Tag: musical theater

National Tour Review | Beauty and the Beast

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Beauty and the Beast

Played at Citizens Opera House

Musical or play? Musical

Lottery or Rush tickets? Digital Lottery available on Lucky Seat

What I Paid: $47.00 (Lottery Win)

My Rating: ★★★★

Official Website: https://beautyandthebeastthemusical.com/

Be Our Guest at Disney’s enchanting and beloved musical of Beauty and the Beast, the breathtaking musical filled with the romance and grandeur audiences know and love. This enchanting and timeless tale has been brought to life like never before, with spectacular new sets and dazzling costumes. The show boasts the Oscar®-winning and Tony Award®-nominated score, including the classic songs “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty and the Beast.” Reuniting to create this new production are members of the original Tony Award®-winning artistic team, including composer Alan Menken, lyricist Tim Rice, book writer Linda Woolverton, with direction and choreography by Matt West, scenic design by Stanley A. Meyer, costume design by Ann Hould-Ward and lighting design by Natasha Katz. Beauty and the Beast is the beloved musical that will fill your heart with joy and Disney magic.

REVIEW

Beauty and the Beast was the second Broadway show I ever saw over twenty years ago, so I was very excited when I won the ticket lottery for its current National Tour when it stopped at the Citizens Opera House in Boston. While I fully expected to enjoy the performance, I was surprised with how much I absolutely loved the show, and how much I emotionally connected to it in a brand new way seeing it for the first time as an adult. Beauty and the Beast continues to deliver Disney magic over 30 years after its Broadway opening, and is a rare piece of musical theatre that is family family, but still has a depth to the storyline.

The stage version of Beauty and the Beast tells the story of the animated classic that we know and love with the addition of several original songs. We follow Belle, a bookworm who is considered odd by the local townsfolk. When her father gets lost in the woods on the way to an inventor fair, he gets imprisoned at an enchanted castle where the prince has been turned into a beast and all of his servants into household objects due to a spell that can only be broken when the Beast learns to love and is loved in return. Belle ends up finding her father, and agrees to take his place as prisoner at the castle. Of course, everyone at the castle is hopeful Belle will be the girl to break the spell.

I really appreciate that the musical includes all of the songs from the movie so we do not miss out on the big numbers like Gaston and Be Our Guest, which feature incredible staging and choreography. My favorite songs, though, are the additions of ballads Home, sung by Belle (Kyra Belle Johnson), and If I Can’t Love Her, sung by the Beast (Fergie L. Philippe). Each piece conveys the emotions of our main characters and the challenges they are facing. I have always loved Home, and listened to it a lot when I was away at college and missing my own home. I also have a new appreciation for If I Can’t Love Her. When the Beast says, “There’s not much of me left,” referencing that his transformation from man to beast is nearly complete, it really broke my heart. When the Beast then begins his song, I couldn’t help but get choked up.

As for the cast, both Johnson and Philippe embody their characters perfectly. They have wonderful chemistry with one another, and Philippe has great comedic timing all while being able to turn ferocious when the Beast’s temper gets the best of him. All of the castle’s servants are likewise very well cast, including Danny Gardner as Lumiere, Kathy Voytko as Mrs. Potts, and Javier Ignacio as Cogsworth. My only criticism of the cast is that I wish Gaston (Stephen Mark Lukas) had bigger muscles, and his voice seemed a bit thin in the lower register. I couldn’t help but think of how Broadway’s Nick Adams has the perfect biceps for this role. Nonetheless, this is a minor (and somewhat petty) critique. The cast is otherwise very strong, living up to what can be difficult shoes to fill as beloved Disney characters.

Moreover, the set is the only aspect of this production that I found a bit lacking. Understanding that this it a tour, so the set has to be packed away and rebuilt in each city, it was a bit disappointing to see how much the use of screens is relied upon throughout the show. For instance, the screen is used for Belle’s house, the wolves in the woods, and (most unforgivably) the library in the Beast’s castle. It did feel as if the set is the area where they made budget cuts, and I kept imagining how incredible each scene would look on a permanent stage. That being said, while the set left something to be desired, the costumes were incredibly well detailed and beautiful throughout. From the ensemble’s outfits to Belle’s iconic yellow gown, the costumes stood out on the stage.

Overall, I am thrilled I got the opportunity to see the current National Tour of Beauty and the Beast. As you might expect, the audience was filled with families, and the audience was so engaged with the performance, making the energy in the room buzz with excitement. It may be cliché, but I truly laughed and cried throughout the show. As a bookworm who loves her father dearly and understands what it feels like to not fit in, this show got me in ways I did not expect. Beauty and the Beast really encapsulates what I love about musical theatre in that it is big, exciting, and magical, all while capturing tender moments. I highly recommend attending if the show makes a tour stop near you.

Broadway | Aladdin

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland
Aladdin on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre

Aladdin

Playing at New Amsterdam Theatre

Musical or play? Musical

Lottery or Rush Tickets? Digital Lottery available through Broadway Direct

What I Paid: $83.00

Official Website: https://aladdinthemusical.com/

Disney’s ALADDIN is a dazzling and extravagant showcase of special effects — including a flying magic carpet during “A Whole New World” — as well as glittering-gold costumes and art deco-style sets that mirror the grandeur of a Busby Berkeley musical. One of Broadway’s most popular musical comedies, the show opened at the legendary New Amsterdam Theatre on March 20, 2014, and has since broken numerous house records (grossing over $500 million on Broadway). Eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken composed the show’s music. The lyrics are by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), as well as three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice and six-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin. The book is by Beguelin and direction/choreography is by two-time Tony Award-winner Casey Nicholaw.   

REVIEW

Aladdin has been a Disney staple on Broadway since 2014. As a huge fan of the animated classic, I’ve always wanted to see this show. I attended for the first time in October, and overall really enjoyed this family friendly performance. I purchased tickets from TKTS the day before the show for the Sunday matinee, and got 50% off for Orchestra Left on the aisle. We had an excellent view of all the action! Unless you are going with a large group that wants to sit together, I highly recommend getting tickets last minute, as Aladdin is regularly available at TKTS.

The show itself is based on the movie Aladdin, but has some notable changes. I was disappointed that there was Abu and Rajah! were cut from the musical. Instead, Aladdin has a group of three human friends that have a substantial role in the show. Similarly, Iago is a human sidekick to Jafar rather than a parrot. The music is also a bit different. There are songs we know and love from the movie, with the addition of new songs written specifically for the stage show, and a few that were cut from the film as well. Despite these changes, the overall story remains the same, and is filled with Disney magic.

My absolute favorite character is Genie, currently being played by Michael James Scott. Genie honestly carries the show. He is hilarious, has great rapport with the audience, and his stage presence is fantastic. Scott’s performance in Friend Like Me truly stole the show! The other cast members were all talented, and had wonderful performances, but Genie really stands out amongst the performers.

Moreover, I was surprised with all of the different elements present in Aladdin. There are big dance numbers (including a tap dance!), ballads, extravagant costumes, special effects, and more. There are also funny moments where other Disney movies and television shows are referenced. Disney can use its vast intellectual property library to its advantage! I like that Aladdin can incorporate so much into one performance, making the show enjoyable to a wide audience.

I did want to touch on audience behavior for a bit in this post. I’ve heard a lot about bad behavior on Broadway since theaters re-opened after the COVID-19 closures. Luckily, while I have heard a lot of cell phones ringing during shows this year, I haven’t experienced anyone else acting too poorly. Unfortunately, the audience behavior at Aladdin was the worst I’ve encountered. I was worried about all of the children in the audience being disruptive during this Sunday matinee. However, the adults were the culprits! People sitting behind me were singing, adults ran into the aisles to pick up streamers for their kids mid-song, but the worst offenders were taking photos and videos during the show. As soon as A Whole New World began, the phones came out from multiple directions. The ushers did a fantastic job of shutting this down as soon as possible, but it was very distracting. I was disappointed that my favorite song of the show was tainted because of others. Parents, set a good example for your children and show them how to properly behave at a Broadway show!

Aladdin on Broadway Review

Now that I’m off that soapbox, I will conclude my thoughts on Aladdin by saying that I overall enjoyed it! Aladdin tends to have a mediocre reputation in the online Broadway communities, but I think that’s because the excitement surrounding the show has worn off since it’s been running for nearly a decade. That being said, I think Aladdin is a great option if you are looking for a family friendly show with a lot of classic Broadway elements. The show is fun, heartwarming, and based on a story that many of us love from our childhoods. I am glad I finally got to see it!

Broadway | Moulin Rouge!

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Moulin Rouge!

Playing at Al Hirschfeld Theatre

Musical or play? Musical

Lottery or Rush Tickets? Digital Lottery available through Lucky Seat

What I Paid: $250.45

Official Website: https://moulinrougemusical.com/

Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. Directed by Tony Award winner Alex Timbers, Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a theatrical celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and — above all — Love. With a book by Tony Award winner John Logan; music supervision, orchestrations, and arrangements by Tony Award winner Justin Levine; and choreography by Tony Award winner Sonya Tayeh, Moulin Rouge! is more than a musical — it is a state of mind.

REVIEW

After hearing great things about Moulin Rouge! The Musical, I made sure to see the show on Broadway during a recent trip to New York City. I purchased full price tickets directly through the Moulin Rouge! website, and sat Orchestra Center, Row Q. This seat was further back in the orchestra, which meant that some of the set, specifically the windmill and elephant on the sides, was not fully visible. However, all of the onstage action could be seen quite well. I would not recommend sitting in the Can Can seats towards the front, as you will miss a lot of the show even though you’ll feel like you’re a part of it. If you can splurge for premium seats or the very front of the mezzanine, you will get the best view.

Moulin Rouge! is a jukebox musical that tells the story of Christian, a young American composer traveling to Paris. In an attempt to sell his music, Christian visits the cabaret club Moulin Rouge where he meets, and instantly falls in love with, the club’s star, Satine. What follows is a dramatic love story told through some of our favorite pop songs from the last few decades.

What makes Moulin Rouge! stand out from other jukebox musicals is the unique way the songs are mashed together to fit the story. As a first time viewer, part of the fun was recognizing the music as each song began. In fact, I really enjoyed it whenever there was an audible reaction from the audience whenever a song started. It’s very impressive how the pop songs we know and love get woven together in this show. While the music may not be original, the way it is presented in Moulin Rouge! is certainly very creative. I cannot even fathom how difficult it must have been to find just the right lyrics, orchestrate the mash-ups, and secure the licensing rights for this soundtrack.

That being said, the book in Moulin Rouge! was a bit weak for me. I rolled my eyes when Christian and Satine fell in love on the first night they met. It also felt like some songs didn’t really fit into the storyline, especially when you consider the 1899 timeline. I found myself absolutely loving the big production numbers with the full cast of dancers, but wanting more during the scenes that advanced the plot. There were also a few side stories that felt a bit thrown in, but overall the music and dancing made up for what was lacking in the book.

As for the cast, I was most excited to see Tituss Burgess as Harold Zidler. Burgess did an incredible job, and it really felt like he was made for this role. The audience had a great reaction to him, and he owned the stage as the energetic host of the Moulin Rouge. Courtney Reed is currently playing leading lady Satine, and she is certainly a highlight as well. Her voice is stunning, and she easily portrays the different facets of this character. Unfortunately, Casey Cott struggles as Christian. He just couldn’t hit many of his notes, especially in the higher register. Thankfully, he has good chemistry with Reed, and does capture the character of Christian well. I also wanted to give a shout out to Clay Rice-Thompson in the ensemble, who I’ve followed on Instagram for years. It was so fun to see him perform!

Moreover, one aspect I really loved about Moulin Rouge! is the atmosphere. As soon as you enter the theatre you feel as if you’ve been transported to the club in Paris. The lighting is dark with a red tone before the show beings and during intermission. The performers also slowly enter the stage before the opening number, and they are immediately in character. The set is intricate and beautifully built to capture the mood of the show. It’s really no surprise that Moulin Rouge! won the Tony awards for Best Scenic Design and Best Lighting Design. The Al Hirschfeld is truly transformed, and I love when Broadway feels immersive.

Overall, Moulin Rouge! is a fun and magical night of musical theater. Without giving anything away, the ending sequence of the show alone was worth the price of my ticket. While I wish the book and our leading man’s voice were stronger, I otherwise really enjoyed the show and understand why it has such a loyal fanbase. I only wish I saw it with Aaron Tveit, who originated the role of Christian! Nonetheless, I definitely recommend Moulin Rouge! It’s a great choice for those new to Broadway, due to the captivating ambiance and recognizeable music. As for me, I would certainly see this show again, but I will likely wait for a cast change.