SMASH is a smash

A TV show about a Broadway musical sounds a bit overzealous. To us theatre nerds and forgive me for being cheesy but it’s a dream come true. While we already have the wildly popular Glee, one of my personal favorite TV shows, legendary director Steven Spielberg wanted a bit of action and has successfully taken a slice of the Glee-pie with his new show SMASH. While it is a big risk as Broadway and theatre in general is such a narrow interest but Spielberg pulls it off as only Spielberg can.

The show SMASH tells the story of the making of Broadway musical. Successful music and book writing team Tom Levitt(Christian Borle) and Julia Houston(Debra Messing)want to bring Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe to life in a lavish, full-out musical. With a director in place they set out to find their Marilyn and find themselves stuck between two actresses that fit the bill but who couldn’t look and be any more different. Throughout the season viewers will be taken on a realistic ride through the ups and downs of creating and bringing a show to the big Broadway from cast decisions, the creative team to money matters.

The pilot, which is currently, a free download on iTunes until its television debut after the Superbowl on February 5 is absolutely brilliant! The original music is spectacular and the idea for the show-within-the show is so well developed and though out that it could be successfully transferred from the silver screen to the Great White Way. The show is a “smash”-no pun intended but I hope that it can maintain the momentum and attract an audience that it will need to keep the ratings strong and the show afloat. The cast is stupendous and not only do I love seeing so many Broadway people from Christian Borle to a cameo appearance by one of my favorites Annaleigh Ashford by the other big names that they have such as Angelica Houston and the talent that they bring. Ms.Houston is flawless and American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee is sensational as Marilyn hopeful Karen. She brings a different look and dynamic to the role where Broadway vet Megan Hilty who plays other Marilyn hopeful Ivy looks the part and brings along mad set of vocal chops to go along with it.

The one-hour episode is chalk-full of theatre references and jokes that will make the day of any Broadway fan. So, if you want to view the next big thing in theatre go to iTunes and download the pilot of Smash for free today through February 5. I swear you won’t regret it!

525,600 Minutes

525,600 minutes. It feels like it has only been that long since Rent closed on Broadway and less than three years later the new Off-Broadway revival opened at New World Stages this past August. When the creative team announced last year that they were mounting the shows first ever revival Off-Broadway I felt I was among the many who sighed and said “Didn’t that close not too long ago?” However, I let it go and went on with life. Then at the end of August, all of New York City was shut down for Hurricane Irene and my friend and I were inside our building for the weekend. Dying to get out and do something that Monday, we remembered that Rent had a night show and we thought we would lotto for tickets that night. Well, we won the tickets and I was eager to see the show. That night I left feeling different, entranced in a way at this incredible show and talented cast. I was hooked and fell in love with the revival of Rent.

Rent tells the story of a group of struggling friends living a bohemian lifestyle in the East Village in New York during the AIDS epidemic in the ‘90’s. Throughout the course of a year they deal with love, loss, struggles, AIDS and paying their rent.

This new production has been rethought and reinvented by the original director Michael Grief whose ideas and vision are very prominent in this production. The sets are new, yet still reminiscent of the original one, the costumes have elements of the original such as Mimi and Joannes’ coats, Rogers leather jacket and Maureen’s leather ensemble. However, the amazing music, touching story and message of “No day but today” is still the same it is just told by a young, different and brilliant cast that brings such a fresh look to this iconic show. Adam Chanler-Berat who strikes a resemblance to book, music and lyrics writer Jonathan Larson brings charm and passion to the role of filmmaker/narrator Mark, Annaleigh Ashford who plays the lovable yet kooky performance artist Maureen gives the best performance of her Broadway career! She is brilliant and gives one of those performances that you come back to see. She looks at the role in a different way bringing out the somewhat ditzy and funny part of Maureen. Her Over the Moon is incredible as she makes it her own! Matt Shingledecker plays rocker Roger who in my mind is one of the best Rogers as he is so connected emotionally to the character. He is really channeling the characters internal pain and conflict which I really enjoy watching. Arianda Fernandez gives the best performance of Mimi that I have seen! Her voice is very different and unique. It’s not too polished, but has a bit of a rough edge to it and that makes her Mimi sound and look so realistic as lets not forget, Mimi is a 19 year-old drug addict and S&M dancer. She is this tiny ball of energy that can dance like you would not believe. She reels you in and she commands the audience’s attention especially during Out Tonight! Clive Barnes Award winner MJ Rodriguez is the fabulous drag queen Angel. He is a younger Angel who brings some depth to the role and his performance alone makes you want to come back. He gives one of those performances that makes an actor a star and he has a Tony win in the bag if they ever take this production to Broadway. Nicholas Christopher plays a loving Collins, Corbin Reid plays a sophisticated Joanne who can really belt and Ephraim Sykes is a quiet Benny. The cast as a whole will blow you away as they are very small company but all so talented, this lets the audience focus in on the characters and their story.

I mentioned above that they show has been rethought and it has. Contact has been retooled and restaged. There have been music cuts and video screens are now used throughout the show, which work beautifully with Over the Moon as well as to capture the cast during the final number. But were the video screens always necessary no, as we do not need to see Santa Fe over Roger and New York over Mark during What You Own. Some numbers and scenes remain exactly the same and they could have used a little bit of reworking. Rent’s new home, New World Stages is the perfect place for this show as it provides a more intimate experience amongst the actors and the audience making you feel connected to the characters.

If you want to have a truly moving and emotional experience at the theatre go to New World Stages and see the Off-Broadway revival of Rent. Whether you think you are done with Rent or want to experience the show live for first or the 100^th time this production will make you fall in love with this beautiful story.

What's New in 2012

Hello my lovelies! Happy New Year! As we begin 2012 many new productions prepare for their openings in order to be considered for the Tony’s. While some shows such as Yank!, Sleepless in Seattle and the revival of Funny Girl have been postponed, there are many new shows that are on track for opening night. So as we are barely into 2012 I have decided to compile a list of the productions that I am most looking forward to this year.

Evita

As a lover of the works of Andrew Lloyd Webber, I am thrilled to have Evita back on Broadway. I am very interested to see Elena Roger who has been brought over from the West End revival of the show. Also, I’m curious to see Ricky Martin in the role of Ché who as most know was a big pop star and I really want to see if he can handle Lloyd Webbers’ challenging and demanding score. I also want to see if the costumes and sets have been modernized at all to appeal to today’s audiences. But most of all, I’m the most excited to here Lloyd Webbers’ luscious score and Tim Rices’ extraordinary lyrics preformed live on stage for the first time!

End of the Rainbow

As a fan of Judy Garland this new show has definitely piqued my interest. Most productions about her focus on her high points and career successes while this musical-drama is about her final months, which were very troubling for her. Moreover, I’m very curious and excited to see West-End star Tracie Bennett’s’ performance of this legendary woman and how she will bring Judy to life on stage.

Rebecca

With readings and such that have been occurring over the past year for this show, I’m very excited to see the final product and the novel of the same name by Daphne du Maurier brought to life.

Peter and the Starcatchers

After a very successful off-Broadway run I’m thrilled to see this show on the Great White Way. I love the story of Peter Pan and I’m looking forward to being swept away into this fantasy world.

Newsies

After a sold-out run at the Paper Mill Play House this past fall, I really want to see for myself what everyone was raving about!

Theatre "Tops" of 2011

As 2011 draws to a close I am left reflecting on my favorite productions, performances etc. of this season. There were so many amazing new productions this year as well as events that I loved every minute of. So I have compiled a list of “Tops” for the year ranging from events, performances, productions and other little bits here and there.

Top 5 Productions:

5. How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

What an incredible revival! Absolutely spectacular and a very talented cast! I will have to admit that I was a bit wary about the casting of Daniel Radcliffe but I was very pleasantly surprised. I thought that he was going to be a “star vehicle” for the show as a moneymaker but it is the total opposite. He has a wonderful voice, an excellent American accent and his dancing was flawless!

4. Catch Me If You Can

An amazing show based on the true story that had me laughing the entire way through. Norbert Leo Butz deserved the Tony for his comedic performance. Aaron Tveit sings the incredibly catchy music like a dream throughout the entire show that you can’t take your eyes off of him!

3.Bonnie and Clyde

While unfortunately this show just closed I was lucky enough to be at the first preview and what a treat it was. I mentioned in my review about the show (Bonnie and Clyde Broadway’s New Love Affair) how I love Frank Wildhorn. He again went for something that was very different and for me it worked. Filled with upbeat and infectious music and a marvelous cast I fell in love with this incredible show that had a very premature closing.

2.Follies

The divas over at the Marquis theatre make it impossible for you not to love them. With so much love and passion on the stage not to mention legends. Through this production you are swept away into the fabulous and luscious world that is Stephen Sondheim.

1.Rent

Words can’t even describe my love for this production. At first I was skeptical about this revival but I was wrong! By the end of the first act I was in love with this production and the company. They are all so young and bring a fresh look to this iconic show!

Top 3 Events:

3. “New York New York” in Duffy’s Square

2.Broadway Flea Market

1.Rent Christmas Spectacular Extravaganza

Top 5 Performances:

5.Tyne Daly Master Class

Brilliant riveting performance given by Ms.Daly. Thoroughly enjoyed.

4.Bernadette Peters Follies

Again Sondheim’s amazing musical muse Ms.Peters succeeds in captivating and moving the audience to tears with her beautiful rendition of Losing My Mind and her Tony worthy performance as Sally Durant Plummer.

3.Annaleigh Ashford Rent

While it seems everyone was a bit skeptical of the unconventional casting for Maureen Johnson in this year’s revival of Rent, Ms. Ashford blows the audience away with her perfect comedic timing by bringing a different take to Maureen and the song Over The Moon

2.Jan Maxwell Follies

Ah, what a stupendous performance by Ms.Maxwell. She is a badass and makes it show through her portrayal of Phyllis Rogers Stone. She delves into her music and brings the audience along with her. I dare you not to say that you didn’t feel anything for her character during Could I Leave You?

1.MJ Rodriguez Rent

This years Clive Barnes Award winner for acting gives the best performance of Angel! He is funny, charismatic and brings the house down every night with his rendition of Today For You (and he can walk and dance in heels better than me!)

Biggest Surprise of the Year:

*Insert Spiderman joke here-just kidding!

First revival of Funny Girl postponed indefinitely. As a big fan of the musical I was somewhat shocked to here that it had been cancelled.

That’s it for 2011 everyone! I’ll see you next year!

Bwaygirl828