Stephanie J. Block as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes

Background: Last Tony Awards season, one of the most talked-about performances was  that of Sutton Foster as Reno Sweeney in the Broadway revival of Anything Goes. Anyone who watched last year’s Tony Awards remembers her infamous eight-minute tap number during which she effortlessly tapped... and tapped... and tapped... and tapped... and then belted out a very high note and did it quite well!  That Tony Award is well-deserved!  

This past November, Sutton Foster took a three-week hiatus from the show to film a pilot for a new series called Bunheads (which has been picked up by ABC Family). It was announced that Stephanie J. Block would step in to play Reno Sweeney for three weeks.  I was so excited because I’d been wanting to see her perform live for quite some time and finally, I had a three-week window to do just that!  On November 19th, I scored the last remaining rush ticket for the evening show and saw her perform. 

There will be more about Stephanie’s performance below, but suffice it to say she gave a wonderful performance as Reno. Sutton returned to the show at the end of November. It was announced last week that Sutton Foster will leave Anything Goes on March 11 and... as of March 15th, the role of Reno will be played by none other than Stephanie J. Block!  

Here are some reasons why you should check out Anything Goes with Stephanie J. Block starring as Reno Sweeney! 

1.) She’s a pro. Let’s backtrack. Back in November, she was offered the part at the last minute and had just two weeks to rehearse and one put-in rehearsal before performing in front of a real audience (according to her interview on playbill.com).  How does anyone learn the music, choreography, and blocking of a show in just two weeks? She did it and she did it well because she’s a pro. 

2.) SHE CAN SING. Her voice= POWER.  I really enjoyed her interpretation of Cole Porter’s songs.  I think my favorite part of her performance was her great voice.  It was flawless. 

3.) Watching her perform the two big dance numbers, Anything Goes and Blow, Gabriel, Blow, I never would have guessed how new the choreography was to her.  Her dancing was really polished. 

4.) She had great chemistry with Joel Grey as Moonface Martin! You will laugh through Friendship. She just had great comedic timing in general!  

5.) She looks like she’s having the best time on stage. Watching her perform makes you unconsciously smile. 

6.) She was enthusiastic, positive, and grateful for the experience of playing Reno, despite the lack of rehearsal time (this is based on my perceptions of her interview on playbill.com back in November, 2011). I love that she was not afraid to step into a “mammoth” role (played in the past by Ethel Merman, Patty LuPone, Sutton Foster...) with so little rehearsal time.  

So go check out Stephanie J. Block as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes starting March 15th!  You won’t be sorry!  

Wednesday Matinee

Tune in to my friend Hayley's Broadway-themed radio show called "Wednesday Matinee" live from Providence College every Wednesday from 4-6pm. 

If you live in the Providence area, you can listen on 91.3 FM. If you live outside of the Providence area, you can catch it on iTunes at the link below! 

http://tunein.com/radio/WDOM-913-s28313/

Click "listen" and then click "Launch 96kb AAC stream with local media player"

You can also call in a song request: (401)-865-2091

It's a great show! Check it out!   

The Upcoming Broadway Season (musicals)

Spring, 2012

Once

Straight from off-Broadway, Once is a love story about an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant brought together by a love for music in Dublin, Ireland. 

Cast includes Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti

Preview: 2/28/12

Opens: 3/18/12

Evita

A revival of the well-known Andrew Lloyd Webber musical which tells the story of Eva Peron, the former first lady of Argentina. 

Cast includes Ricky Martin, Elena Roger, Christina DeCicco, Michael Cerveris, Max von Essen, Rachel Potter

Preview: 3/12/12

Opens: 4/5/12

Ghost the Musical

Straight from the West End and based on the popular movie, Ghost is the love story of Sam and Molly. Sam is tragically murdered and uses a psychic, Oda Mae Brown,  to communicate with Molly in an attempt to protect her from danger. 

Cast includes Caissie Levy, Richard Fleeshman, Bryce Pinkham, Da’Vine Joy Randolph

Preview: 3/15/12

Opens: 4/23/12

Jesus Christ Superstar

Another revival of an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical! My, he is having a good year!  This rock opera depicts the last week of Jesus Christ’s life. 

Cast includes Paul Nolan, Josh Young, Chilina Kennedy, Tom Hewitt

Preview: 3/1/12

Opens: 3/22/12

Newsies

Based on the Disney movie, Newsies tells the story of the newsboy strike in 1899. Led by Jack Kelly, a group of “newsies” are persecuted by publishing giants and decide to stand up to the “big man” by initiating a strike. 

Cast includes: Jeremy Jordan, John Dossett, Kara Lindsay, Ben Fankhauser, Andrew Keenan-Bolger

Preview: 3/15/12

Opens: 3/29/12

Closes: 6/10/12 (a limited engagement!)

Peter and the Starcatcher

A prequel to Peter Pan that answers the question, “how did Peter Pan become the boy who refused to grow up?” 

Cast includes: Christian Borle, Adam Chanler-Berat, Celia Keenan-Bolger

Preview: 3/28/12

Opens: 4/15/12

Leap of Faith

Based on the 1992 film, Leap of Faith tells the story of con artist Jonas Nightingale and his traveling ministry. When he conducts a revival in a small Kansas town, the sheriff does not believe in his “miracles” and tries to prevent the townspeople from being conned. 

Cast includes Raul Esparza, Jessica Phillips, Kendra Kassebaum, Talon Ackerman

Preview: 4/3/12

Opens: 4/26/12

Nice Work If You Can Get It

This new musical comedy is based on Gershwin songs and stars Matthew Broderick and Kelli O’Hara!  With choreography by Kathleen Marshall and a book by Joe DiPietro, Nice Work If You Can Get It follows a rich playboy who makes a living by marrying chorus girls in the 1920‘s. On the weekend of his latest wedding, he falls in love with a female bootlegger and the comedy ensues. 

Cast includes Matthew Broderick, Kelli O’Hara, Judy Kaye, Michael McGrath, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Terry Beaver, Robyn Hurder, Stanley Wayne Mathis, Estelle Parsons, Chris Sullivan

Preview: 3/29/12

Opens: 4/24/12

Commentary:

Who else is getting super excited for the upcoming Broadway season?  I know I am!  The aforementioned eight musicals will give the Broadway audience a little bit of everything; revivals of beloved shows, brand new musicals, and new takes on existing movies that have been turned into musicals!  I think it will be an exciting season!  

I am most excited for the two revivals: Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, both of which I have never seen on stage.  Andrew Lloyd Webber will have three musicals on Broadway this spring (Phantom of the Opera as well). I am thrilled that the Eva alternate will be Christina DeCicco, whom I saw as G(a)linda on the first national tour of Wicked back in 2007.  Back then, I remember thinking that she was so talented, but I didn’t hear her name again until it was announced that she would be in the ensemble of Sister Act on Broadway last year. I may purposely get tickets to a Saturday matinee just to see her as Eva Peron!  Or maybe I will try to see it twice, so that I can see Elena Roger’s performance as Eva as well. We shall see... 

I am “lukewarm” about three of the shows that are based on movies: Ghost, Newsies, and Leap of Faith.  I am getting slightly tired of movies transitioning into musicals and I’ve been itching to see new, fresh ideas on stage.  Don’t get me wrong- I thoroughly enjoyed Sister Act and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert last season! But there’s something to be said for a show that truly starts from scratch. I feel like movie musicals are the easy way out in terms of creativity.  I would rather see a revival of an original show than a movie musical. But of course, I won’t judge these shows until I see them myself. 

With that said, I am really curious to see Once (despite it also being a movie!). I assume that the show will have Irish folk music since it takes place in Dublin, but I don’t have a good grasp on what to expect..... and so I’m very curious!  Broadway.com reports that the cast album will be released on March 13th!  

The last notable “prequel” musical was, of course, Wicked. In Wicked’s case, the prequel concept worked to its advantage (that and amazing music and special effects). I’m hoping that Peter and the Starcatcher will be successful as well. Plus, I would see Adam Chanler-Berat in pretty much anything.

Also a new musical is Nice Work If You Can Get It, which I suspect is going to be a hit. Why is it going to be a hit? Five names. Matthew Broderick. Kelli O’Hara. Joe DiPietro. Kathleen Marshall. Gershwin (take your pick, there are two of them). Maybe I’m wrong, but I have a good feeling about this one.  We already know that the music will be great because it’s Gershwin. Tony award winner Kathleen Marshall is going to give us amazing choreography (watch the performance of Anything Goes at the Tony’s last year if you disagree).  Anyone who has seen Memphis knows that Tony award winner Joe DiPietro can write a great story. 

In conclusion, Broadway musical fans have a lot to look forward to this year!  What new show are you dying to see? 

Mary Poppins

U.S. Tour

February 14, 2012

Providence Performing Arts Center

Who doesn’t love the Disney movie classic, Mary Poppins?  As children, we all dreamed of jumping into chalk drawings, having tea parties on the ceiling, and dancing on the rooftops of London with the practically perfect nanny.  Well, I did anyway!  

Almost fifty years later, the beloved story of Mary Poppins has been made into a highly successful Broadway musical, first opening on Broadway in 2006. It has been so popular with audiences that it is now touring the United States, most recently visiting the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) on February 8th through February 19th. 

Mary Poppins, the musical, is mostly true to the movie with only a few added characters and several new songs including “Anything Can Happen” and “Practically Perfect”. Of course, the underlying themes of love, family, imagination, gratitude, and benevolence prevail in the musical. This show is abundant with special effects, which are not limited to Mary Poppins flying across the stage, Bert walking on the ceiling, and more- much to a child’s delight! The choreography was flawless; most impressive were the energetic tap numbers performed to “Step in Time” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”. I hope I spelled that correctly. 

Mary Poppins employs a top notch, first-rate cast. Rachel Wallace, who played the title character, was excellent as the practically perfect nanny. Her singing was “pristine”, and (forgive me for the repetitive use of this phrase) “practically perfect”.  I particularly enjoyed “Spoonful of Sugar” and the very poignant, “Feed the Birds”, which I feel really captures the essence of the story. Speaking of “Feed the Birds” and strong performances, I was blown away by the performance of Q. Smith who portrayed both the Bird Woman and Miss Andrew, the dark nanny who replaces Mary Poppins temporarily in Act II. After a beautifully rich rendition of “Feed the Birds” in Act I, she blew the audience away with her belting skills during her performance of “Brimstone and Treacle”. Mary Poppins and Miss Andrew may be rivals, but they both stole the show.  

I admit that I missed Mrs. Banks’ song, “Sister Suffragette”, but it was replaced by a pretty song called, “Being Mrs. Banks” that stayed true to the theme of autonomy and freedom for women. 

The Verdict:

Overall, Mary Poppins is a triple threat in itself, with superb singing, dancing, and acting. 

Check out Mary Poppins at PPAC before February 19th.

Memphis on DVD

Background: This past Christmas, I received a very special gift from my mother-- the new Memphis DVD. Having seen the show three times at the Shubert Theatre, I was ecstatic when it was announced that Memphis would be filmed and featured in movie theaters for a limited time last May, and subsequently released on DVD and Blu-ray. Memphis, one of my favorite new musicals, deservingly won the Tony Award for best new musical in 2010. Set in Memphis in the 1950‘s, the story focuses on the relationship between Huey Calhoun, the first white radio DJ to play rhythm and blues (“black music”), and Felicia Farrell, a talented African-American nightclub singer. This musical offers everything that an audience could possibly want in a show: comedy, a forbidden romance, powerful, energetic music, impressive choreography, exceptionally talented actors, amazing vocals, and a compelling story. Theatre does not get any better than Memphis. Trust me. 

Despite my love for this musical, I silently wondered if the filmed version would live up to the live version.  There is nothing like the experience of live theatre. Would Memphis be as powerful in my living room as it was in the Shubert Theatre? 

Comments: Live theatre and film are obviously two very different experiences, but equally valuable. As the “curtain” rose in my living room, I heard the familiar drumbeat and bold brass of the opening number, “Underground” and I felt myself get the tingly feeling of excitement that I had also experienced three times at the Shubert Theatre; immediately, I was transported back to Beale Street in the 1950’s, becoming immersed in the story once again. Success. 

The film certainly gives the audience the best view of the show, allowing the viewer to notice little gestures and expressions that might go unnoticed if you’re sitting in the back of the orchestra or mezzanine of the theatre. For example, I never realized how often Felicia winks when she sings and some of Bobby’s subtle facial expressions are priceless! The film is very well edited. There is actually a behind the scenes bonus feature on the DVD that explains how they use surround sound, and they compare what the original audio recording sounded like with the final product. The difference was amazing. The audio filled my living room. What I love most of all about the DVD is that it “immortalizes” the original broadway cast. I just love the chemistry between Montego Glover and Chad Kimball and of course, the rest of the talented original cast. And while I appreciate the amazing performances of replacement actors, the DVD is a great tribute to the actors who created the roles. The DVD is great for Memphis fans who want a dose of Memphis in between seeing live performances and it’s even better for people who are not able to come to Broadway or catch the show on tour. 

The Verdict: The DVD succeeds in transporting its audience to 1950’s Memphis. 

If you’ve seen Memphis on stage, you will see it through new eyes on DVD. 

If you can’t see it live, the DVD is a great substitute until you CAN see it live! 

Smash

Background: Over the past few months, advertisements, “sneak peeks”, and featured articles for the new Broadway-themed television drama, Smash, have abounded every Broadway website, making Smash the most anticipated new drama of the season. When I saw the colossal “Smash” billboard in Times Square and watched the commercials during the Super Bowl, I was really impressed that NBC was heavily promoting a Broadway-related television show. Smash could end up being every Broadway lover’s dream.  

Synopsis: The pilot episode aired on February 6, 2012 on NBC and the series will reportedly air for a total of fifteen episodes. Smash focuses on the creation of a new Broadway musical, conceived by songwriting partners Julia and Tom, and is based on the life of Marilyn Monroe. Two young actresses are vying for the lead role of Marilyn- Ivy- a theatre veteran who has always been in the ensemble and “just want(s) a part” and Karen- an inexperienced, aspiring actress from Iowa who is working as a waitress while trying to make it on Broadway. The production of this new musical brings together a diverse creative team, each having their own “issue” which could jeopardize the success of the project. 

Comments: I think that Smash has made a very solid start. The pilot succeeded in establishing the characters and hinting at potential future conflict, giving the viewer a sense of curiosity for coming episodes. Smash has a lot in its favor besides heavy promotion; it’s something fresh and new, an original concept that is quite refreshing to many people. If you like Broadway, you will obviously like Smash; however, there are many generic, non-theatre related story-lines as well, making it appealing to the non-theatre audience. 

Things I liked about Smash:

1.) Written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the music is the show’s greatest strength. But then again, what else can you expect from the two guys who wrote the music for Catch Me If You Can and Hairspray? This songwriting team is very adept at writing music that is catchy and memorable, and they are succeeding once again, especially with “Let Me Be Your Star”, a duet featuring Katharine McPhee as Karen and Megan Hilty as Ivy.  A rich musical “blend”, the two leading ladies compliment each other very well vocally. I look forward to more new songs in the coming episodes. 

2.) Smash is truly a theatre show. I’m a theatre fan, so I love that so many Broadway actors are cast in Smash and that the creative team is largely comprised of “theatre people”. In fact, I think there is a good balance between Broadway stars like Megan Hilty and Christian Borle and TV/movie stars such as Debra Messing and Anjelica Huston.  I love the Broadway references to things like Spiderman and Kristin Chenoweth. I love that it’s filmed in NYC and I love seeing Times Square and familiar marquees in the background. This makes the show only more believable and realistic for me. 

3.) So far, I’m really liking the cast and I think each actor is well-cast in his or her role. Katharine McPhee was great as the “green” small town girl and Megan Hilty was perfectly cast as Ivy. Debra Messing as Julia and Christian Borle as Tom have great chemistry together as co-songwriters. Jack Davenport as the womanizing director and Anjelica Huston as the soon-to-be-divorced producer portray the more cutthroat side of the business. 

The Verdict: Give Smash a chance- it has a lot of promise.

Godspell

Broadway, Circle in the Square Theatre

November 19th, 2011, matinee performance

This past November, I had the pleasure of seeing the new Broadway revival of Godspell, which recently celebrated its 100th performance on February 3rd. Originally opening off-Broadway in 1971, Godspell is based on the gospel according to Matthew and relays the teachings of Jesus Christ through a series of musical parables. 

Background: Before I saw Godspell, I did something that I never do before I see a show: I read the reviews. I have no idea what possessed me to do this since I rarely agree with reviews and therefore find them to be unhelpful. Charles Isherwood of the NY Times compared Godspell to “being trapped in a summer camp rec room with a bunch of kids who have been a little too reckless with the Red Bull”. Really, Mr. Isherwood? Because that statement is not only inaccurate, but also highly insulting to a group of exceptionally talented, professional actors. Luckily, the cast of Godspell is far more creative than Mr. Isherwood was with his choice of words. Lesson learned: don’t bother with reviews. 

Comments: Godspell is a unique theatre experience for many reasons. A small, intimate ‘theatre in the round’, the Circle in the Square Theatre is an ideal location for a show like Godspell that involves audience members in the story telling process. Audience participation in games such as Pictionary and cast members who mingle with the audience during intermission make for a theatre experience far more intimate than other Broadway performances. Further, members of the orchestra are scattered throughout the audience and the book has been revised to include references to many ‘current events’. For a musical that was written forty years ago, this show feels very relevant and modern. 

Perhaps the best part of Godspell is the multi-talented cast with their powerful vocals and boundless energy. Since the previously mentioned reviewer used a food analogy to describe the performers, I would like to provide my own food analogy. The cast is like a perfectly baked apple pie with just the right amounts of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla, each ingredient complimenting the other and making the final product DELICIOUS! In other words, the Godspell creative team casted ten performers who: 1.) have wonderful chemistry together as an ensemble (the perfect recipe) 2.) look like they are having the best time on stage 3.) can SING (note the capital letters) and 4.) give a high energy performance without going over the top as Mr. Isherwood suggested. Further, the cast has taken a collection of well-known songs that have been performed for 40+ years and really made them their own. Each musical performance sounds familiar, yet new and fresh at the same time! The cast album is a must-have! 

The entire cast was exceptional, but I especially loved performances by: 

**Telly Leung: First of all, I love his name. I saw Telly’s vlog on broadway.com before I ever heard him sing and his vlog was what originally got me interested in seeing Godspell. After seeing Godspell, Telly Leung is one of my new favorite Broadway actors.  Let me share some adjectives that describe his amazing singing voice: Beautiful. Flawless. Serene. Calming (as in ‘could cure a migraine’ calming). Rich. His rendition of “All Good Gifts” was one of my favorite performances. 

**Lindsay Mendez: I saw Lindsay in the revival of Grease a few years ago as Jan, but her performance of “Bless the Lord” showed off her talent much more than “Mooning” and “It’s Raining on Prom Night”. This girl can SING. 

**Morgan James: I love it when I go to a show and see an actor who is unknown to me perform and be totally amazed. After seeing Morgan perform, I thought, “who is this girl?” Her performance of “Turn Back, O Man” was amazing and I have a feeling that we will be seeing a lot more of her in the future.  I hope so anyway! 

The Verdict: 

**Even if you’ve seen Godspell in the past, this revival is worth checking out. 

**Go see Godspell

**Buy the cast album