The Music Man : In Performance!

[jo]

[jo]

[jo]

[jo]

[jo]

[jo]

[jo]

Sightline perspectives - January 7, 2022

http://instagram.com/p/CYcwCFgLHM-

Swipe to 2nd photo--

http://instagram.com/p/CYczDyflz66

[jo]

BWW --

Jimmyb1969
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Understudy
joined:10/25/15
THE MUSIC MAN Previews
#446
Posted: 1/7/22 at 11:32pm

I was there the first night of previews and left a lengthy review...happy to give a little update report as I revisited the show tonight. Yes there have been some changes. But the headline of the night for me was Sutton Sutton Sutton! She is really starting to own this production right alongside Hugh. Her Marion is fierce - big laughs when they were hitting each other with the hats. And the audience applauded multiple times during her scenes---she just had the audience in the palm of her hands the entire night and looked like she was loving every minute of it! And thank you hair gods - her wigs have gotten way better! And they've tweaked her costumes. The wig had movement and a slight swoop in the front with a little height that gives her just the right amount of sas. And it wasn't sprayed so tight so when she danced the hair moved and actual a curl came loose that made sense. What a difference! She looked beautiful but in character.

On to the rest of the cast...Winthrop and Mrs Paroo still owning it and most improved is Jayne and the Women's auxiliary...night and day from the first preview. They can go even further but they looked like they were having fun and owning it. And Jayne was really playing up her expressions and the audience was loving it.

There's still a lot of dancing throughout and one big problem to fix but more on that later. Happy to report there have been some tweaks throughout and the dancing is tighter. And it appears there's a little more business in Iowa Stubborn which it needed. It still needs a little more imho but we are now FINALLY getting a sense of these characters. The lack of any set pieces give us zero feeling we are in the middle of a town. Missed opportunity.

Still in need of work is a miscast Shuler Hensley - and they have him in the worst costumes but even he's made some progress...he's come to life a bit. Just miscast. And sadly Zaneeta is just not up to the task - gorgeous dancer but throwing away ALL her lines. She needs personality and spunk but she's flat. Jerry can help her.

It even appears they've jazzed up the footbridge.

The big problem and opportunity is the ending. I love the ending stage picture now with Harold, Winthrop, Marion and Mrs. Paroo....it's powerful and so smart and exactly the way the story should end. But then we need the big finale! Winthrop coming our and playing is awesome but then we go into this weird dance number before Hugh and Sutton come out to tap. I kept thinking how could they fix this and it's really easy. Just cut the fake instrument playing interpretive dance and give the audience what they want Hugh and Sutton - start the tap right after Winthrop and kick us into high gear. The number is excellent and Sutton is on fire. Go from Winthrop to the tap number then to the entire ensemble singing holding their instruments. Cutting the top of that dance number will tighten the end and keep it moving right through the bows but not cheat us out of the tap number and the song which are both awesome.

Shows come a long way and there's not question it will be on fire by the time they open...I have no doubt.

Winthrop deserves to be in Shuler's later spot for bows - because he's better.

Such a joyous night at the theatre...uplifting and inspiring. You'll leave the theatre smiling and singing and happy.

Oh and what about Hugh? He's Awesome! Someone needs to get him to eat some carbs.

Enjoy!

[jo]

People have been sharing unofficial clips. Lol - by the time the show's run ends, we might see a complete bootleg

[jo]

[jo]

BarnabyTucker

joined:10/12/16
THE MUSIC MAN Previews
#452
Posted: 1/9/22 at 1:11am


Was at the 8 p.m. show. Packed house.

Jerry Zaks has accomplished what he did with Dolly. He took an old chestnut and breathed new life into it.

Hugh Jackman is charming, and bleeds sincerity. You believe that he’s not a huckster, but someone who is pulling these people’s legs for sport. He also dances way more than any leading man I’ve seen.

Sutton Foster is killing it with a whole new take on Marianne. She rarely loses her cool and allows Hill to have his fun until she’s ready to reveal to him that she’s known about his little game the whole time.

The supporting cast is wonderful. Jane Houdyshell looks like she was ripped out of Iowa, and she’s giving a dry and understated performance that’s a winner.

The real stars are the ensemble. The barbershop quartet, Mrs. Shinn’s gang, and all the kids are sensational. If there were a Tony for best ensemble it would hands down go to them. I genuinely enjoyed the new dance arrangements and disagree with previous posters that any of it should be cut down except for the curtain call. The curtain call dragged a bit.

Loved the set design, and agree with previous posters that the spare and open look fits the tone of the show. There's no Harmonium Gardens in this piece, and the set design evokes a lovely American Gothic vibe.

All in all, a joyful and life affirming night. I hope to come back and see Max Clayton as Hill if/when he goes on.



BarnabyTucker

THE MUSIC MAN Previews
#453
Posted: 1/9/22 at 1:29am
One more point: This and COMPANY have reminded me that musicals speak to the soul, and I'm happy to be able to recognize the important role that musical theater plays in my life. Broadway is back and I am thankful for the stories and, even more so, for the storytellers who are giving their all on and off stage.

[jo]

http://instagram.com/p/CYlKYszPdQc

[jo]

http://instagram.com/p/CYo3np1lLg7

[jo]

http://instagram.com/p/CYxXBNOLi1l

It’s a slice of Americana in all of the best ways. This staging is the best I’ve ever seen @thehughjackman @suttonlenore send you into the deepest, most joyful parts of yourself that most of us do not get to see very often anymore ❤️🎺🎼

[jo]

[jo]

The surgeons came to see Hugh!

http://instagram.com/p/CYxUs_frytv

[jo]

From the West End ( London)

Over the holidays, a clip of Hugh Jackman went viral. During the curtain call for The Music Man on Broadway, Jackman told the audience about his co-star for the evening. The leading role of Marian, usually performed by Sutton Foster, was instead covered by swing Kathy Voytko. Jackman applauded Voytko for stepping in with only a few hours’ notice – and Marian was only one of eight roles she was prepared for. To riotous applause, Jackman called swings and understudies “the bedrock of Broadway”.


Hugh Jackman pays tribute to Music Man swing Kathy Voytko




In the video, Jackman gets visibly emotional, telling the audience that it’s only their fourth preview. “Swings and understudies have not had a chance to learn,” he says. “They’ve watched from the corner of the room while we rehearse. Then five hours before a performance, they’re told, ‘You’re on.’ It humbles me. The courage, the brilliance, the dedication, the talent.”

By celebrating these roles, Jones says, Jackman was speaking for a whole industry. “It felt like a nice highlight, showing what an unsung job it is. Most people have no idea that the reason they’ve been able to see a show is because someone else has learned this role and can do it at the drop of a hat.” ...

London must be a little proud, too, that part of Hugh's work ethic was partly developed in his yearlong London run in Oklahoma! before he became famous.

[jo]

[jo]

That little curtain call story made it to worldwide media, via CNN!


edition.cnn.com/videos/us/2021/12/25/music-man-hugh-jackman-broadway-tribute-orig-vf.cnn

[jo]

Jan 19, 2022 7:09:29 GMT -5 jo said:

From the past!

The first step on the road for Hugh Jackman to become The Music Man

A photo shared by someone from Australia --








Ahem!

[jo]

On the way to work --

[jo]

In the Vanity Fair article --

Jackman’s chance to play Harold Hill came in 2018, when Rudin offered him the role. Jackman’s friend Barbara Cook—Marian in the original 1957 production—had long encouraged him to do the show. “To have a successful Music Man, you have to have a Harold Hill all the women in town want to fuck and half the men want to fuck too,” she told him.

“JACKMAN IS EXTREMELY DEXTEROUS. YOU GIVE HIM A CANE, AND HE CAN FLIP A CANE. YOU ASK HIM TO JUMP AND HE CAN JUMP REALLY HIGH. I’VE HAD 24 YEARS OF TRYING EVERY SINGLE POSSIBLE WAY TO EMBARRASS AND HUMILIATE HIM. HE’S ALWAYS MANAGED TO OVERCOME AND SUCCEED.”

But Jackman was “indecisive,” he recalled. He wanted to do an original musical, not a revival. So he passed. A year later, with no original musical in development, he changed his mind. He was 51. He knew he wouldn’t have the stamina to tackle the physically demanding part of Harold Hill much longer. “It’s time,” he told his agent. They rang Rudin. But there was a problem: A British producer now had the rights and was planning a London production. “Let me look into it,” Rudin said. Jackman went to a corner of his apartment, sat down, put his head in his hands, and thought, You’re an idiot. It’s gone. It won’t be done for another 10 years. “I was really down,” he said.

Rudin called back the next day. “It’s done,” he said. “It’s yours.”

*I suspect he was waiting word on the prospect of a potential B'way transfer of Greatest Showman which would be an original musical. This was in 2018 when TGS was in the flush of its success.

But later that year, Disney acquired FOX assets, including rights to TGS...and the prospect of a TGS Bway transfer became murkier...so Hugh likely decided to do Music Man then?


*He doesn't think he will be able to do another Bway musical, given his age?

Maybe a play, but a musical which will require tremendous stamina, especially since musicals have a long breakeven period



Then we might as well see him as often as we can in The Music Man

Sad reality

Jo

[jo]

It has been a dream to meet Hugh Jackman and of course ask him if we will see him again as Wolverine in Doctor Strange and the Madness of the Multiverse 😍🐺🧙‍♂️ #Marvel #Wolverine #DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness
@stripmarvel

@jolivarestolosa

I wonder if Hugh understood her correctly or did he think she was just asking if he was Wolverine


Jo

[jo]

Jan 18, 2022 12:13:48 GMT -5 jo said:

http://instagr.am/p/CQa4K5Fjd8d

http://instagr.am/p/CYLCgkVt54R

[mamaleh]

Jan 19, 2022 21:51:50 GMT -5 jo said:

It has been a dream to meet Hugh Jackman and of course ask him if we will see him again as Wolverine in Doctor Strange and the Madness of the Multiverse 😍🐺🧙‍♂️ #Marvel #Wolverine #DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness
@stripmarvel

@jolivarestolosa

I wonder if Hugh understood her correctly or did he think she was just asking if he was Wolverine


Jo

My take? I don’t think he properly heard or understood the Doctor Strange comment from the fan. I think all he heard was “Wolverine,” to which he replied, “That’s me; was me.” I think he thought they were referring to his iconic screen persona that basically ended with the magnificent LOGAN. Of course there are persistent rumors of a cameo that he does in the Doctor Strange 2 movie. But even if he did that, that doesn’t constitute a fully fleshed-out performance as Wolverine. Hence, “was me” is applicable in either circumstance.

Ellen