Scene: November '13
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The Black Suits MusicalWhat? From the show website: "A rock musical about a high school garage band on suburban Long Island trying to win The St. Anne’s Battle of the Bands. The story of two teens and their struggle to learn how to be real friends as the inevitability of adulthood threatens to pull them apart. A musical about dreams, blood, Pop Tarts, records, drug runs, blue hair, the St. Anne’s Battle of the Bands, and the undying transformative coolness of rock and roll music."
When? November '13 Where? Center Theatre Group LA, Kirk Douglas Theatre Well? This show was presented at Barrington Stage in Massachusetts last year, and I really tried to get myself up there for it, but couldn't make it happen. Joe Iconis is such a talented composer, and I have had fantastic experiences when I've seen his work performed. Having lived in LA for many years, this was a great excuse to go back for a visit! This coming-of-age story about boys navigating their way out of the teenage years by bonding over a love of rock music is sweet and raw. I liked the cast a great deal; particularly because each actor fearlessly gave himself to his character. My favorite in the cast was Veronica Dunne as a girlfriend and "girl friend; her song, Blue Hair, is funny and vulnerable. The plaintive Old Records Remind Me, reflects the complicated, often painful, relationships we have with our parents and the past. A real star in this production is Charlie Rosen, the uber-talented musician who orchestrated and music directed the show. The atmosphere created by the orchestrations was rich and complex, and I'm really happy that Charlie and the musicians took their own bow at final curtain! Seating Happiness: I sat in the second row towards house left. I almost always prefer to sit closer, even if I might be missing a more cohesive perspective. There's something so personal about being in close proximity to the action. Here though, I had friends sitting about midway up, and after visiting them at intermission, I think I would have preferred this one from farther back. The set was clever, and the fact that it was a rock band jumping around the stage was more fun from up there. |
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700 SundaysWhat? From the show website: "Billy Crystal returns to reprise his Tony®-winning performance in this heartfelt and often hilarious story of growing up, growing old and the undeniable power of family."
When? November '13 Where? The Imperial Theatre Well? I wanted to see this during its initial run on Broadway, but couldn't make it up to NYC. This time I could, and I am so very glad I did! The hilarious and heartbreaking reminiscences, delivered by Billy Crystal in the "front yard" of a set reproducing the facade of his childhood home, and supplemented by photographs and home videos projected on the facade, were vulnerable and relatable. Billy had a way of making me feel as if we were sitting in his living room and just swapping "dad stories." He talks about the early loss of his father as placing a boulder in front of him that he must forever push around; an obstacle that impacted everything that came after. There was audible emotion from the audience during this show, and that made it all the more satisfying. I had a chance, after the show, to mention to Billy how much I could relate to the analogy of the boulder, and he responded that it "gets smaller and easier to deal with." My guess is that this show, and the book on which it's based, contributed to reducing the size of that boulder. Seating Happiness? Third row, house left, 5 seats in from the aisle. As, unfortunately, often happens to one of the short stature variety, a particularly tall pair was seated in front of me that partially blocked my view. But overall, I loved being so close to such a masterful storyteller; and that's why I prefer to be close up, even if it's on the sides. If I might find my view obstructed, I'd rather not also be far away from the stage. |
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The Commons of PensacolaWhat? From the show website: "Sarah Jessica Parker and Blythe Danner will star in the world premiere of Amanda Peet’s play The Commons of Pensacola. MTC's award-winning Artistic Director Lynne Meadow will direct the production which will be Ms. Peet’s playwriting debut. Judith (Blythe Danner) has been divested of her assets and forced to leave her luxurious New York life after her husband’s Wall Street scam became headline news. When her daughter Becca (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Becca’s filmmaker boyfriend pay Judith a visit to the one bedroom condo Judith now occupies in Pensacola, Florida, everyone’s motives are called into question. How will past and present circumstances inform how this family moves into the future?
The Commons of Pensacola is an incisive and funny new play about trying to love your family even when you hate what they’ve done. The production will reunite two-time Emmy and four-time Golden Globe winner Parker (“Sex and the City,” Wonder of the World) and Tony and two-time Emmy winner Danner (Nice Work If You Can Get It, Meet the Parents). Parker and Danner first appeared together in MTC’s Sylvia by A.R. Gurney Jr. in 1995." When? November '13 Where? New York City Center Well? The abundance of opportunities this season to see actors I've always wanted to see on stage, makes me feel like I've stumbled on buried treasure. I was excited just to brush past Blythe Danner on the street in NYC years ago; never mind see her in a show! Sarah Jessica Parker is a real bonus too. And as it turned out, it was Sarah Jessica Parker that was the real star of the show for me. She's natural, likable, funny where appropriate and raw when necessary. I thought her chemistry with Blythe Danner was wonderful, especially towards the bittersweet end. The story was a fascinating riff on the behind-the-scenes impact on a family of the crimes of the father, and avoided the pitfalls of cliches. Seating Happiness? Stage I at New York City Center is small, so there's not really a bad seat, but I have enjoyed my visits there more when I'm closer to the stage. This time, I was about 2/3 of the way back and in the center. The view was fine, but I really do like being up front. |
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Waiting for GodotWhat? From the show website: "In NO MAN’S LAND, two elderly writers, having met in a London pub, continue drinking and talking into the night. All might be well, until the return home of two younger men. Their relationships are exposed, with menace and hilarity, in one of Pinter's most entertaining plays.
In WAITING FOR GODOT, two wanderers wait by a lonely tree, to meet up with Mr. Godot, who they hope will change their lives for the better. Instead, two eccentric travelers arrive, one man on the end of the other's rope. The results are both funny and dangerous. Beckett and Pinter have fascinated and delighted theatergoers worldwide for decades. Don’t miss this limited engagement of four great actors in eight great parts in two of the theater’s greatest plays." When? November '13 Where? The Cort Theatre Well? I definitely enjoyed Godot the most of the two. All the charming chemistry between these two great actors was even more celebrated in Beckett's classic work. The truth is that I didn't love either of the plays as plays (I find them too long for me to really appreciate the surreal place to which they take me); but as brought to life by this cast, I was reminded how great performances by great actors bring a pleasure that stand on its own. The back and forth between McKellan and Stewart was just delightful, and the audience so clearly enjoyed being in the theater to experience it. Seating Happiness? For this performance, I was third row, house left, three seats in. The heads blocking my view this time were not quite as problematic because I was viewing the stage at an angle. I was reminded that that's why I often stay away from center orchestra seats, unless they're on the aisle; when someone tall is in front of me in the center, there's nowhere else to look! |
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A Bed and a Chair: A New York Love AffairWhat? From the show website: "Stephen Sondheim and Wynton Marsalis compare musical notes on their shared passion for our city in A BED AND A CHAIR: A New York Love Affair, an original production from New York City Center and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Cyrille Aimée, Jeremy Jordan, Norm Lewis and Bernadette Peters headline the show, directed by frequent Sondheim collaborator John Doyle. A BED AND A CHAIR features more than two dozen Sondheim compositions, each piece newly re-imagined under the music direction of Wynton Marsalis and performed by Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra."
When? November '13 Where? New York City Center Well? I bought tickets to this before the casting was even announced. I'm enjoying learning more about musical theater through events such as this. Then they announced Bernadette Peters, Cyrille Aimee, Jeremy Jordan and Norm Lewis...yep, definitely made the right decision on this one! The stars performed the new arrangements with the orchestra on stage, and backed by a backdrop of photographic scenes of New York City (there were screens on the upper levels of the theater as well so that all could appreciate the effect). The use of incredibly talented "shadow" dancers representing (and even somewhat physically resembling!) the vocalists gave an added dimension that evoked the musical theater roots being celebrated. The highlight had to be Bernadette Peters performing a show-stopping rendition of The Ladies Who Lunch from Company; but a close second was Jeremy Jordan doing Another Hundred People, also from Company. And yes, there was a bed and a chair that were moved around and became sets for many of the numbers :). Whether, a double entendre in the title was intended or not, for me the program was about being in love in NYC, and being in love with NYC :). Seating Happiness? New York City Center is a large, concert-style house, so I like to sit closer to the stage. That said, I've seen shows from the mezzanine and been fine. The stage is on the high side, so it's possible that the very front section might be a bit too close. For this concert, I had a great seat in the second row of the house right side section which angled and only had one row in front of it. The very far stage left side was obstructed, but otherwise the view was great! As a bonus, sitting in the orchestra section offered great people watching! Josh Groban, Mario Cantone, Patrick Breen... |
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Jasper in DeadlandWhat? From the show website: "In this thrilling musical presentation, join 16-year-old Jasper as he travels through the Afterlife on a mission to save his best friend, Agnes. In this hybrid underworld, Jasper encounters demons, gods, mortals and monsters from Greek, Egyptian, Roman, Norse and Judeo-Christian mythology, learning what it means to die and questioning what it means to live, with musical direction by Ryan Fielding Garrett. Oliver, the recipient of both the Jonathan Larson Award as well as the Richard Rodgers Award for musical theatre, is one of New York’s most prolific and exciting young musical artists."
When? November '13 Where? 54 Below, NYC Well? Ryan Scott Oliver is a young composer whose music I've become familiar with over the past couple of years. Having never seen a full work by him, I was definitely intrigued to see the concert-style presentation. RSO does ballads and rock-the-house anthems with equal verve, and the cast performing them was fantastic, including my Godspell favorites, George Salazar and Julia Mattison. Jasper, sung by Jay Armstrong Johnson (Hardbody, The Last Goodbye) descends into the netherworld to rescue his recently deceased best friend, Agnes, and is forced to examine his life, what he cares most about and what he's willing to do for love. I've really come to appreciate these show "concerts." Watching the story come alive without the benefit of sets, props, etc., and focusing on the songs, is a great way to experience the show! Seating Happiness? There really is not a bad seat in this wonderfully intimate cabaret venue. From the long communal tables in the center, to the raised booths along the back, and the two and four-person tables and bar area on the sides...I've sat in all the areas and thoroughly enjoyed myself. You will likely be sharing with folks you don't know if you're a party of one or two, but I've found that most are happy to chat, or not, depending on what you're in the mood for! I sat in a booth this time, and it was great. |
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(photo courtesy of show website)
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A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The ForumWhat? From the show website: "Directed by STC Associate Director Alan Paul, this hysterical Tony Award®-winning musical features a beloved score by Stephen Sondheim and an uproarious book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart. This bawdy and wild production is a gift from the gods for anyone’s holiday season."
When? November '13 Where? The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington DC Well? I adore this show. I have loved it since I saw it in my best friend's high school production at the age of 13. I loved it again on Broadway with Nathan Lane, and I was so pleased to get to introduce it to my 14 year old niece! Bruce Dow as Pseudolus was appropriately madcap and flamboyant, while maintaining an air of dignity, as difficult as that can be in this show! My niece and I laughed ourselves silly, as you should :). Bruce played King Herod, another over-the-top character, in last season's revival of Jesus Christ Superstar, and I couldn't have been happier to see him back on stage. Seating Happiness? Sydney Harman Hall is a large, somewhat cavernous space, so I try to sit up close where possible. There is a separation between the front and back sections of the orchestra, and I've been pleased with the front rows of the back section as well. For this performance, we were in the third row, center, which was great. But for a show of this scale, I think most seats would be good :). |
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That Hopey Changey ThingWhat? From the show website: Studio presents the first two plays in Richard Nelson’s quartet of plays about the Apple siblings and their extended family. Set at successive meals over the course of four years, the tensions and compromises, affections and resentments of the Apple Family’s personal lives play out against a rapidly changing America. Presented in rotating repertory.
When? November '13 Where? Studio Theatre, Washington DC Well? My first experience with the Apple family was fascinating. The very real pace of a family gathering, with random conversation threads happening simultaneously in some cases, really made me feel as if I was a fly on the wall of the house. The fine line between family love and connection, and that special way family members know what buttons to push, was entertainingly crossed many times. Yet I felt as if I'd been given a real chance to know each character, and understand their appeal, while also being driven to distraction by their quirks...just as one of their family members would! This DC cast was really tremendous. We're very fortunate in this city! Seating Happiness? This is my second visit to the Studio Theatre's three-sided house (last time was for Torch Song Trilogy). Again, I was on the house right about mid-way up. It was a great seat; but I think this is a theater where I wouldn't worry too much about where I was seated. |
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If/Then [OPENING NIGHT]What? From the show website: "Idina Menzel returns to the stage for the first time since originating her Tony Award-winning role in Wicked in this world premiere musical from the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning creators of Next to Normal. Set against the ever-shifting landscape of modern day Manhattan, If/Then is a romantic and original new musical about how choice and chance collide and how we learn to love the fallout."
When? November '13 Where? The National Theatre, Washington DC Well/Seating? I didn't notice a lot of changes on this second visit. But this time I was sitting in the back of the balcony, so had a very different, much more panoramic perspective. I still loved the show, and was even more impressed by how well the staging/set work. The movable, mirrored (on the underside) panel in the stage that raises up to reflect the action (appropriately symbolic of the various views with which we can look at life), gives the audience in the balcony an even richer involvement with the action, I think. I listened to the chatter as I was leaving the theater, and mostly heard folks animatedly discussing/debating what was happening when, and which choices they thought Liz/Beth probably made! I will say that the element I would hope to see improved before Broadway previews is the choreography, which doesn't match the cleverness of the rest of the show. |
(photo courtesy of show website)
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Becoming Dr. RuthWhat? From the show website: "Everyone knows Dr. Ruth Westheimer from her career as a pioneering radio and television sex therapist. Few, however, know the incredible journey that preceded it. From fleeing the Nazis in the Kindertransport and joining the Haganah in Jerusalem as a scout and sniper, to her struggles to succeed as a single mother coming to America, Becoming Dr. Ruth is filled with the humor, honesty and life-affirming spirit of Karola Ruth Siegel, the girl who became “Dr. Ruth”, Americaʼs most famous sex therapist."
When? November '13 Where? Westside Theatre, NYC Well? I have rarely been so charmed, and moved, by a small solo show; particularly one about a well known public figure. But though I was familiar with Dr. Ruth, I was not at all familiar with her wrenching story of losing her family to the Nazis, and how that loss informed her life path. Setting the show in her long time apartment, as she prepares for a move after her husband's death, was such a great choice, that made for smooth transitions to each story, as photos, books, phone calls from her children triggered the narrative. As I often say, I wish I'd seen this show earlier in its run, so that I could have encouraged more to go. Seating? This was my first time in the upstairs theater at the small Westside Theatre, where I saw Love, Loss and What I Wore in its first floor space. I really liked the second floor theater; it is more open and banked higher, so there doesn't seem to be a bad seat in the house. I was in the third row, all the way to the side, and it was a great view! |
