#stageviews

[senseitoadstool]

StageViews (Preview): Six

I discovered one song from this musical by listening to the Broadway channel on the radio - and I was immediately intrigued.

Now, after listening to the soundtrack a couple of times on Repeat, it has become my newest obsession.

Don’t think of it as a musical play; think of it as a concert showcasing the very talented wives of Henry VIII. Extremely smart lyrics, amazing vocals, and music that could’ve been penned and made popular by any pop diva of the 80′s, 90′s, and early turn of the century. 

Also (and I’m sorry for the gasps of disbelief), it will politely bow towards Hamilton, and ask him in a proper British accent to step aside and sit down. Don’t believe me? Give it a listen. 

I will certainly be anxiously awaiting the tour - it’s currently in previews for its Broadway opening in early October of this year, and I’m certain it’ll be a great success.

He Dicho.

[senseitoadstool]

StageViews: Dear Evan Hansen

This is an absolutely fantastic show; being its main topic how alone we can feel even in a hyper-connected world. The story talks about Evan Hansen, a teen-aged boy with anxiety, social awkwardness, and no real friends who breaks his arm during the summer; and a boy in his same school, Connor, another teenage boy who is a rebel, junkie, and suffers from mental problems. When Connor takes his own life, by a series of unrelated events, Evan gets himself involved in a web of lies that give him a glimpse of the life he always wished he had, and can't help but get deeper into it, blind to the consequences. 

The music, from the creators of The Greatest Showman soundtrack, conveys all the range of emotions throughout not only Evan's teenage episodes, but through all those he connects with as he continues to build a life that he believes is meant to help others, when in reality it is all for himself. And as good as the music is, actually watching the performances fills in some surprising blanks that lend a dose of even harsher reality to the situations - which call out the loneliness and awkwardness young people feel even in a world of constant connection - and how dangerous the mass influences can be if we don't watch what we do or understand that, anything that goes on line, is there forever.

The performances of the Tampa tour cast were PHENOMENAL - some, in my opinion, even better than the recorded original album cast.

#YouWillBeFound

Mi opinión: Don't Miss It (4 out of 4).

He Dicho.

[senseitoadstool]

StageViews: Rent (20th Anniversary)

When Rent originally came out 20 years ago, I wasn't very interested in it because it seemed to me (back then) like a rock opera - and I wasn't very fond of that idea. Then I heard a few pieces of the soundtrack, which sort-of confirmed my theory. It wasn't until the Mexican production was reviewed that I realized it had mainly to do with stronger themes, like the impact of AIDS. Then I watched the movie in 2005 with high expectations, and I was honestly underwhelmed. 

Today, I had the opportunity to watch what I believe is the closest thing to the original stage production, and I can say with certainty that it surpasses the film in many levels. The energy of the cast, the minimalist approach at staging, and the emotions that are reflected with the lyrics are definitely a spectacle I wasn't prepared for. 

There is something deeply moving about watching the reprise of 'Seasons of Love' while actors leave the space where Angel sang during the opening of act II that is hard to put into words.The cast was very good as well, but Joanne (Jasmine Easler) and Tom Collins (Aaron Harrington) definitely take the cake.

This is a stage show that is definitely worth the watch.

He Dicho.

[senseitoadstool]

StageViews: Something Rotten

I first heard about this soundtrack as a recommended soundtrack from Amazon based on the purchases I had done. After a quick search about the creators, I found out someone involved in the Book of Mormon had something to do with this one - so I decided to give it a shot. And, even though I didn't have the same violent laughter reaction that TBOM gave me, the music was still worthwhile, and I was fascinated with the number of references to other popular musicals that were embedded and intertwined throughout the soundtrack. 

A very inventive story, written with great wit and brain, very funny lines, and a reinvention of the Shakespearian era make this a worthwhile show. i would gamble to say that the references on the soundtrack make about a third of the total number of LOL references to musicals throughout this entire spectacle. The story is very simple, but carried out whimsically with catchy songs and characters that will truly make you laugh out loud.

However, the most important part of this play is that it is definitely a tribute to musical theater and the things that make it so special for us lovers of the genre. With short but meaningful references to at least 20 different musicals, the homage is obvious and extremely funny. This is definitely a multiple-views stage show, so I look forward to it coming back in the near future.

My Opinion: Don't Miss It.

He Dicho.

[mjbaddangerous]

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Rp @alsinalookbook #StageViews NUMB at Curaçao SummerFall concert 🇨🇼 #augustalsina #curacao #summerfall