Jordan_E Posted May 3, 2008 Report Share Posted May 3, 2008 Don't know how many of y'all go see stage shows, but me and the Mrs. try to hit either Seattle's Fifth Avenue or The Paramount Theater at least once a year. Last week we went to see My Fair Lady. It was a decent presentation, with some nice staging, and had at least one link to the movie in the form of Marnie Nixon, who was the singing voice in the Warner classic. This one has a relatively short run in Seattle, less than a week. Later in the summer, we'll be seeing A Chorus Line, Shrek: The Musical (yes, it plays here first before heading for Broadway, the same as with Young Frankenstein and Hairspray in the past), and The Phantom of the Opera. I learned to enjoy stage shows from going to our local dinner theater back in the day when I wrote a small piece in the local newspaper about their ambitious (their description, not mine) staging of Dracula; that show was a mess, but the backstage stuff was great. Wish I could write about some backstage stuff for one of these big productions some day. It's always more interesting than the actual show itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan_E Posted June 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2008 Got our tickets to Phantom of the Opera and just ordered our tickets for Shrek: The Musical. Seattle's 5th Avenue Theater has gone dark from this month until mid-August just for Shrek. Should be interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyN Posted June 13, 2008 Report Share Posted June 13, 2008 I haven't been to a stage show in a long time, but when I was younger I went a lot. Saw Les Miserables four-five times, Beauty and the Beast, Sunset Blvd, Cats, Phantom and a bunch of others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan_E Posted June 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2008 Sunset Blvd. is the only one I missed that I've wanted to see (A Chorus Line the other one I missed, but it's coming here in August). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyN Posted June 14, 2008 Report Share Posted June 14, 2008 I really liked Sunset Blvd. The day after i saw it they gave it a few more weeks and then stopped it. Wasn't doing well back then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lutter Posted June 14, 2008 Report Share Posted June 14, 2008 My girlfriend and I have season tickets to Broadway Across America here in San Antonio... We're actually seeing Spamalot this upcoming week and I am REALLY looking forward to it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan_E Posted June 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2008 Spamalot played here earlier this year (or was it late last year?), but I couldn't talk the wife into going to see it. Bummer. At the time, I was against Sunset Blvd. because it is also one of my favorite movies of all time (a movie every writer should see), but as I've gotten older it's become one of my "Dang-I-am-Stupid!" things for not seeing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Union Carbine Posted June 14, 2008 Report Share Posted June 14, 2008 I've been going to the theater quite a bit since I moved back to NYC. The last play I saw was Patrick Stewart in MacBeth. I liked it a lot. I still need to see SPAMalot... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starhawk Posted June 18, 2008 Report Share Posted June 18, 2008 I caught Spamalot on Broadway a couple of months ago and it was great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lutter Posted June 19, 2008 Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 Spamalot was amazing. Awesome sets, actors, SFX, etc... really felt like I got my moneys' worth. Later this fall we are getting RENT in Austin (along with Spamalot again) and in the spring here in SA... Avenue Q and, my personal favorite.... Wicked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted June 19, 2008 Report Share Posted June 19, 2008 Saw my friend Michael Stuhlbarg as Hamlet at Shakepeare in the Park. Great production for those of you who like ol' Bill, and you can say you know a guy who was in Oliver with Hamlet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Union Carbine Posted June 20, 2008 Report Share Posted June 20, 2008 Saw my friend Michael Stuhlbarg as Hamlet at Shakepeare in the Park. Great production for those of you who like ol' Bill, and you can say you know a guy who was in Oliver with Hamlet.Nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan_E Posted June 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2008 Local stage scene last night for the daughter's dance class. Question: why put the 5 year olds on during the final section of the LONG 2 hour+ show?! Nothing like seeing a group of teens attempting Little Shop of Horrors, some "hip-hop" dance routines, and Wicked to really ruin a Friday night. Oh well. Our daughter was cute and there won't be another stage show until the holiday season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan_E Posted August 31, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 Off to see Shrek The Musical tonight. Lucky we bought the tickets earlier this year, because we wouldn't be able to afford those prices after these summer gas prices. Staying overnight in Seattle. Woo-hoo, the Big City! :ohyeah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lutter Posted August 31, 2008 Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 Got our Avenue Q tickets for next month ... Center Mez 2nd row. My best friend got to see Evil Dead the Musical last week in Toronto. I wish we'd get a production down here in Texas! Seems right up Austin's alley! Anyone else surrounded by coworkers who have no clue about the theater? I swear when I talk musicals people look at me like I'm crazy with two heads and immediately question my sexuality Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan FB Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 I saw Spamalot in London, and there was a little too much "hey remember that scene from the movie? We're going to repeat it verbatim!" for my taste. Maybe unfunny nerds have just killed it for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbert Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 Anyone else surrounded by coworkers who have no clue about the theater? I swear when I talk musicals people look at me like I'm crazy with two heads and immediately question my sexuality Mmmmmm.... I wish we'd get a production down here in Texas! I think that's your answer why Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lutter Posted September 1, 2008 Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 haha ... wasn't much better in Florida either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan_E Posted September 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2008 Shrek The Musical worked. Going in, I didn't think it would work that well, but was pleasantly surprised. Most of the songs were excellent, a few even outstanding; the sets were almost in perpetual motion; the guy playing Lord Farquard (on his knees the entire time) was hilarious, the highlight of the show. By intermission, the wife leaned over and asked when we could buy the show's CD (I think it goes on sale in November, when it moves to Broadway). There were a couple of clunkers and one too many fart jokes for me, but overall it captured the humor of the first movie quite well. Well worth the time and money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted September 2, 2008 Report Share Posted September 2, 2008 Saw Wicked a couple weeks ago here in Ottawa. I have to admit it was pretty good. I doubt any stage show will ever hold a candle to Evil Dead: The Musical for me though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted September 2, 2008 Report Share Posted September 2, 2008 Saw Wicked a couple weeks ago here in Ottawa. I have to admit it was pretty good. Seeing that on Broadway in November with the neices. I'm cautiously excited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan_E Posted September 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 (edited) Off to see The Phantom of the Opera this afternoon. Main floor, 5 rows back. Well, The Phantom is starting to show its age. What was show-stopping in the past now seems dated after watching new shows like Shrek: The Musical. The Phantom of the Opera is 20 years old now and feels like it, and it didn't help that one of the show's big fireworks went off like a wet firecracker. And the performers didn't seem to "get into" the show until after intermission, their voices sounded weak until the second half. What this show needs is a major overhaul, bringing it into the 21st century, but it still makes money and that's all that counts, I guess. Edited September 22, 2008 by Jordan_E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lutter Posted October 11, 2008 Report Share Posted October 11, 2008 We saw Avenue Q on Thursday at the Magestic Theater here in San Antonio... Front Mez, 2 rows back (my preferred location). I've always loved the music of the show but it just felt lost in our big theater in terms of staging and direction. After seeing the lighting, massive sets, and sfx of newer shows like Spamalot it just felt like watching the old black box performances of my youth... one set with very few actors. Not saying it was bad... it was HILARIOUS and the performances were great... and I'm glad I finally saw it... but I dunno... I expected more. Perhaps listening to the soundtrack like a bazillion times before I saw it psyched me out Live Puppet sex was worth the price of admission. I will give them that. Next up is RENT up in Austin in November... which I am soooo excited about. Probably too much, actually. We're also going to catch Wicked but we haven't decided on the January show in Austin or June in San Antonio. Spamalot is also coming back to Austin December-ish so I might talk the lady into seeing it with me again. Perhaps I can barter Spamalot for CATS (ugh). Meoooow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan_E Posted October 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2008 Dang. Daughter saw ad for The Lion King returning to Seattle next spring. This was one of the few shows I really didn't care for, along with Miss Saigon. Dunno, just didn't work for me. Probably saw the movie one too many times. Of course, we got tickets already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lutter Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 I found the Finding Nemo musical better than The Lion King... and that's free at the Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.