Showing posts with label Broadway at the Eccles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Broadway at the Eccles. Show all posts

Friday, March 1, 2024

MJ The Musical at the Eccles

Last night I had so much fun seeing MJ The Musical at the Eccles Theatre.  I am a big fan of Michael Jackson's music so I literally had to stop myself from singing along with every song!  This is a jukebox musical featuring many of Jackson's best known hits and it tells his life story but the premise is very clever.  Michael Jackson is creating his 1992 Dangerous World Tour and is facing resistance from his tour manager Rob and his financial advisor Dave because some of his ideas are deemed impossible and too expensive.  He refuses to compromise his vision and rehearses the numbers in the show, including "Beat It," "Billie Jean," "Smooth Criminal," "Jam," "Bad," and "Black or White."  In between numbers he is interviewed for a documentary by Rachel and her cameraman Alejandro and he recounts his experiences with the Jackson 5 ("The Love You Save," "I Want You Back," and "ABC"), his fear of never pleasing his father Joe ("I'll Be There"), his decision to leave Berry Gordy at Motown to collaborate with Quincy Jones ("Don't Stop 'Till You Get Enough" "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"), his fear that the new album and tour won't live up to expectations ("They Don't Care About Us"), and his frustrations with the press ("Human Nature").  He finally faces his demons ("Thriller") and decides to let his music tell the story ("Man in the Mirror").  As you can imagine, the elaborate choreography is absolutely amazing and it brilliantly recreates some of Jackson's most iconic performances (my favorite was "Billie Jean," which mimics his performance at the Motown 25th Anniversary concert, because I have vivid memories of watching it at the time).  I also really enjoyed the staging of the musical numbers because the rehearsal of the tour takes place on a stripped down stage and the flashbacks feature projections and set pieces that are moved seamlessly on and off that same stage as if Michael is remembering events as he is describing them to Rachel.  Specific songs are used very well to advance the narrative about Jackson's life (I especially loved "Stranger in Moscow" because, even though it was written after the Dangerous World Tour, it perfectly illustrates the isolation Jackson feels as his ideas are rejected) so it feels like a story rather than just a concert.  Three different actors portray Jackson at different stages of his life.  MJ (Roman Banks) rehearses the tour while Michael (Brandon Lee Harris) and Little Michael (Josiah Benson) appear in the flashback sequences.  All three give outstanding performances and there were moments when it really seemed like it was actually Michael Jackson on the stage (Benson is adorable).  Almost all of the ensemble play multiple roles and they sometimes transform from one to the other right on stage.  Having Devin Bowles portray both Joe Jackson and Rob is especially effective because both characters serve the same function in Jackson's life.  This is a high-energy show that fans of Michael Jackson are sure to enjoy and I highly recommend it.  It runs at the Eccles Theatre though March 3 (go here for tickets).

Friday, January 12, 2024

SIX at the Eccles

My first live theatre production of 2024 was SIX at the Eccles last night.  I had the chance to see this show with my sister Kristine in Las Vegas in 2022 and we both loved it so I was really excited to see it again!  The former wives of King Henry VIII, including Catherine of Aragon (Gerianne Perez), Anne Boleyn (Zan Berube), Jane Seymour (Amina Faye), Anna of Cleves  (Terica Marie), Katherine Howard (Aline Mayagoitia), and Catherine Parr (Adriana Scalice), get together to perform a concert with their band, The Ladies in Waiting (Jane Cardona on Keyboard, Sterlyn Termine on Bass, Rose Laguana on Guitars, and Kami Lujan on Drums).  They decide to have a competition to see which one of them has suffered the most heartache to determine the leader of the group and then each Queen proceeds to tell her story.  Catherine of Aragon (Divorced) agreed to leave her homeland at age 15, come to a country where she didn't speak the language, marry a man she had never met, spend seven years in a nunnery after he died, and then marry his brother but she did not agree to be replaced in "No Way."  Anne Boleyn (Beheaded) is sorry not sorry because she was just trying to have a little fun (what was she meant to do?) in "Don't Lose Ur Head."  Jane Seymour (Died) loved Henry but she knows that his love for her was only because of her son in "Heart of Stone."  Anna of Cleves (Divorced) was rejected by Henry for not looking like her profile picture but she ended up with a castle and more money than she can spend with no one to tell her what to do in "Get Down."  Katherine Howard (Beheaded) says her only crime was to be irresistible to men who used her in "All You Wanna Do."  Catherine Parr (Survived) argues that, even though she survived her marriage, she had to sacrifice true love in order to marry Henry in "I Don't Need Your Love."  The Queens eventually realize that they don't want to be defined by Henry and decide to lead the group together in the ultimate ode to girl power, "Six."  What I love so much about this musical is how clever it is!  Each Queen's song embodies her history so well and each performance is inspired by a real life pop star (Aragon by Beyonce, Boleyn by Avril Levigne, Seymour by Adele, Cleves by Nicki Minaj, Howard by Ariana Grande, and Parr by Alicia Keyes).  I also love how the costumes are inspired by Tudor silhouettes but feature the fabrics and bling of contemporary pop queens and how the set design mimics Tudor architecture but uses flashing LED lights.  All of the actresses give really fun performances (I think the crowd last night was the loudest I've ever heard at the Eccles) but my favorite was Faye (she was the same actress I saw in Las Vegas and she was also my favorite then) because she is incredibly powerful in "Heart of Stone."  I have been talking this show up to the friends I sit by ever since this season was announced and (luckily) they loved it just as much as I do so I can confidently talk it up here, too!  It runs at the Eccles Theatre through January 24 and tickets may be purchased here.

Note:  I love it so much I will be seeing it again Sunday night with both my sisters, my brother-in-law, and my nephew!

Friday, December 22, 2023

Mamma Mia at the Eccles

The first time I saw the musical Mamma Mia was in London on a theatre trip.  The older gentleman sitting next to me sang every word of every song at the top of his lungs and, at first, I thought it was really annoying but by the end of the show I was singing along, too!  The second time I saw it was on a trip to London with my mom.  She was incredibly reserved but she was dancing in the aisle during the finale!  This show is just so much fun you can't help singing and dancing!  I loved seeing the Broadway touring production again last night and I don't think I will ever get tired of it.  Sophie Sheriden (Alisa Melendez) is getting married and she wants her father to walk her down the aisle but she doesn't know who he is!  She discovers that there are three possibilities and decides to invite all three of them, Sam Carmichael (Victor Wallace), Bill Austin (Jim Newman), and Harry Bright (Rob Marnell), to her wedding without telling her mother, Donna (Christine Sherrill).  Chaos (and nearly two dozen Abba songs) ensues!  Sherrill is great as Donna and I especially enjoyed her poignant performance of "Slipping Through My Fingers" and her powerful rendition of "The Winner Takes It All" (which both occur in the same scene).  I also really enjoyed Wallace's version of "Knowing Me, Knowing You" (which is my favorite Abba song).  Jalynn Steele, as Tanya, adds a bit of soul to "Does Your Mother Know" and I loved Carly Sakolove, as Rose, because her physicality as she tries to hit her poses in "Dancing Queen" and as she chases Bill in "Take a Chance on Me" is hilarious. I have really enjoyed some local productions of this show but I absolutely love the original choreography in the Broadway version, especially when Tanya uses a hair dryer as a microphone in "Chiquitita," when the boys dance in flippers during "Lay All Your Love on Me," when the dancers freeze whenever Sophie talks to Sam, Bill, and Harry during "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" and "Voulez-Vous," when the flippers make another appearance in "Under Attack" (my favorite number in the show), and when Pepper (Patrick Park) tries to impress Tanya in "Does Your Mother Know." I also love the original set (a white stucco taverna that is reconfigured several times) and the original costumes (the colorful spandex jumpsuits during the performance of "Dancing Queen" and "Waterloo" during the finale are awesome) in the Broadway version.  I had a blast and I was definitely dancing at the end (I defy anyone to remain seated during "Dancing Queen").  There are a few more performances at the Eccles and I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here).

Note:  This was my final live theatre performance of 2023.  I ended up seeing 81 shows this year and my favorites were Into the Woods at SCERA, Beauty and the Beast at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse, Oliver and Pride and Prejudice at HCTO (I loved everything at HCTO this year), The Prom at PTC, and Titanic The Musical at HCT.

Friday, November 17, 2023

My Fair Lady at the Eccles

I'm a big fan of the musical My Fair Lady (there is just something comforting about all of the old favorites from Broadway's Golden Era) so I have been looking forward to the Lincoln Center production currently touring ever since the 2023-2024 Broadway at the Eccles season was announced!  I was able to see it last night and, unfortunately, I was a little bit underwhelmed by it.  When Professor Henry Higgins (Jonathan Grunert) and Colonel Pickering (John Adkison) encounter a Cockney flower girl named Eliza Doolittle (Annette Barrios-Torres) in Covent Garden, Higgins boasts that he could pass her off as a duchess at the Embassy Ball within six months by teaching her to speak properly.  Even though Eliza is a success at the ball, she becomes a true lady when she compels Higgins to treat her like one.  While I love all of the music in this show and wait with great anticipation for all of my favorite songs, including "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," With a Little Bit of Luck," "Just You Wait," "The Rain in Spain," "I Could Have Danced All Night," "On the Street Where You Live," "Get Me to the Church on Time," and "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," I found the performances to lack energy despite the fact that everyone in the cast has a beautiful voice (especially Borrios-Torres).  The big production numbers, "With a Little Bit of Luck" and "Get Me to the Church on Time," are the best scenes in the show thanks to Michael Hegarty's comedic turn as Alfred P. Doolittle (and some cross-dressing can-can dancers) but every other number has surprisingly unimaginative choreography and nothing really grabbed my attention.  I especially found the ball scene to be oddly anticlimactic because it features couples dancing without much opportunity for Eliza to practice her correct diction with Professor Zoltan Karpathy (Christopher Isolando).  The costumes at Ascot are usually a highlight of the show for me but the ones in this scene are muted pastels rather than the dramatic black and white ones that you usually see (they are admittedly very beautiful, especially the hats, but they do not have a lot of impact).  I did, however, love the jewel-toned gowns, particularly Eliza's golden one, at the ball and both Higgins and Pickering have some opulent dressing gowns and smoking jackets.  The other aspect of the production that really impressed me was the set, especially the opera house in Covent Garden, Henry Higgins' wood paneled study (I loved the spiral staircase connecting the two levels and the large arched window), and the Embassy ballroom (the lighting in this scene is gorgeous).  I will always love this show and this version is "loverly" enough for me to recommend it but, honestly, I have seen much better local productions (especially this one) with tickets at half the price.  It runs at the Eccles Theatre through November 18 (go here for tickets).

Friday, August 11, 2023

Beetlejuice at the Eccles

Believe it or not I have never seen the movie Beetlejuice (the people I sit by at the Eccles Theater were incredulous when I mentioned this) so I didn't really know what to expect when I saw the musical adaptation last night.  It ended up being a lot of fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Beetlejuice (Andrew Kober) is a lonely demon who is tired of being invisible but in order to be seen he needs someone who is alive to say his name three times.  He enlists the help of Barbara and Adam Maitland (Britney Coleman and Will Burton, respectively), a recently deceased but very mild-mannered couple, and convinces them to haunt their former house which is now owned by Charles Deetz (Jesse Sharp) and his daughter Lydia (Isabella Esler).  She is obsessed with death because she is still mourning the loss of her mother and this enables her to see the Maitlands and Beetlejuice.  Chaos ensues as Lydia uses Beetlejuice and the Maitlands to stop her father from replacing her mother with her life coach Delia (Kate Marilly) and to find her mother in the Netherworld while Beetlejuice uses her to bring him to life.  As with many musicals that are adapted from popular movies, most of the songs (except for"Dead Mom" and "Home" which are my favorites from the show) are not particularly memorable but the performances more than make up for this.  Kober acts as a sort of Master of Ceremonies and breaks the fourth wall with lots of off-color but humorous asides to the audience.  His renditions of "The Whole 'Being Dead' Thing," and its many reprises, "Fright of Their Lives," "Say My Name," and "That Beautiful Sound" are incredibly frenetic and highly entertaining with an ensemble backing him up as a marching band and cheerleaders, a gospel choir, cloned versions of himself, and large skeleton puppets.  Marilly brings a lot of comedy and physicality to "No Reason" and both Coleman and Burton are the perfect foils to Kober's mania in "Fright of Their Lives" and "Say My Name."  However, the star of the show, in my opinion, is Esler.  Her version of "Dead Mom" is incredibly moving as Lydia asks her mother to help her through her grief.  I think this show loses a bit of focus and momentum in the second act but the song "Home" is such a beautiful turning point because Lydia realizes that her mother is dead but that there are people in her life who love her and Esler just about blows the roof off the Eccles Theater singing it.  I loved all of the special effects, especially how falling into the Netherworld is depicted, the amazing set featuring a house that is transformed multiple times, and the iconic Beetlejuice striped suit (which I saw many people in the audience wearing).  I enjoyed this so much more than I expected and I am sure fans of the movie will love it (although the people around me told me that it differed quite a bit from the source material but in a good way).  It runs at the Eccles Theater through Sunday August 13 (go here for tickets).

Friday, June 23, 2023

Les Miserables at the Eccles

When I was in high school I wanted to see the musical Les Miserables more than anything I have ever wanted.  I finally had the chance on a study abroad trip to London in college and hearing those opening notes played live for the first time was an experience I will never forget!  I have now seen it at least 30 times (a conservative estimate) and I still get goosebumps when I hear those opening notes.  I had the opportunity to see it again last night since the Broadway touring production is currently at the Eccles Theatre and I loved it as much as I did the first time I saw it.  The story of Jean Valjean's redemption is so inspiring and the music is glorious (I really have to stop myself from singing every single word).  I always anticipate my favorite moments and this cast definitely did not disappoint me!  Haley Dortch (the best Fantine I have ever seen) was so beautiful and heartbreaking in "I Dreamed a Dream" that I had tears running down my face, Preston Truman Boyd (Javert) was incredibly powerful in "Stars," Devin Archer (Enjolras) made me want to stand up and cheer in "Do You Hear the People Sing," Nick Cartell (Valjean) gave a highly emotional performance of "Bring Him Home" which elicited the biggest response from the crowd all night, and Gregory Lee Rodriguez (Marius) reduced me to tears once again in "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables."  My favorite moment in the show is when Eponine sings "On My Own" and I always sit impatiently through the intermission waiting for it!  Christine Heesun Hwang gave a highly nuanced performance full of so many different emotions and I was very moved by it.  I also really enjoyed Christina Rose Hall (Madame Thenardier) because her characterization was a little different than what I have seen before.  This production features the new staging without the turntable and I actually prefer it because the sets and are much more elaborate and true to the events in the novel by Victor Hugo, especially the Prologue and "At the End of the Day."  I only miss the turntable in the scene where the barricade slowly turns after the battle to reveal Enjolras upside down holding the flag because that was so dramatic.  The projections in this newer production are also very effective and I particularly liked the different perspectives when Valjean carries Marius through the sewers and the visual effects used in Javert's "Soliloquy."  Even after seeing this show so many times I had an incredible experience last night (I will be on a high for days) and highly recommend getting one of the very few tickets available for the remaining shows (go here).  I would see it again if I could!

Friday, June 2, 2023

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical at the Eccles

Last night I saw Tina: The Tina Turner Musical at the Eccles Theatre and I found it to be especially poignant after the recent passing of Tina Turner.  This is a jukebox musical about the life of Tina Turner (Zurin Villenueva) from her humble beginnings as Anna Mae Bullock (Ayvah Johnson) in Nutbush, Tennessee to her rise to success with Ike Turner (Roderick Lawrence) and then her reinvention as a global superstar after overcoming prejudices against her race, gender, and age.  I knew that Tina was physically abused by Ike but I didn't know everything else that she endured in her life so I found the narrative to be incredibly compelling.  However, the best part of this show is the music and I think its use in a thematic order, rather than a chronological one, is very effective in giving context to her struggles and ultimate triumph.  I especially enjoyed how "Let's Stay Together," "Better Be Good to Me," and "I Don't Wanna Fight No More," show her dysfunctional relationship with Ike, how "Private Dancer" shows her years of performing in Las Vegas to pay her debts after leaving Ike, and how "We Don't Need Another Hero" shows the turning point in her life and career.  Villenueva gives a powerful vocal performance and her renditions of "River Deep - Mountain High" and "(Simply) The Best" just about blew the roof off the Eccles (and gave me goosebumps).  The choreography is energetic, to say the least, and Villenueva and Aliyah Caldwell, Reyna Guerra, Takia Hopson, and Parris Lewis (as the Ikettes) are so much fun to watch in "I Want to Take You Higher" and "Proud Mary" (the highlight of the show for me).  Because of Turner's recent passing, I've seen a lot of footage of her performances, especially during her time with Ike Turner, and I was really impressed with how well the real-life choreography and costumes are replicated.  This production makes use of projections and minimal set pieces but the final set depicting the stage of a concert in Brazil is spectacular with amazing lighting effects (it was almost like an actual rock concert with lots of enthusiastic audience participation).  This show is an incredibly moving tribute to a remarkable woman and I highly recommend it (although it features very disturbing scenes of domestic violence, lots of profanity, and the use of racial epithets which some might find upsetting).  Go here for tickets to one of the four remaining performances.

Note:  Stay through the bows for a continuation of the concert featuring "Nutbush City Limits" and "Proud Mary."

Friday, April 14, 2023

Hairspray at the Eccles

Last night I had the chance to see Hairspray at the Eccles Theater and it is such a fun production!  Plus-sized Tracy Turnblad (Niki Metcalf) dreams of dancing on The Corny Collins (Billy Dawson) Show, of being noticed by teen heartthrob Link Larkin (Nick Cortazzo), of integrating the show so that her Black friends can dance with her, and of becoming Miss Teenage Hairspray 1962.  Velma Von Tussle (Addison Garner), the former Miss Baltimore Crabs, and her daughter Amber (Ryahn Evers) do everything they can to stop her but Tracy and her friends Penny Pingleton (Emery Henderson) and Seaweed J. Stubbs (Charlie Bryant III) and her parents Edna (Andrew Levitt AKA Nina West) and Wilbur (Ralph Prentice Daniel) prove that you can't stop the beat and make all of their dreams come true!  The main cast is outstanding but I was really impressed with Metcalf as Tracy because she is incredibly charismatic and can really sing and dance.  I also really enjoyed Lauren Johnson as Motormouth Maybelle, because her rendition of "I Know Where I've Been" just about blew the roof off of the Eccles Theater, as well as Levitt and Daniel, because their antics had the audience hooting with laughter during "Timeless to Me."  The ensemble is also fantastic, especially the dancers on The Corny Collins Show and the Dynamites (Sydney Archibald, Melanie Puente Ervin, and Jade Turner), because they execute the high-energy choreography very well, particularly in "The Nicest Kids in Town," "I Can Hear the Bells," "Welcome to the '60s," "Run and Tell That," "The Big Dollhouse," and "You Can't Stop the Beat."  My favorite song in the show is "Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now" and I really like how they staged it with the girls and their mothers in front of their vanities.  The sets have a fun retro vibe (although some of the set pieces seemed to be a bit unwieldy to move on and off the stage) with my favorites being Motormouth Maybelle's Record Shop and the Baltimore Eventorium (the giant can of Ultra Clutch Hairspray is awesome) and the period costumes are colorful and sparkly.  The humor is really suggestive so keep that in mind but I highly recommend this show for the great message about loving yourself and standing up for what you believe in.  It runs at the Eccles through April 16 (go here for tickets).

Sunday, March 5, 2023

Dear Evan Hansen at the Eccles

When Dear Evan Hansen was announced as an add-on to the Broadway at the Eccles 2022-2023 season, I decided that I probably didn't need to see it again but, as the date of the run got closer and closer, I started to feel really sad that I wasn't going.  I ended up getting one of the few remaining tickets for last night's performance and I am so glad I did because I love this show and its message so much!  Evan Hansen (Anthony Norman) suffers from anxiety and feels insignificant and alone ("Waving Through a Window").  Heidi (Coleen Sexton), his busy single mother, doesn't know what to do to help ("Anybody Have a Map?").  His one friend, Jared (Ian Coursey), is only nice to him so his parents will pay for his car insurance and he is too scared to talk to Zoe (Alaina Anderson), the girl he likes.  His therapist encourages him to write letters to himself to help build his confidence but Connor (August Emerson), a deeply troubled young man, intercepts one of them from the printer because it mentions his sister Zoe.  When Connor takes his own life, his parents, Cynthia (Lili Thomas) and Larry (John Hemphill), find the letter and, assuming it is a suicide note, reach out to Evan.  To comfort Connor's parents, Evan pretends that they were friends ("For Forever").  When Cynthia and Larry press for more information, Evan asks Jared to create a history of emails between him and Connor ("Sincerely, Me").  Larry and Zoe struggle to reconcile Evan's version of Connor with the difficult son and brother they knew ("Requiem").  Zoe tells Evan that the only nice thing Connor ever said to her was in his suicide note, which Evan wrote ("If I Could Tell Her").  Alana (Gillian Jackson Han), another lonely girl at school, wants Evan to do more to keep Connor's memory alive ("Disappear") so they create The Connor Project and Evan gives a heartfelt speech about loneliness at a memorial assembly for him ("You Will Be Found") which goes viral.  He soon begins a relationship with Zoe ("Only Us") and bonds with her family ("To Break in a Glove") to the exclusion of Jared, Alana, and Heidi ("Good For You").  Eventually the falsehoods spiral out of control and, when the truth is finally revealed ("Words Fail"), Heidi helps him realize that he has never been alone ("So Big/ So Small").  As someone who suffers from anxiety and struggles to interact with people, I find Evan's story to be incredibly powerful and I always have tears in my eyes during "Disappear" and "You Will Be Found."  Norman is very endearing and sympathetic in the role and I loved all of his idiosyncratic tics and rapid-fire line deliveries.  The rest of the cast is also really strong and Anderson, Emerson, and Han portray Zoe, Connor, and Alana, respectively, very differently than I have seen before which I enjoyed.  Finally, as always, one of my favorite elements in this show is the use of social media, which is depicted on large moving panels, because, even though the world seems increasingly connected by technology, so many people still struggle to find a connection.  This inspirational show only has two performances left at the Eccles Theatre but it is definitely worth getting a ticket (go here).

Note:  Just so you know, the stage musical is so much better than the movie!

Friday, January 13, 2023

Ain't Too Proud at the Eccles

Last night I had the chance to see Ain't Too Proud at the Eccles Theatre and it was so good!  It is a jukebox musical about The Temptations and it reminded me a lot of Jersey Boys (a musical I love).  It obviously features all of the wonderful music by the group (and others) but I also really enjoyed the story because I didn't know a lot about The Temptations.  After Otis Williams (Michael Andreaus) has a brush with the law, he decides to form a music group so he can rise above the streets of Detroit and never lose his freedom again.  He recruits Al Bryant (Devin Price), Melvin Franklin (Harrell Holmes, Jr.), Eddie Kendricks (Jalen Harris), and Paul Williams (E. Clayton Cornelious).  Bryant is soon replaced by David Ruffin (Elijah Ahmad Lewis) and they are signed by Berry Gordy (Jeremy Kelsey) to Motown Records where they begin working with Smokey Robinson (Omar Madden) as a songwriter and producer.  The show features the creation of their biggest hits, their rivalry with The Supremes (Amber Mariah Talley, Shayla Brielle G, and Traci Elaine Lee) at Motown, and how personal conflicts and tragedies as well as racial tensions in the United States threaten to tear them apart.  The entire cast is unbelievably talented because the singing and dancing in this show is absolutely brilliant!  I especially loved Lewis because, just like David Ruffin does in The Temptations, he often steals the spotlight and dazzles with his vocal performance!  Andreaus is also outstanding because he narrates the show from beginning to end and provides many of the emotional beats.  I really enjoyed the staging of the songs, especially when they would seamlessly transition from city to city while performing a song on tour through choreography and the changing of the marquee above them.  I also enjoyed the recreation of their performance of "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" on American Bandstand because the cameras become part of the choreography.  My favorite numbers were "My Girl" and "Get Ready" (I may or may not have been singing along) but I also liked how many of the songs mirror what is happening in the story such as "If You Don't Know Me By Now" when Josephine (Quiana Onrae'l Holmes) leaves Otis, "I Wish It Would Rain" when Martin Luther King is assassinated, "Ball of Confusion (That's What The World is Today)" when the group wants to record more politically charged music, "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)" when Ruffin and Kendricks insist on joining the group for a reunion tour, "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" when personal tragedies befall the group members, and "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted" when Otis Williams is the last original member left.  I didn't really know what to expect from this show but I enjoyed everything about the production and I highly recommend getting a ticket for one of the remaining performances (go here) at the Eccles.

Friday, December 2, 2022

Moulin Rouge at the Eccles

After seeing Hadestown, Jagged Little Pill, and SIX, the only show left on my must-see list was Moulin Rouge and I had the chance to see it last night at the Eccles Theater.  I was really excited for this because I love the movie (I have seen it an embarrassing number of times) and it certainly did not disappoint!  The musical is loosely based on the movie and tells the story of a courtesan named Satine (Courtney Reed) who is torn between the wealthy Duke of Monroth (David Harris), who can save the Moulin Rouge cabaret club where she performs, and the penniless songwriter Christian (Conor Ryan), who she loves, but many of the songs featured in the movie have been updated to more recent ones.  It was really fun to pick out all of the snippets of songs used in the musical numbers and my favorites were "Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love" which includes "Royals," "Children of the Revolution," and "We Are Young;" "The Sparkling Diamond" which includes "Diamonds Are Forever," "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," "Material Girl," "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," "Brick House," "Jungle Boogie," and "Diamonds;" "Sympathy For The Duke" which includes "Sympathy For The Devil," "You Can't Always Get What You Want," and "Gimme Shelter;" "Elephant Love Medley" which includes "All You Need is Love," "Just One Night," "Pride (In the Name of Love," "Can't Help Falling in Love With You," "Don't Speak," "I Love You Always Forever," "It Ain't Me Babe," "Love Hurts," "Love is a Battlefield," "Play The Game," "Such Great Heights," "Torn," "Take On Me," "Fidelity," "What's Love Got to Do With It," "Everlasting Love," "Up Where We Belong," "Heroes," "Your Song," and "I Will Always Love You;" "Backstage Romance" which includes "Bad Romance," "Tainted Love," "Seven Nation Army," "Toxic," and "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This);" and "Crazy Rolling" which includes "Crazy" and "Rolling in the Deep."  I also really loved the original song "Come What May" because Reed and Ryan (who are amazing) perform it with so much passion.  The choreography in this show is spectacular, especially in "Welcome to the Moulin Rouge" (I loved the Can-Can) and "Backstage Romance" (I loved the tango during "Bad Romance") and the ensemble is incredibly talented, particularly Nicci Claspell as Arabia, Libby Lloyd as Nini, Andres Quintero as Baby Doll, and Harper Miles as La Chocolat in "Lady Marmalade."  The costumes, which range from corsets and fishnets to top hats and tails, and the sets, including a cabaret with nesting filigreed hearts, a dressing room inside a papier-mache elephant, and a garret apartment in Montmartre, are fantastic.  The lighting, which bathes the stage in reds, pinks, and purples, is incredibly dramatic and I loved the neon green used to represent absinthe in "Chandelier."  This high energy spectacle is wildly entertaining and I loved it!  It runs at the Eccles Theater through December 11 (go here for tickets).

Note:  Now that I have seen everything on my must-see list, what new musicals should be added to it?  Nothing is really catching my eye at the moment except for maybe Beetlejuice.

Friday, October 7, 2022

The Lion King at the Eccles

The first time I saw The Lion King was on a theatre trip to London with PTC.  I was so overcome by all of the animals marching down the aisles during "Circle of Life" that I actually shed a tear!  I have since seen in on Broadway and in SLC several times but I don't think I will ever get tired of it!  I had the chance to see it again last night at the Eccles and it was just as magical as the first time (I sat on the aisle and I have to admit that, once again, I had a tear in my eye when the baby elephant walked by me).  This musical tells the well-known story of how a lion cub learns how to be a king and I love everything about it!  The puppets and prosthetics used to represent the animals are absolutely amazing (my favorites are the giraffes and elephants) and after a while you don't even see the actors who are manipulating the puppets any more because they transform themselves so completely.  I also really like the use of light and shadow in many of the scenes, especially during the confrontation with Scar.  The staging is brilliant, especially when Mufasa and Simba frolic on the grasslands, when Sarabi and the lionesses hunt an antelope, when Simba is trapped during the wildebeest stampede in the gorge (it actually looks like the wildebeests are running towards the audience), when Timon falls into the river, and when Mufasa appears to Simba in the stars.  I also really like all of the choreography with the hyenas (I forgot that they come down the aisles during "Chow Down").  Many of the songs from the animated classic are included but there are also some new ones.  I love all of the traditional African music but I got goosebumps when Aaron Nelson, as Mufasa, sang "They Live in You," when Khalifa White, as Nala, sang "Shadowland" (my favorite song in the show), when Darian Sanders, as Simba, sang "Endless Night," and when Gugwana Dlamini, as Rafiki, sang "He Lives in You."  Of course, "Hakuna Matata" with Tony Freeman as Timon and John E. Brady as Pumbaa is a lot of fun and Spencer Plachy as Scar is suitably villainous in "Be Prepared."  I am so happy that I had the chance to see this wonderful show again and I highly recommend getting a ticket during the SLC run (go here for tickets).  I especially recommend it to families because the children all around me were awe-struck by all of the animals!

Friday, September 9, 2022

To Kill a Mockingbird at the Eccles

The final show in the Broadway at the Eccles 2021-2022 season is To Kill a Mockingbird and I had the opportunity to see it last night.  I love the book by Harper Lee and the movie starring Gregory Peck so I knew I would enjoy this new production!  Jem (Justin Mark) and Scout (Melanie Moore) learn that their father Atticus (Richard Thomas) is a hero when he defends an innocent Black man named Tom Robinson (Yaegel T. Welch) against a charge of rape, even though he knows he will lose, simply because it is the right thing to do.  They also learn not to judge people until they have seen things from their perspective through their interactions with the irascible Mrs. Dubose (Mary Badham) and the reclusive Boo Radley (Travis Johns).  These themes are very powerful and I was incredibly moved.  I was impressed, and a little bit star-struck, by Thomas (better known for his portrayal of John Boy in The Waltons) who gives a brilliant performance.  I was holding my breath during his closing speech at the end of the trial because he was speaking directly to the audience as if we were the jury about the kind of change that still needs to happen in society for true equality and it was so powerful!  Welch is heartbreaking as Tom and, once again, I kept hoping that the verdict would be different this time.  The young actors, including the aforementioned Mark and Moore as well as Steven Lee Johnson as Dill, are impressive because they act as narrators as well as a part of the narrative.  I particularly enjoyed Johnson because Dill provides a bit of comic relief which is needed in a play with such heavy themes.  I also enjoyed seeing Badham as Mrs. Dubose because she played Scout in the movie!  The set, including the Maycomb courthouse and jail, the porch and dining room of the Finch house, and various streets in Maycomb, is quite elaborate but pieces are moved on and off very efficiently by the cast and I was impressed with how seamless it was.  This is an important show and I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here).  It runs at the Eccles Theatre through Sept. 11.

Friday, August 5, 2022

Hadestown at the Eccles

The Broadway musicals Hadestown, Jagged Little Pill, SIX, and Moulin Rouge have been at the top of my must-see list for years.  I get to see ALL OF THEM this year (I'm so excited) and I started with Hadestown last night at the Eccles Theatre.  It was even better than I was expecting!  With the name Phaedra I have always been fascinated by Greek mythology so I loved this retelling of the story of Orpheus and Eurydice (even though it is very tragic).  I also really loved how the story includes commentary on climate change, poverty, capitalism, exploitation of workers, nationalism (I think the song "Why We Build the Wall" perfectly encapsulates everything that is wrong in the world today and it is an incredibly powerful moment in the show), fatalism, and, ultimately, the power of music to show how the world ought to be rather than how it is!  The music, which is a mix of folk, jazz, and Cajun, is absolutely amazing and I loved every single song but my favorites were "Any Way the Wind Blows," "Livin' It Up On Top," "Way Down Hadestown," "When the Chips Are Down," "Wait For Me," "Flowers," and "Doubt Comes In."  The stage, which is reminiscent of an old New Orleans neighborhood, is really simple but the use of a turn table and atmospheric lighting is breathtaking, especially in the numbers "Chant," Wait For Me," and "Doubt Comes In."  The man cast, including Levi Kreis as Hermes, Kevyn Morrow as Hades, Kimberly Marable as Persephone, Chibueze Ihuoma as Orpheus, and Morgan Siobhan Green as Eurydice, is brilliant and I loved every performance.  I was particularly blown away by Morrow's rendition of "Hey, Little Songbird" because he is so sleazy and Green's version of "Flowers" (it brought a tear to my eye).  I also really liked how the Fates (Belen Moyano, Bex Odorisio, and Shea Renne) are integrated into the story and how the choreography of the Workers (Jordan Bollwerk, Lindsey Hailes, Courtney Lauster, Eddie Noel Rodriguez, and Marquis Wood) mimics an assembly line in a factory.  I loved this musical!  I loved it so much (it is second only to Hamilton in my affections and that is high praise if you know me) and I definitely recommend getting a ticket if you have the opportunity!  It runs at the Eccles through August 7 (go here for tickets).

Friday, June 17, 2022

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Eccles

Last night I had the chance to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a musical based on the beloved book by Roald Dahl, and I thought it was a lot of fun.  Willy Wonka (Cody Garcia), the world's greatest chocolatier, laments that making chocolate has become bitter for him and he wants to find someone to take over his chocolate factory.  Charlie Bucket (Kai Edgar) is an imaginative boy who loves chocolate but, because his family is desperately poor, he can only afford one chocolate bar a year on his birthday.  Wonka decides to invite five lucky children who find a golden ticket in one of his chocolate bars to tour his factory and soon four children from around the world, Augustus Gloop (David Nick), Veruca Salt (Angela Palladini), Violet Beauregarde (Zakiya Baptiste), and Mike Teavee (Jacnier), find tickets.  Charlie dreams of finding a golden ticket but, even though Grandpa Joe (Steve McCoy), Grandma Josephine (Jenna Brooke Scannelli), Grandpa George (Stanton Morales), and Grandma Georgina (Nicole Zelka) encourage him, his mother (Claire Leyden) warns him not to get his hopes up.  Charlie doesn't find one in his birthday chocolate bar but Wonka contrives to give him another one with a golden ticket inside.  The children join Wonka in the world of pure imagination but four of them give into their negative impulses.  The greedy Augustus falls into a chocolate waterfall after being warned not to drink from it, the obsessed Violet blows up into a giant blueberry after being warned not to chew an experimental piece of gum, the spoiled Veruca is pulled apart by the squirrels who sort the nuts after demanding one for herself, and the addicted Mike is shrunk inside a TV after misusing WonkaVision.  The imaginative Charlie gives into his desire to look at Wonka's inventions but this convinces Wonka to take Charlie on the Great Glass Elevator and give him his factory.  I loved the colorful projections, sets, and costumes (especially inside of the factory), the full body puppets used for the Oompa Loompas (they are hilarious), and the performances (especially the adorable Edgar as Charlie and the charismatic Garcia as Wonka).  However, I didn't think that any of the songs were particularly memorable.  There were only a couple that made an impression on me, including "Willy Wonka!  Willy Wonka!" and "The Oompa Loompa Song," and I liked them because of the choreography and the performances by the ensemble.  I also felt that the second act got bogged down with all of the special effects.  It was really cool to see Violet transform into into a giant blueberry and to see Mike shrink inside of a TV in front of our eyes but the execution of these and other stunts slowed the action down considerably.  I enjoyed this show and I am glad that I got to see it but I do not count it as a favorite.  It will be at the Eccles Theatre through June 19 (go here for tickets).

Friday, May 13, 2022

Jesus Christ Superstar at the Eccles

I was able to see the Broadway touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar starring Ted Neeley as Jesus and Corey Glover (lead singer of the band Living Colour) as Judas with my friend Dana several years ago.  The experience of seeing the show was more memorable than the show itself because my friend, who is quite a bit older than me, had a massive crush on Ted Neeley and I was completely starstruck by Corey Glover (I loved Living Colour) so we were both a bit giddy!  Luckily, I had the chance to see it again, this time the 50th Anniversary Tour, at the Eccles Theatre last night and I loved it!  This is a rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice.  It tells the story of the Passion of Jesus Christ from the perspective of Judas as he grows dissatisfied with Jesus' popularity and fears that his cult of personality is taking away from his mission to help the less fortunate.  The show features contemporary sensibilities and Jesus is portrayed as a sort of rock star with a guitar and microphone.  This particular production has been completely reimagined with new sets, costumes, and choreography and I literally could not take my eyes off the stage because it is so dynamic!  The set features multi-level steel towers, that look a bit like scaffolding, on either side of a large platform in the shape of a cross.  It is very dramatic!  The costumes are very contemporary and quite subdued (except for King Herod's) in different shades of gray.  The choreography is absolutely amazing and almost seems frenetic with synchronized movement and dazzling light displays.  I especially loved how "Hosanna" incorporates stylized palm leaves and how "The Temple" uses glitter.  The three leads, Aaron LaVigne as Jesus, Omar Lopez-Cepero as Judas, and Jenna Rubah as Mary Magdalene, are outstanding and have beautiful voices.  I particularly enjoyed Rubah's rendition of "I Don't Know How to Love Him" (my favorite song in the show) and LaVigne's version of "Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)."  Lopez-Cepero does a very good job in portraying Judas' psychological torment, especially in "Damned For All Eternity/ Blood Money."  I found the whole show to be exhilarating and very moving but it might not be for everyone because "Trial By Pilate/ 39 Lashes" and "Crucifixion" are difficult to watch.  It runs at the Eccles Theatre through May 15 (go here for tickets).

Friday, March 18, 2022

The Band's Visit at the Eccles

I didn't know anything about the musical The Band's Visit, other than it won ten Tony Awards including Best Musical, before I saw the Broadway touring production last night.  It was unlike anything I have ever seen before but I found it to be a bit underwhelming, especially for a show that has received so much acclaim.  The Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra arrives at the Tel Aviv airport in Israel after being invited to perform at a cultural center in Petah Tikvah.  The representative appointed to meet them is not there so they decide to take a bus.  However, they mispronounce the name and arrive in the desert town of Bet Hatikva (the mispronunciation of the name of the town is a running joke throughout the show) instead.  They stop at a cafe owned by Dina (Janet Dacal) and, when they ask for directions to the cultural center, she figures out the mistake.  She and two of her employees, Papi (Coby Getzug) and Itzik (Clay Singer), offer to put them up for the night.  Once the band members realize that they have missed the one and only bus to Petah Tikvah and that there is only one pay phone, which is guarded by a man (Joshua Grosso) waiting endlessly for his girlfriend to call him back, they reluctantly agree.  Three of the band members, Tewfiq (Sasson Gabay), Simon (James Rana), and Haled (Joe Joseph), share their stories and have a positive effect on the lives of Dina, who feels like her life is going nowhere and yearns for a connection, Papi, who doesn't have the confidence to approach his secret crush, and Itzik, who is struggling to live up to the responsibilities of being a husband and a father.  The action is very slow and very understated and it almost seems like a series of vignettes rather than a cohesive story.  The musical numbers are also strangely unremarkable, except for "Papi Hears the Ocean" and "Answer Me" which were my favorites, and there are long periods of total silence as the characters, who speak different languages, struggle to communicate with each other in English (I found the silence very disconcerting).  None of the actors have particularly strong voices, but I was especially disappointed by Dacal because she was unable to project the strength and charisma required by her character.  I did really enjoy the traditional music played by the band members (Yoni Avi Battat, Roger Kashou, Brian Krock, Kane Mathis, and Wick Simmons) in between the scenes, the drab colors used in the minimal set juxtaposed with the bright blue of the band member's uniforms, and the message that people are more alike than different but I didn't especially like the show as a whole.  The Band's Visit has been on my list for a long time so I am glad I had the opportunity to see it.

Note:  I was extremely tired last night so there is every possibility that I was not in the proper mood to appreciate the subtleties of this show.  Others may find it more appealing (go here for more information and tickets).

Friday, February 18, 2022

Anastasia at the Eccles

I have always been fascinated by Russia and the rumor that the Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov may have survived the slaughter of her family during the Russian Revolution is incredibly compelling (even though it has been debunked by DNA evidence).  The musical adaptation of this story has been at the top of my list for a long time and I finally had the chance to see Anastasia last night at the Eccles Theater.  I really loved it!  Young Anastasia (Marley Sophia) is given a music box by her grandmother the Dowager Empress (Gerri Weagraff) before she leaves to live in Paris.  Several years later the Imperial family is arrested and executed by Bolsheviks but there is a rumor in St. Petersburg that Anastasia somehow survived.  Two conmen named Dmitry (Sam McLellan) and Vlad (Bryan Seastrom) want to find someone to impersonate her in order to demand money from the Dowager Empress.  They find an old music box once owned by the Romanovs and eventually encounter a young woman named Anya (Kyla Stone) who is suffering from amnesia.  As they try to teach her about the Grand Duchess, she recognizes the music box and starts remembering the Imperial family.  They escape the clutches of a Bolshevik general named Gleb (Brandon Delgado), who vows to finish the job of executing the Romanovs begun by his father, and eventually arrive in Paris.  With the help of Countess Lily (Madeline Raube), a lady in waiting, they introduce Anya to the Dowager Empress but is she really Anasatsia and does she want the life of a Grand Duchess?  I was really impressed by Stone as Anastasia and I loved her songs "In My Dreams," "Once Upon a December," and "Journey to the Past."  I also really enjoyed her facial expressions as she moves from saying the lines given to her by Dmitry and Vlad to remembering the events they describe.  I was absolutely blown away by the set, which consists of a series of columns, and the use of projections to bring the cities of St. Petersburg and Paris to life.  St. Petersburg is one of my favorite cities so it was really fun for me to recognize the Winter Palace, the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Nevsky Prospect, the Neva River, and the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood.  Several of the musical numbers are staged so brilliantly!  The use of red lighting in "The Last Dance of the Romanovs," which shows the transition from the Romanov family waltzing inside the Winter Palace to their eventual overthrow by the Bolsheviks, is incredibly powerful, the ghosts of the Romanov family dancing around Anya in "Once Upon a December" and "A Nightmare" is absolutely otherworldly, and the staging of Swan Lake is quite impressive because it includes the actual ballet (with Lauren Teyke as Odette, Taylor Stanger as Prince Siegfried, and Dakota Hoar as Von Rothbert) while Anya, Dmitry, Gleb, and the Dowager Empress sing "Quartet at the Ballet" in gold box seats on each side of the stage.  So many moments took my breath away and I am really happy that I was finally able to check this show off my list!  It runs at the Eccles Theater through February 20 but every performance is sold out!

Sunday, January 9, 2022

Hamilton at the Eccles (Again)

Even though I recently saw a performance of Hamilton at the Eccles Theater, I decided that I had to see it again during the SLC run so I bought another ticket for last night.  I don't think I will ever get tired of seeing this musical and I actually anticipated every song even more than I usually do!  The standouts for me were, once again, Julius Thomas III as Hamilton and Darnell Abraham as George Washington.  Thomas has a beautiful voice and I always love his versions of "Dear Theodosia" and "Hurricane" every time I see him perform.  Abraham (one of my favorite actors in the role) is incredibly powerful in "Right Hand Man" and "One Last Time" and both of these songs gave me goosebumps and earned thunderous applause from the audience.  The role of Aaron Burr was played by the understudy, Manuel Stark Santos, and I think he did a great job.  I was especially impressed with his performance in "The Room Where It Happens" because there was a mishap with the table and he handled it so well.  I also really enjoyed his versions of "Your Obedient Servant" and "The World Was Wide Enough" because I could really feel his anger and then his remorse.  The role of Eliza was also portrayed by the understudy, Milika Cheree (she played Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds the last time I saw it), and I honestly preferred her to Victoria Ann Scovens.  Her characterization of Eliza was different than any I have seen before and I loved her renditions of "Helpless" and "That Would Be Enough" but her performance of "Burn" was so powerful that I had a tear in my eye (that has never happened before).  I was less than enthusiastic about Rick Negron as King George when I saw him last time and, while he is definitely not as flamboyant as others I have seen in the role, he grew on me last night.  I laughed at his shenanigans during "I Know Him" and "The Reynolds Pamphlet."  I also really enjoyed watching Paris Nix as Thomas Jefferson.  I thought he was fine in his previous performance but last night he really seemed to feed off of the crowd, especially in "What'd I Miss," "Washington On Your Side," "The Reynolds Pamphlet," and "The Election of 1800" (I loved his reaction to winning the election).  The crowd last night was really boisterous and appreciative and even applauded in the middle of songs, particularly when Washington stormed the stage in "Right Hand Man" and during the dance break in "Yorktown."  I loved the energy and it was so much fun to be a part of it.  I am so glad that I had the opportunity to see it again!

Note:  I love that I ended 2021 and began 2022 by seeing my favorite musical!

Friday, December 31, 2021

Hamilton at the Eccles

It has been 783 days since I last saw Hamilton (in San Francisco) and I really missed it, especially since all of the plans I had to see it in 2020 had to be canceled.  The Broadway touring production is currently making a stop at the Eccles Theater and I was so happy to be back in the room where it happens again last night!  I love this musical so much and I eagerly anticipated every single song as much as I did the first time I saw it!  I was practically hyperventilating by the time I heard the opening notes of "Alexander Hamilton."  I really enjoyed Julius Thomas III as Hamilton.  When I saw a production in Las Vegas a few years ago, I was really looking forward to seeing Joseph Morales in the lead role and was a bit disappointed to learn that the understudy was performing.  However, I immediately changed my mind because the understudy was Thomas and he has a beautiful voice!  Last night I was especially impressed with his versions of "Dear Theodosia" and "Hurricane."  I was also quite moved when he put is head on Eliza's shoulder during "It's Quiet Uptown" and I saw several people sitting near me wipe tears from their eyes at this moment, as well.  Donald Webber, Jr., who played Aaron Burr when I saw it in San Francisco, gave an incredible rendition of "Wait For It" and the transition from the verses to the chorus was so powerful that it received spontaneous applause!  He also sang "The World Was Wide Enough" with a great deal of remorse and that made it even more poignant than other versions I have seen.  When Darnell Abraham, as George Washington, stormed the stage during "Right Hand Man" he gave me goosebumps and this also received spontaneous applause ("We are outgunned, outmanned, outnumbered, outplanned.  We've got to make an all out stand").  I had to check to see if the roof was still attached to the Eccles Theater after "One Last Time" because his version just about blew it off.  I saw Paris Nix, as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, in the Chicago production and I laughed out loud once again when he did the running man in "Cabinet Battle #1" last night.  With all of the discourse about understudies, standbys, and swings performing on Broadway lately, I am happy to report that DeAundre Woods, a standby, and Milika Cheree, a swing, were fabulous as Hercules Mulligan/Philip Hamilton and Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds, respectively.  I thought that Victoria Ann Scovens was a little bit weak as Eliza and Rick Negron portrayed King George as regal rather than pompous and angry rather than petulant and, as a result, much of the comic relief that the character usually provides was missing.  When I saw the filmed version on Disney+ I saw lots of little things that I had never noticed on stage before so I paid very strict attention last night.  I actually saw it when The Bullet (performed by a member of the ensemble) misses Hamilton at the beginning of "Stay Alive" and when Philip stands in the background at the beginning of the duel in "The World Was Wide Enough" and this, for some reason, thrilled me!  I really loved seeing this last night and I am happy that I had the chance to end a difficult year on a good note (literally).  Hamilton runs at the Eccles Theater through January 23 but there are very few tickets available (go here).
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