Category: Musical

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Frozen

Frozen, the Broadway Musical!!! I think I like the musical more than the movie!

Bravos to the talented cast. Caissie Levy had an amazing voice as Elsa. Patti Murin wonderfully brought out the playful and lovable character in Princess Anna. Major kudos to Greg Hildreth as Olaf including the voice, acting, puppeteering, and tap dancing! Andrew Pirozzi as Sven was lively and funny (and impressive for moving inside his ginormous reindeer costume all night). Last but not least, bravos to the ensemble of amazing dancers.

Costuming was gorgeous right from the opening scene. Non-stop beautiful choreographies brought out the best in the twirling dresses, and filled the stage with actions.

Set design (especially lighting design) was incredible and created an unforgettable magic-filled winter wonderland.

The plot twist involving Prince Hans of the Southern Isles was much better executed, and more believable in the musical than in the movie (which I had thought was a major weakness for the latter).

Altogether, I came out of the theater, liking the musical more than the movie!

p.s. Young princess Anna has a penguin!!!

This time last spring, my two favorite musicals were two unique productions, Come From Away and The Great Comet, that made their way to Broadway, and known for their distinct stage arrangements, storytelling, and immersive theatre.

This year, surprising even to myself, my two favorite musicals so far are the Disney- and Nickelodeon-productions of Frozen and SpongeBob, well polished and made straight for Broadway. Will Mean Girls, My Fair Lady, or Summer change my experience in the next three months??

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Carousel

Preview of “Carousel” at the Imperial Theatre tonight.

Wonderful dance scenes. Just wonderful. 😍 Love the opening Carousel Waltz by the company, and the equally lovely reprise in Act II by Louise and the company. I’m glad to finally see the story from which Christopher Wheeldon created his ballet, Carousel (A Dance).

The plot was dreadful though.

A violent man beats his wife. What kind of script writer puts in the line for the wife to say “But I’m happy.” 🤯 The said violent man kills himself rather than taking care of his unborn daughter, but God gives him a second chance to return to earth. He hits his (now teenage) daughter upon resurrection, and the daughter asks her mom “Is it possible for a man to beat you so hard but it doesn’t hurt?” 😠 Why do violent men deserve a second chance anyways? 😡 What about giving the women a real role? A real purpose other than to obey their man? Real agency to determine their own destiny?

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Escape to Margaritaville

Preview of “Escape to Margaritaville” on Wednesday, February 21.

The sold-out crowd on the first night of preview were so engaged, that they finished the Marquis Theatre’s entire supply of margaritas and set a new bar sales records.

The crowd was a lot thinner on this second night. The mezz was about 1/3 filled. The music was good. The title song “Escape to Margaritaville” was still the most memorable and recognizable score. The plot left much to be desired though.

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Encores! Hey, Look Me Over!

Saw excerpts from *nine* Broadway musicals and Vanessa Williams this afternoon at “Encores! Hey, Look Me Over!” presented by the New York City Center.

Some of my favorite moments:

“Look What Happened to Mabel” and “Movies Were Movies” from the musical, Mack and Mabel. Special shoutouts to Alexandra Socha’s singing and ACTING as Mabel. She was energetic yet genuine “as if you could see through her soul” the moment she interrupted the movie scene in “Movies Were Movies”.

Bebe Neuwirth as Mimi in the musical, Sail Away. Looooved her in the closing score “Why Do the Wrong People Travel” where she sang in exasperation about: Why why why do the wrong people travel and why why why do the right the people stay home? She was funny and dramatic, and everything the song was about.

Bob Martin, as the MC of the show, was hilarious yet informative — allowing us to jump from scene to scene, from musical to musical while staying engaged in show and learning tidbits of Broadway history.

The ensemble of the musical, George M! Loved their singing and tap dancing in “Give My Regrets to Broadway”.

The ensemble of the musical, Milk and Honey. Wonderful Israeli dancing in “Independence Day Hora.”

Carolee Carmello and Britney Coleman as Wildy and Janie from the musical, Wildcat, singing “Hey, Look Me Over!” as they proudly drove their fixer-upper car into Centavo City.

Judy Kuhn and Reed Birney as Elizabeth and Fodorski from the musical, All American, singing the lovely yet sad “Once Upon a Time” and reflecting on a time very very long ago, when there was a girl with moonlight in her eyes… when they laughed, were young, and didn’t have a care… but somehow once upon a time never comes again.

Plus more scenes and music from Jamaica, Greenwillow, and Subways are for Sleeping.

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Waitress

Waitress starring Sara Bareilles and Jason Mraz! 😍😍😍

Sara was absolutely ahhhh-mazing singing her own music.

Jason was charismatic, and added the perfect chemistry to the story.

All the main characters were great: Christopher Fitzgerald as Ogie (Wow!!!), Dakin Matthews as Joe (so much attitude, so much life, so much fun watching him having fun on stage), NaTasha Yvette Williams as Becky, Molly Jobe as Dawn, Benny Elledge as Cal, and Joe Tippet as Earl.

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Anastasia

Christy Altomare and Derek Klena made me fall in love with their characters all over again. 😘

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Once on This Island

Wow! What a gem. What a special musical. Go experience Once on This Island!!!

Entering the Circle in the Square Theatre is always a surprise. Like opening a box of chocolate: You never know what to expect.

For anyone who’s never been to the theater, it’s a circular stage inside a square box with seating all around on all four sides. Hence the name, Circle in the Square. On my last two visits, the space was transformed into the circular and wall-less home of the Bechdels in “Fun Home”, and into a New York City subway car, a subway station, an airplane, among other venues in “In Transit”

Tonight was different though. Very very different.

As we stepped in the theater, the space was transformed from top to bottom. The stage is filled with sand. An open camp fire burnt at the center. The entrance hallway for the cast is filled with water and has become a river. An boat, turned upside down, sat at the bank of the river. A goat jumped off from the boat onto the beach. Food was cooking on a stove a few rows in front of me. Mmm. Delicious! … and all of this was just pre-performance background activities on stage!

As the show opened, a hurricane hit the island. Wind was gusting and howling. There were actual fans blasting air at us, aided by more sound effects from the cast spinning music instruments above their heads. Throughout the show, thunder struck. Rain poured from the sky. Yes, real water came down at us. Sand was peeled away to reveal a grand ballroom complete with chandeliers hanging from the roof lit with candles. Costuming was both authentic yet dramatic. (e.g., Ti Moune’s dress with a long train that draped from the stage all the way to the last row of the theater.) A tree sprout from the earth, and grew to hit the ceiling of the theater.

For 90-minutes, we travelled to the island of Haiti, and became immersed in its culture, its history, its legends, and its way of life. We learnt the story of Ti Moune, about the Gods (Love, Water, Earth, and Death), and about what it means to be part of the Human Heart.

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SpongeBob SquarePants

SpongeBob SquarePants was funny, and over-the-top entertaining.

I generally prefer musicals with a strong emotional central story. Understandably, I came into the theater last night uncertain whether I’ll actually enjoy this comical production based on a children’s television series. But I did!!!

The central plot was simple, but the show pulled out every trick in musical theatre and put on an extravagant show. I came out wondering if I had visited Las Vegas.

A huge dance ensemble? Check. Extravagant tap dance piece? Check. Incredible solo vocals? Check. Tricks on roller skates? Tricks on skateboards? Dancing alphabets? Dancing in the mezz and balcony? Dancing miniature characters? (Think “miniature weather van and the show” in Groundhog Day.) Millions of bubbles coming down from the sky? Confetti and ribbons filling the theater? Pirate jokes? Check. Check. Check.

The entire cast is SUPER multi-talented to perform all the dancing, singing, acting, and the numerous acrobatic and physical tricks — often at the same time. Case in point. Ethan Slater (as SpongeBob) attached to a safety wire, singing while climbing a volcano upside down. Bravos. Bravos.

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Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street

A thrilling night at the Barrow Street Theater last weekend.

My first thought after the show was “Hey, that reminded me of Into the Woods!” when Jessica Dorcey reminded me that they were indeed both by Stephen Sondheim. The two musicals had so much resemblance. A slow if not slightly confusing buildup in Act I where a wide array of seemingly-unrelated characters came together. An action-packed and gruesome Act II. The rhythm of the music. The rapid-firing words, sung by a panicking and mad crowd.

Similarities aside: Bravos to this Tooting Arts Club production for its excellent acting, singing, and actions all around the house. Expect every open space in the small, intimate theater to be part of the stage!!