Life After Idiot: From Green Day to Green Pastures

By March 1st, most of the principal original cast members of Green Day's American Idiot will have departed the show.  But no sooner can your get out your guitar and start singing "Good Riddance," than most of them will be back onstage in new and different and exciting roles.  The sheer variety of projects they are undertaking, I think, speaks volumes for the breadth of their individual talents.






Here's a look at those who have gone already and those preparing to move on shortly:

Michael Esper (Will)
Departs Idiot: February 27, 2011
Moving on to: Tony Kushner's The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures, directed by Michael Greif at the Public Theater.  Stephen Spinella and Steven Pasquale co-star with Esper.
To be succeeded by: Justin Guarini

Esper (right) rehearses with Stephen Spinella

Mary Faber (Heather)
Departed Idiot: December 12, 2010
Moving on to: The 50th anniversary production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, as Smitty, the been-there-done-that secretary with a penchant for matchmaking.  Directed by Rob Ashford and starring Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette.
Succeeded by: Jeanna de Waal

Mary Faber

John Gallagher, Jr. (Johnny)
Departs Idiot: February 27, 2011
Moving on to: Co-starring with Tony winner Mark Rylance in Jerusalem, the acclaimed London play which will transfer to Broadway this spring for a limited engagement.
To be succeeded by: Van Hughes

Promo art for Jerusalem, starring Mark Rylance

Joshua Henry (Favorite Son)
Departed Idiot: July 18, 2010
Moved on to: Henry led the cast of the short lived, but acclaimed musical The Scottsboro Boys.
Succeeded by: Wallace Smith and Miguel Cervantes

Joshua Henry (center) in The Scottsboro Boys

Christina Sajous (Extraordinary Girl)
Departs Idiot: February 27, 2011
Moving on to: Playing one of the Shirelles in Baby, It's You! just across the street at the Broadhurst.
To be succeeded by: Libby Winters

Christina Sajous (2nd from right) in Baby, It's You!

Tony Vincent (St. Jimmy)
Departed Idiot: December 30, 2010
Moved on to: Promoting his recording career.  This Thursday, February 24, 2011, his image will be on postage stamps for the United Kingdom.  The stamp on which he appears commemorates the production We Will Rock You as part of an 8 stamp series celebrating British musicals.  He starred in that show's West End premiere, as well as the Las Vegas production.
Succeeded by: Billie Joe Armstrong, Melissa Etheridge, Andrew C. Call, and now permanently by Davey Havok.

Tony Vincent from the front and the back!

Both Stark Sands (Tunny) and Rebecca Naomi Jones (Whatsername) will remain with the production.  Original cast members Van Hughes (Johnny) and Libby Winters (Extraordinary Girl) will have both moved up into larger roles, effective March 1, 2011.

Rebecca Naomi Jones with John Gallagher, Jr. and Tony Vincent

Soon, casting for the First National Tour will begin.

Comments?  Leave one here, email me at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com or Tweet me!
Jeff
2.175

HERE IS THE 5TH AND FINAL QUESTION IN THE WIN TICKETS TO BROADWAY'S HOW TO SUCCEED CONTEST!  CLICK HERE FOR FULL CONTEST RULES AND HOW TO ENTER.

TRIVIA QUESTION #5:
Which two Pulitzer Prize-winning musicals have to do with American politics?

A.  South Pacific
B.  Fiorello!
C.  next to normal
D.  Sunday in the Park with George
E.  Of Thee I Sing 

There will be TWO answers to this question and you will need BOTH on your entry.


(Daniel Radcliffe as J. Pierrepont Finch in How to Succeed...)




Entries will be accepted from now until noon Eastern time on Wednesday, February 23rd.  No late entries will be accepted.  Be sure to follow the complete rules for submitting an entry.  Thanks for playing and good luck!

THEATRE BOOK REVIEW: Spring Awakening: In the Flesh

Theatre Book Review: Spring Awakening: In the Flesh. Book by David Cote and Libretto by Book and Lyrics by Steven Sater, Music by Duncan Sheik. Published by Gallery. Copyright 2008. Hardcover. 176 pages.

I realize that I am way behind the curve on this one, but I just got around to purchasing a copy of this companion to one of my favorite musicals of the last decade, and forever, really, Spring Awakening. 

Provocatively subtitled In the Flesh, the book details the genesis of the entire project, from idea to workshop (several workshops) to the Atlantic Theatre off-Broadway to the award-winning Broadway run.  The last pages even include a few bits about casting the First National Touring company.

Real fans probably know a lot of the information in the book, told from what must have been pretty intense and lengthy interviews of the original cast, the first replacement cast and the creative team.  But as a musical theatre enthusiast, I found the organization of the book - in chronological order for the most part, and at times by thematic ideas - to really plot the course for what started out as an idea based on a favorite - if old and disturbing - play, all the way through to the then future plans for the show.  I was really taken by the candid responses from all involved, citing not just the joyous triumphant moments, but the trials, tribulations and realizations that such a bold endeavor can cause for an artistic soul.  This warts and all approach, however, should no be misconstrued as salacious or gossipy, but rather matter of fact.

Some of the highlights for me included:

• The discussion of a character in the play that does not appear in the final version of the show, but did during workshops: The Masked Man, played mostly by Michael Cerveris, who at various times functioned as in the original play, to being a narrator, to being the "go-between" for the transition between the 19th Century  and 21st Century Germany.

• The change in outlook by Lea Michele, who started with the show from the very first workshop as a young teenager.  How her growth impacted the character, her understanding of the part, and on the piece as a whole is fascinating.
• I loved reading about the various experiences the cast had with the audition process.
• Reading some revealing and remarkably mature observations about their characters, particularly from Jonathan B. Wright, Jonathan Groff, Gideon Glick and John Gallagher, Jr. certainly gives me a new appreciation for the level of professionalism amongst the cast members.
• Very interesting, too, are the bits about how the cast reacted to becoming a "phenomenon" far beyond Broadway.

The Original Cast in "Street Clothes"

• And I really enjoyed reading about somethings they tried during previews on Broadway, including having the cast return to the stage dressed in whatever street clothes they wore that day for the final scene.

 As far as the book itself goes, I loved the style of the presentation, like an old style school book (how appropriate).  And I really appreciated the inclusion of costume sketches, early and ultimately unused set designs, as well as photos that chronicle the backstage and rehearsal periods.  One of my favorite picture sections shows the cast during "The Bitch of Living" video shoot.

"The Bitch of Living"

And, of course, of supreme value is the inclusion of the complete libretto, including vivid descriptions of characters and their thoughts, as well as stage directions.  The entire thing is supplemented by photos that match the action on any given page.

Lauren Pritchard with Tony winners

Duncan Sheik, John Gallagher, Jr. and Steven Sater

Fans of the show will certainly love this book, and true musical theatre lovers and scholars should as well.  Better late than never they say, and I am so glad I got this book even now, months after the show closed on Broadway.

GRADE: A+

(NOTE:  The above pictures are not necessarily in the book, but rather are representative onf my thoughts on the book.)

Comments?  Leave one here or email me at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com, or Tweet me!
Jeff
2.42

Best of the Decade: The Best Musicals #2

There's a moment you know that what you are seeing live in front of you is going to have a profound effect on you personally.  Theatre is great for that; many a theatrical moment has changed the way I've looked at things, felt things, saw differing points of view, but the really profound moments are rare.  Rarer still are those times when you are at a new show and you just know that theatre as you previously knew it has changed.  Only five times in over a quarter century of theatre going have I felt that "life changing feeling": my first Broadway show, Mame, the very first time I saw A Chorus Line, the very first time I saw Cats, and twice in this first decade of the 21st century, which bodes well, I think for the future of musical theatre.  They are my number 1 and 2 Best Musicals of the Decade, which only seems right.

Off-Broadway: The Venue and the Artwork

The moment I knew this show (at number 2) was life-changing was at a late in the run performance of the show off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theatre Company, in a space that had once been a church in the Chelsea area of Manhattan.  The show, of course, is Spring Awakening.  The Moment: At intermission, when I literally could not move from my seat.  My mind was reeling; my senses were firing at full levels.  I still wasn't 100% sure that what I was seeing was real.  All I know was that I felt the most bizarre and strong connection to a group of teenage types, all from 19th century Germany.  I could see myself in each and everyone of those characters - the confusion, the desperation, the ignorance, the bliss, the joy, the bitterness, and the ecstasy of developing sexuality.  I was Melchior, Wendla, Ilse, Ernst, Hanschen and, probably most like Moritz. 

Of course, the real treasures came in act two, and the overwhelming pain and sadness.  I wept at the end of the show like I hadn't wept anywhere else, save for a funeral.  I mourned the loss of young lives so unnecessarily taken; I was angry at the adults and the ignorance and the moral self-righteousness that caused it to turn out the way it did.  I have to admit that as a teenager, it would have been wonderful to have had Spring Awakening, and as an adult, I vowed that I would try always to remember these kids and everyone like them before I speak, judge, counsel any of them that happen into my life.

2.  Spring Awakening
Book by Steven Sater
Music by Duncan Sheik
Lyrics by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater
Choreography by Bill T. Jones
Direction by Michael Mayer

Statistically Speaking:
First Preview: November 16, 2006
Opening Night: December 10, 2006
Closing Night: January 18, 2009
28 previews, 859 performances at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre

There were 17 cast members : Skylar Astin, Gerard Canonico, Lilli Cooper, Jennifer Damiano, Christine Estabrook, John Gallagher. Jr., Gideon Glick, Jonathan Groff, Robert Hager, Brian Charles Johnson, Lea Michele, Lauren Pritchard, Krysta Rodriguez, Stephen Spinella, Phoebe Strole, Jonathan B. Wright, and  Remy Zaken.  There were also two swings.

The Original Broadway Cast also made up the Off-Broadway Cast, with the exception of the two adult roles, which were then played by Frank Wood and Mary McCann.  The Broadway production also added "Ensemble" roles, sung by actors placed amongst the onstage seating for the show.  The original ensemble singers were: Gerard Canonico, Jennifer Damiano, Robert Hager and Krysta Rodriguez. 

The off-Broadway production with

Mary McCann and Frank Woods as the Adults

Between the Off-Broadway and Broadway runs of the show, the most significant changes made were a slight song order change and the replacement of "There Once Was a Pirate" with "The Guilty Ones" at the top of Act Two.

Over the course of its run **, there were:

• 2 Wendlas: Lea Michele and Alexandra Socha
• 3 Melchiors: Jonthan Groff, Kyle Riabko and Hunter Parrish
• 3 Moritzs: John Gallagher, Jr., Blake Bashoff and Gerard Canonico

(** - not including understudies or swings)

The Replacements: Blake Bashoff

and Kyle Riabko

(They also starred in the 1st National Tour.) 

Among the other replacements were Matt Doyle - Hanschen (Bye Bye Birdie, bare), Kate Burton - The Adult Women (Hedda Gabler, The Elephant Man, TV's Grey's Anatomy), and Jenna Ushkowitz - Ensemble/Understudy (TV's Glee).

• Spring Awakening nominated for 11 2007 Tony Awards and won 8: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical (Steven Sater), Best Score of a Musical (Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (John Gallagher, Jr.), Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones), Best Direction (Michael Mayer), Best Lighting of a Musical (Kevin Adams) and Best Orchestrations (Duncan Sheik).  The nominees were Best Actor in a Musical (Jonathan Groff), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Christine Jones), and Best Costume Design of a Musical (Susan Hilferty).
• The show was also honored with 9 Drama Desk Award nominations, winning 4, including Best Musical.
• Jonathan Groff won a Theatre World Award for his performance.

Kevin Adams' Tony-winning Lighting Design

My favorite "Awakening" moments:

• The Theatre: Walking into the Eugene O'Neill Theatre the first time, wondering how they would have to change the blocking to accommodate a Broadway stage and not the intimacy of the church space of the Atlantic Theatre Company.  Wasn't I shocked (and pleasantly surprised) that Christine Jones and Kevin Adams painstakingly recreated the environment of the original space in re-designing the sets and lighting for Broadway.
• The Silence:  The cast would file on stage to cheers and applause.  Lea Michele would step up on her chair and the lights would dim.  We became instantly silent and into the show.

The Original Cast: "The Bitch of Living"

The 1st National Tour: "My Junk"

• "The Bitch of Living"/"My Junk":  Never before has masturbation been so succinctly and accurately described.  And neither has the all-consuming rush of teenage love.  (Any guy or girl who tells you differently is not being honest.)
• "Touch Me":  Not so much because of the truth in the song, of which there is plenty, but because of the gorgeous vocal arrangements and performance of the song.

Original Cast

• "The Word of Your Body": Not since "The Line" pose in A Chorus Line has a single image been so identified with a show and has had the ability to sum up the entirety of it with that single image.
• "I Believe": Passion, lust, needing... and the urgency of peer pressure all rolled into two young lovers on a strung up platform surrounded by a cast of characters singing in stunning harmony and rounds.  A jarring juxtaposition and a shocking end to act one.

Original Cast

• "I Don't Do Sadness/Blue Wind": The stark staging - especially that neither actor ever looked at the other, leaving how it might have looked up to the viewer - matched the stark reality of what was happening to these two misguided and misunderstood young adults.

The 1st National Tour

• "Totally Fucked":  The joy of reckless abandon of youth jumping and dancing and cursing against the very adult truth of the song's lyrics is funny and sobering.  And they managed to work it into their Tony Awards number!

Off-Broadway

• "Those You've Known":  I wept at the waste of two lives and the ruination of a third.  I thrilled to the chilling theatricality of the staging.
• "The Song of Purple Summer":  Who cares if you don't really totally get what everything means in the lyrics?  The song is full of beautiful imagery, it is staged simply, and it is sung gloriously.  The perfect ending.
• Seeing the show from onstage:  Glad I had seen it from the front first, but watching these people work from their point of view was worth 5 times what they charged, at least.  And Skylar Astin smells very good...

Since Spring Awakening opened:

• The Cast Recording won the Grammy for Best Show Album.
• There was a very successful First National Tour, and a non-Equity tour is going around the country now.
• The London productions was nearly unanimously praised but had a short run.  Nonetheless, months after it closed, it won the Olivier for Best Musical.

Artwork from the London Production

• There have been dozens of worldwide productions in as many languages.
• A film is in the final planning stages, with casting to begin soon.

Artwork from the Brazilian Production: 

Can you imagine ads like this on Broadway?

• The show was among the very first to exploit all online/social media, including email blasts to newsletter subscribers, which gave advance notice of tickets specials and onstage seating opportunities.

The Original Cast in the Media Blitz

• Lea Michele has been nominated for an Emmy for her role in Glee.  Jonathan Groff  and  Jenna Ushkowitz are both in the popular TV show as well.
• Groff also originated the role of Claude in the revival of Hair, and is preparing to make his London debut in a revival of Deathtrap.
• John Gallagher, Jr. heads the cast of the Michael Mayer-directed American Idiot.  The cast also includes Gerard Canonico and Brian Charles Johnson.
• Jennifer Damiano has been Tony nominated for her performance in next to normal and will be Mary Jane Watson in the upcoming mega-musical, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.  Gideon Glick is also in the cast.
• Krysta Rodriguez has since appeared in A Chorus Line and currently stars as Wednesday in The Addams Family.
• Jonathan B. Wright co-starred in the film Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, while Skylar Astin and Phoebe Strole co-starred in the film Hamlet 2.

Hunter Parrish and Alexandra Socha (left)

Kyle Riabko and Christy Altomare

• Kyle Riabko starred in the National Tour and went on to replace Gavin Creel in Hair.
• Hunter Parrish continues to co-star in the Showtime series Weeds.
• Alexandra Socha co-starred in the critically acclaimed revival of Brighton Beach Memoirs.

Forbidden Broadway and TV's 90210

• Spring Awakening  was the centerpiece of Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening.
• Spring Awakening was the school musical which figured heavily into the plot of the first season of the CW's 90210.

The Evolution of the Window Card:

TOP: The Original Broadway Windowcard

MIDDLE FOUR: From the Tonys to Closing

BOTTOM: The Non-Equity Tour

Sources: Websites for Atlantic Theatre Company, http://www.imdb.com/, http://www.ibdb.com/, Wikipedia

Production Photos: Joan Marcus

Other Photos: Vanity Fair, The Spring Awakening site, The Tony Awards site.

Comments?  You know what to do: Here, email at Yahoo.com, Tweet me, Formspring me!

Jeff