Queereaders discussion
plays & shows
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What plays and shows have you seen?
This past weekend I saw "Metromaniacs" at San Diego's Old Globe. It was a French farce in rhyme..... amusing...very clever in parts.... but at intermission we learned about the death of Antonin Scalia....so, I had a hard time concentrating on the second half of the play. (I'm a political junkie...and I was/am concerned about how Scalia's death affects some important cases.)
Ed wrote: "This past weekend I saw "Metromaniacs" at San Diego's Old Globe. It was a French farce in rhyme..... amusing...very clever in parts.... but at intermission we learned about the death of Antonin Sca..."That's too bad about the news distraction, but the play sounds interesting. I've never heard of that one.
A couple weeks ago I went to see the comedy Act of God at the Ahmanson theater in Los Angeles. For me, it was ok but nothing special. I wonder if it was funnier on Broadway with Jim Parsons. For the LA run, Sean Hayes was the lead.
Went to see the musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder at the Ahmanson theater in LA last night. Not weighty of course but entertaining ... very well acted with some cleverly designed props as well. I don't often enjoy farces, but I found this extremely dark comedy quite funny - it's about a disinherited woman's son who decides to earn an aristocratic title by somewhat gleefully killing all of those earlier in line than himself, working his way up to the top. A bit silly but funny regardless.
Oh wow. Sorry for not replying in 4 months- I did not have notifications set and was coming on this thread to see if I ever posted.I do have a few more to add to the list now: Disaster and Fun Home.
It is hard for me to choose one, as they are all great in different ways. Disaster on Broadway stood out to me though because I had no idea what to expect and it ended up amazing me. I never knew how much I would enjoy a musical with 1970's music (I usually like musicals best with original Broadway show tunes) and the story and character development was amazing. It was the funniest play I have ever seen.
And yeah, with If/Then I was not totally amazed with it when I saw it although I enjoyed it. It was not until later that I ended up loving it as I kept listening to the soundtrack and liking the individual songs.
The last play I saw was librarian theatre produced Shakespeare's "Hamlet" .
Dominyka wrote: "The last play I saw was librarian theatre produced Shakespeare's "Hamlet" ."I haven't seen a Shakespeare play in ages, but I always love seeing them performed Dominyka!
I only saw a Shakespearean show at my college. It was Twelfth Night- great show.
Mon wrote: "I only saw a Shakespearean show at my college. It was Twelfth Night- great show."One of the last ones I saw was As You Like It with Dan Stevens (now famous from Downton Abbey). It was amazing! I really enjoy reading Shakespeare's plays, but I like seeing them performed even more. There's always all sorts of nuances I miss while reading that are more clear when I see them performed.
Saw "Newsies" at San Diego's Civic Theatre today..... a touring troupe. Music is not really memorable but the dancing was phenomenal.
I was in NYC last August and saw "Hamilton" 2 weeks into its run. Wow! "Fun Home" was an incredible journey of gay-life-lived and road-not-taken kinds of story. Very powerful. Here in LA, I've seen a lot of Shakespeare at Theatricum Botanicum and loved, loved, loved Gentleman's Guide to Murder. Looking forward to "Beautiful" at Pantages. A good friend of mine is producing "Boy from Oz" at Celebration, so it's on my last, having seen the show with Hugh Jackman some years back. Favorite play: "Angels in America" and anything by Noel Coward. Love Terrence McNally, too. A thrill meeting him in 2013.
Michael wrote: "I was in NYC last August and saw "Hamilton" 2 weeks into its run. Wow! "Fun Home" was an incredible journey of gay-life-lived and road-not-taken kinds of story. Very powerful. Here in LA, I've seen..."That's great news about the Boy from Oz Michael. How exciting! I'll definitely buy tickets. Celebration Theater does some world class work! I loved "Take Me Out" in 2010, and their production of "Altar Boyz" was almost freakishly entertaining some years ago. I've seen other shows there over the years too, but those two spring to mind at the moment. There was a great Latin American themed production of Carmen I remember years ago too.
"Gentlemen's Gide to Love & Murder" was lots of fun!
Ed wrote: "Saw "Newsies" at San Diego's Civic Theatre today..... a touring troupe. Music is not really memorable but the dancing was phenomenal."Fun Ed! I haven't seen that show, but I've certainly heard of it!
I'm going to the Grey Gardens the Musical tonight. Very curious to see how they could make a musical out of that very odd movie!https://www.centertheatregroup.org/ti...
I went to the preview - really fascinating play. Betty Buckely is wonderful as "old" Edie, but Rachel York walks away with it. I saw her in Victor/Victoria and then in The Producers. She's come a long way...it's really her show.
Michael wrote: "I went to the preview - really fascinating play. Betty Buckely is wonderful as "old" Edie, but Rachel York walks away with it. I saw her in Victor/Victoria and then in The Producers. She's come a l..."I completely agree Michael - Rachel York did walk away with it! York was amazing both as the mother in the first act and as the daughter in the second act in different ways. I might've actually been there on the same night as you if you're talking about the Ahmanson production - I saw it on the preview night as well.
Then I bet we were there for the same show! She was fantastic. But the way, I went to the Taper last Sunday night and say "Disgraced"... it had been in New York and was up for "Best Play" (didn't win) but was a tense drama, a take on "identity politics" centering around Muslims (what else) here in the U.S. Really gripping, and only 90 minutes. I bought the tickets the night was there for "Gray Gardens." Hot tix. You can't beat it, really.
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I've avoided the movie cause IMDB calls it 1st a documentary. For such things I'd rather read about it than video it.
Is it really a documentary or worth watching for drama/comedy?
Michael wrote: "Then I bet we were there for the same show! She was fantastic. But the way, I went to the Taper last Sunday night and say "Disgraced"... it had been in New York and was up for "Best Play" (didn't w..."Sad to say I missed "Disgraced" - I've been so busy! But when we went to see "Grey Gardens", we saw the displayed article about it. My partner Ron is friends with the house manager, and she told us it was really good!
Did you know the Hot Tix is program is ending at the end of this season? So sad! We've bought so many Hot Tix over the past years. Supposedly they're going to change the ticket pricing though to add some different reasonably priced option; I just don't know where those tickets will be in the theater.
Bill wrote: "Is it really a documentary or worth watching for drama/comedy? .."
Yes, definitely a documentary Bill and a really weird one. I don't recall it well - I saw it screened at a movie house downtown that used to screen old movies. If I recall, it's basically the documentary makers going to the house of the reclusive ladies and talking to them, but the ladies are so peculiar that the documentary makers didn't have to do too much other than put them on screen; it's funny and kind of sad at the same time.
Greg wrote: "Michael wrote: "Then I bet we were there for the same show! She was fantastic. But the way, I went to the Taper last Sunday night and say "Disgraced"... it had been in New York and was up for "Best..."What? No more HOT TIX? No, I'd not heard that. I've gone down there a lot because of that program. Let's keep other posted about what we hear on pricing. Bummer.
Greg, I've been meaning to post this - Saw "Chorus Line" at Hollywood Bowl and it was really terrific. Although I didn't care of the actress who sang "Tits and Ass", just felt she was miscast. Otherwise, great show!
I had a busy weekend..saw three plays- "Sense & Sensibility"-a musical version of Jane Austen's novel... I liked it a lot but my friends had more mixed reviews. That was at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre...and then in the evening at the Old Globe's other theater we saw Steve Martin's "Meteor Shower" which had some truly hilarious moments...although the fist act was better than the second.
On Sunday, we saw "Beautiful- The Carole King Musical" which was wonderful...all strong performances.
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Michael wrote: "Greg, I've been meaning to post this - Saw "Chorus Line" at Hollywood Bowl and it was really terrific. Although I didn't care of the actress who sang "Tits and Ass", just felt she was miscast. Othe..."Sounds fun Michael! I've seen a few productions of Chorus Line over the years - a great show!
Ed wrote: "I had a busy weekend..saw three plays- "Sense & Sensibility"-a musical version of Jane Austen's novel... I liked it a lot but my friends had more mixed reviews. That was at San Diego's Old Globe T..."
Ed, sadly I missed "Beautiful - The Carole King Musical" in LA, but several friends loved it (even ones who had no idea who Carole King was). A shame I missed it!
The other shows sound good too. I haven't seen either of them. Do you know whether the Sense & Sensibility musical is a touring show? Did the Old Globe Theater create it?
Bill wrote: "I have not seen it, but a local group is purporting to do ALL of Shakespeare's plays in 92 minutes. Has anyone heard of this?"How weird Bill! How do they do that? Do they just do pieces of each play mashed together?
Mod
Acting Out! to cover 37 Shakespeare works in 75 minutes this weekend
37 of Shakespeare's works are included in the show. Some merely are mentioned, while many have excerpts acted out in various ways.
The "Othello" section is depicted as a musical.
"It's not your normal Shakespeare," Rhodes said. "It's a comedy."
"The three actors believe they are so fabulously talented that they can perform all Shakespeare's works in one play," Rhodes said.
To that end, the trio steps into the roles of many characters during the show, which runs about an hour and 15 minutes.
http://www.semissourian.com/story/232...
Bill, I hope you enjoy The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr by Reduced Shakespeare Company, or rather the three actors who originated it. I haven't seen it, but I have read it. It's a hoot! I'm pleased you will see a woman doing it.This summer I saw The Comedy of Errors, a rarely done comedy done beautifully -- and funny-- at American Players Theater in Spring Green, WI.
Then I saw Kingdom of Earth a late Tennessee Williams play at Odyssey Theatre in LA, a gorgeous production, with an interesting play. And a staged reading of "Whatever Your Heart Desires" by Christine Rosensteel with Ed Asner and June Squibb, which was quite good, with Paula Prentiss and Richard Benjamin in the audience at Theatre Forty in Beverly Hills.
Monday I'm seeing Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at Glimmerglass Festival much nearer to where I live in Upstate New York.
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Bill wrote: "Thanks Julia! It sounds fascinating. I bet you have to know your Shakespeare to get it all ;-) I hope I can get there tomorrow night. Sweeney Todd is fun. I saw that in St. Louis years ago. Is the ..."HI, Bill. Jumping in here. I love the stage version of Sweeny Todd and have seen it 5 or more time, I bet. The movie, for me, was not as satisfying, but if you're a fan of the show, you should see it. It just went up on Netflix streaming service, I believe.
Saw Rocky Horror Show last night. Good grief! No idea what to make of it. It was fun but bizarre and I was NOT expecting the level of audience participation!
Thought I'd bump this thread since I live and die by musicals :)Anyone seen anything in this new Broadway season? Curious to know who's seen what and hear feedback.
Jonathan wrote: "Saw Rocky Horror Show last night. Good grief! No idea what to make of it. It was fun but bizarre and I was NOT expecting the level of audience participation!"Ha ha Jonathan - it's weird isn't it, but that's definitely part of the experience!
Chris wrote: "Thought I'd bump this thread since I live and die by musicals :)Anyone seen anything in this new Broadway season? Curious to know who's seen what and hear feedback."
Hi Chris, I live on the West Coast, but I saw the musical adaption of Amelie at one of the bigger theaters not long ago. It wasn't super deep, but I enjoyed it very much .. highly entertaining.
I'm really looking forward to Fun Home - that show is coming to the same theater soon.
What are some of uour favorite shows. Next to Normal is one of my favorites. I'm a big fan of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake too. A play that really struck me was The Goat by Albee (highly disturbing though and not for everyone).
Greg-What a crazy small world...I'm about to start work on a revival of The Goat in 3 weeks on the West End in London. So you're not alone in loving it. Here's hoping London theater goers love it too!
CH
Chris wrote: "Greg-What a crazy small world...I'm about to start work on a revival of The Goat in 3 weeks on the West End in London. So you're not alone in loving it. Here's hoping London theater goers love it..."
Hope it's a great success Chris!
It's a disturbing play for sure, but the first part is remarkably funny. People were nearly falling out of their seats laughing. And then it takes a very, very dark turn. Yet it's so oddly touching in some ways despite the strange subject matter. I would definitely go see it again if it were revived here someday!
I saw Kinky Boots with my parents when the original cast was doing the show. We went for my birthday and my sister was doing a program in New York at the time so we were already there. The show was absolutely brilliant!!! Kinky Boots is one of my favorite movies so I was super excited to see the play, even more so when I found out that Cyndi Lauper wrote some of the songs. Both my mom and I really like her so my dad took us to the show. It's the only time I've been to Broadway to see a musical but it was a lovely experience! :)
Maddy wrote: "I saw Kinky Boots with my parents when the original cast was doing the show. We went for my birthday and my sister was doing a program in New York at the time so we were already there. The show was..."I'd love to see that one someday Maddy - it looks like a tremendous amount of fun! It just hasn't come to any of the theaters near me where I can get decent deals yet.
In the middle of December I saw "Allegiance," a musical, in part, by George Takei, about his and others' experience in Japanese- American internment camps during World War II. He's also in it. It's being simulcast again on February 19 at hundreds of movie theaters in the US and many in Canada. At the theater near-ish my house, it was $18, plus $2 handling or something, a great price for a show.It's a really good show, if you have the opportunity to see it, I recommend it. It's being shown through Fathom Entertainment, that shows theater, opera, ballet and dance to movie theater audiences across the country.
Julia wrote: "In the middle of December I saw "Allegiance," a musical, in part, by George Takei, about his and others' experience in Japanese- American internment camps during World War II. He's ..."Sounds great Julia! I wish I'd had the chance to see it on stage, but I'll check out the movie showings.
I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but both of my partner's parents were in Japanese Internment Camps as children (in the Poston camp). There's a Japanese American museum in J-Town (not far away from the Ahmanson) that preserves a lot of history and items from the camps, even an actual barracks moved and reconstructed inside the building. They used to have docents who were camp survivors to show people through the museum, but that must be getting harder as even the children who survived camp are getting up there in years.
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Question. What is J-Town?
Bill wrote: "One of the darkest days in American history, Greg. I follow George Takei who talks a lot about his experiences in the internment camps. Question. What is J-Town?"
For sure Bill!
Ron's mother went to school with Takei actually, though she didn't know him well.
J Town: it's a high density Japanese area downtown akin to Chinatown except smaller. I guess the proper name is Little Tokyo? Several Japanese restaurants and noodle places there as well as the David Henry Hwang theater, the home of East West Players, a wonderful theater company that produces plays and musicals with Asian casts. They've put on some great shows over the years - their production of Sondheim's Passion was particularly amazing.
http://www.eastwestplayers.org/about-us/
http://www.ladowntownnews.com/enterta...
Terence Rattigan's "Winslow boy". 5 stars.
Dominyka wrote: "Terence Rattigan's "Winslow boy". 5 stars."Dominyka- The ROundabout did a stunning revival of that play a couple years ago in New York. It's amazing how a good revival can make something that was written long ago still so fresh and relevant.
Dominyka wrote: "Terence Rattigan's "Winslow boy". 5 stars."Never seen that one Dominyka, but it looks good - I put a copy on hold at the library!
I have tickets to Fun Home on Wednesday - can't wait!!
With all the crazy work hours, I've been forcing myself to take some sanity breaks with some theater. So far, it's helping me sustain morale. :)Last week, Ron & I went to see Matthew Bourne's The Red Shoes. For me, the performance wasn't in the top tier of my favorite Bourne works like Edward Scissorhands, Swan Lake, or the Car Man, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
https://www.centertheatregroup.org/ti...
Tonight we're going to see a smaller play, a Oscar-themed comedy by Paul Rudnick, "Big Night" ... should be fun! https://www.centertheatregroup.org/ti...
Then, a week from Friday, we have tickets to see the Deaf West production of "Our Town" .. so eager to see what their talented artistic staff do with it! I'm really looking forward to this one!
https://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/eve...
Greg,And anyone else interested, "Allegiance" the George Takei musical is going to be in movie theaters again on December 7, 2017 through Fathom Entertainment. I highly recommend it.
This summer I saw A Midsummer Night's Dream at Shakespeare & Co in Lenox, MA. The next day I saw a brilliant reading of a brand new play "Noura," which is a retelling of a "A Doll's House," but the characters are Iraqi immigrants and refugees at Williamstown Theater Festival. I saw As You Like It in a professional production, the next village over. This new company did a fun production. I saw another community theater production of Annie, in another nearby village. And I realized I hadn't seen Annie before. I saw a wonderful professional production of Oklahoma! at Glimmerglass Music Festival.
I have been for the last three weeks in rehearsals for a community theater production of The Music Man: A Musical Comedy. I've never done theater for 40+ years, but I've never done a musical before!
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Books mentioned in this topic
The Humans (other topics)A Midsummer Night’s Dream (other topics)
As You Like It (other topics)
Annie (other topics)
The Music Man (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Stephen Karam (other topics)George Takei (other topics)
George Takei (other topics)
Adam Long (other topics)
Tennessee Williams (other topics)
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Just last week I saw something that kind of blew me away.
It was a new take on Checkhov's The Cherry OrchardThe Cherry Orchard.
There's a troupe in Milan called Nina's ..."
Sounds fascinating Dave!