Better late than never! The video post of Ragtime will be up soon, as well as a written review of our first show of the new year, Next to Normal. The video blog about that will probably be recorded and posted towards the end of the month when we're back at school, so keep checking back!
Hello again! On Thursday December 10, 2009, I rushed Memphis with my friend Jen. This is not really part of the 12 Musicals project with Grace, but I love the show and it’s definitely blog-worthy. Just a written part with highlights of the day and a heavy focus on the actual show.
HIGHLIGHTS
1. I arrived in the city around 11:00, which is around the time when that shooting went down. I walked up 8th because it’s less crowded than 7th/Broadway and was almost run over my cop cars. I had no idea what was going on. I actually didn’t find out what happened until closer to 1:30. So, when I tried to get into the Marriott to go to the bathroom, I was very confused as to why there were so many cops.
2. I saw them putting up signs in the Lunt-Fontainne for The Addam’s Family! Definitely on the list for the spring.
3. I tricked my friend Nicole THREE times by telling her I saw Aaron Tveit. It was too funny.
a. Sitting in Junior’s, we had a lovely view of Shubert Alley. Mid-conversation, I interrupt to say “Oh my God Aaron Tveit!” Everyone at the table stops and looks out the window excitedly. “Where is he?” …. “Just kidding guys!” They were ready to kill me.
b. Nicole and Cyndi have never see Aaron as Gabe, but they liked Kyle. While they were entering the lottery, Jen and I were separate. I peeked in the lobby to see if there were understudies, which there weren’t. Regardless of that fact, I walked over to the two of them and asked “You guys really liked Kyle right?” They said yes and asked why. I smiled sympathetically and nodded when they asked if he was going on. I only let them be disappointed for a quick second before laughing and telling them I was just kidding. I was getting higher on Nicole’s hit list.
c. Between the time we entered lotto and when they drew it, Jen and I went into a store to keep warm while Nicole and Cyndi waited by the theatre. When we left, I said to Jen that it’d be funny to tell them we saw Aaron on our way back. I almost forgot, but Jen reminded me as we were walking back. So, as we get back to the Booth, I smile. Nicole is looking at me like I’m crazy and asks if I’m okay. I just nod and keep smiling. “Who did you see?” Keep smiling. “Was it Aaron?” Big smile and a nod. “Oh my God!” “Just kidding!!!” It was so much fun. But hopefully, since Nicole met him at the stagedoor, she doesn’t want to kill me anymore!
I learned I am a damn good actress when I want to be.
4. Nicole won the Next to Normal lotto! I also won, and claimed a ticket for a group of three who needed one more. That was my good deed for the day.
THE SHOW
Since we did rush, our seats were in the very front row all the way on the side. We were very close, but for $26.50, you can’t complain. During the club scenes, our view was slightly obstructed by a table, but it didn’t really take away from the show. We still knew what was going on. The first time I saw the show, I was all the way over on the other side, so I’ve gotten both perspectives at this point.
This is the second time I’ve seen the show, so it’s clear that I absolutely love it and there are so many reasons to keep going back (really, don’t be surprised if you see another review in the spring because Grace hasn’t seen it yet).
I absolutely adore the music. It’s fun and catchy and it’s been stuck in my head all day (I actually just ordered the cast recording – it should be arriving at my house around the same time I get home for winter break). My favorite song is “Memphis Lives in Me.” It’s a gorgeous song and Chad Kimball’s voice is incredible. I also love “Someday.” It’s beautiful lyrics and Montego Glover is also amazing. However, I think the entire score is great and fun.
I also really enjoy the dancing. Those boys in the ensemble can do some crazy flips. Very well choreographed.
I like the story too. It’s not just a love story, but it has social relevance to the time in which it’s set. Also, it can sort of apply to today when Huey says, “Suppose two grown adults can marry who they like” or something to that effect. But the serious theme of racism in the show makes it more than just a good time, but also a meaningful piece of theatre.
If I had to critique it, I would say that Huey’s character changes sort of annoy me. In the first act, he’s all gung-ho let’s go to New York and get married!! But, in act two, he wants to stay in Memphis. It’s sort of inconsistent with his character, but I guess it’s just the fame going to his head. But he’s a good guy, deep down and I really sympathize for his character.
The talent in the cast is unbelievable. Every member of the ensemble is incredibly talented when it comes to the dancing. It’s pretty amazing. Vocally, everyone was awesome as well.
Montego Glover as Felicia was so good. She’s beautiful on stage and her voice is equally lovely.
Chad Kimball as Huey. Vocally, he’s incredible. I’m absolutely in love with his voice. I think he does a great job with the accent and general acting for his character. I think he’s my favorite part of the show. Okay, okay, and I think he’s really cute too. I know it’s early, but as of right now, I am 100% rooting for him come Tony season. Only 6 more months…
But, both Jen and I adored the show. I think she wants to see it again too. And I’d go back tomorrow if I could.
STAGEDOOR
Well, at first, we were the only ones at the stagedoor. There weren’t any barricades set up either. But after a few minutes, a small group joined us. Then, a large group of kids who appeared to be on a high school field trip arrived. They were the perfect example of how NOT to act at the stagedoor. They were insane and screaming and pushing and just downright disrespectful.
In case you, reader, were unsure about how to act at a stagedoor, let me give you some pointers based on what these kids did wrong.
1. They are actors, not animals (to quote my friend Amber). There is no need to scream and yell at them and throw your playbill in their face. Ask them nicely and I’m sure they’ll be happy to sign for you.
2. Even though they’re actors, they’re still people. Don’t scream at them when they come out. The only difference between them and us is that they can sing well enough to be on Broadway.
3. If you’re going to ask me to borrow my Sharpie, wait until I say yes to use it. The girl behind me was like “Let me borrow this” and just took it out of my hand to hand to one of the actors. Um, I really have no problem sharing my Sharpie, but ask me, wait for me to say yes, and then I will hand it to the actor. But this girl just took it out of my hand and handed it to the guy (I think it was either Del Ray or Bobby).
4. Just because the actor is “only in the ensemble” doesn’t mean they are any less worthy of signing your playbill. There are definitely more ensemble members in the company than leads, so more of them were coming out first. The dumb, obnoxious, disrespectful (I’ll stop there) girl behind me was saying louder than she needed to “Move along, you nobody, keep moving, you nobody” when the ensemble members came out and started to sign for other people. This was the worst. I was so mad. Just because they are “just” in the ensemble and not a lead makes them no less talented than any of the leads. They are still on Broadway. They still made it. And they have to work just as hard, if not harder than the leads, because a lot of them are understudies. Not only do they have to know their own ensemble track, but the tracks of a lead or two. I’m not an actress and I will never be on the Broadway stage, but I think I can safely say remembering all that is pretty damn hard.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Thank you.
Also, just because they're "only" in the ensemble now, doesn't mean they're not going to be Tony nominated next season. I mean, look at Jenn Damiano. When I first saw Spring Awakening, she was "only in the ensemble." I didn't stagedoor that time, but I certainly wouldn't have turned down her autograph if I had. And look, her next show she gets a Tony nomination. Same for Krysta Rodriguez. She was in the ensemble of Spring Awakening as well as one of the times I saw In the Heights (the other she was Carla -- and I saw her in A Chorus Line) but who knows how big she'll get from The Addamn's Family. Everyone has to start somewhere. I mean, Chad was Milky White in Into the Woods. He was a cow before he was a lead. Don't shrug off the ensemble.
5. Don’t push. They were pushing everyone upwards and crowding the door. The actors can’t sign your playbill if they can’t come out.
I think that’s all. But they were so annoying. Luckily, their bus came and they left before too many people came out.
Despite the mayhem, I was able to get a picture with Charlie Williams, who is my favorite ensemble cast member. He’s super cute and his dancing and flipping skills are off the wall.
I actually don’t have too many pictures because of the cold and the obnoxious group.
Jen and I had a really nice conversation with Bryan Fenkhart. He’s the understudy for Huey, so he wasn’t on that night. He still signed for everyone. I wish I got a picture with him, but he was stood there and talked to us for a few minutes. We talked about his impending birthday, how he doesn’t want to turn 30, and then he said he was going to go home and drink because I said I heard it all went downhill after 21. He was just kidding though. And he said it doesn’t go downhill, which is good because I’ve only got 7 months left of being 20. Haha. He was super nice though. I’d love to see him in the role of Huey though!
We also meant the lovely Montego Glover, who is not only talented and beautiful, but very sweet as well.
Last but not least, Chad Kimball came out. When he walked out to what was left of the crowd, he said hello in his Huey voice. Love. He was really nice too and I got a picture with him. Sadly, my bangs and the wind didn’t want to cooperate during picture time, but that’s okay.
Overall, Memphis is a great show. It’s definitely my favorite so far this season and I’m hoping it really kills during Tony season.
Hockadoo!
No comments:
Post a Comment