490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Jul 3, 2017 14:32:17 GMT
So performances have started in Leicester. Has anyone seen the show yet? I'd love to hear a report on how it's going.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Jun 25, 2017 11:20:59 GMT
Full Cast Announced... Patti Murin - Anna Caissie Levy - Elsa Aisha Jackson - Standby Anna (yes for the multi-racial realness!!) Alyssa Fox - Standby Elsa Jelani Alladin - Kristoff Greg Hildreth - Olaf John Ridle - Hans Robert Creighton - Duke of Weselton Kevin Del Aguila - Oaken Timothy Hughes - Pabbie Andrew Pirozzi - Sven Audrey Bennett and Mattea Conforti - Young Anna Brooklyn Nelson and Ayla Schwartz - Young Elsa. Alicia Albright, Tracee Beazer, Wendi Bergamini, Ashley Blanchet, James Brown III, Claire Camp, Lauren Nicole Chapman, Spencer Clark, Jeremy Davis, Kali Grinder, Ashley Elizabeth Hale, Zach Hess, Donald Jones, Jr., Nina Lafarga, Ross Lekites, Austin Lesch, Synthia Link, Travis Patton, Adam Perry, Jeff Pew, Olivia Phillip, Noah J. Ricketts, Ann Sanders, Jacob Smith, and Nicholas Ward - Ensemble www.playbill.com/article/full-cast-announced-for-broadways-frozenAlyssa Fox is half Japanese as well so when her and Aisha are on together there'll be a Japanese and an African-American playing Disney Princesses! I absolutely adore this casting.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Jun 17, 2017 17:11:34 GMT
I'd never heard of it and came upon the series by chance. Really enjoying it even though it's quite disturbing. How far into it are you?
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Jun 17, 2017 14:58:35 GMT
Personally, I think having the play feature a Trump type character is a great idea. I'd love to see Jesus Christ Superstar with a Jeremy Corbyn type figure as Jesus, Trump and May as Caiphas and Annus, Boris Johnson as Herod.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Jun 17, 2017 14:54:58 GMT
****SEASON ONE FINALE SPOILERS******
What an ending! I love how they remain faithful to the book even when making all those changes. You can tell they've been respectful with the source material. Having all the Handmaids begin to rebel as well as Aunt Lydia's face when she realises she hasn't crushed their spirit as much as she though she had was such an incredible addition and it speaks volumes for future seasons by showing the tiniest cracks beginning to appear in the regime. I know Aunt Lydia a sadistic w(b)itch but I can't help but loving her and I think her love for the Handmaid's is genuine - in a f u c k e d up kind of way.
The scene between Luke and Moira was really touching - her reaction when she found out he considers her family broke my heart as did when the refugee worker was flippantly giving her money and insurance and she was just absolutely speechless. I can't wait for her to gather her thoughts and become bad a s s again in Season 2. Moira and Luke are going to be a formidable team.
Things I'm hoping to see more of are in Season Two are: Little America and the refugees, especially escaped Handmaid's and Marthas. I also love the references to the Martha's being organised throughout the series - I don't for a second think that Rita isn't part of that, especially after she revealed her son had died during the Gilead War and her eagerness to grab the letters when Offered was taken away. In the book there's a reference that the story take place entirely in Harvard Square and the rest of the city is carrying on as normal. Men going to work, woman staying at home, not even aware of what's going on with the Hanmaids. I'd love to see public life and the fear they're all living with as well as their reaction to just how bad the Gilead regime is when they realise every woman is going to be eventually to sorted into some sort of submissive role.
I really hope we get to see the Econowives in Season Two. I reckon they are so resentful of the regime since they are expected to act as Martha, Handmaid and Wife that they'd be keen to grind down the regime as well in their own organised way. I was interested in them from the tiny glimpses we saw in the books. It would be really interesting to see a character give us her point of view of being in the middle of the Gilead hierarchy, not exactly a powerful wife but not exactly a powerless Handmaid.
I'm glad we'll finally get to see the colonies, as the show runner confirmed in various interviews. It's been confirmed Offred's mother makes an appearance in Season 2 so I bet Offred gets sent to the colonies and reunites her with her mother. Any ideas on who could play Offerd's mother?
I wish we could have seen a softer side to Serena Joy. The book makes her almost likeable but the TV show just has her a cold, heartless, you-know-what. I really rooted for her earlier in the series, I even compared her to Cersai Lannister, but she became very 2 dimensional as the series progressed. I know there were glimmers of her softer side, like giving Offred the music box, but it didn't ring true and it after she had locked Offred up for two weeks. I think Serena Joy has been a missed opportunity.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on May 21, 2017 20:20:05 GMT
My friends runs Bar Broadway in Brighton that's a musical theatre karaoke bar.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on May 16, 2017 18:07:48 GMT
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on May 16, 2017 11:54:36 GMT
Just finished episode three and I am absolutely loving it! Elizabeth Moss as Offred is so convincing that I actually feel her anger, confusion and frustration. Her definition between "June" in the Flashbacks and "Offred" are so good that I genuinely believe the character has witness this huge change in Government.
The rest of the cast are pretty stellar as well. I was worried about the way Hulu have sexed up the characters by having the Commander and Serena Joy played by young, attractive actors in their prime rather than middle aged people like they're described in the books but both actors are tremendous so far. Serena Joy is very much like Cersei Lannister in the sense that she's an awful, awful human being but you can't but love her and want her to have more screen time.
I think the modernisation of the setting is really well thought out as well as the retaining of people of colour, the book has anyone who isn't white deported back to their "country of origin." It's a fantastic adaption of a fantastic book and I implore anyone to watch it if they can.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Apr 1, 2017 22:55:21 GMT
Fantastic! I saw the Australian tour about two years and absolutely loved it! It really is a sickly sweet show that will make you want to go out and dance afterwards. Although the musical is loosely based on the third movie I reckon it'll still sell well due to the franchise name, which is still massively popular with 90's kids who now have disposable income. Really looking forward to it.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Mar 20, 2017 11:37:40 GMT
Johannesburg is the unsafe city in South Africa that, sadly, gives a bad name for the rest of the country. Cape Town is fine. It's like any other major city where you have to be aware of your surroundings and don't put yourself in any bad situations. It's a gorgeous city that everyone should see!
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Mar 12, 2017 18:11:03 GMT
Sorry to be reactivating the old thread but I've seen he show last night in Edinburgh Playhouse and wanted to share my views. I didn't see the movie and wasn't familiar with the story before seeing the showTo start with, I was really surprised to see the Playhouse Stalls being so full - it's a big theatre and usually it's not packed. Yesterday, there was a lot of people around me. I struggled with this show for couple of reasons: English is my second language and I found the Irish accent difficult to understand from the stage so I couldn't follow the jokes and didn't laugh when everyone else did. Because the songs that were sung were "classics" (Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, etc.) the show didn't give me a different vibe to what I get watching Evita, Wicked or any other musical. I liked the company - actors were really engaged and sung well, but sung on the level of your local band. Nothing breath taking. Audience did enjoy the show, but there was a lot of movement during the songs (people leaving for the toilet, etc.) and some seats were left empty after the first act. I saw the show in Edinburgh as well. I watched it on the Saturday night and it was, without a doubt, the worst show I've seen on a stage by a professional company. No doubt it was once a great show with loads of energy but the version I saw was tired, uninspired and defeated. The actors were blatantly bored of the show and had virtually no emotion in their performances, their diction was awful during the singing and I couldn't hear the actual lyrics. The best part of the show was the "bouncer" during their first concert. I'm so glad I got my ATG staff discount and paid a tiny price for the tickets because my partner, who isn't a fan of musicals on the best of days, convinced me to leave at the end of Act 1. I've seen a lot of theatre but The Commitments was the absolutely worst.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Feb 27, 2017 21:56:08 GMT
Apparently going into The Dominion? The same Dominion where An American In Paris begins performances next week and will likely stay for the foreseeable future? I doubt it.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Jan 15, 2017 22:44:18 GMT
disagree. outside of here no one will know natasha and the whole sheridan fiasco is old news and forgotten by majority of the uk. its not to target theatre fans its to appeal to the casual regional theatregoer. Darius is someone with mild name recognition who they can send out on the media/chat show circuit to promote the show Also disagree. The story regarding a celebrity becoming indisposed and her understudy getting better reviews received huge national attention. This is the kind of story the British public love! Natasha appeared on chat shows, was interviewed for newspapers and magazines so even people outside of here know Natasha and her story, even if they couldn't actually point her out in an empty bar. Honestly, I've had conversations with people at my work talking about "that understudy". Now that Natasha is leading the tour the producers will no doubt use her and her story as the lead promotion for the show. Darius hasn't been seen on TV or any other media platform for years and year. Other than a few flop musicals he isn't even a big name in theatre. Many people attending the theatre won't even remember what show he was on let alone any of his songs.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Jan 12, 2017 20:52:26 GMT
Would love to meet you guys but sadly living in Glasgow means I can't easily get down south.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Jan 12, 2017 20:44:16 GMT
Stop being8 so sensible [b There were no back stage dramas between them. It's just a great way of having one big name at each venue. Remember people in the far reaches will never have heard of Natasha but will know Darius. I think it's great casting Theatre fans are hardly going to flock to the show because of Darius and his name, especially in Scotland as some publications seem to be suggesting. I'm Scottish and even I forgot Darius was even Scottish! People will either have heard of the show because of the film or will have heard of Natasha because of all the drama last year. Darius is probably the least known in this whole situation.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Jan 3, 2017 7:23:25 GMT
I work at the Box Office of a theatre the show is playing in and, honestly, I cringe every time someone comes in and spends £45 a ticket for Ghost knowing that they're expecting the amazing previous tour but they're actually getting this cheap thing.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Jan 3, 2017 7:14:42 GMT
I live in Glasgow also (also originally from the Highlands) and I am involved in the am-dram scene as a musical director. I think Glasgow has one of the most diverse am dram scenes in the UK. The last year alone companies have tackled the latest releases (Priscilla, 9 To 5), classic shows (West Side Story, Fiddler On The Roof) as well as some rarely produced shows (Carrie, Curtains). It is an exciting community to be part of who constantly strive for excellence. Where are you from in the Highlands and what groups are you part of? (so many questions!) I've moved back because my fiancé is off to uni to study Photography. Sadly, that means I have to semi-retire from professional performing and get 9to5 job as there can only be one starving artist in the family at a time. I'd love to be involved with some AmDram during my time here but it's terrifying having all these companies to choose from and not knowing anyone.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Jan 1, 2017 23:02:12 GMT
I am not sure that it would be right to try to rank amateur groups - just support them as they give up their time for something they really love. WHen that love shines through, it is worth celebrating. Still wouldn't mind hearing what other companies are pretty good. I should have made it clearer, I don't want to rank any group above the other - I simply want to know what amateur groups out there deliver consistently high standard productions. If, in your opinion, that's every single group in Oxford then please let me know! That's what the post is about, not creating a hierarchy of AmDram. Since I doubt I'll ever be aware of all of the amateur groups up and down our great nation and since I'm newly back to the country but still regularly travel then I'd love to hear other users of the board's opinions on companies they recommend. That way I, and any other interested party, can look into their work and from across the country and support them via of a Facebook page.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Jan 1, 2017 22:38:11 GMT
What amateur companies do you know of that are consistently professional standard.
I ask because I've recently returned to Glasgow from Australia where I performed professionally for a few years. Before Australia I lived in Paris and London so I've been out of the amateur scene since I left for drama school at 18. Since coming back I'm amazed by how much amateur theatre has improved, there is an incredible amount of talent in the local community! I've always known, growing up in the Scottish Highlands as a gay 10 year old, that the Apollo Players in Glasgow were one of the leading amateur companies in the UK. The writers of FAME even wrote the sequel, FAME FOREVER!, for them. Since becoming involved in the Glasgow theatre scene I'm truly amazed how many other amateur companies have popped up are now as good as the Apollo Players.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Dec 29, 2016 16:22:26 GMT
In Melbourne a few months back I was at Megan Hilty's concert and I was sat a few rows behind John Barrowman. I approached him for a photo and it was obvious he was on autopilot every time someone asked for a photo but as soon as he heard my Scottish accent he started talking to me like we were old pals. Before that I was at Hugh Jackman's concert and was sat on the same row as his family (wife, daughter and extended family) and at one point he sung a song directly to Deb and came over to her so he was within spitting distance of me.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Dec 15, 2016 21:20:04 GMT
Welcome Roman I do recognise you from the Broadway World Board and guess you will know me? So hope you enjoy the gig on here, it is more altruistic than Broadway World, but what would you expect other than us English Gentlemens? *cough* and us Scots. But I agree with you.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Dec 12, 2016 14:17:28 GMT
I was in a regional production of Alice in Wonderland. The show was pretty impressive and the entire set was made to look like a giant suitcase where characters could pull out props, set pieces and whatever they needed they place them back at the end of their time on stage. Every single inch of the stage was used as storage for a character and what they needed during their scene, it was fantastic. The only way I can describe it would be like a giant game of Tetris.
The best part was at the very end, after the curtain call, a small section of the stage IN MID AIR opened to reveal the Cheshire Cat walking towards the audience with a real life Wonderland in the background. On the ground at the Cheshire Cat's feet was an open suitcase with miniature versions of the characters in their curtain call positions. She snapped the suitcase shut which made the on-stage lights go down on the characters, leaving this mid-air section the only thing that the audience can see. The Cheshire Cat says something, picks up the suitcase and walks away from the audience back into Wonderland. It looked like she was genuinely walking towards a large forest that was just levitating in the air.
I'm not very good at explaining but it was INCREDIBLE and every member of the audience was gob smacked when it happened. It was such a lovely way of wrapping up the story and explaining why the Cheshire Cat kept appearing throughout the production.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Dec 9, 2016 21:22:35 GMT
Yeah that's the one, onboard harmony of the seas, and it's rather impressive theatre. How was the show? I've only seen a few clips from what he's posted but it looks great!
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Dec 8, 2016 10:41:42 GMT
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Dec 8, 2016 10:23:04 GMT
Now I have to admit I'm only really familiar with the movie and the only stage version I've seen was on a cruise ship this summer but I enjoyed that much more. Was that Royal Caribbean? If so, my friend is in that production. He's playing Sonny!
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Dec 2, 2016 14:09:44 GMT
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Dec 2, 2016 9:42:14 GMT
The soundtrack for the live production is on Spotify now.
Arianna's vocals are so wrong for this - I was such a supporter of her in this role.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Nov 30, 2016 9:00:52 GMT
Both Hercules and Tangled have been adapted into musicals for the Disney Cruise. You can watch the full shows on YouTube.
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Nov 25, 2016 20:11:44 GMT
Beauty and the Beast Legally Blonde (I know it's going on tour next year, but I'd love to see it return to London) Rock of Ages Xanadu (pretty please with cherries on top!) Memphis (ditto) Has a Legally Blonde tour been announced? Who's producing it?
|
|
490 posts
Member is Online
|
Post by WireHangers on Nov 25, 2016 20:02:34 GMT
Buying a ticket to a show doesn't entitle somebody to an automatic meet and greet with a performer, whether we pay the performer's wages or not. That's such a rubbish cop out of an excuse. Yes, buying a ticking doesn't entitle someone to meet the performer but it is part of a long tradition and it's a routine for any young theatre goer. Many performers have said in interviews that they themselves used to stage door stars of shows. George Ure, a previous Boq of Wicked, once tweeted Kerry Ellis a picture of a signed programme he got from her during her stint in Miss Saigon. Hell, even Matthew Bourne did it a few years before he hit it big time. No one is entitled to meet anyone but people who have sh*tty attitudes about stage-dooring should take the stick out their backside.
|
|