UPCOMING BROADWAY MUSICALS

SPRING, 2013

CINDERELLA
Preview: 1/25/2013
Opens: 3/3/2013
Theatre: Broadway
Cast: Laura Osnes, Santino Fontana, Victoria Clart, Harriet Harris, Marla Mindelle, Greg Hildreth, Peter Bartlett
Description: The classic fairy tale is making its Broadway debut! Under the direction of Mark Brokaw, this beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical has been re-imagined by book-writer Douglas Carter Beane. 

HANDS ON A HARDBODY
Preview: 2/23/2013
Opens: 3/21/2013
Theatre: Brooks Atkinson
Cast: Keith Carradine, Hunter Foster, Mary Gordon Murray, Jay Armstrong Johnson, David Larsen, Allison Case
Description: Based on the 1997 documentary, this show tells the story of ten Texans who are competing for a brand new hardbody truck. The contestant who keeps his or her hand on the truck the longest wins the prize and a chance at living the American Dream. 

MATILDA
Preview: 3/4/2013
Opens: 4/11/2013
Theatre: Shubert
Cast: Bailey Ryon, Milly Shapiro, Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bertie Carvel, Lauren Ward, Gabriel Ebert, Lesli Margherita
Description: Based on the novel by Roald Dahl and winner of seven Olivier Awards, Matilda is a perceptive, but unfortunate young girl who is mistreated by her parents and the headmaster at her boarding school, but she possesses very special powers... 

KINKY BOOTS
Preview: 3/5/2013
Opens: 4/4/2013
Theatre: Al Hirschfeld
Cast: Stark Sands, Billy Porter, Annaleigh Ashford, Celina Carvajal
Description: Kinky Boots boasts music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, book by Harvey Fierstein, and direction/choreography by Jerry Mitchell. Based on a British film of the same name, Charlie Price saves his father’s shoe factory with the help of a drag queen named Lola and some kinky boots. 

MOTOWN
Preview: 3/11/2013
Opens: 4/14/2013
Theatre: Lunt-Fontanne
Cast: Brandon Victor Dixon, Valisia LeKae, Charl Brown, Bryan Terrell Clark
Description: Motown tells the story of music producer Berry Gordy as he discovers the talents of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder. 

PIPPIN
Preview: 3/23/2013
Opens: 4/25/2013
Theatre: The Music Box
Cast: Patina Miller, Matthew James Thomas, Andrea Martin, Charlotte d’Amboise, Terrence Mann, Rachel Bay Jones
Description: Hailing straight from the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, this is the very first Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz’s musical. A young man named Pippin is on a journey to find meaning his life, and ultimately, he must choose between the ordinary life and a risky chance at greatness. This production boasts circus choreography by Gypsy Snider and is directed by Diane Paulus. 

JEKYLL AND HYDE



Preview: 4/5/2013
Opens: 4/18/2013
Theatre: Marquis
Cast: Constantine Maroulis, Deborah Cox, Teal Wicks
Description: This production will end its national tour with a limited engagement on Broadway. In an effort to cure his father’s mental illness, Dr. Henry Jekyll conducts a controversial experiment on himself, unleashing the evil alternate personality, Mr. Hyde. 

Million Dollar Quartet

North American Tour

Providence Performing Arts Center

January 15, 2013

It’s December 4, 1956. For the first and only time, four future legends congregate at Sun Record Studios in Memphis, TN for a spur-of-the-moment, unrehearsed jam session under the guidance of Sun Records owner, Sam Phillips, who discovered each member of this “million dollar quartet”- Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins. Million Dollar Quartet is the musical reenactment of this special night in rock ‘n’ roll history. 

Comments: Million Dollar Quartet is like time-traveling backwards to a 1950’s rock concert. A real audience-pleaser, many of the singers’ most well-known songs are showcased such as “Blue Suede Shoes”, “Folsom Prison Blues”, “That’s All Right”, “I Walk the Line”, “Hound Dog”, and “Great Balls of Fire”. I particularly liked the gospel tunes, “Down By the Riverside” and “Peace in the Valley”, which were sung in perfect harmony. 

Elvis Presley was played by Billy Woodward, and his performance was inspired by a young Elvis early in his career that went beyond doing a mere “Elvis impression”. David Elkins captured the vocal quality and speech inflection of Mr. Johnny Cash very well, and his singing was probably the closest to the “real thing”. Lesser known is Carl Perkins, played by James Barry, who I felt had the most depth of all the singers. Finally, show stealer Benjamin Goddard killed it as the crazy, piano-thumping Jerry Lee Lewis. Bravo. 

Vince Nappo portrayed Sam Phillips and although he didn’t do much singing, he was very effective as the tie that brought the million dollar quartet together.  The addition of a female character named Dyanne (Elvis’ girlfriend), played by Kelly Lamont, balanced the show musically. 

This musical is not solely a “concert”; several minor story-lines are incorporated into the performance that explain each singer’s career struggles/triumphs at that time. 

Million Dollar Quartet is appealing to all generations and reminiscent of a great period in music history.  If you want an enjoyable night at the theatre, check out the national tour here. 

Eight Reasons to See Pippin on Broadway

Diane Paulus’ Broadway-bound production of Pippin concludes its run at the American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.) in Cambridge, MA on January 20, but the production won’t be idle for long!  Pippin will start Broadway previews on March 23 at the Music Box Theatre. 

Synopsis: The play begins with the introduction of an ensemble of actors and a Leading Player, who reveals to the audience that they are about to relay the story of a young man named Pippin who is searching for meaning and purpose in life. A recent college graduate, Prince Pippin returns home to his father and stepmother, King Charlamagne and Fastrada, and begins his pursuit of the “fulfilled” life. During this personal quest, Pippin seeks the advice of many, including his father, stepmother, his grandmother Berthe, and the Leading Player, all of whom compel Pippin to undertake many roles, most notably, a soldier, a monk, a murderer, a king, and a lover, none of which fulfill him.  Alone and desperate, he encounters an ordinary woman named Catherine, a widow, and her son Theo, and senses what it means to be fulfilled. Pressured by the Leading Player to perform the most incredible act- the Finale, Pippin leaves Catherine and this ordinary life behind. Ultimately, Pippin must choose between performing an extraordinary, but dangerous feat and living an ordinary, but fulfilling life. 

Eight Reasons to See Pippin on Broadway

1.) It’s a circus!! Director Diane Paulus employed the talents of circus choreographer, Gypsy Snider of Les 7 Doigts de la Main, in creating some of the most exhilarating stunts to ever be performed in a musical!  Further, the choreography, created by Chet Walker in the style of original director/choreographer Bob Fosse, is incorporated strategically into the story in a very theatrical fashion and in a way that propels the story forward. The utilization of a circus theme and daring choreography enhances the element of danger that is a major theme in the story. 

2.) It’s the first Broadway revival of a “gem”. In fact, I wonder why this underrated, overlooked show has not been revived sooner. The original Broadway production ran from 1972-1977. 

3.) Stephen Schwartz of Godspell and Wicked fame composed the score, so it’s no surprise that the music is great. Personally, I loved the opening number (“Magic to Do”) because it sets the mood for the show and immediately pulls the audience into the story.  The score is light, upbeat, and harmonious, which directly contradicts the story’s underlying darkness.  

4.) Patina Miller as the Leading Player gave a mysterious and calculating performance. In Pippin, she shows her versatility as an actress, and while we all loved her Tony-nominated performance as Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act, she really proves that she won’t be typecast as the funny, sassy leading lady.  And that voice...

(Sidenote: The Broadway cast of Pippin has not been announced)

5.) The set, a giant tent, and the lighting are captivating and magical. 

6.) The audience gets the chance to sing with the incomparable Andrea Martin while watching her hang upside down from a trapeze. Now that doesn’t happen every day. The scene between Berthe and Pippin is one of the great comedic moments of the show and is not to be missed. 

7.) On the surface, Pippin appears to be a light-hearted story about a young man in search of himself, yet there is far more depth and meaning to this story than initially expected. For the purposes of this blog, it is not my intent to analyze Pippin; however, I can promise that this show will make you think. How many musicals can do that? 

8.) Last, but not least- a sweet little dog makes an appearance! 

I hope the above eight reasons will encourage you to check out Pippin on Broadway, which opens in previews on March 23, 2013 at the Music Box Theatre! 

Jekyll & Hyde

National Tour

Providence Performing Arts Center

1/1/13

Last Tuesday evening, I saw the opening performance of Jekyll & Hyde at the Providence Performing Arts Center. The production is currently on a 25-city national tour that will conclude with a Broadway revival at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in April. Based on the novella, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, the original production ran on Broadway from 1997 to 2001. Music was written by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Wildhorn, Steve Cuden, and Leslie Bricusse, and book by Bricusse. 

Synopsis: Jekyll & Hyde is the story of the brilliant, but obsessive, Dr. Henry Jekyll, who longs to understand why man is both good and evil in order to help his institutionalized father. He proposes to test his theory on a human subject, but to Jekyll’s dismay, his proposal is rejected by the Board of Governors and he is called a “madman”. With the faith and support of his fiance, Emma Carew, Jekyll decides to conduct his experiment on himself. Injecting himself with a potion, he is taken over by his evil personality, a character called Edward Hyde, who goes on a malicious killing spree. And so begins the struggle between the two personalities, or rather, the struggle between good and evil. In the end, Jekyll finally realizes that there is no way to control Hyde, and the only way to prevent further harm is to kill himself. 

Comments: The role of Jekyll/Hyde was played by Constantine Maroulis. Maroulis proves that his talents go far beyond the world of “American Idol”, if he hadn’t already proven that during his Tony-nominated performance in Rock of Ages. He has a soaring tenor voice that is well-suited for this pop-rock score. He alternates from the thoughtful, reserved Jekyll to the vile, maleficent Hyde with ease and clarity. He is very well-cast in this role. 

As Lucy, Deborah Cox is given some of the best songs in Wildhorn’s score; “Bring on the Men”, “Sympathy, Tenderness”, “Someone Like You”, and “In His Eyes”, a duet with Emma, and I thought she did these songs justice. She has a strong belt and her voice has a modern sound rather than the traditional Broadway belt, but this seemed to work for the role. Her singing was one of the most enjoyable things about the show. Her acting was solid and I really enjoyed her scenes with Jekyll. 

Teal Wicks played Emma Carew, and she was outstanding. On Broadway, she was most recently seen in Wicked as Elphaba, and it was delightful to see her portray another strong, yet completely different type of character. Her singing voice is beautiful, as she alternates between belt and soprano. “In His Eyes”, a duet between Emma and Lucy, is one of the highlights of the show.  

I thought that Frank Wildhorn’s score was very good with several memorable songs. The score has an early 90’s, pop-rock feel to it, which was amplified by Deborah Cox’s modern R&B voice. Constantine sang the heck out of “This is the Moment”, which was a huge audience-pleaser! 

My only complaint is that I couldn’t understand most of Constantine’s lyrics, but I think this is related to poor acoustics at PPAC and not his performance. 

I also have to mention the awesome projections of Hyde lurking on the stage during intermission.  Very spooky. 

Finally, the show is thought-provoking, and you may find yourself thinking about good and evil in humanity just like Jekyll. Just don’t try mixing up any potions or you might end up like him! (Just kidding)

Les Miserables- the movie

The highly anticipated movie-musical, Les Miserables, opened in theaters on Christmas Day with generally positive buzz. The original Broadway production ran for 16 years from 1987-2003, won the Tony Award for Best Musical, and is currently the 4th longest running Broadway show. Les Miserables will return to Broadway in 2014 after the 2nd National U.S. tour is completed. 

Synopsis: Based on the 19th century French novel by Victor Hugo, Les Miserables is the story of Jean Valjean, a poor French man who serves 19 years of hard labor for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister’s starving child. When he is finally released on a lifetime of parole, he is unable to find employment as a known ex-con. Inspired by a bishop’s act of kindness, Jean Valjean breaks parole, and over the next eight years, he assumes a new identity and becomes a factory owner and mayor. A young woman named Fantine is a worker at Jean Valjean’s factory. When the other factory workers and foreman discover that Fantine has an illegitimate child who lives with an innkeeper, she is dismissed from the factory and forced to sell her jewelry, hair, and teeth for money, and later becomes a prostitute. When Fantine dies of consumption, Jean Valjean feels guilt over her dismissal from his factory, and he promises that he will find and care for her daughter, Cosette, who is being abused by the Thenardiers. He pays the Thenardiers 1500 francs for Cosette. Meanwhile, Javert, a policeman who knew Jean Valjean during his jail time, recognizes him as a fugitive of the law, and this begins a cat and mouse chase that will last for the next ten years. 

Ten years later, a young student named Marius meets a now grown-up Cosette and instantly falls in love with her, but Marius is secretly loved by the Thenardier's daughter, Eponine. Another student, Enjolras, organizes a revolution after learning of General Lamarque’s death, and a barricade is built, while Javert disguises himself in order to spy on the students. Eponine also disguises herself as a man and joins Marius and the student rebels, but is shot and killed.  When Javert is exposed as a spy,  Jean Valjean offers to kill him, but instead sets him free. All of the students are killed in battle except for Marius, who is wounded and carried to safety through the sewers by Jean Valjean. Jean Valjean and Javert meet for the final time but Javert is unable to apprehend him because Jean Valjean had saved his life. Javert commits suicide out of shame. 

Jean Valjean tells Marius the truth about his past, but asks him to never tell Cosette. Marius and Cosette marry, and Marius realizes that Jean Valjean was the man who saved his life at the barricade. Marius and Cosette go to Jean Valjean, who is dying, and Marius is able to thank him for saving his life before he dies. 

Comments: I will start by stating that this film is very, very good and quite possibly one of the best, if not THE best, musical movie in recent years. I recommend Les Miserables to anyone and everyone. But what prevents it from being an excellent film is the same mistake that plagues most musical movies- the casting of actors who can sing adequately, but are not singers. Luckily, Les Miserables is so visually stunning and emotionally raw that it mostly distracts from some of the disappointing vocal moments in the movie. 

Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean was fantastic. He completely embodied his character, physically, emotionally, vocally; from the familiar opening notes of the overture until his bittersweet “death”, Hugh Jackman WAS Jean Valjean.  His performance was emotionally raw, authentic, and honest. He carried the entire “show” with ease. Bravo. 

Russell Crowe played Javert and I found his performance to be very repressed and unemotional; however, this may have been his interpretation of the character? I thought his acting improved toward the end of the movie. During his final scenes with Jean Valjean, he did bring out hints of Javert’s passion and shame. His singing was a bit nasal and mediocre. 

Perhaps the most talked-about performance is Anne Hathaway as Fantine. Her performance is... heartbreaking. Tragic. Raw. And though her screen time is probably fifteen or twenty minutes early in the movie, her character will linger in your mind throughout the movie, which is really a testament to the actress’ performance. Her emotional rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” is raw and honest; however, there was no emotional arc because she cried through the entire song. I have mixed feelings about her vocal performance. On the one hand, her performance of this iconic number is superbly acted and was very enjoyable in this sense. On the other hand, the copious tears were also a distraction from the fact that she is not a strong singer. Within the context of the movie, I would say that “I Dreamed A Dream” is enjoyable despite her vocal shortcomings; with that said, if I want to hear “I Dreamed A Dream” on my iPod, I’ll stick to the Broadway cast album. But overall, Bravo. 

West End actress Samantha Barks plays Eponine and by far, she gave the standout vocal performance in the movie. “On My Own” was perfect. I loved the rain. I loved the close shots of Eponine. I loved the emotional arc that she brought to the song. I loved her chemistry with Eddie Redmayne (Marius), especially during the heart-wrenching song, “A Little Fall of Rain”. Many actresses have played Eponine during the past 25 years, but Samantha Barks brought something special to this beloved character. Bravo. 

Eddie Redmayne played Marius and he also had a great voice and gave a very emotional and honest performance. His performance was a nice surprise for me, because I was not expecting him to be as good as he was. Amanda Seyfried played Cosette and was good. Cosette is not a standout character because the book does not give her much depth, but she does the best with what she is given. She sings with a very unique vibrato and her voice is a bit airy and thin. As Enjolras, Aaron Tveit was outstanding and by far, had the best death scene. He also stood out vocally, but this is not a huge surprise since he comes straight from Broadway. 

The Thenardiers were played by Sasha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter and they had great chemistry together as a comic duo. Finally, 10 year old Isabelle Allen was excellent as Young Cosette and sang beautifully in her debut performance (and eerily resembles the child on the former Les Miserables marquee and poster). 

In conclusion, Les Miserables is a must-see for theatre-lovers and movie-lovers alike. This film is filled with raw, honest, emotional performances by very talented actors. The sets are visually stunning. The story-telling is authentic. Despite some vocal shortcomings, Les Miserables is, in my opinion, one of the best musical movies to ever grace the silver screen. Go see it. 

Annie

Broadway

Palace Theatre

December 1, 2012

Miss Hannigan’s sweet and endearing orphans are bringing sunshine and optimism to audiences at the Palace Theatre this holiday season in the latest revival of the beloved musical, Annie! 

Synopsis: The year is 1933. The location is New York City. Seven lonely, mistreated orphans long for the warmth and love of a real home. Their dreams of having parents are dashed by the evil orphanage supervisor, Miss Hannigan, who despises “little girls”. One orphan, Annie, was left at the orphanage eleven years earlier with a locket and a note from her parents stating that they would return for her. Fed up with living the life of an orphan, Annie runs away from the orphanage in search of her parents, but is caught and returned to Miss Hannigan. However, Annie’s luck is about to change when billionaire Oliver Warbucks invites an orphan to spend the holidays at his mansion in order to improve his public image. Daddy Warbucks is quickly smitten with Annie and decides to adopt her, but Annie yearns to find her real parents. A generous reward offered for the whereabouts of Annie’s parents brings trouble in the form of greedy parent imposters and the envious Miss Hannigan. But all ends well when the imposters are revealed and Annie is adopted by Daddy Warbucks. 

Comments: As the title role, 11 year old Lilla Crawford is charming and spunky with a voice that fills the colossal Palace Theatre- a great task for an eleven year old, but Lilla sings with ease and clarity. Lilla and Anthony Warlow as Daddy Warbucks have excellent chemistry, and their scenes together are delightful, especially the musical number, “I Don’t Need Anything But You”. Warlow is impeccable as the gruff billionaire whose persona softens as he is forever changed by an orphan. Katie Finneran portrays Miss Hannigan sympathetically, emphasizing the discontented, despairing, resentful, and slightly unstable side of the character, but nails the comedic timing as usual. Her interaction with the orphans, especially little Molly, was hilariously appalling, and although her character is loathsome, you love to hate her. Speaking of Molly, Emily Rosenfeld is the most adorable and endearing little girl on that stage, but all of the orphans are animated and energetic, stealing the show with dance numbers like “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile” and “It’s the Hard Knock Life”. Brynn O’Malley was perfection as Grace Farrell, and sang beautifully. Clarke Thorell and J. Elaine Marcos were very good as villains Rooster and Lily, although not particularly memorable- with that said, Annie is filled with so much heart and optimism that I don’t think Rooster and Lily are meant to be memorable. My favorite part of Annie was Sunny, the rescue dog who played Sandy. Who doesn’t love to see a dog on stage? 

Check out Annie at the Palace Theatre for a surefire audience pleaser! 

My Top Ten Favorite Performances of 2012

Here is a list of ten favorite and memorable performances that I attended during 2012.

1.) Carolee Carmello as Aimee Semple McPherson in Scandalous on Broadway. A powerhouse performance. Read more about her performance here. 

2.) The National Touring company of Memphis led by Bryan Fenkart and Felicia Boswell. Who would have thought that two actors with talents rivaling that of original Broadway performers, Chad Kimball and Montego Glover, even existed? The best touring production I've seen in a long time. Read more here. 

3.) Christina DeCicco (Eva alternate) in Evita on Broadway. I loved the entire production of Evita, but I especially loved Christina's portrayal of the mysterious and contradictory first lady of Argentina. I will be sad to see this show exit in 2013. 

4.) Rob McClure as Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin on Broadway.  Mastering Chaplin's physical comedy, his performance was perfection and worthy of a Tony nomination. Read more about his performance here. 

5.) The cast of Once, 2012 Tony Award winner for best new musical. With honest, emotionally-raw performances by Cristin Milioti and Steve Kazee, Once is unique and refreshing. 

6.) The four talented cast members of Broadway's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf; Amy Morton, Tracy Letts, Carrie Coon, Madison Dirks. This production left me amazed and speechless. 

7.) Tracie Bennett as Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow on Broadway. An impeccable and powerful performance. 

8.) The cast of Peter and the Starcatcher on Broadway. An exercise of creativity and imagination. 

9.) The dancing newsboys in Newsies on Broadway. Never have I experienced such impeccable and exhilarating choreography! Bravo, boys! 

10.) For favorite "funny" performances, I can't decide between Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Oda Mae Brown in Ghost and Ari Graynor as Peeps in The Performers. Both stole the show with impeccable comedic timing.

Now tell me about YOUR favorite performances of 2012!  

Scandalous

Broadway

Neil Simon Theatre

December 9, 2012

Last Sunday, I attended the final Broadway performance of the new musical, Scandalous, at the Neil Simon Theatre. Based on the life of evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson in the early 1900’s, Scandalous chronicles her young life on a farm in Canada, her traveling ministry and subsequent rise to fame, her contradictory personal life, and mysterious kidnapping trial. Music was composed by David Pomeranz and David Friedman with book and lyrics by Kathie Lee Gifford. Unfortunately, McPherson’s story did not captivate the interest of New York theatre-goers. After receiving lukewarm to negative reviews, Scandalous closed on December 9th after only 31 preview performances and 29 regular performances. 

So, why am I writing about a show that has closed? Because I liked Scandalous, and I’m very sad for its talented, newly unemployed cast, as well as the audiences that will never have the opportunity to see it. 

Comments: Aimee Semple McPherson was played by Broadway veteran, Carolee Carmello, and to say that she conquered this mammoth role would be an understatement. Her commanding stage presence and her powerful singing voice resounded throughout the Neil Simon Theatre. The experience of listening to her sing this role is one that I will not forget. She gave an emotionally-charged, charismatic, Tony Award-worthy performance and seamlessly carried the entire show. Bravo. And as a sidenote, I’m glad they didn’t cast a less talented movie star to drive ticket sales. Carolee Carmello was perfectly cast. 

The supporting cast was also well-cast. Aimee’s parents were played by George Hearn and Candy Buckley (George Hearn also played a preacher who challenges Aimee’s ministry). Both gave very solid performances, and unless you referred to the playbill before the performance, you would not realize that James Kennedy and Brother Bob are both played by George Hearn. Candy Buckley nailed the dry, sarcastic humor and gave the audience quite a few laughs. Edward Watts played Aimee’s first and third husbands. I particularly enjoyed his solo (“Come Whatever May”) as Robert Semple in the first act. After Carolee, he was probably the most vocally “memorable”, at least for me. Andrew Samonsky played Aimee’s second husband and Kenneth Ormiston, one of Aimee’s lovers, and also gave a solid performance.  Finally, Roz Ryan portrayed Emma Jo Schaeffer, a brothel owner who encounters Aimee and discards her lifestyle to follow Aimee’s ministry. She provides most of the comedy in the show. The audience loved her and with good reason. What I really liked about her comedic performance was that it wasn’t completely over the top, which very easily could have been the case. I liked that her character did not function solely as the comedic relief, and that the writing allowed her to have some serious and subdued moments. Roz Ryan gave just the right balance of comedy and drama. 

I enjoyed most of the music and I disagree with the critics’ opinion that the songs were bland and unmemorable. I enjoyed all of Aimee’s songs, and of course, part of that is because Carolee Carmello is an extraordinary singer. However, many of these songs can stand on their own two feet, including, “Follow Me”, “For Such A Time As This”, “Come Whatever May”, “Stand Up” and “A Girl’s Gotta Do What A Girl’s Gotta Do”.  I have not heard anything about a cast recording. The book was very clear cut and did a good job of condensing Aimee’s real life into a 2 1/2 hour show. Told from her point of view, the writing was very sympathetic to the character and portrayed her as a good person with flaws (as opposed to a lying, manipulative, immoral woman hiding under the guise of a God-fearing preacher). 

So what went wrong? Why didn’t this show sell tickets? 

What I do know is that there was very negative buzz on the Internet since the day previews started. Much of the negativity surrounded Kathie Lee Gifford and her relentless efforts to move this show to Broadway. Hateful comments were written, denouncing her writing ability, and wishing her efforts to fail. Despite Kathie Lee’s ability to promote Scandalous on her show, I wonder if her association with the production turned some people away. That would be unfortunate. Furthermore, many theatre-goers who admitted to never seeing Scandalous were making speculative assumptions about the show online, perpetuating the negative buzz. But welcome to the world of social media. Though it’s frustrating for me (as someone who generally finds something enjoyable in every show I encounter), I can only try to use social media for good by continuing to keep my blog as positive as possible and writing about performances that entertain and inspire me! 

Another possible factor involves the number of “religious” shows on Broadway in the past year. The Book of Mormon. Godspell. Jesus Christ Superstar. Leap of Faith. Sister Act.  Scandalous is actually somewhat similar to Leap of Faith in that they both tell the story of a flawed preacher. Are Broadway audiences weary of religiously-themed productions?  If that’s the case, the demise of Scandalous could just be poor timing. Or perhaps, audiences simply wanted Aimee Semple McPherson to be portrayed as more scandalous. 

Memphis

National Tour Cast

Providence Performing Arts Center

December 4, 2012

The “fantastical” new musical, Memphis, arrived at the Providence Performing Arts Center on December 4th!  Memphis deservingly won the Tony Award for Best New Musical in 2010 and also earned Joe DiPietro and David Bryan of Bon Jovi a Tony Award for their impressive rock & roll score. 

Synopsis: Memphis tells the story of Huey Calhoun, the first white radio DJ to play black music in 1950’s Memphis, and the talented black nightclub singer, Felicia Farrell. Huey is drawn to “the music of [his] soul”, sung by Felicia at an underground African-American bar, owned by Felicia’s brother, Delray. A promise to get Felicia on the radio, smack dab in the middle of the radio dial, is the beginning of their love story, set against the raging prejudice of the South. After overcoming many obstacles, Huey finally brings Felicia’s voice to the radio, and the music is embraced by the young people of Memphis, but not without cost. Sorry, no spoilers. 

Comments: Memphis is the perfect compilation of all the elements of a successful Broadway show.  There is no weak link. Memphis boasts powerful vocals, impeccable choreography, smart comedy, rocking music, lovable characters, and an honest and heartwarming story, which culminates in a very satisfying evening of theatre.    

It is my belief that Huey Calhoun is one of the most beloved characters to ever grace a Broadway stage, and it requires a special actor to play the part. Bryan Fenkart is one such special actor.  As Huey, he nails the physical comedy and encompasses all that is unique, quirky, truthful, and endearing in this beloved character.  I saw Bryan Fenkart as Huey (u/s) on Broadway in 2010 and his performance has only improved, if that’s even possible. Bravo. Or should I say, HOCKADOO! 

No voice has ever filled the Providence Performing Arts Center like Felicia Boswell’s did on Tuesday night. She is a vocal powerhouse, who gives a fierce, superbly acted performance as nightclub singer, Felicia Farrell. Bravo. 

The supporting cast made the very most of their time in the spotlight. The character of Gator may be quiet, but Rhett George’s indelible cry for hope in the final Act I number, “Say A Prayer” is more than memorable. Likewise, as Mama, Julie Johnson’s performance of “Change Don’t Come Easy” was completely over the top and I loved every minute of it! This rousing number was a show highlight!  Will Mann’s Bobby gave the audience an unexpected treat with “Big Love”, and Horace V. Rogers brought down the house with the powerful, “She’s My Sister”. 

In my experience, a touring show sometimes loses something during the translation from Broadway to National Tour.  This is the first touring show I’ve seen in a long time that strengthened as a National Tour. The former Broadway and National Tour casts are so phenomenally talented in their own right, that they can both be enjoyed for what they bring to this spectacular show without comparisons. 

And if I haven’t persuaded you to see this show yet, let me mention Huey’s costumes.  Words cannot describe.  You’ll just have to go check them out yourself. Hockadoo.

The Verdict: A must-see. See it at PPAC before December 9th. Or catch it in Boston before December 23rd.  

Check out the Broadway cast's performance at the Tony Awards below. 

The Holidays in New York City- 2012

Here is a little video montage of NYC during this holiday season. Enjoy!