Hamilton at the Eccles

It has been 783 days since I last saw Hamilton (in San Francisco) and I really missed it, especially since all of the plans I had to see it in 2020 had to be canceled.  The Broadway touring production is currently making a stop at the Eccles Theater and I was so happy to be back in the room where it happens again last night!  I love this musical so much and I eagerly anticipated every single song as much as I did the first time I saw it!  I was practically hyperventilating by the time I heard the opening notes of "Alexander Hamilton."  I really enjoyed Julius Thomas III as Hamilton.  When I saw a production in Las Vegas a few years ago, I was really looking forward to seeing Joseph Morales in the lead role and was a bit disappointed to learn that the understudy was performing.  However, I immediately changed my mind because the understudy was Thomas and he has a beautiful voice!  Last night I was especially impressed with his versions of "Dear Theodosia" and "Hurricane."  I was also quite moved when he put is head on Eliza's shoulder during "It's Quiet Uptown" and I saw several people sitting near me wipe tears from their eyes at this moment, as well.  Donald Webber, Jr., who played Aaron Burr when I saw it in San Francisco, gave an incredible rendition of "Wait For It" and the transition from the verses to the chorus was so powerful that it received spontaneous applause!  He also sang "The World Was Wide Enough" with a great deal of remorse and that made it even more poignant than other versions I have seen.  When Darnell Abraham, as George Washington, stormed the stage during "Right Hand Man" he gave me goosebumps and this also received spontaneous applause ("We are outgunned, outmanned, outnumbered, outplanned.  We've got to make an all out stand").  I had to check to see if the roof was still attached to the Eccles Theater after "One Last Time" because his version just about blew it off.  I saw Paris Nix, as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson, in the Chicago production and I laughed out loud once again when he did the running man in "Cabinet Battle #1" last night.  With all of the discourse about understudies, standbys, and swings performing on Broadway lately, I am happy to report that DeAundre Woods, a standby, and Milika Cheree, a swing, were fabulous as Hercules Mulligan/Philip Hamilton and Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds, respectively.  I thought that Victoria Ann Scovens was a little bit weak as Eliza and Rick Negron portrayed King George as regal rather than pompous and angry rather than petulant and, as a result, much of the comic relief that the character usually provides was missing.  When I saw the filmed version on Disney+ I saw lots of little things that I had never noticed on stage before so I paid very strict attention last night.  I actually saw it when The Bullet (performed by a member of the ensemble) misses Hamilton at the beginning of "Stay Alive" and when Philip stands in the background at the beginning of the duel in "The World Was Wide Enough" and this, for some reason, thrilled me!  I really loved seeing this last night and I am happy that I had the chance to end a difficult year on a good note (literally).  Hamilton runs at the Eccles Theater through January 23 but there are very few tickets available (go here).

Mean Girls at the Eccles

I have to admit that I wasn't very enthusiastic when Broadway at the Eccles announced that the musical Mean Girls would be making a stop in SLC.  However, after hearing a live performance of "World Burn," I changed my mind and I've actually been looking forward to seeing it ever since.  I had the chance last night and, as a former high school teacher, I absolutely loved it!  Cady Heron (Danielle Wade) has recently moved to Chicago from Kenya, where she was home schooled, and is finding North Shore High School to be as brutal as the African plains.  Two social outcasts, Damian Hubbard (Eric Huffman) and Janis Sarkisian (Mary Kate Morrissey), attempt to help her fit in and advise her to avoid The Plastics, a clique made up of Regina George (Nadina Hassan), Gretchen Wieners (Megan Masako Haley), and Karen Smith (Becca Peterson).  Regina shows an interest in Cady and allows her to sit with her and her friends at lunch until she discovers that Cady likes her former boyfriend, Aaron Samuels (Adante Carter), and takes him back.  Cady devises a plan for revenge against Regina and, when it is successful, she takes her place as the leader of The Plastics.  However, she eventually alienates her real friends Damian and Janis, angers Aaron, disappoints her Calculus teacher Ms. Norbury (April Josephine), and loses her identity.  When she decides to participate in a math competition, she shows all of the students that it is much better to be yourself than to pretend to be someone else to fit in.  This show has such a great message and I honestly wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did!  I especially loved the songs "Where Do You Belong?' as Damian describes all of the cliques (my favorite is the show choir) at school to Cady, "Apex Predator" where Janis compares Regina to an animal at the top of the food chain, "Fearless," during which Gretchen and Karen stand up to Regina, and the aforementioned "World Burn" where Regina distributes her Burn Book to make Cady look bad.  I really enjoyed the use of projections to depict the classrooms (complete with subject specific bulletin boards), hallways, bathrooms, cafeteria, and gym at the school and the choreography involving moving desks and cafeteria tables is incredibly clever.  I liked the entire cast but Hassan (as Regina) was my favorite because she can really belt out a song and she has such an attitude as the ultimate mean girl.  I think the narrative loses a bit of momentum in the second act and some of the songs, especially "Sexy," might be too risque for some but I highly recommend this show!  It runs at the Eccles Theater until Dec. 5 (go here for tickets)

Frozen at the Eccles

I had the chance to see a preview of the musical Frozen in Denver before it transferred to Broadway and I absolutely loved it!  I was so excited to see it again last night while the Broadway touring production is making a stop at the Eccles Theater through November 13.  The musical follows the movie pretty closely and begins with a young Elsa (Natalie Grace Chan) and a young Anna (Victoria Hope Chan) building a snowman together.  When Elsa accidentally freezes Anna with her mysterious powers, the King (Kyle Lamar Mitchell) and Queen (Marina Kondo) tell her than she must hide herself away from Anna and the rest of Arendelle.  When the King and Queen are lost at sea, Elsa (Caroline Bowman) must open the doors of the castle once again for her coronation.  She loses control of herself, with devastating consequences, when Anna (Caroline Innerbichler) requests permission to marry Hans of the Southern Isles (Austin Colby) and she flees Arendelle.  Anna follows her, hoping to save Arendelle from the endless winter, and is aided by an ice harvester named Kristoff (Mason Reeves), his reindeer Sven (Evan Strand), and Olaf (F. Michael Haynie), the snowman built by Elsa and Anna as young girls.  Elsa fears that she is a monster but it is her ability to love that ultimately saves Anna and Arendelle.  Many of the well-known songs from the movie are included, such as "Do You Want to Build a Snowman," "For the First Time in Forever," "Love is an Open Door," and, of course, "Let It Go," but my favorite songs are two new ones, "Dangerous to Dream" and "Monster," because they provide more insight into Elsa's character.  I also really loved a song that was added since I saw it in Denver called "I Can't Lose You" because Bowman and Innerbichler sing it so beautifully.  The sets and costumes are also informed by the movie as are the delightful puppets used for Sven and Olaf.  The special effects in this show are dazzling!  I especially loved it when the young Elsa makes it snow inside the castle and when the frozen Anna is thawed by Elsa.  However, "Let It Go" is absolutely magical with projections in sync with Elsa's gestures and a quick costume change.  All of the little girls sitting near me were giggling with delight (and I may have been, as well).  This is such a fun show to welcome patrons back to the Eccles Theater and I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here).

Dear Evan Hansen at the Eccles

I really wanted to see Dear Evan Hansen so, even though I knew it was coming to the Eccles Theatre this season, I decided that I didn't want to wait that long and took a road trip to Las Vegas to see it at the Smith Center last year.  I thought the message that you are not alone was extremely powerful and I fell in love with the music.  I couldn't wait to see it again!  I had the chance last night and I loved it just as much!  Evan Hansen (Stephen Christopher Anthony) suffers from anxiety and feels insignificant and all alone ("Waving Through a Window").  Heidi (Jessica E. Sherman), his busy single mother, doesn't know what to do to help him ("Anybody Have a Map?").  His one friend, Jared (Alessandro Costantini), is only nice to him so his parents will pay for his car insurance and he is too scared to talk to Zoe (Stephanie La Rochelle), the girl he likes.  His therapist encourages him to write letters to himself to build his self confidence but Connor (Noah Kieserman), a deeply troubled young man, intercepts one of his letters from the printer because it mentions his sister Zoe.  When Connor takes his own life, his parents, Cynthia (Claire Rankin) and Larry (John Hemphill), find the letter and, assuming it is a suicide note written to Evan, reach out to him.  To comfort them, he pretends that he and Connor were friends ("For Forever").  When Cynthia and Larry press for more information, Evan asks Jared to create a history of emails between him and Connor ("Sincerely, Me").  Larry and Zoe struggle to reconcile Evan's version of Connor with the difficult son and brother they knew ("Requiem").  Zoe tells Evan that the only nice thing Connor ever said to her was in his suicide note, which Evan wrote ("If I Could Tell Her").  Alana (Ciara Alyse Harris), another lonely student at school, wants Evan to do more to keep Connor's memory alive ("Disappear") so they create The Connor Project.  Evan gives a heartfelt speech about loneliness ("You Will Be Found") at a memorial assembly for Connor and it goes viral.  He begins a relationship with Zoe ("Only Us") and bonds with her family ("To Break in a Glove") to the exclusion of Emily, Jared, and Alana ("Good For You").  When the truth is finally revealed ("Words Fail"), Evan realizes that he was never really alone ("So Big/ So Small").  Evan was played by the same actor that I saw in Las Vegas and I found him to be incredibly endearing.  His portrayal of a boy who doesn't feel like he fits in made me laugh and cry.  My favorite song from this show has always been "You Will Be Found" but last night I was particularly struck by "Waving through a Window" because I think we have all felt like outsiders at one time or another and the words to this song are so poignant.  I really like the use of social media, which is depicted on large moving panels, because, even though the world seems increasingly connected, so many people struggle to find a connection.  I love this musical so much and I highly recommend seeing it if you have the opportunity.  It runs at the Eccles Theatre through March 14 (go here for tickets).

Fiddler on the Roof at the Eccles

I have always been a really big fan of the musical Fiddler on the Roof.  I have seen it dozens of times and I even got to play Fruma-Sarah in a production so I was thrilled when the show had a revival on Broadway because I knew that the touring production would eventually come to SLC.  I had the chance to see it last night and it was just delightful!  Tevye (Yehezkel Lazarov) is a poor Jewish dairyman living in the small Russian village of Anatevka.  He clings to his traditional way of life as a protection from the harsh realities of life but his three oldest daughters push against tradition when it comes time to find a match.  As I sat in my seat at the Eccles Theatre I anticipated every single musical number with a huge smile on my face:  "Tradition," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," "If I Were A Rich Man," "Sabbath Prayer," "To Life," "Sunrise, Sunset," "Do You Love Me," "Far From the Home I Love," "Chavaleh," and "Anatevka,"  It was really hard for me not to sing along because I know every word.  I really liked this production because the sets are very simple and stark and use a lot of weathered wood.  It seemed very appropriate considering the harsh conditions of Russia and it really helped to set the mood.  I also really liked the monochromatic costumes which also served the same purpose.  What made this production seem very fresh and new was the choreography.  I especially enjoyed the staging of "To Life" because the slow-motion dancing as the Jews begin to interact with the Russian villagers is very dramatic.  I also really enjoyed the bottle dance during the wedding (I even liked the fact that one of the dancers dropped his bottle because it made it seem so much more authentic) because it is incredibly athletic (the main dancer could kick his legs so high)!  The entire cast is outstanding but I especially enjoyed Lazarov's interpretation of Tevye because he is almost sarcastic in his delivery.  I laughed out loud when he tried to kiss Golde (Maite Uzal) during "Do You Love Me" and it was heartbreaking to see his anguish during "Chavaleh."  I also really enjoyed Nick Siccone as Motel the tailor, especially when he hides under the wagon when talking to Tevye.  This was such a fun evening for me!  I always love seeing the old classics from my youth because they are the shows that turned me into a fan of musical theatre.  I recommend this production (go here for tickets) because it is sure to put a smile on your face.

A Christmas Story at the Eccles

I love the movie A Christmas Story so much!  I actually remember seeing it in the theater when it was first released and since then I have probably seen it at least 812 times.  My sister and I like to watch it continuously on Christmas Eve in our separate houses and quote all of the lines to each other over social media ("It...it was...soap poisoning").  Because I love the movie so much, I was a little bit wary when I heard that the musical version was coming to the Eccles Theatre.  I am not a fan of turning popular movies into musicals but, even though the songs are incredibly contrived, I found the show last night to be really delightful.  Ralphie (Ian Shaw) desperately wants an official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time for Christmas but his Mother (Briana Gantsweg), the Old Man (Christopher Swan), his teacher Miss Shields (Lauren Kent), and even Santa Claus (Daniel Mark Smith) himself tell him that he'll shoot his eye out!  All of the fun scenes from the movie are brought to life on the stage including when Randy (John Mahanna) eats like a piggy, when Schwartz (Seth Black Diamond) triple dog dares Flick (Jay Hendrix) to stick his tongue to the flag pole, when the Old Man wins a major award, when Ralphie says the F-dash-dash-dash word while helping his father change a tire, when Ralphie gets into a fight with Scut Farkus (Ty Huffman), when Ralphie gets a certain bunny costume from Aunt Clara, and when the Bumpus Hounds (played by Hoss and Stella) eat the turkey forcing the Parkers to eat Christmas dinner at the Chop Suey Palace!  While I didn't find the songs to be particularly memorable, I did really enjoy the staging and the young cast is extremely talented.  I especially enjoyed the choreography for "Ralphie to the Rescue!" and the fabulous tap dancing in "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out."  Shaw gives an earnest and heartfelt performance as Ralphie and Mahanna (the understudy) is absolutely hilarious as Randy but, in my opinion, the actors who steal the show are Hoss and Stella when they chase the Old Man around and when they break in to eat the turkey (they got the loudest applause).  This is not the best musical I have ever seen but I certainly had a lot of fun watching it and got a big dose of Christmas cheer!  It runs at the Eccles Theatre through Dec. 8 (go here for tickets).

Miss Saigon at the Eccles

After I was able to see Les Miserables in London on a study abroad trip, Miss Saigon went to the top of the list of musicals I most wanted to see.  I finally had the opportunity to see it when the Broadway touring production came to SLC several years later and, while I absolutely loved the show, I was a little bit disappointed.  The Capitol Theatre stage couldn't accommodate the helicopter used in the fall of Saigon so a hologram was used instead.  I have always wanted to see the actual helicopter and I got my wish last night when a new production came to the Eccles Theatre.  This musical is based on Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly but it is set in Vietnam near the end of the war.  Kim (Emily Bautista) is a recently orphaned young girl who comes to Saigon from a rural village to be a bargirl at Dreamland, a brothel owned by the Engineer (Red Concepcion).  A U.S. Marine named Chris (Anthony Festa) is disillusioned by the war and is captivated by Kim's innocence.  The Engineer arranges for him to spend the night with Kim and they fall in love and begin a relationship.  Kim's cousin Thuy (Jinwoo Jung), to whom she was betrothed, has become an officer in the North Vietnamese Army and comes to Saigon to take her back home.  She refuses, believing Chris's promise that he will take her with him when he returns home, but he inadvertently leaves her behind in the chaos at the end of the war.  Three years later, the Engineer is in a reeducation camp but is asked by Thuy, now a commissar in the new Communist government, to find Kim.  When the Engineer finds her, Thuy is horrified to find out that Kim has had a son with Chris and tries to kill the boy.  Kim kills Thuy instead to save her son and turns to the Engineer for help.   He ultimately decides to help her because he believes that her son is his ticket to America and the three of them flee to Bangkok.  When Chris, who is now married to Ellen (Ellie Fishman), learns of his son's existence he travels to Bangkok to see him.  Kim believes that Chris is finally coming back to get her but, when she learns that he is married, she makes the ultimate sacrifice and begs him to take the boy with him.  The music in this show is incredibly beautiful and emotional and the principals all have amazing voices!  I especially loved "The Last Night of the World," "Too Much for One Heart," and "The American Dream."  Bautista's powerful rendition of "I'd Give My Life for You" made me cry (and I was not alone).  I loved the dramatic staging for "The Morning of the Dragon" and "Fall of Saigon." The helicopter is only on stage for a few minutes but it is absolutely spectacular and gave me goosebumps.  I loved this revival and I highly recommend it with the proviso that "The Heat is On in Saigon" and "What a Waste" are a bit raunchy (a couple sitting near me left after "The Heat is On in Saigon" which is the first number in the show).  It runs at the Eccles until October 20 (go here for tickets).

The Book of Mormon at the Eccles

I saw the Broadway touring production of the musical The Book of Mormon when it first came through Salt Lake City in 2015 and the excitement and energy in the crowd was palpable!  The audience laughed out loud, cheered, and even gave a standing ovation after the song "Sal Tlay Ka Siti" (which is in the middle of the show!).  It was one of the most memorable theatre experiences that I have ever had so, of course, I wanted to see it again during its return visit to SLC.  After a busy week back at school, seeing The Book of Mormon last night was so much fun!  After spending some time at the Missionary Training Center learning how to preach the gospel around the world ("Hello"), Elder Price (Liam Tobin) and Elder Cunningham (Jacob Ben-Shmuel) are called to serve in a remote village in Uganda.  Elder Price is very disappointed in the location because he wanted to go Orlando, the most wonderful and magical place on Earth, and in his companion because Elder Cunningham has a tendency to lie to compensate for his low self-esteem but he realizes that he will be a great missionary no matter the circumstances ("You and Me But Mostly Me").  When they meet their fellow missionaries in Africa, they get some advice about dealing with any unusual feelings they might be having ("Turn It Off").  The elders begin teaching ("An American Prophet") but the villagers are more concerned with poverty, famine, AIDs, and a violent overlord than in hearing their message.  However, Nabulungi (Alyah Chenelle Scott), the chief's daughter, is interested because she is hoping to leave Africa and go to paradise ("Sal Tlay Ka Siti").  Elder Price becomes discouraged because Uganda is nothing like The Lion King and decides to go home leaving Elder Cunningham, who has never actually read the Book of Mormon because it is so boring, to teach Nabulungi ("Man Up").  He begins embellishing the message with references to Star Wars, Star Trek, and The Lord of the Rings ("Making Things Up Again") and, after he baptizes Nabulungi ("Baptize Me"), he converts the rest of the village.  Meanwhile, Elder Cunningham decides to return after having a dream about being in Hell with Jeffrey Dahmer, Genghis Khan, Hitler, and people who drink Starbucks coffee ("Spooky Mormon Hell Dream").  They eventually get in trouble for their false teachings but they realize that they have made the lives of the villagers better and decide to stay in Africa ("Tomorrow is a Latter Day").  It is absolutely hilarious and I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes, as did everyone sitting around me.  My favorite number is "Turn It Off" because I love the choreography and Andy Huntington Jones is fabulous as Elder McKinley, a missionary trying to pretend that he is not gay!  There is quite a bit of profanity and some might be offended by the content but if you understand going in that it is a satire, this show is a lot of fun.  It runs at the Eccles Theatre until August 25 (go here for tickets).

Note:  The cast has mentioned how much fun this show is to perform in Salt Lake City.  They get reactions here that they don't get in other cities, especially during "Sal Tlay Ka Siti," and it sometimes throws them off!

RENT at the Eccles

I wouldn't go so far as to call myself a RENThead but I absolutely love the musical RENT and I have seen it many times (when PTC produced it several years ago I saw it three times during the run).  Last night I went with my sister Kristine to see the 20th Anniversary Tour at the Eccles Theatre and it was one of the best productions of this show that I have seen!  This musical is a modern version of Puccini's La Boheme, which is one of my favorite operas, and it tells the story of one year in the life of Mark Cohen (Logan Marks), an aspiring filmmaker, and Roger Davis (Joshua Bess), a musician, and a group of their friends as they try to stay true to their art, find love, struggle to pay their rent, and deal with the devastation of HIV/ AIDS.  The story about living every day to the fullest is incredibly powerful and the music is fabulous.  I judge every production by the actor playing Roger (I listen to the Original Broadway Cast recording over and over because I love Adam Pascal, who originated the role) and I really liked Bess.  His characterization of Roger was very different from what I've seen before but I liked it and his voice was amazing.  As soon as he started singing "One Song Glory," I was enthralled by his performance.  I also loved his version of "Your Eyes" and, while Deri'andra Tucker was not the strongest Mimi I've ever seen, their version of "Without You" brought tears to my eyes.  The rest of the cast was also incredibly strong and I especially enjoyed Lyndie Moe, as Maureen, and Lencia Kebede, as Joanne, when they sang "Take Me or Leave Me" and Devinre Adams, as Tom, when he sang the reprise of "I'll Cover You."  Javon King, as Angel, absolutely stole the show with his rendition of "Today 4 U" and I really loved his dancing (in high heels).  I'm so glad that I got to see this fabulous production.  RENT runs at the Eccles Theatre through Sunday and I highly recommend it (go here for tickets) with the proviso that it has very mature content (some people left at intermission).

Note:  I have my students read at the beginning of every class period.  One day a student asked me how long we were going to read and I answered by singing "Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes" from "Seasons of Love."  Most of the students looked at me as if I had lost my mind (a common occurrence) but the theatre kids all recognized it!

School of Rock at the Eccles

I have a long list of musicals that I really want to see and last night I got to cross one that was pretty near the top off (number one on that list is coming to Broadway at the Eccles next season and I will be seeing number two in San Francisco in the fall).  School of Rock the musical is very similar to the movie of the same name starring Jack Black and I really enjoyed it.  Not only is it a feel good show but the kids in the cast, who play their own instruments, are all insanely talented!  Dewey (Merritt David Janes) has been kicked out of No Vacancy, the band he formed, right before the Battle of the Bands.  Ned (Layne Roate), Dewey's best friend with whom he has been living for several years, is under pressure from his girlfriend Patty (Madison Micucci) to get him to pay rent.  In desperation, he takes a substitute teaching job at Horace Green Prep School meant for Ned.  The students in his class are being crushed under the pressure put on them by their parents who don't understand them.  After hearing them during their music class, Dewey decides to form a band with Zack (Mystic Inscho) on lead guitar, Katie (Leanne Parks) on bass, Lawrence (Julian Brescia) on keyboard, Freddy (Cameron Trueblood) on drums, and Shonelle (Arianna Pereira) and Marcy (Alyssa Emily Marvin) on backing vocals.  He recruits Billy (Sammy Dell) to be the band's stylist, James (Jacob Moran) as security, Mason (Dylan Trueblood) on tech, and Summer (Sami Bray) the class know-it-all (I probably laughed harder than I should have when Dewey calls her Hermione Granger) as the band's manager.  Tomika (Camille De La Cruz), a shy and insecure transfer student, eventually becomes the band's secondary lead singer.  As the students play they become more confident and Dewey decides to enter them in Battle of the Bands.  He just needs to convince the uptight principal Ms. Mullins (Lexie Dorsett Sharp) to let him take the students on a field trip (in a hilarious scene involving the music of Stevie Nicks).  Eventually, the parents catch on to Dewey's deception but the kids convince him that they need to perform at the Battle of the Bands and this performance wins over the parents.  Janes has a great rock and roll voice and a fun rapport with all of the kids but I couldn't help comparing him to Jack Black.  The true stars of the show are the kids and every time they performed (my favorite songs were "Stick It to the Man," "Time to Play," and "School of Rock") they brought the roof down on the Eccles Theatre.  This show is so much fun and it runs through June 2 (tickets may be purchased here) at the Eccles.

Aladdin at the Eccles

When I went to New York on a theatre trip a few years ago, my roommate went to see Aladdin on a night that I saw a different show.  When we both got back to the hotel she raved and raved about it so, of course, I immediately wanted to see it.  It seems like I have been waiting forever but I finally had the chance to see this entertaining show last night!  It definitely did not disappoint!  In fact, I think I giggled throughout the whole run time and I may or may not have sung along to "Prince Ali" which is my favorite song from the movie.  The stage musical basically tells the same story as the movie with all of the amazing songs you remember (and a few new ones thrown in for good measure).  Aladdin (Clinton Greenspan) is a street urchin in the city of Agrabah where he ekes out a living as a pickpocket with his friends Babkak (Zach Bencal), Omar (Ben Chavez), and Kassim (Colt Prattes).  While in the marketplace he meets Princess Jasmine (Kaenaonalani Kekoa), who has run away from the palace because her father the Sultan (Jerald Vincent) wants her to marry a prince, and he falls in love with her.  Jafar (Jonathan Weir), the Grand Vizier, wants the throne for himself and learns that there is a magic lamp hidden in the Cave of Wonders that could help him but only a diamond in the rough can enter.  He enlists Aladdin's help but his plan backfires when Aladdin releases the Genie (Major Attaway) from the lamp and is given three wishes.  Wanting to impress Jasmine, Aladdin wishes to be a prince but he soon realizes that he must be himself if he wants to win the princess.  I really loved all of the colorful and sparkly costumes, the dazzling choreography, especially in "Arabian Nights," "Friend Like Me," "Prince Ali," and "High Adventure," and the incredible sets, particularly the Palace and the Cave of Wonders!  The special effects are so much fun and the magic carpet ride in "A Whole New World" is everything I hoped it would be!  Both Greenspan and Kekoa have wonderful voices but Attaway steals the show with all of his hilarious pop culture references.  It is a glitzy production worthy of Disney that is just so much fun to watch from start to finish and I highly recommend it, especially for children!  It runs at the Eccles Theatre through May 12 (tickets my be purchased here).

Wicked at the Eccles

I took a little break from the Sundance Film Festival (a full wrap-up is coming soon) to see the musical Wicked with my sister.  When I found out that the Broadway at the Eccles 2018-2019 season would include Wicked as an add-on to the season package, I thought that, since I have seen it so many times, I didn’t need to get a ticket.  Then I realized how sad I would be if I didn't see it while it was in SLC and decided that I had to go.  My sister Kristine had never seen it before so I got a ticket for her and she was so excited!  Even though I have seen it so many times I think I was just as excited as she was.  This show is extremely clever at telling the story of what happened to the Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda the Good, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the East, the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow before Dorothy makes an appearance in Oz.  Not only do I love the story but I also love every single song ("What Is This Feeling?," "I'm Not That Girl," and "As Long As You're Mine" are my favorites), the elaborate costumes, the choreography, and the steampunk set design.  It is such an amazing show!  This particular production featured two of the best actresses I've seen as Glinda (Kara Lindsay) and Elphaba (Jackie Burns).  Lindsay is so funny and is particularly adept at all of the physical comedy in the role, especially in the song "Popular." Every actress I've seen play Glinda has added some little bit of business in "Popular" to make it her own and Lindsay was hysterical with her high kicks!  Burns has an incredibly powerful voice, especially in "Defying Gravity" and "No Good Deed."   She definitely gave me goosebumps!  The rest of the cast is great and I particularly liked Jody Gelb as Madame Morrible (I love all of the character's malapropisms).  This is a production that I highly recommend (even if you have seen it as many times as I have) and it runs at the Eccles Theatre until March 3.  Most shows have sold out but I have noticed tickets on the ArtTix website.

Note:  I ran into my dear friend Karen in the elevator, I saw one of my current students in the lobby, and found one of my colleagues in the English department at intermission (I got her tickets before they went on sale to the public).  I felt really popular!

Finding Neverland at the Eccles

A couple of years ago, while on a theatre trip to New York, I was able to see Finding Neverland and I loved it so much!  I loved it just as much after seeing it again last night!  It is a beautiful and heartwarming story of how J.M. Barrie (Jeff Sullivan) comes to write the play Peter Pan after Sylvia Llewellyn Davies (Ruby Gibbs) and her four sons help him find his imagination again.  The music is absolutely wonderful (I listen to the Original Broadway Cast Recording all of the time) and every song is staged brilliantly.  I love how Barrie goes to Kensington Gardens for inspiration in "My Imagination," how he and the Llewellyn Davies brothers become pirates in "Believe," how he turns a dull dinner party into an adventure in "We Own the Night," how the people in his life try to get Barrie to act more sensibly in "Circus of Your Mind,"  how Barrie's alter ego, Captain Hook, encourages him to act boldly in "Live By the Hook," how Barrie's acting troupe reacts to his new play in "The World Is Upside Down," how Barrie and Sylvia play with their shadows in "What You Mean to Me," how Barrie's acting troupe rediscover their inner children in "Play," how the Llewellyn Davies brothers use their imagination in "We're All Made of Stars," how Barrie tries to comfort Peter when he realizes that he will have to grow up in "When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground," and how Barrie brings the play Peter Pan to Sylvia when she is too ill to attend the premiere in "Neverland" (Reprise).  I think the penultimate scene with Sylvia is one of the most magical bits of stagecraft that I have ever seen and I cried once again.  I really enjoyed Sullivan's performance, but I missed the Scottish accent, and his chemistry with Gibbs, who has a beautiful voice, is palpable.  The acting troupe is completely over the top, and a bit cliched, but they are a lot of fun.  The young actors playing the Llewellyn Davies brothers (they rotate from night to night) are delightful and elicited many cheers from the audience.  It is all so enchanting and the message that you should never take life too seriously really resonates with me.  If you can discover your own inner child I think you will really enjoy this musical which runs at the Eccles Theatre through Sunday, Dec. 9 (go here for tickets).

Come From Away at the Eccles

When the Broadway at the Eccles 2018-2019 season was announced, Come From Away was the show I was most excited to see and I have been eagerly anticipating it ever since.  I got to see it last night and I basically cried through the whole thing, except when I was laughing hysterically.  After the attacks of 9/11, U.S. airspace is restricted and 38 international flights have to be diverted to the airport in the tiny town of Gander, Newfoundland, Canada.  The nearly 7,000 stranded passengers almost double the population of Gander but the townspeople willingly do everything they can to provide them with food, clothing, shelter, and comfort.  The story is told through the perspectives of the townspeople and several stranded passengers with an outstanding ensemble cast of twelve who seamlessly play multiple roles.  The narrative is incredibly moving and explores how the people of Gander learn of the attacks, the confusion of the passengers on the planes who have no idea what is going on, the determination of of the townspeople to do whatever is necessary to help, the desperation of the passengers to learn the fate of loved ones (especially the mother who cannot locate her son who is a firefighter in NYC), the growing paranoia over a Muslim passenger, and the acknowledgement that things will never be the same.  There are quite a few moments of levity, such as when a woman sneaks on board a plane to take care of the animals left behind (including a pregnant monkey) and when several passengers take part in a ceremony to become honorary Newfoundlanders (it involves a fair amount of alcohol and a codfish).  One romance begins and another one falls apart under the strain but everyone is forever changed by the experience.  I loved all of the songs but my very favorites are "Prayer" because it beautifully incorporates elements from multiple religions and "Something's Missing" because it brilliantly captures that hollow feeling I remember in the days after the attack.  This musical evokes so many emotions, about 9/11, about the power of community, about the indomitable human spirit, but the strongest for me was a nostalgia for Canada, the land of my birth.  Every cultural reference brought tears to my eyes, especially the Tim Hortons sign ("Everything starts and ends at Tim Hortons!").  This is a show that will restore your faith in humanity and entertain you at the same time.  Don't miss it!

Waitress at the Eccles

A few years ago my friend Esther and I went on a quick theatre trip to NYC.  I chose to see the revival of She Loves Me and Esther picked Waitress.  I wasn't really that keen on seeing Waitress but I am so glad that Esther picked it because I ended up loving it!  The original Broadway cast, especially Jessie Meuller, was outstanding and the song "She Used To Be Mine" brought me to tears!  Needless to say I was really excited for the chance to see it again at the Eccles Theatre last night and I loved it just as much as the Broadway production.  It tells the story of how Jenna (Desi Oakley, in her final performance in the role) uses baking to cope with her dead-end job as a waitress in a diner and her unhappy marriage to an abusive husband (Nick Bailey).  When she learns that she is pregnant, and then begins an affair with her gynecologist (Bryan Fenkart), she expresses her hopes, dreams, fears, and frustrations through the names of the pies she bakes each morning for the diner: Deep Shit Blueberry Pie, Berry the Bullshit Pie, A Little Wild Wild Berry Pie, In the Dark Chocolate Pie, etc.  Whenever she is overwhelmed everything freezes and she tells the audience the ingredients for her latest pie, always beginning with "Sugar, Butter, Flour."  In the end, the ingredient she needs is courage!  The songs, written by Sara Bareilles, are fabulous and I especially like "What's Inside," "Opening Up," and "It Only Takes a Taste" because, while they are about baking, they are also metaphors for life!  So clever!  My favorite song is, of course, "She Used To Be Mine" and Oakley performed it with so much passion that I had tears once again!  While I did cry, I also laughed and laughed in many parts of the show, particularly "Never Ever Getting Rid of Me" and "Bad Idea" because the choreography is absolutely hilarious!   It is also really fun to see the live band playing in the diner and to watch the cast actually make the pies on stage!  I really enjoyed watching this show again and I highly recommend it!  Waitress runs at the Eccles Theatre until Sunday and tickets may be purchased here.

The Phantom of the Opera at the Eccles

The first time I saw The Phantom of the Opera was on Broadway in 1998 with my sister Kristine when we were on a girls trip to New York City.  I absolutely loved it and have now seen it at least a dozen times, including once on my most recent trip to NYC.  The production of The Phantom of the Opera that I saw at the Eccles Theatre on Thursday night is an all new touring version directed by Laurence Connor (the original is still performed on Broadway) and, for the most part, I really liked it.  The story about a disfigured madman living in the catacombs underneath the Paris Opera House and his love for the ingenue Christine Daae remains the same as does Andrew Lloyd Webber's magnificent music.  The biggest difference in this production is the set (there is still a crashing chandelier) which portrays a darker, grittier, and more realistic theatre and we definitely see more of the backstage areas.  There is a giant rotating cylinder on a turntable that opens up to reveal Christine's dressing room, the Managers' office, the rooftop of the theatre, and the graveyard (my favorite change to the set).  This cylinder also becomes a spiral staircase by which the Phantom leads Christine to his underground lair and I also really liked this change because it actually felt like they were under the theatre rather than in some fantasy.  The choreography is also more realistic and the operas performed seem like actual productions rather than caricatures.  The only change that I didn't like, and I really hated it, was the staging and the choreography for "Masquerade" which has always been my favorite number in the show.  The dramatic staircase is no longer used and the choreography employs more ballet than the stylized dancing of the original.  I also didn't really like the new costumes because they weren't as theatrical as I thought they should be since it is a masquerade ball. Another change from the original is the emphasis on the relationships between the Phantom, Christine, and Raoul.  The encounter between the Phantom and Christine during "The Music of the Night" is much more passionate, in my opinion, as is their performance of "The Point of No Return."  I have always believed that Christine should end up with the Phantom (although the only person who agrees with me is my sister) and in this version she seems really torn between him and Raoul in "Down Once More."  I usually think of Raoul as a fop but I also really enjoyed his encounter with Christine during "All I Ask of You."  I could really see the appeal of both of them for Christine and I appreciated this change in staging.  Quentin Oliver Lee is a fantastic Phantom and I loved his performance of "The Phantom of the Opera" and "The Music of the Night."  I sometimes couldn't hear Eva Tavares as Christine because the music seemed to overpower her but her version of "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" gave me goosebumps.  I enjoyed this new production and I am glad that I got to see it (every performance is sold out!).

Jersey Boys at the Eccles

The first time I saw the musical Jersey Boys I was one of the youngest in the audience and the lady next to me asked me how I knew all of the words to every song (apparently I was singing along).  I told her that my Dad played the Four Seasons on road trips.  I knew that my Dad would absolutely love this musical so, at intermission, I bought him tickets to see it the next night.  He, of course, loved it.  When he found out that the Broadway touring company was coming to SLC again he kept telling me that he wanted to go so I got him tickets for Father's Day last year and we were finally able to see it last night.  I love this show because it uses all of the great songs by the Four Seasons to tell the story of how they rose from four guys singing under a streetlamp to become superstars and then how the pressure of fame caused it all to fall apart.  My favorite numbers are "Sherry" performed on American Bandstand, "Dawn (Go Away)"  performed on The Ed Sullivan Show, and "Rag Doll" performed at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.  I also really liked it when Frankie Valli sang "Can't Take My Eyes Off You.”  The crowd went absolutely crazy afterwards!  I think the staging of this show is so clever, especially when they would record a song and then seamlessly transition to performing the song.  Aaron De Jesus, who plays Frankie Valli,  grew up in Utah and left the Broadway production to perform here in SLC.  He is absolutely amazing in the role and he captures Valli's falsetto perfectly.  Tommaso Antico, as Bob Gaudio, Corey Greenan, as Tommy De Vito, and Chris Stevens, as Nick Massi, are also fantastic performers who have the look, sound, and choreography of the Four Seasons down pat.  If you are a fan of the Four Seasons, this show is a must-see.  There are two more performances today (tickets may be purchased here).

Note:  This show contains a lot of profanity.  My sister did not like it at all.

Hamilton at the Eccles

Last night I got to see Hamilton for the fourth time in two years and this musical has definitely not lost its magic for me.  In fact, the more I see it the more powerful it becomes!  I can honestly say that I was just as excited as I was when I stood outside the Richard Rodgers Theatre!  I am so glad that I got to see this production because it is fantastic!  This cast is actually tied with the original Broadway cast as my favorite!  Joseph Morales is absolutely phenomenal in the title role.  He reminded me so much of Lin-Manuel Miranda (he played Usnavi in the touring company of In the Heights) but I think he is a stronger singer, especially in "Dear Theodosia" and "Hurricane."  He did quite a few things to make the role his own but I think my favorite bit of business is when he wipes away his tears in "It's Quiet Uptown."  Nik Walker is so powerful as Aaron Burr and I think his is my favorite performance of "Wait For It."  Ta'rea Campbell is an incredible Angelica because she not only raises the roof of the Eccles Theatre during "Satisfied" but she also gives such an emotional rendition of "It's Quiet Uptown."  Marcus Choi is very different from the other actors I've seen play George Washington and his interpretations of "History Has Its Eyes on You" and "One Last Time" are also quite different but I really liked what he did with the role.  Jon Patrick Walker is absolutely hysterical as King George and his performance is so completely over the top.  He totally hams it up and I almost died laughing when he stomps his foot in "What Comes Next?"  I've not seen this character portrayed at such a pitch before but it was hilarious!  Shoba Narayan, as Eliza, has an unbelievably emotional response to Philip's death which made me start crying then instead of during "It's Quiet Uptown" like I usually do.  Finally, every Jefferson I've seen has has done something completely different in "What'd I Miss" and Kyle Scatliffe dances a little jig, which Hamilton imitates during "Cabinet Battle #1"  I also loved Jefferson's expression at the end of "The Election of 1800." I really loved every aspect of this production but what made it so much fun is that I have been hyping this show up to  the couple who sits in front of me, with whom I have become very good friends, all season long and, after the bows, they told me that it was everything I said it was!  The hype is real!  If you were not able to get tickets for the show during its run in SLC, you can enter the lottery daily for the chance to buy up to two $10 tickets!

The Sound of Music at the Eccles

Last night I had the opportunity to see the Broadway touring company production of The Sound of Music now currently playing at the Eccles Theater.  This story about a high spirited nun who is sent to be the governess to Captain Von Trapp's seven children has long been one of my very favorite musicals but I am more familiar with the 1965 movie starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer than I am with the stage version.  The production that I saw last night is based on the original book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse which is quite different from the movie and I found it to be a bit jarring.  I was happily anticipating all of my favorite scenes and songs and I have to admit that I was a little bit disappointed when I was surprised by something else.  Some of the songs from the movie are omitted, such as "Confidence" which is such a fun number.  Some songs that are not in the movie are included, such as "How Can Love Survive?" and "No Way to Stop It" which are both sung by Baroness Schraeder (Melissa McKamie) and Max Detweiler (Jake Mills).  I didn't particularly care for either song because I don't really care about either of these characters.  I wanted more time with Maria (Sarah Brackett) and the Captain (Mike McLean) because their romance seems very rushed in this version.  Quite a few of the songs are performed in a different scene than they are in the movie.  For example, "My Favorite Things" is sung between Maria and the Mother Abbess (Lauren Kidwell), "Do-Re-Mi" is sung when Maria first meets the children, "The Lonely Goatherd" is sung when the children are scared of the thunderstorm, and "Eidelweiss" is not sung until the music festival near the end of the show.  After a while I decided to stop comparing it to the movie and simply enjoy the performances, which are fantastic!  Brackett, who is the understudy, is delightful as Maria.  All of the Von Trapp children are adorable, especially Sophia Massa as little Gretl, and they have beautiful voices which harmonize very well.  Kidwell just about blows the roof off the Eccles Theater with her rendition of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," definitely a highlight of the show.  I would absolutely recommend this show because it is such a classic that everyone in the family will enjoy but if the movie is your touchstone, like it is for me, just be prepared for some differences.  It runs at the Eccles Theater until March 4.

Note:  Broadway at the Eccles announced the shows coming to SLC next season and I could not be more excited!  The lineup includes Waitress, Come From Away, Finding Neverland, Aladdin, School of Rock, and RENT!  The season add-ons are Wicked and The Book of Mormon.  My sister Kristine has never see Wicked before so my Mom, Marilyn, and I are going to take her for a fun girls night!  Broadway at the Eccles also teased us with the announcement that Dear Evan Hansen will be coming the following year!  Squeal!  Go here for more information.

Something Rotten at the Eccles

My first theatre performance of 2018 was the Broadway touring company production of Something Rotten at the Eccles Theater.  I absolutely loved it!  I didn't know much about this show so when I got to the theater last night I started to read the program and discovered that Adam Pascal plays one of the lead roles!  Squeal!  He originated the roles of Roger in Rent and Radames in Aida on Broadway and I listen to the original recordings of those shows all of the time because I love Pascal's rock and roll tenor voice.  To say that I was excited to see him would be an understatement.  In fact, I haven't been this starstruck at a theatre performance since I saw Lin Manuel Miranda!  I may or may not have screamed like a thirteen year old girl when he first appeared on stage (for about ten seconds).  Adam Pascal aside, the show is hilarious!  It is a fantastic spoof of Shakespearean plays and Broadway musicals (over 60 different musicals are referenced).  Nick and Nigel Bottom (Rob McClure and Josh Grisetti, respectively) are playwrights who are tired of being outshined by William Shakespeare (Pascal).  Nick wants to do something new so he contacts Nostradamus (Blake Hammond) to see what will be popular in the future.  Nostradamus suggests writing a play with singing and dancing in one of my favorite numbers from the show, "A Musical."  Things go slightly awry when Nick asks Nostradamus to look into the future to see what Shakespeare's most popular play will be and, instead of Hamlet, Nostradamus sees omelette.  Nick tries to produce Omelette The Musical while Shakespeare tries to steal his own play back.  I loved all of the references to Hamlet (my seniors just finished reading it), especially the song "To Thine Own Self."  I think I may need to download the soundtrack and play it to my students!  I also really loved all of the references to Broadway musicals.  As an English teacher who is also a theatre junkie, this show was practically written for me!  Adam Pascal did not disappoint and his voice was perfect for the songs "Will Power" and "Hard to be the Bard" because Shakespeare is portrayed as the biggest rock star of the Renaissance.  I had so much fun watching this incredibly entertaining show and I highly recommend it!  Something Rotten runs through January 14 at the Eccles Theater (tickets may be purchased here).