ttepper
Barrel Filler
Posts:1312
 | | 12/05/2002 11:24 PM |
| | I'd rather have a beer and play on the forums than go to a b'way show.... | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12501
| | 12/06/2002 12:35 AM |
| | Give it a chance. You just might LIKE it. I am actually sure that you will. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Fermenter
Posts:667
| | 12/07/2002 6:28 AM |
| Saw "The Education of Randy Newman" in Seattle last week as it incubates (a la "Shampoo," Wassermans and others). Fabulous. Hopefully it will make it to Broadway. Last one we saw was Kesey-based "Cuckoo's Nest" with Gary Sinise. A recent personal favorite was "Tales of the Allergist's Wife" after which Valerie Harper and cast came out and applauded the audience for showing up (it was October 11, 2001).
Top though, recently, was "Barrymore" with Christopher Plummer delivering the performance of a lifetime, although he arguably has many. Stunning and sublime...what a guy. And he does a mean Captain von Trapp.  | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts:10
| | 12/12/2002 12:36 AM |
| | Some of my favorites are Phantom Of The Opera, Beauty & The Beast, Miss Saigon, Les Mis, Mamma Mia, Caberet. | | | |
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jaimetown
DC area
Wine Labeler
Posts:3504
| | 12/12/2002 7:37 PM |
| This is a cool thread. My fiance is a musicals-kinda-gal, so I've been on a rampage this year. Saw more musicals than I have ever in my entire life!
The list (all viewed in Washington DC):
1) Company (Steven Sondheim festival at the Kennedy Center) - best musical this year. Actually went on eBay and tried to get tix to another show (but it was too expensive and all the shows were sold out)
2) Sweeney Todd (Another Sondheim musical) - devilish good fun
3) Les Miserables (at the National Theatre) - not as good as the time I saw it in NYC, but the material is timeless.
4) Mama Mia - not as tight as the other musicals, but good fun.
5) A Little Night Music - Also Sondheim - forgettable.
As for opera, my mom made me go to an opera when I was young, and I had to miss a Charlie Brown cartoon special b/c of it. I think I'm still bitter about that. | | | |
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Brent Null
Roseville, CA
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2194
| | 12/12/2002 7:46 PM |
| jaimetown: You must be a Sondheim fan, yes??? I love his work. Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Company are ALL fabulous!
"Phone rings, door chimes, in comes Company..." | | | |
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jaimetown
DC area
Wine Labeler
Posts:3504
| | 12/12/2002 7:59 PM |
| Brent-
I had no idea who Sondheim was before this year, and I have to admit, the guy is pretty amazing. 'Company' was amazing - the music, the cast and the set were all great. Considering they did something like 6+ Sondheim musicals on ONE stage in like 6 months at the Kennedy center, it was quite a feat.
That's cool that you are in theatre - I once played an old man in 'The Crucible' and was Radio Operator McCaffrey (read: nobody) in 'South Pacific' in high school. | | | |
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Dick W.
Barrel Filler
Posts:1081
| | 12/12/2002 8:26 PM |
| just saw one last week when i was in NYC, but dame frankie and i always try to get to NYC at least once a year if not more cuz we love it so much.
lets see, last week i saw the graduate, for all you sopranos fans, lorraine bracco was mrs robinson. i liked it.
phantom was great, we have a cat so we went to cats, liked that.
scarlet pimpernel, the crucible, chicago (with my fave bebe neuwirth) i really liked. but i liked her i could be biased!!!
let's face it, if you're acting on broadway, you're pretty darn good. that said, i consistently see high quality shows everytime. you guys who live there are truly blessed to have it so close. | | | |
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Brent Null
Roseville, CA
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2194
| | 12/12/2002 9:32 PM |
| | When I was about 15 years younger I so wanted to go pro. Now I am perfectly content acting in and directing some GREAT shows and having the time of my life. You never know, some day... | | | |
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Dick W.
Barrel Filler
Posts:1081
| | 12/12/2002 10:14 PM |
| | where's rocklin Brent? this is stage presentations that you are active in? | | | |
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Brent Null
Roseville, CA
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2194
| | 12/12/2002 10:53 PM |
| Frankie: Rocklin is a suburb of Sacramento. We are about an hour from Napa, 2 hours from San Francisco, Reno and Tahoe.
I am a full-time Artisitic/Technical Director for Sunset Christian Center here in Rocklin. We open our "Christmas Spectacular" program this weekend.
I also serve on the Board of Director for a local community theatre in Sacramento. I am currently directing MY FAIR LADY. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Fermenter
Posts:667
| | 12/13/2002 2:16 AM |
| Jaimetown - BRAVO to you for braving musicals with your intended. You are the ideal fiance. Keep up the good work after the formalities. Lorraine Bracco as Mrs. Robinson is casting perfection. Only to be outdone by the fabulous Anne Bancroft. Which reminds of Mel Brooks. Which reminds me of the video tape of this season's first 6 episodes of the Sopranos which I sent to my father. Which reminds me he "couldn't send it back (as strongly requested) because he 'taped over it,' sorry." Me: "With what? What do I get? Football or golf?" Father: "The Producers. Your mother called from the city and asked me to tape 'The Producers'." Me: "BUT you can rent the Producers??!!" Father: "Yeah, and she just saw the play a few months ago, too." Argh. Excuse the run-on, just that Six Degrees of Separation again.
Brent, how did the review go that Friday evening (from Napa)? | | | |
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Brent Null
Roseville, CA
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2194
| | 12/13/2002 5:44 AM |
| QoH: The show went very well. Tough show to do for a High School.
BTW...I found some '99 Uriah on my doorstep when I came home from work today...  | | | |
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Dick W.
Barrel Filler
Posts:1081
| | 12/13/2002 4:41 PM |
| Brent:
i'll have to keep that in mind. dame frankie and i make an annual pilgrimmage to wine country, last year was sonoma as you may remember. i'm sure i'll post early enough to get ideas for this years trip. i'd love to see what you're doing, we like good stage presentations. | | | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2284
| | 12/16/2002 7:04 PM |
| | Has anyone seen "Urinetown?" | | | |
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Brent Null
Roseville, CA
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2194
| | 12/16/2002 9:43 PM |
| Frankie: You are always welcome to visit us in Rocklin. In fact, if I am in a show at that time, I will be sure to get you comps.
mdriver: No I haven't but heard GREAT things about it!!! It won 3 Tonys: Best Score, Best Book of a Musical and Best Direction of a Musical. Those are three BIGGIES in my book. | | | |
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Lee Ann
Barrel Filler
Posts:1232
| | 12/17/2002 3:18 PM |
| URINETOWN- A Strange Show... most people love it or hate it. My husband and I didn;t care for it. I was glad I saw if for free ( I handle the Broadway Advertising for The Star-Ledger).
The acting and singing was great, but I didn't like the story- was a black dreary set- the premise is that if you get caught peeing- they kill you by throwing you off the top of a building-! Very dark humor. Not what I'd call a "Feel-good" kind of show.
Some people rave about it, though- it is a unique show. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts:10
| | 12/19/2002 4:32 PM |
| | I saw this show yesterday. I agree with jazin. It isn't an ordinary show and very different. Do not expect Phantom, Les Miserable, or something like that. Good actors, music is not bad. I did not care for the story. "Urine town" is the place where you cannot pee on the street, you have to pay for the bathroom. Rich people get richer because they own all the bathrooms in town and poor suffer. The big picture of the show is the REVOLUTION (justice, democracy and est.) If you like that stuff, you may like it. It is a melodrama, sarcastic humor. I would not purchase tickets on my own. I went for free, so I did not regret. | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12501
| | 01/10/2003 7:14 PM |
| OK. I am off to see Carmen (the Opera, 1st Opera ever) & pick-up all that Vino in Manhattan.
Will post a review on Carmen when I come back. | | | |
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Lee Ann
Barrel Filler
Posts:1232
| | 01/11/2003 12:45 AM |
| FYI- If you did not get the insert in last Sunday's paper- (in NY/NJ)go to ilovenytheater.com for the Season of Savings Jan-March Winter specials for lots of Broadway shows- many 1/2 price or better. Off Broadway shows are $35. Plus there are parking coupons, we printed a coupon and paid just $10 last wk for a garage next to Rockefeller Center.
By the way shows 'rumored' to be closing soon:
Dance of the Vampires and Flower Drum Song.
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