Stage door after the first preview
Regular Beehive readers know that I'm mildly obsessed with "[title of show]," the Teensy Little Musical That Could, which co-stars Good Company Players alum Heidi Blickenstaff. (I covered the show way back when it was just starting out in New York). Well, the long-shot dream of Heidi and her cast members came true Saturday when the very first preview performance opened on BROADWAY, if you can believe that. And check out the fans who mobbed the stage door afterward:
Also, check out the amusing "[title of show]" blog account of the first performance.
Now I just have to get through the trauma of waiting for Ben Brantley's New York Times review.
Comments:
I'm turned off by the conceit of the show. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, I just want to eat it. There's nothing more annoying then watching a bunch of smug people whine about the creative process.
About 10 years ago, Hollywood released a deluge of films about the movie biz. Yeah, some were great movies -- "The Player" stands out most -- but most quickly became too inside baseball and were annoying.
I'll wait for "Billy Elliot" to get excited about a new Broadway musical, thank you very much. Oh, and "The Drowsy Chaperone" and "Spring Awakening" coming to SF, too.
Posted by: Media Hack at July 7, 2008 9:56 PM
Ah, I fondly remember discovering and shaping the talents of Heidi, Audra, Sharon Leal, etc.
Oh, wait, that wasn't me. That was dedicated parents, Dan Pessano, and Clytee Ramsey. MUCH KUDOS to those folks!!!
Best story? When Fresno Reel Pride showed the film 'Camp,' we flew in one of the musical actors from the movie from New York. He arrived late, and we immediately brought him onstage at the Tower theatre to the crowd. After, we walked out front.
Robin (his name) was about 20 at the time, and as we're standing on the corner, he says "Roger Rockas? What's that? OHMYGAWDISTHATAUDRAMCDONALD'STHEATRE?!?!?!?"
He had studied and loved Audra, and could not believe he was now standing in front of Audra's home theatre. I got him inside after their show to look around at the stage and photos, with him screaming in delight at every turn.
I know it wasn't just Dan Pessano at GCP, Clytee at Roosevelt, etc, but they are welcome to pass the praise along. There's been some amazing talent in Fresno, and let's all thank the theatre gods that it's been properly cared for and tended by our local power folks, and not ruined as you see in SO many other cities.
Congrats to Heidi.
Posted by: Stephen at July 8, 2008 12:47 AM
To Media Hack: I hear you about your concern re the premise of the show. When I first heard it was a show about writing a show, I sort of cringed. But something about "[title of show]" just clicks. It's earnest and campy and self-aware, and yet it somehow touches an audience. This really is a case of word-of-mouth propelling a show onward. I'm shocked that it has made it all the way to Broadway, but I'm happy for it, too.
I'm also very anxious to see "Billy Elliot," too. I have a friend who saw it in London and loved it.
Posted by: Donald Munro at July 8, 2008 10:48 AM
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