The Color Purple closing Feb. 24
 

Saw the show in NY a few weeks ago with Fantasia.

It was good. Not one of my favorites.

Always hate to see a show close, though.

Grabbed a discount code for tix to Rent at work. Going early March. So glad I'm finally seeing it!!

Son just missed being cast in the national tour of A Chorus Line which starts its national run here in Denver on Mothers Day.

Mrs. DA was so excited -- but he missed the part they had in mind for him by one audition. Although they had him back for four callbacks, they had already given the part they wanted him for to another guy.

However, the same casting agency just cast him in another show. I was not aware that every year a group does three productions, each a week long, at the City Center Theatre. They are old pieces, in this case, No, No Nanette and have big name stars, directors, choreographers, etc. This supposedly a big deal and "everyone" comes to them.

As he was leaving the casting call for Chorous Line, he mentioned to one of the casting directors that almost the whole cast he was in in Dallas a couple of years ago are in the tour and they would love working with the guy who got "his" part. The casting director said something like, in six months, you'll be there, too.

I won't hold my breath, but it sure did a lot for his self image.

He just closed in The Wild Party, Off Off Broadway.

Guess there may be another trip to the city in our near future.

On the Denver front, Daughter number one just started rehearsals for Thoroughly Modern Millie. She and her husband just got back from a theatre conference in New York and saw several shows.

Also, Mrs. DA has been asked to direct a musical for a local youth theater. Don't know if she'll do it or not.

April 13th - WICKED, HERE I COME (AGAIN)!!!

Unfortunatly, my mother is a bit of a spaz, and booked plane tickets to Chicago that weekend, so I'm taking Mariana in her place. The info said no one under 7 would be admitted, but I called the box office, and they said that it was more of a suggestion than anything, and that no one would stop my daughter from getting in, even though she's only 3 1/2. I understand why they say no one under 7, but Mariana's been to everything from The Lion King, to STOMP to Les Arts Florissant to The Nutcracker Ballet. She sings the Papageno-Papagena duet in the car. She's not a normal toddler.

Rent is being extended till September :)

As long as she doesn't disturb other patrons -- and it sounds like she's used to the theatre -- there shouldn't be a problem. How does she feel about flying monkees?

I was under the impression that Wicked was an obtainable ticket in New York these days, but daughter and husband report that the lottery line(s) for the show last week were around the block.

I guess it is Spring Break week form some schools.

A young woman Analeigh (Can't remember her last name) from here in the Denver area, and a friend of our kids, is playing Glinda now on Broadway.

She went to NY as a cast member of Leagally Blonde.

Looks like I was writing my last as you posted.

That's good news.

I thought about going to see it again when we were in the city over Christmas, but since I've seen it three times (NY and twice in Denver) already, we passed on spending the money.

Off to see the My Fair Lady tour today at the Denver Center.

Talk about a Theatre fan, Mrs. DA had a hip replaced two weeks ago tomorrow, but is determined to go today.

ETA -- just back and the hip (and wife) did well. The show was really good, too.

A college classmate of our son was one of the swings in the show.

Also, just found out in the morning paper that another of our kids friends, who went to Denver School of the Arts, and was in Colorado Children's Chorale years ago, is going to be in the Broadway Premiere of Glory Days. He and son were in Colorado Childrens Chorale together years ago.

Denver area actors have a pretty big presence in theatre at the moment.

Son is cast in New York City Center Encore's retrospective of No, No Nanette in May, so got airline tickets to go see the premiere.

Although we've seen both, we may try to see the kids friends in Wicked and Mama Mia while we're there.

Congratulations, DA! You must be proud. :)

Thanks. We are. The show has a number of "name" stars and several Toni winners.

Hopefully, the right people will see him.

Wicked just announced it will return to its "birthplace" with an open ended run in San Francisco!

It's crazy, they will now have these productions:

-Broadway
-US Tour
-Chicago
-Los Angeles (although closing Jan '09)
-San Francisco
-London
-Germany
-Japan
-Australia
-Also a Dutch production??

Got invited to the dress rehearsal on Wednesday (went striaght there from LaGuardia), and then saw the opening night show on Thursday.

Both were a lot of fun for us, and very good.

I was not really aware of "Center City Encores" which staged this production, but it is a huge deal for the New York theatre community. Past featured performers have included Kristin Chenowith, Heather Headley and lots of others. This show included Beth Leavel and Mara Davi.

Choreographed By Randy Skinner
Guest Music Director Rob Fisher (who we met)
Directed By Toni winner Walter Bobbie


Here's a link: www.citycenter.org

Also, saw Spring Awakening which was great! Not at all what I expected. Powerful. It reminded me a lot of the first time I saw RENT in New York.

Mrs. DA was a real trouper walking around Manhattan with a six week old replacement hip!

Got back last night and saw Chorus Line today (by the way, I was wrong before, it opened last week, not Mother's Day, today), which was also very good, even without the son.

We just saw Avenue Q today in Seattle (the national tour). LOVED IT. Soooo hysterical!

Wicked is coming to Atlanta! I'm FINALLY going to see it! I'm waiting for tickets to come out. However, we are going to NYC this December, and the original plan was to for us all to go see Wicked and the Rockette show. Husband and I have seen Rockette, but 12 year old hasn't.
What do yall recommend to replace Wicked? Do yall think she'd like Jersey Boys? (And actually, it's coming to Atlanta, too.) I know she'll be familiar w/ the music because of listening to the oldie station in the car w/ us. I think she'd like Lion King just OK. She's familiar w/ all of the Phantom music, but Phantom does come to Atlanta a good bit, so we could probably catch it there. I know we don't have to see another show, but I'd like for her to experience something on Broadway in NYC.

Jersey Boys would be good, I think, but tickets are hard to get. At least you're looking far enough ahead.

Spamalot is fun if you like Monty Python. A little risque' but, depending on your 12 year old's maturity, is probably OK.

Same with Young Frankenstein.

Chorus Line revival is closing.

Spring Awakening is probably a little too "mature" for someone that age.

A couple of the other revivals, like South Pacific specifically, did very well in last night's Tonys.

I'm sure you know, but New York is wonderful in the Christmas Season.

DeltAlum:
Thanks so much for the suggestions. I'm not sure what we'll end up with. If I end up not being able to get Wicked tickets here in Atlanta, then that will be what we'll see up there; assuming I can get them!

My husband and I have been to NYC in December before, but not our youngest daughter (nor our older two, not at Christmas). My husband saw that there will be an SMA meeting at the Crowne Plaza Times Square during a weekend in December. We couldn't believe it! So part of the trip will be a write-off for him.

We can't wait for her to experience New York at Christmas. She is going to love it. We always watch the shows about the major department store window design process. This year we'll get to see it in person!

Wicked would obviously be a good choice.

I don't tend to think of it because I've seen it in NY (w/Kristin and Idena) and twice in Denver.

It is still a fairly hard ticket in New York, or at least was when we were there in December and last month.

The store windows are fun for adults, too!

I am so happy I saw this thread! I am such a theater nerd.

But BBelleADPi, I'd even recommend The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and Mary Poppins, but I'm just a sucker for Disney Broadway... especially the Lion King. It is such a phenomenal show.

My mom saw Mary Poppins when she was in NY a year or two ago and raved about it!

Front row tickets to Wicked for December at the Detroit Opera House. FRONT ROW! Woot! I'm so excited!

I'm debating whether to purchase the season: Avenue Q, Grease, Jersey Boys, A Bronx Tale, Chorus Line, and Sweeney Todd and an early shot at tickets for Rent. Hmmmm...

See now this is a thread I could get behind XD

I toured with the broadway show Cats! for my last semster of my senior year and onto about the end of July... I played the fantastic 'Skimbleshanks; the railway cat'

=D I'm loving these posts

Lion King=FANTASTIC but not very straight laced (some people dont like that) but what can expect from a cartoon to broadway transition???

The Little Mermaid= Sherie renee Scott stole the stage as always as 'Ursula' BUT the costumes (save Ursulas) WERE HOOOOORIBLE... way to over the top but the singers were fantastic (especially the boys who played Flounder) I was not impressed with Sierra Burgouis (Arielle)

Mary Poppins= Had some great tricks and stuff and the guy who played the chiminey sweep (I forgot names) was one of the best dancers I;ve seen in a contemp. show in a loooooong time.

I would think a twelve year old would like Jersey boys b/c its so high energy

Spamalot is great Sara Ramirez started in the cast and let me tell you she is HARD to match in vocality (WHOO DEAR JESUS)

DO NOT TAKE A 12 YEAR OLD TO SEE YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN!!!!!!!!!:eek:

Chorus Line is closing because AC Slater sucks ass (and that's all I'm gonna say about that)

Spring Awakening will draw anyone to tears... Not okay for a 12 year old by far but bit of trivia: It was written by the one hit wonder Duncan Sheik...

I have to say I would suggest Les Miserable??? Phantom is pretty good even though its in its 800th year on broadway... Avenue Q never fails to crack my shit up but def. not good for a child...

Thanks for all the suggestions! So far, we've got tickets for Wicked (FMEZZ, Row D). These seem to be good seats, I do hope so. We also got tickets to Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular for Saturday morning, section ORCH4, row D. Again I think these are decent. Now she's talking about going to see Legally Blonde, but I don't think her Dad will care for that. I think LB is cute, but would LOVE to see Jersey Boys!

I actually haven't seen legally blonde yet but it looks REALLY fun!

The Rockettes are always a winning show for anyone...

Just back from out of town seeing the Actor/Singer/Dancer son who is just finishing up Millie and Joseph in a regional Equity theatre in the Mid West.

Had some of the cast over to the apartment the theatre is providing for him for a home cooked dinner last night and it was really a lot of fun. Lot's of regional experiences and national tours of Jersey Boys, Alter Boyz, Cats, A Chorus Line plus NYC and/or Broadway stuff in this group.

These kids are so talented it's scary -- and a whole lot of fun to listen to.

Another week or two and then back to NYC and auditions for him. (I'm hoping he'll get something in the City over the Christmas Holidays so we have another excuse to go see him and some other shows.

We love New York!

Socialite, congratulations on the tour. It wouldn't surprise me if you've run across our son somewhere, but I'm not divulging any ID's -- nor should you. Like you, he left school early to take an Equity job in Chorus Line at a regional theatre -- but they let him graduate anyway due to his grades, class standing, etc.

That should answer your question!

I'm not sure whether subscribers will get first shot at Rent like they did with Wicked. Also, the friend who is a subscriber who got the Wicked tickets for me would probably let me get Rent through her too. It's so expensive and some of the shows I'd like to see aren't included (like Fiddler on the Roof and Spamalot).
I will ponder a little longer and make a decision when I'm not so excited about Wicked..lol.

Haha That's funny because that's exactly how I graduated except it wasn't regional... But It was only a 6 month contract because I knew I wanted to go to college soon after I graduated from high school...

It ruined something for me because all the sparkle of it was just lost in the constant repetition, it wasn't exciting anymore we would play games on the stage to keep us keen in front of the audience (ie someone would bring something dumb like a condom on stage and it would exchange hands everytime you passed someone and you would have to continually hide it from the audience) I can even remember doing one performance intoxicate :o... bad idea but luckily nothing went wrong... I don't ever really wanna go do anything professional again in theatre.

Funny you mention that! I was with my youngest son in London last spring. He and I decided to go to a show and he suggested Avenue Q, having heard from a friend that it was funny, so away we went.

Well, have to say it was pretty awkward to be sitting by him (he was 15 at the time) during the puppet sex scene:eek:

But, we still laugh about that awkwardness! AND, it was a terrific show! I didn't know muppets could be that entertaining!!;)

My best friend watched it with his grandparents. He said it was the most awkward thing he has ever experienced in his life.

Husband and I are going to AveQ Sunday night. Can't wait!

When I was living in Manhattan, working at the UN, our son (granted he was a musical theatre student in college at the time) came over to visit and I surprised him with tickets to Avenue Q.

Then, he really surprised me. We went out to dinner with some of his friends in the city, and one had just been cast as understudy for all of the women in the show. She took him backstage and he got to meet the whole cast.

Poor baby.

While we were eating, her purse was stolen. Gotta love New York. Which, of course, I do.

Sort of on the Broadway topic... I saw Idina Menzel in concert last night and she was AMAZING!!!

That's really good to know. We have tickets to see her concert here in Denver the first week of August.

Saw her in NY in both RENT and Wicked.

Very talented woman.

...sexiest woman on broadway...

Indeed she is! You'll love the concert. She performed most of, if not all of her current CD as well as a couple of RENT and Wicked songs. She's wildly entertaining and really hilarious. She gives off a really informal, friendly vibe and loves chatting with the audience. Great concert experience!

That's great. We're seeing her in a wonderful space built not long ago for the excellent Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver.

It's not real big and is great for shows like her.

Mrs. DA is really excited because she has never seen her in person.

Bummer.

New York casting agency called the kid today to ask him to audition for an "immediate" roll in Grease in NY.

Unfortunately, he has two weeks left in his present contract, and has performances seven days a week.

This is the same agency that cast him for his last NY show and were considering him for the next opening in A Chorus Line -- which, of course, is closing.

That business is worse than TV.