Friday, February 19, 2010

Stage Rush TV: Episode 1

After a year, I finally come from behind the curtain, much like Oz, and get in front of the video camera (eek!). I present to you the first episode of Stage Rush TV! Every week, I’ll cover any shows or events I’ve been to, weigh in on the week’s Broadway news, and discuss any theater-related topics whirling around in my brain. 

Please excuse the first-time-in-front-of-the-camera nerves. I promise people, I will get better. I’ll also make these videos shorter; we wouldn’t want The Lion King to close before the video ends. 


Talking points: 
  • How I fell hard for Broadway
  • Attending the All About Me press conference
  • Seeing Phantom of the Opera and my upcoming Q&A with Phantom understudy Jeremy Stolle
  • The media goes spoiler-crazy with Next Fall
  • Jersey Boys sells a shockingly-low number of tickets (for them) 

Please leave your thoughts, retorts, agreements, and disagreements in the comments section—all are welcome! This way, we can actually turn this into a discussion, rather than just my big head floating on the screen jabbering. In addition, please email me, tweet me, or leave a comment letting me know if there are any topics you’d like me to address in the next episode.

21 comments:

  1. I never went to the IFC center, but I can watch it in our SpaHa abode. YES!

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  2. What can I say? You've got the hook up! I know how averse you are to watching movies at home, but you really should see this. It's a ROCK musical—you'll love it! Very emotional/meaningful. :-)

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  3. I really loved this. I especially loved you laughing at yourself.

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  4. JB at 89% I imagine it was due to the snowstorm and the primary audience being and outside of Manhattan.

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  5. @Liz Lovejoy: Haha! Always. Hey, if you can't laugh at yourself, who else will?

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  6. @Anonymous: Totally, great point. Don't you imagine Broadway producers just LOATHING bad weather?

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  7. next fall is so amazing. can't wait for you to see it!!

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  8. @Anonymous: Wow, so glad to hear! Now I'm *really* excited to see it. I'm gonna have to do it next week. Can't stand the suspense. Don't you love good buzz? Much better than bad buzz.

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  9. Great idea, Jesse. I like the little comments at the bottom of the screen. I did see Phantom recently and wrote about it here: http://pataphysicalscience.blogspot.com/2010/01/revisiting-phantom.html

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  10. Thanks, Linda! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for the link to your post. You are so right on! I had forgotten just how many great elements the story had. And yes, when the curtain came off the chandelier and it rose up to the overture, I had goosebumps. It was a great moment to have again, really. (Even if it coming down at the end of Act I wasn't as exciting. Have Jerry Bruckheimer movies ruined us?)

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  11. Could you be any cuter? I don't think so!

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  12. @Aunt D: Ok, you're definitely my number-one reader. I'm treating you to a show.

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  13. I love that you give the understudy more of a voice. Great video...can't wait for the next one!

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  14. @adaumbelle: Hey, I'm glad to know people out there really do care about understudies and find their story just as interesting as I do. I can't wait to get Jeremy's story. I'm really glad you liked the video, Adam!

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  15. What a fab way to reach your readers - a great medium to get 'up close and personal!' Looking forward to #2. -Mimi

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  16. @Mimi: Thanks so much, Mimi! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Please keep coming back.

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  17. I'm from Texas, just got back from NYC a few days ago. I loved your blog. You are so excited about theatre and honestly, you remind me of myself, it was a little strange. Keep it up, I look forward to continue hearing about your experiences. It's good to know i'm not the only one out there who has questions that no one else seems to ask!

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  18. @Carlos Alvarado: Hey Carlos, thank you so very much for your thoughtful comment. I love hearing that you feel there are unanswered questions about Broadway and theater too, because I'd like to investigate those things for all of us. That makes it more fun! I hope you'll be returning to Stage Rush—keep these comments coming! Also, it's awesome that you live in Texas! What's the theater scene like there?

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  19. @Jesse North: Texas is a great place, always warm and sunny. I'm on the southern border, about 20 minutes from both Mexico and the beach. I've actually been reading Stage Rush for a loooong time, just never posted anything. The info I learned really helped with my multiple trips to NYC over the last year. Audiences are obviously much more conservative here, I live in a smaller town where mostly one night non equity shows roll through. I head to the larger cities for shows often, and touring productions are sooo different from sit downs, it brings up even more questions. I caught Frank Wildhorn's Wonderland recently, as well as the world premiere of Give it Up! in Dallas a few weeks ago. I could go on for a while, but i'll stop :)

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  20. What a great first show! You really show your personality, passion, and knowledge! I have to admit, I know the twist in Next to Normal even though I *still* haven't seen it.

    Kaitlin

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  21. @Kaitlin: Thanks, Kait! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Nooooooo! You know the twist?? We tried SO HARD to protect you from finding out!

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