Spiderman: The Musical

What?

I've finally come to terms *Dreamgirls related*

And realized that I'm a Broadway Elitist.

*Disclaimer*
Before you read this, just understand that by the time you’re done with it, you'll realize what a terrible person I am.

It’s not that bad once you think about it!
Alright, well maybe it is.

It’s just when you hear comments such as:

“oh my god, I know that song, Jennifer Hudson sings that in dream girls. and she was talking about how she was the originator of that song and etc."

It. Is. Annoying.

I'm sitting there not being able to help but say...

“Yeah, it was just like when Jennifer Holliday sang it on Broadway and this girl says “Who? When was it on Broadway? That’s in New York right?”

Now I mean, it was kind of a shitty day, so everything was getting on my nerves and they just made it that much worse it wasn’t even that bad, but it made me just want to say.

Shut up.

Those are out of the norm casualties. These situations usually occur at school or at a store or somewhere where the people involved are not Broadway show fans. That’s fine because they don’t crawl up to a computer watch certain clips, and then choose to comment on them.

They are unlike the members on YouTube.

The people on that website never fail to light my ever burning fuse for Broadway Annoyances.

Usually I don’t mind, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I myself can be caught somewhere on that sight commenting random videos. But when you read some of the comments under performers videos it just irks me the wrong way. Recently those comments went a little something like this:

“Jennifer Hudson is more in time and she's a better singer so you lot can stop putting her down because she knocks this Effies weave off!!"

Don't compare the two, one is on stage, one is on film, one was way frekking back in the day, one is present day.
These women are TWO. Different. PEOPLE!
GET OVER IT!

“Her faces are disgusting they make me want to vomit"

I mean its meant to be like that because its onstage and the audience can feel the personal internal emotional suffering and you just cant convey that onscreen as personally and good as you can onstage live in person.

And then there are kickers like
“Jennifer Hudson looked too big in the movie"
“hudsin was too big for this role she needs to slim down"
“Jenn Holliday was way to big for this cast why did they even cast her if they knew she was that fat?"
“J Holliday sounds like she’s having a baby or something it’s a bit off putting"

DUH are you serious right now?! In the show

*hopefully I'm not giving out spoilers if you haven’t seen the show yet and don't want to be shocked and amazed then don't continue reading*

In the show she is supposed to be heavy, she’s supposed to be a big girl!

Not to mention when she is singing “And I am Telling You I’m not Going” SHES IS PREGNANT! She is with child! She’s SUPPOUSED TO BE BIG! ROTUND! LARGE! FAT! ROUND HEAVY! RUBENESQUE!

FOOD in the Theater

I went to the Performing Arts Center in R.I. yesterday with a friend to see Wicked. We were headed to our seats ans I pass a 35-40 year old couple with McDonald's in their Laps. It didn't fully register, and then it hit me and I did the World's most obvious double take.

After the intermission (my usual time of thinking "oh no, here come the candy wrappers") I was shocked to see that the family of four ALL had large NY style pretzels with the crinkly paper. After they finished their *pretzels the man pulled out skittles and the mom I'm assuming pulled out Reese Pieces. Also the girl/young teen in front of me was squeezing the life out a Disani water bottle each time she took a sip.

After "As Long As Your Mine" they were still going strong.

My friend was looking at me occasionally because she knows it drives me nuts.

This is the first theater I've seen this done in. Actually the first theater I've seen food (bigger then cough drop size) allowed past the seating entrance.


**Why would the theater sell Pretzels if they know what they wrapped it in will cause a disturbance?



To see more about this topic please visit this link

1.7.07 Wicked Tour in R.I.

A good Friend of mine, Kristen, was so kind as to take me to catch a mat. showing of the Wicked 07' Tour

The Providence Performing Arts Center is absolutely beautiful. I'd just like to say that first.

Cliffton Hall as Fiyero:
ThanksToPhantom, I would love to just copy and paste what you said. He seems like hes got a good set of pipes on him, but it wasn't as developed as it could have been.
This is what she actuallly said
"He had a great voice, and seems very talented, but the voice was not "strong" enough for him to have that leading man quality that the role needs to get by, seeing as how it is so underwritten. "

Josh Lamon as Boq:
He played well. His voice was surprisingly strong. He was a cutie and won everyone's sympathy. :)

Victoria Matlock as Elphaba:
First of all it seemed like her had tech problems. Her Mic was the quietest mic of the entire show. In the beginning of the show she acted as if she was still living in the shadow of Shoshana and Julia. That caused her character to appear thin and underdeveloped. She seemed to be singing somewhat like a little girl in chorus her voice sounded VERY young. I thought a mix between Jenna Leigh Green and Shoshana Bean. Her singing was riding the Quality Roller Coaster, weak at times, very strong in others.
The character was not believable and I was unimpressed by her...
Until Act Two
I'm not sure what happened during intermission but Victoria embraced Elphaba as her own and allowed to make her voice be heard. she was singing with confidence, acting her heart out. The sweet little chorus girl finally graduated!

P.J. Benjamin as The Wizard:
Played a fine Wizard, his voice was soothing to listen to and his acting was dead on.

Alma Cuervo as Madame Morrible:
This. Woman. Is. Hilarious.
GLINDA:Can I touch it? (referring to the book longingly.)
Long pause
MADAME MORRIBLE:whisperedNooooooo.
I was laughing so hard! Oy.

Deedee Nagno Hall as Nessarose:
Bravo Deedee! Deedee was Power House for Nessa. I was floored and just so enthralled when she sang anything. In my honest opinion I thought Deedee and Victoria should have switched roels. Her singing was right on the money throughout the show and Nessa was so realistic.

Christina DeCicco as Glinda:
Honestly, (and I wouldn't be surprised if I get crap for this) I have Never particularly cared for Ga/linda. Well, thats all done with now. Christina DeCicco had me sold completely. Her character was so believable and strong... "Deeply shallow" if you will. Her voice was absolutely perfect, not nasal, manly, or too breathy. I've seen 3 Ga/lindas before this performance, and where she may have not been the funniest, she was the most believable. Hands down. In my book, she was the star of yesterday's show.

Technically:
The audio was a bit awkward sounding. Elphaba's mic was very quiet opposed to every other main actor's mic. The ensemble was very quiet as well, during Good News and Thank Goodness it was very obvious that there was something not right with the sound. Also you could hear Tromping around in the first 5 or so numbers, but that was shortly resolved.

Audience?
NO Cell Phones.
No one was talking.
No running up and down the isles.
However.
The food was unbelievable.
My friend and i walked in to be seated and it is absolutely GORGEOUS! (Providence Performing Arts Center) so I'm taking in the sites and all when i look into the seats and there is a 40-45 year old couple eating McDonald's.
Not a drink, or a little cup of fries.
They have the bag, the cups, the burgers in boxes the little cup crate. Everything.
Its almost as bad as seeing a bucket of wings from KFC after intermission.
And there were very nice people in front of us (not sarcastically) who came back intermission with Pretzels wrapped in crinkly wax paper (as did the rest of the section), Reese's Pieces, Skittles, and bottled water. Well the bottled water was fine, but not when the girl was Squeezing like a plush toy each time she drank from it. This was going on up until if not after As Long As Your Mine.
Why would the people who own the theater sell those things with a crinkly wrapper like that? I understand money, yes, I understand, make a profit. But at least put the pretzles in a box or something instead of those wrappers!
Sorry, I know I sound like a complete jerk.

FINALLY...
In the beginning it felt a bit flat, lacking energy. As soon as, we, the audience got into it the entire cast fed off our energy and we got back what we put into it. It was the most dramatic change (energy wise) I've ever seen in a show.
Overall? It was a good show, great actors, I really enjoyed it. I'm glad I went!

Wow that was long...



To see the entire conversation go here: 1.7.07 Review

MTV and Broadway? What?

Beyonce
Borat
Jamie Fox
Ashley Simpson
Usher
Zac Efron
Drew Lachey
Julia Roberts
Emmy Rosum
Rosio Dawson
Eddie Murphy
and
Jonny Depp

These are some celeberties who are bouncing broadway stars out of their rightfull places.


This angers me.

Last night there was a clip on MTV it was all about how being a "theater geek" is the up coming trend.

They say Broadway will be selling out because more and more because celebrities want to get in on the productions.

Broadway will be giving celebrities lead merely because they're "royalty" in Hollywood and they will Trump the real talent out of staring roles.

For the film part of all this I just find it a bit annoying when you hear all these names straight out of People Magazine and Teen Bop to play in Hairspray, Sweeney Todd, and hear all the names being thrown around for Wicked.

Whats wrong with the actors/actresses who played those characters on stage?
Are they not good enough to be put on film?

I mean I know that some people out there don't know about Idina Menzel or Patti LuPuone even, but I just think its an insult.

I guess I just feel they'd be able to sell tickets at the box office too.

I read on YouTube once in Kristen Chenoweth's Glitter and Be Gay comments (recently removed):
"Ashley Tisdalle sings so much better then Kristen Chenoweth."

Well, Everyone is entitled to they're own opinion. I'll just leave it at that.

I am NOT saying the public doesn't belong in Broadway nor am I saying it must stay elite. I just don't agree with people choosing a celebrity over someone who has undeniable raw talent just because they'll sell more tickets.
I completely understand thats just the way it is, I'm only angry that it actually happens like that.

Say they cast (this is only a random name) Paul Walker as male lead instead of Micheal Arden in a revival of The Last Five Years or some other musical.

In the beginning of this thread I was only fearing celebrities being cast where they wouldn't be able to give the character justice. Wheez is right, sometimes casting directors hit the nail right on the head. However, when they don't it just gets me to thinking, why was the huge pool of Broadway actors/actresses not good enough for this.

Some of you may say because of ticket sales, and I understand that. No 15 year old with a limited knowledge of theater is going to want to see a guy or girl they've never heard of in a movie singing about something.
But when they hear Beyonce, or the girl from the Disney channel, or the guy from that boy band they "loved" 3 years ago is going to be in a new movie they'll rush themselves to the box office on opening day.

I understand that.
However, I do not see it as fair to those who have busted their asses all their lives to have finally made it and then not be a part of it for the world outside of theater. Especially when they originated the role and not be offered a spot to be on film. Kind of a "Hey, I was a part of this and I'm proud of it."

Elphaba's

The Green Girl.

The Wicked Witch of the West.

Elphaba.

Wicked, the Original Broadway musical is about a physically different, daring, misunderstood, powerful young woman who is dealing with growing up in a world of "beautiful people"

Yeah, I could have explained it better… but its her character I'm after right now.

Elphaba is the type a chick who is a great best friend, but if you piss her off, she might just kick your ass up and down the block.

IT DRIVES ME ABSOLOUTELY FREGGIN NUTS WHEN THEY CAST SHITTY ELPHABAS!

Okay…

A great example of the actress who plays her is a woman who has a sweet head voice, power house belting, and someone who doesn't over shadow anyone else unnecessarily

Someone who makes it their own, but not with ridiculous trills or vibrato also on someone who has control over their voice. While bringing their voice up making it sound younger is a fine idea, they should really coral that talent and dispense it throughout the show or at least until she "grows up".... Then bring it into the older sounding woman.

Someone who DOSE NOT OVER (or under) ACT!

She should also definitely be someone with the intensity and open vulnerability to delight and woo the audience.

She should not be shrill, over acting, screechy, showboating, underdeveloped (character wise), flat, under acting, nasal, and well defined both vocally and acting wise.

So… where some people would be considered amazing pick with amazing pipes, singing the songs they're great!
…Other then that when they're acting, it's more like they're only saying their lines. Either that or they sound drunk and overly expressive.

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Others deliver their lines absolutely beautifully but when it comes to the lyrical climax of the entire Musical (emphasis on MUSICAL) they fall short in their deliverance. And it's really truly sad.

There have truly only been Two truly amazing women who have hit the role head on and taken no prisoners, gave it their all every performance eight shows a week. They have my respect and are in my Broadway Leading Ladies Hall of Fame for ever.

two words: Power House
(Stephanie J. Block's Last Performance. Can't see much, but just listen…)

SJB Proshot a.k.a. Great Quality

Idina Menzel "The Wizard and I"

Brandi Chavonne Massey Mix

Brandi Chavonne Massey

What is going on?

What in GODS name is happning to the Broadway scene!??!

Beyonce in Dream Girls?

Usher and Ashley Simpson in Chicago?

Zac Efron and Amanda Bynes in Hairspray?

Drew Lachey in RENT?

Emmy Rosum in Phantom of The Opera?

Legally Blonde is being turned into a broadway musical

The Wedding Singer is now an offical broadway musical

Julia Roberts is currently in Three Days of Rain

Reese Witherspoon, Nicole kidman and Brittnay Spears are names that are being thrown around to play Elphaba in Wicked the movie

They're remaking the Movie Musical Classic My Fair Lady and filling The Hep's Spot with Kiera Knightly

SCOTT NEVINS's SHOW GOT TAKEN OUT OF BROADWAYWORLDRAIDO.COM!

AND JHONNY DEPP AND Borat IN SWEENEY TODD!?!?!?!

WHAT IS HAPPNING TO WHAT WE ONCE CALLED GOOD MUSICAL THEATER?!?!

Who produces these shows?!

Who gives them finiancial backing?!

Who does casting for these shows?

Who makes these kinds of decissions?!

Who
WHO
WHO!?!?!?

I WANT NAMES AND

ADDRESSES!