You know, sometimes I really hate technology. Since my last post, the WiFi at my house has been acting up so I couldn't post anything, but I think I'm okay now!
So I'm trying out this new thing where I'm doing research on Broadway shows I have not posted about or have no idea about. One show I will start off with is the musical Honeymoon in Vegas, which is based off of the 1992 film of the same name featuring Nicholas Cage, James Caan, and Sarah Jessica Parker. The book was written by Andrew Bergman (who wrote and directed the original screenplay) with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. [If anyone is planning on seeing this show, it officially opens on January 15th! The current production stars Rob McClure as Jack Singer, Brynn O'Malley as Betsy Nolan, and Tony Danza as Tommy Korman.]
Happy New Year's Eve Eve!
Today, I'm gonna try to create a post about a play and not a musical--don't get me wrong, I like plays but musicals are easier to find a clip for.
Anyway, as of my last school night a few weeks ago, I auditioned for and was casted in a ten-minute Directing I Final scene. At my school, there's this course called Directing I where students learn all of the tools to directing a production and the research that is done to prepare before casting even starts. For their final, each student had to choose a scene from an actual play, cast it, and direct it.
The scene I was casted into was from a play titled Picnic, written in 1953 by William Inge. It takes place on Labor Day, where the play focuses on gender norms during the 1950's, where being physically attractive was how you landed a spouse. The main action of the story is that Hall, Madge, and Millie desire to break away from those norms that are confining them, while Flo wants to keep everything the way it was. Here's a small synopsis of the play.
I have grown to appreciate this play, primarily because it takes place in a simple setting with regular, everyday people, but it is the action that really drives this play. Dealing with gender norms doesn't seem like such a big problem now, but the play highlights flaws with those stereotypes that are relatable to all that watch it.
The scene I was in was in the beginning of the show, when the initial conflicts are introduced between Millie and Madge's envy towards the other, Madge's doubt on marrying Alan, obvious attraction between Madge and Hal, and Flo's disproval of Hal.
Here's a trailer the Roundabout Theatre Company created for the play when it was on Off-Broadway last year, starring Maggie Grace (Taken) as Madge Owens, Sebastian Stan (Captain America movies, Once Upon a Time) as Hal Carter, Madeleine Martin (Californication) as Millie Owens, and Mare Winningham (St. Elmo's Fire, Amber Waves) as Flo Owens.
I don't know about you guys, but I am not a big fan of finals!
Anyway, this past weekend, I was able to watch a performance from a certain production that is arriving on Broadway in March 2015 and will star Matthew Morrison as J.M. Barrie and Laura Michelle Kelly as Sylvia Llewlyn Davies. Yes, this show I am talking about is Finding Neverland.
The musical was based on the 2004 semi-biographical film of the same name, which chronicled Barrie (played by Johnny Depp) and the family he befriended that inspired the story Peter Pan. Fun facts: In the movie, Kate Winslet plays Sylvia (mother) and Freddie Highmore plays Peter (one of the sons). The film was a giant success, seeing how it was nominated for seven Academy Awards, which were:
Best Picture [nominated]
David Magee for Best Adapted Screenplay [nominated]
Johnny Depp for Best Actor [nominated]
Gemma Jackson and Trisha Edwards for Best Art Direction [nominated]
Alexandra Byrne for Best Costume Design [nominated]
Matt Cheese for Best Film Editing [nominated]
Jan A.P. Kaczmarek for Best Original Score [won]
I would say the Tony nominations for this production but they haven't officially been announced--I will post those when they are announced! If I could guess right now, I would predict that Matthew Morrison will be nominated for Best Actor in a Musical, Laura Michelle Kelly for Best Actress in a Musical, Finding Neverland for Best Musical, either Best Book of a Musical or Best Original Score, and maybe Best Director.
Now, while I am glad that this show will be greatly looked at for the Tonys, it's not fair that Jeremy Jordan couldn't reprise his role as Barrie--he played Barrie when the production was at the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, MA its entire run, from late July to late September of 2014. The show won't be the same--Jeremy Jordan brought a certain energy to the role that I'm not sure can be imitated.
I tried to find some video of Finding Neverland on YouTube (even the 2014 Tonys performance) but no such luck. So I will leave this audio performance of Jennifer Hudson singing the title song (J.M. Barrie typically sings this song).
"Wait, she's posting more than twice a month? Unspeakable!" Yes, I found the time to post again!
One show I want to talk about is one that my former high school is performing in January (and one I volunteered to help out with in costuming)― The Drowsy Chaperone.
The show made its début in 2006, telling the story of The Man in the Chair, an agoraphobic Broadway fan, as he listens to his favorite 1928 musical The Drowsy Chaperone. As the record continues, telling a story of a Broadway star and tycoon and the events on their wedding day, The Man in the Chair includes his personal footnotes and revels in the story that will aid his 'non-specific sadness'.
It's weird hearing of my younger friends being involved in it but I know the show will be great!
I don't know the soundtrack that well (yet) but I do know this song, "I Am Adolpho", for two reasons; a good friend of mine at the high school is Adolpho and a Musical Theatre senior that I know sang this song for his showcase. This song is flipping hilarious too and is a great audition song for a guy with a wide range. When I know the show better, I will post more about it!
So I've been in an unproductive mood today so I thought, 'Why shouldn't I post two posts today?' So I will!
Shrek The Musical landed on Broadway back in 2008 and lasted a little more than a year until it closed, maintaining the majority of its Seattle cast (one of the production's biggest roles, Donkey, changed actors in the transition to Broadway). The show (which follows the plot of the 2001 film Shrek) tells the story of an ogre named Shrek as he embarks on a journey with a faithful Donkey to obtain his swamp back from the other fairy tale characters by rescuing Princess Fiona, who is the bride of Lord Farquaad (he also originally moved the other fairy tale creatures onto Shrek's swamp). The show discusses themes of self-acceptance and finding true love in the most unlikely of people.
Why do I have the tendency to post once a month―actually, around the same time every month? It's rather odd.
Anyway, Happy Black Friday! (Even though it started while it was still Thanksgiving but who cares anymore, right? It's all about making money and how early to start sales!
Anyway, recently I fell in love with a musical that opened on Off-Broadway in March 2014 and closed back in August. Well, at least I did with the music―the directing kinda sucked after watching it (I've only seen the first act but I thought it was okay).
