Scandalous the Musical

I recently saw Scandalous the Musical. It was about two weeks into previews, so some changes were definitely happening, according to my top secret source (My friend and I got to chat with Kathie Lee Gifford for a few moments before the show).

Scandalous was almost three hours long. And it felt long. The very beginning is slow, but once Aimee Semple McPherson has her conversion experience, things pick up fast. The whole middle chunk of the show is exciting and invigorating. There are some amazing songs in there, and some wild action. There’s tragedy and sadness. There’s joy and exaultation.

And then it stops. Suddenly.

Like slamming on the breaks, and everything feels tired and exhausted. It trudges on to an ending that left me feeling…mystified. Wait, what? It’s over? What was that ending about?

Unfortunately for Scandalous, it brought back memories of Leap of Faith from last year. A couple of the sets looked like they bought them straight from Leap of Faith and just touched them up a bit. The costumes were completely different, but the revival tent was still there (although, I liked this tent MUCH better!).

Fortunately, Aimee Semple McPherson was a little more genuine than Jonas, and that gives this show a lot of potential. There’s a good story there, but t’s nowhere near as shiny as the apple that in the logo. Two weeks into previews, and the show still needed a bit of work. At the same time, there were another two weeks until opening night, so hopefully it gets cleaned-up quickly! I’d hate to watch this become the next Bonnie and Clyde.

Flashback – Newsies #8

 

Originally, when I started posting Flashback posts, I wanted to rehash all 16 Newsies performances that I have seen. I quickly realized that it would be overkill for my blog, for me, and for anyone crazy enough to try to read all of my posts. So I decided I would just get through what I could, and I’d share more the week before my one year anniversary (which better happen, Disney. Why are you only selling tickets through March 17th? March 28th is not all that far off, AND then you’d have a year run under your belt. Whatever, though. I’m not complaining).

At any rate, I only got to my 8th performance. Which means I’ve only shown you half of the performances that I’ve seen since my first time. Which is convenient for a couple of reasons.

1. I’m pretty sure I’ve officially shared all of my stage door pictures with you guys. Which is good, right?
2. These were the performances that I didn’t always write a blog post for, so that means that you have now gotten a little taste of every Newsies show I’ve seen.
3. My eighth time seeing Newsies was July 2, 2012.

To those of you who aren’t a “Newsies Stalker” (thanks, Mommy) or, as the cast calls me, an “Ultimate Fansie” (I knew I liked you guys for a reason), July 2nd is a very important date in Newsies the Musical history. It’s the first time that Jeremy Jordan DID NOT GO ON AS JACK KELLY.

WHAT!?!?! I know. You’re probably still confused. It also marks Brendon Stimson’s Jack Kelly debut. Since today is his birthday, that’s a pretty interesting coincidence, right? The last show I share with you in honor of my 6 month Newsieversary is the one where today’s birthday boy made his Jack Kelly debut.

It gets better. My first time seeing the show, 6 months ago, was also a special day in Newsies the Musical history. Why? Because Kara Lindsay (who plays Katherine Plumber) did not, in fact, perform on March 28th. Her understudy, Laurie Veldheer, went on without a put-in-rehearsal for the Broadway show under her belt.

That’s enough of the fun facts, I think.

Time for some picture flashbacks!!!

 

Flashback! – Newsies #3

 

I’m going to keep sharing my Newsies flashbacks with you guys this week. I’m so excited about Friday! My six month Newsies-Versary is coming up so quickly! I can hardly believe it!!!

My third time seeing the show was April 20, 2012. It was the night before I was headed to California for a visit, and I was pretty stressed about the trip. This was the same trip where I would be giving a speech in front of a bunch of important people at my alma mater, and  I would be one of the least experienced speakers at this event. Suffice to say, I struggled writing my speech. If any one remembers my post about that, I think I spent a good couple of days listening to Watch What Happens on repeat. So of course, it got quoted in my speech, and it turned out to be a bit of a hit (much to my surprise). You can read my speech here if you’re interested in the awesomeness that comes from quoting Kara Lindsay’s Newsies song (My topic was Inclusive Community. I could have gone another way with Newsies references, and maybe one day I will. I mean think about it…”For the sake of all the children…” Yeah, that could be really good.)

Anyway, for my third time seeing the show, Alyssa won the lottery! I don’t think there were any swings or understudies on that night (My apologies if there were. I don’t have any understudy slips tucked into my Playbill from that night, and I usually save those).

 

Broadway Flea Market 2012

This past weekend, we had a bunch of meetings in my community to talk about who we are, and what we need to do. It can be a really stressful thing, but fortunately, we were given free time to roam and get out and be on our own.

Conveniently, a bunch of people I really wanted to see were at the Broadway Flea Market during one of our free periods, so I headed down to Times Square early Sunday morning.

In case you’ve never heard of the Broadway Flea Market, it’s basically Broadway Christmas, and the proceeds go to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BCEFA). The website says:

Broadway dreams can come true as you find showbiz treasures, meet the stars and bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences at the 26th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction.

Plan now to spend Sunday, September 23, 2012, with Broadway Cares and thousands of other theatre fans in Times Square, Shubert Alley and along West 44th Street searching for one-of-a-kind theatre keepsakes, from lost cast recordings to signed show posters and Playbills, from rare costume sketches to the shirts off Hugh Jackman’s and Ricky Martin’s backs – literally. This not-to-be-missed event for every Broadway theatergoer is free and open to the public.

This was a really fun event and it was awesome to see so many Broadway stars and fans mingling together talking and chatting and having a really good time.

I checked out a couple of tables, but, naturally, I headed over to the Newsies table to spend my money. I got a couple of prop things that I won’t spend too much time talking about right now (I will eventually, don’t you worry). I also got to take a bunch of pictures with the cast…for $5 each. Fortunately, I teamed up with people for most of the shots!

The Newsies were all really sweet. They talked to a bunch of us when they weren’t taking pictures and even remembered our names and when we’re next seeing the show. I got a lot of “See you Fridays!” which only made me smile bigger.

The Newsies and I…my first picture with them for the day…They are such total sweethearts!

Ellen and I have hung out many times, but we realized we didn’t have a picture together. Naturally, the first picture had to be with the Newsies cast.

My Newsies show-going buddy, Sydney and I with some of the cast!

“The Ultimate Fansies” — as the Newsies said. We didn’t name ourselves that…but we’re not complaining about the title either :)

Newsies September 4, 2012

In true Fansie fashion, I went to see Jeremy Jordan’s last show with Newsies, and it was amazing. He really brought a lot to the character, and I will miss him and his charming Newsie accent.

I wish Jeremy all the best with Smash! I can’t wait to see his “Brooklyn-born singer with a self-destructive streak” wow the rest of the world. Maybe he’ll even break out the Newsie accent for a little while…

Corey Cott Hits Broadway: August 8, 2012

August 8, 2012. Trust me, people, it’s a day to remember. It’s a day that a very recent Carnegie Mellon graduate made his Broadway début. If you know who I am talking about, I’m proud of you! If you don’t, learn this name:

COREY COTT

Got it? Good. Don’t forget it, because this guy is going to make huge waves on Broadway and in the acting world in general. He’s already started with his heart wrenching rendition of Santa Fé.

Let me tell you about my discovery of this amazing young man. See, the first time I saw him was August 2, 2012 at Newsies Softball. My first interaction with him was that same day, and actually happened before I even saw him.

He was warming up with the rest of the Newsies behind the stands, and he hit a softball…which then hit me in the head (no serious damage done…I grew up playing sports). Of course, he was a gentleman and apologized profusely, but I was on the phone with a friend who was coming to meet me, so I brushed it off like it was no big deal (because, well, it wasn’t).

Anyway, just under a week later, this charming young man made his Broadway début in Newsies, performing as Jack Kelly. His début was the matinée, which I didn’t get to go to (I was a Jersey Boys with another fansie), but I did make it to the evening show that night, when he also performed.

Can I just say that this guy is great? When he was on stage, he wasn’t an actor playing Jack Kelly. He was Jack Kelly, Newsie extraordinaire and blow-hard of the Newsies Union. He sang each song perfectly, and I felt so many emotions as he performed. Basically, Corey takes the things I loved about Christian Bale’s Jack Kelly and the things I loved about Jeremy Jordan’s Jack Kelly and combines them to make Jack Kelly.

In addition to being an amazing actor, this guy is very down to earth and is right there with all the other Newsies at the stage door. He’s such a sweetheart to each of his fans, and you can tell that he is genuinely appreciative of them being there and supporting him.

I’m glad I know who this guy is, and I’m excited to see him in Newsies many more times!

I’m really glad that Corey Cott is Jack Kelly!!!

Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark – Brandon Rubendall was BACK! August 14, 2012

So Spider-Man wasn’t high on my list of show to see. I wanted to se it, but I wasn’t in a rush to get to it. Then, all that changed:

Brandon Rubendall tweeted that he would be back in the show for a week starting August 14, 2012.

Now, I’ve been trying to see this guy in a show for a while now. I can’t even remember how long it’s been. So I went to Anything Goes during his 8 months with the show.

Over the course of those 8 months, he missed about four performances. One of those four, of course, was the night that I went. I was pretty devastated. I mean, the odds were in MY FAVOR and I missed him.

So when I heard that he was going to be in Spider-Man, I adjusted my August plans to accommodate seeing the show while he would be in it.

I rushed the show (the only way I could afford tickets), and got two tickets right by one of the landing pads.

I’m really glad I saw the show when I did, too, because I had the privilege of seeing Matthew James Thomas as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, and I think I definitely like him better than Reeve Carmey (no offense meant, but I’m not a huge Spider-Man fan anyway, and Matthew James Thomas made Peter Parker a much more likeable character. And, personally, I like his voice better, too).

I walked out of this show satisfied with Marvel. I’m a DC comics girl all the way. Give me Batman ANY DAY over a Marvel hero. But this show earned Marvel a little love.

It was interesting, aesthetically pleasing, with good music and fun dancing. The story was great. All in all, I would go back, even though Brandon Rubendall isn’t in the show anymore.

Meeting him was super awesome! He’s such a nice guy, and he really was a joy to watch on the stage! I can’t wait to see what’s next for him!

Newsies Softball August 9, 2012

Newsies Softball against Phantom. It was a tough game to watch. Phantom won.

Newsies August 3, 2012

Pictures from my 11th time seeing the show! It was (as always) amazing! Also, this was my first time seeing the show with JP Ferreri, and he did a really great job!

Newsies Softball August 2, 2012

Pictures from the Newsies’ softball game on August 2, 2012…There aren’t many, but there are some!

Corey Cott

Brendon Stimson

Tommy Bracco – Newsies Softball August 2, 2012

Tommy Bracco

Mike Faist

Newsies