great, I loved the direction, especially with the circus components. I felt the book was pretty good but could have handled the ending better.

 

[manhn]

Did you see Suffs? I thought Stereophonic is the best live performance (besides figure skating) I have ever seen.

 

[peibeck]

"Suffs" has posted a closing notice for January 5th. I expect "The Notebook" and "Water For Elephants" will post notice soon as well, as their box office numbers have been fairly weak post Labor Day.

I saw the pre-Broadway tryout of "Death Becomes Her" in Chicago this past May. The score is a bit hit or miss, but the book and three main leads are incredible. It begins previews in NYC in a couple of weeks.

I also saw the tryout of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," which is supposed to come to Broadway in Spring 2025. I loved the novel. I  detested the musical.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Did you see Suffs? I thought Stereophonic is the best live performance (besides figure skating) I have ever seen.

Yeah, multiple times. I think it’s great, although not flawless.

I wouldn’t go that far on Stereophonic, but I did love it.

"Suffs" has posted a closing notice for January 5th. I expect "The Notebook" and "Water For Elephants" will post notice soon as well, as their box office numbers have been fairly weak post Labor Day.

Both of them posted well before Suffs. Water for Elephants is closing December 5th and The Notebook December 15th.

 

[BaileyCatts]

Today on Live with Kelly and Mark, they were raving about how fantastic Sunset Boulevard is and some spectacular thing that happens at the beginning of the Second Act that just blew everyone away, but didn't say what it was to not spoil it for people. I'll never be in New York so will someone in NY please go see Sunset Boulevard and tell me what they are talking about please?

 

[MLIS]

I’m not sure it’s a secret, they’ve promoted it pretty heavily. The actor playing Joe goes outside the theatre with a camera crew and walks around Schubert Alley while he sings the title song, which is streamed onto screens in the theatre. I haven’t seen it, but it’s apparently pretty cool. There’s been some controversy because in London, where this production originated, he only had to walk on a public street for a little bit and people mostly stayed out of his way. That … is not the case in NYC. The security team that goes with him has gotten a bit pushy with people a few times.

 

[peibeck]

Today on Live with Kelly and Mark, they were raving about how fantastic Sunset Boulevard is and some spectacular thing that happens at the beginning of the Second Act that just blew everyone away, but didn't say what it was to not spoil it for people. I'll never be in New York so will someone in NY please go see Sunset Boulevard and tell me what they are talking about please?

I saw the final two scenes (the murder and the Norma full descent into madness finale) that were filmed surreptitiously from the balcony on YouTube (since removed or I'd post the link). Nicole Scherzinger sounds great... singing. Was I impressed with her acting? Not so much. And the staging left me completely unimpressed. ‍♂

Reviews were about half positive, half mixed.

 

[barbk]

I didn't realize there was a theater thread until @Theatregirl1122 pointed it out. For those who might be interested, here's a gift link to the NY Time review of Maybe Happy Ending. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/12/...e_code=1.Zk4.dOBq.OVNDFX2NGWOf&smid=url-share

So far, all the reviews I've seen for it have been stellar, and I'm sad that I can't go to NY anytime soon to see it.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I spent the weekend in NYC and saw four shows!

&Juliet has been open for a while and I've never seen it. It's very silly, but honestly very fun. The costume design is brilliant and the dancing is great. I definitely think it would be a great show to take my nieces to.

I saw Cabaret for the 3rd time because I wanted to see Adam Lambert. I saw it the first time in London with Fra Fee and Amy Lennox, then again in the U.S. with Eddie Redmayne. I saw an understudy for Sally, Paige Smallwood.

As you might be able to tell, I love this production. It's a completely different take than the Sam Mendes direction for Alan Cumming which has been mimicked extensively in the last 20+ years. It's a take with a lot more darkness to it, but I find that pretty appropriate for the moment.

I have to say, Adam Lambert and Auli'i Cravalho were really great. I'd heard some mixed things about Auli'i earlier on, but I thought she was excellent. Adam Lambert was FANTASTIC. I love his voice, but I really felt like there were no moments of the show where Adam Lambert showed through the Emcee at all. His Emcee is a little less quirky than Redmayne's but no less sinister.

I find this production has more to give the more you see it, but also, with things the way they are, certain things hit me a lot more than they have in the past. I ended up crying during the first rendition of "Tomorrow Belongs to Me," which isn't exactly normal.

Saturday evening was Romeo & Juliet. Based on the reviews, my expectations were in the toilet and I was pleasantly surprised! I have honestly never gotten to see a great production of Romeo and Juliet. Mostly it's just directors throwing things at the wall like spaghetti and seeing what sticks with nothing resembling a cohesive vision or concept.

This production has a concept and is 100% committed. There are some definite misteps: Some line readings where I felt the direction threw away important lines, Juliet's final pose is like literally hilarious which is not how I would assume you want to end, and the addition of the singing is mostly very cringy and does nothing positive. But overall, I thought it was really well done. It's hyper-modernized, and I think it does a fantastic job of emphasizing that most of these characters are teenagers doing dumb things. I think it leans into the comedy and undersells the tragedy a bit, however, but I found it well worth seeing. Kit Conner and Rachel Ziegler are both excellent as Romeo and Juliet.

The last show I saw was Maybe Happy Ending, which was outstanding. Really, I don't have a single complaint. It was lovely and perfectly directed. The music perfectly suited the story and was actually good, unlike a lot of new musicals lately. The acting was excellent, with Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen doing excellent character work playing androids (okay, one complaint, the script calls them robots). I loved it! I hope the sales continue to go up so it can stay open.

I do think it might be a little small in terms of scope and feel to become a lasting classic. I think it would be a worthy Best Musical winner, but I can easily see a musical that feels bigger taking that award whether it is better or not.