11 Broadway Shows in 3 Days… Ready for our reviews?

 

You might be thinking how in the world did we see 11 Broadway Shows in 3 Days? Especially when Pretty Woman: The Musical was about to play here in Huntsville for five performances. Well, we divided and conquered is how: half of us flew to NYC for a long weekend, while the other half stayed in Huntsville to prepare for Pretty Woman’s arrival. We’re all exhausted, but we’re all equally inspired!

Pretty Woman was a big success. BIG! HUGE! The audiences loved it. And now that they’re off to their next tour stop, I can share our reviews on the 11 shows we saw in NYC:

The Great Gatsby: The show was visually stunning. A big splashy Broadway musical for sure with the sets & the costumes, set in the 1920’s, and what a feast for the eyes! Jeremy Jordan was outstanding. We’re still in shock that he didn’t receive a Tony nomination for this one. We highly recommend The Great Gatsby if you’re a fan of the book and/or the movie(s). Andrew pointed out how he’s always felt connected to the character of Gatsby: his undying love and commitment. He just went the wrong way about it is all.

The Notebook: It was fantastic! Even without seeing the movie or reading the book. It’s such an emotionally packed show. The whole audience was uncontrollably sobbing at the end. It’s so cathartic, having an emotional release like the one this show gives you, it cleanses your soul. It literally rains on stage, which is so magical. The three different versions of Allie and Noah are so beautiful to watch but also very haunting. This show will most certainly be a future Huntsville favorite.

Water For Elephants: Based on the critically acclaimed and bestselling novel, this musical is a true spectacle to behold. The puppetry is magnificent. The story is riveting. The excitement you will feel from watching this show is undeniable. What an incredible piece of ensemble theater here. Seen through the eyes of the older version of Jacob, you witness all of the different ranges of emotions only experienced through people of a certain age when they look back on their lives. You will encounter the ups and downs of a life in the circus back in the 1930’s and it will leave an indelible impression.

Mother Play: A Play in Five Evictions. All that really needs to be stated about this play is that the family matriarch is played by the brilliant Jessica Lange. No one plays a better dysfunctional mother than Ms. Lange. But then you have her two children played by the hilarious and heartbreaking Jim Parsons and Tony winner (To Kill A Mockingbird), Celia Keenan Bolger. All three actors were nominated for Tony Awards for this play. And deservedly so. Family is most always complicated. This is a shining example of it right here.

Cabaret: If you love the show Cabaret then you must add this version to your list of show experiences. It’s over the top! There are very strong performances, some celebrities and some not. The “in the round” staging is quite effective and the pre-show certainly sets the mood for what you have in store for the next almost three hours. Afterwards you must go out for a drink with your friends, “leave your troubles outside,” and debate who’s the best Emcee: Joel Grey, Alan Cumming or now Eddie Redmayne?

Stereophonic: A play with music, which received 13 Tony nominations. The most nominations for any play. Ever. Five of the seven actors in the show are nominated for Tony awards. It’s about a Fleetwood Mac type of group recording their album over the course of a year. You’re very much a fly on the wall in the studio. And it’s so funny too! As an audience you’re collectively laughing, sighing, and gasping during the show. We think it’s another great fit for Huntsville. All the incredible musicians in Huntsville are going to love this one!

 The Wiz: Wayne Brady was awesome as the Wiz. In fact, all of the leads are amazing. Emerald City was a nightclub, which is hysterical. The costumes are dazzling, so fun and colorful. Which is why it’s no surprise that the four leads went on to cause quite a stir at the Met Gala too. It’s been 50 years since The Wiz first opened on Broadway so it was time for this revival. The reviewers weren’t very kind but the audiences have spoken and it is a hit! We think the tour of this version will be another great fit for Huntsville.

The Who’s Tommy: It was BROADWAY – everything you want Broadway to be! This brilliant score, the flawlessly executed choreography, the set and the high-tech blend together perfectly for this unique experience. The show is so immersive! You really feel like you are a part of the cast on that stage. It certainly didn’t hurt that my good friend Adam Jacobs was playing one of the lead roles. He was the original Aladdin on Broadway and an incredible former Marius in Les Misérables. Ali Louis Bourzgui delivers a rockstar performance in the title role. What a fantastic actor! We will be seeing much more of this young man in the future.

Merrily We Roll Along: This has always been my favorite Stephen Sondheim show. Which is strange because it was such a huge flop when it premiered on Broadway in 1981. But I just loved the score so much. It’s such a haunting story that’s told in reverse. Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez deserve all the accolades and Tony nominations they have received for their brilliant work and divine chemistry in these roles. This show is what I call “Happy/Sad” and it’s my favorite kind of show. Very bittersweet. It stays with you for a long time.

The Outsiders: It’s like ONCE meets West Side Story. We loved it! The audience was full of all different ages. Everyone in the cast was so believable and they take you on a big journey. There’s a lot of crying at the end of this one too. You become so attached to these characters and you follow them on this emotional path from start to finish. The music, choreography, fight sequences, lighting design and the acting performances fit perfectly together to produce this fantastic piece of theater.

Hell’s Kitchen: Brought to you by 16-time Grammy award winner, Alicia Keys. It’s been nominated for 13 Tony Awards, which is the most of any musical this season. It’s a slice of NYC, her life growing up here in the neighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen. The 2^nd act is full of so many gut-wrenching moments. You can’t help but walk away with the utmost admiration for the journey Alicia keys has been on and then ended up here. And Shoshana Bean, who plays her mother, can belt like nobody’s business. Wow! This show will be the one to beat at the Tony Awards on June 16, 2024.

It was very exhilarating seeing all of this magnificent theater in NYC and discussing them amongst each other with a common goal in mind: Which shows would Huntsville want to see the most?!

Please let us know what you think. We’re listening…