New York City – Shows I've Seen

Drag: The Musical – Review – New World Stages

@showsiveseen Front-row seats to Tomas Costanza, @alaskaalaskaalaska, & Ashley Gordon's "#Drag: The #Musical" at New World Stages. Starring Alaska Thunderfuck & Nick Adams. Farewell @Joey McIntyre🔹 & hello Adam Pascal. I laughed & cried in this ostentatious feel-good irreverent show. Review: showsiveseen.com/10470 Photos: Matthew Murphy Director/Choreographer: Spencer Liff Music Direction: @Andrew Orbison Stage Manager: Jennifer Rogers & Matthew Herrmann #camp #theatre #showsiveseen #offbroadway #DragQueen #DragShow #lgbt #gay #queer @DRAG: The Musical ♬ Drag Is Expensive – Nick Adams & Max Von Essen & Monét X Change & Divina De Campo & Lagoona Bloo

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Front-row seats to Drag: The Musical at New World Stages. Starring Alaska Thunderfuck & Nick Adams. Farewell Joey McIntyre and hello Adam Pascal. I laughed & cried in this ostentatious feel-good irreverent show. #camp

Recommendation:
See it, especially if you enjoyed Kinky Boots the Musical or Priscilla, Queen of the Desert the Musical … or just plain drag!

My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Dueling drag clubs struggle to stay afloat financially.

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: Two Drag Houses, both alike in indignity, vie for supremacy in a wig-snatching, diva-licious journey of fashion, family, and forgiveness. Leave the lip syncs at the door, darling. Get ready for Drag realness: REAL singing, in a REAL theater, with REAL DRAMA. After their bitter split, fishy queen Alexis Gilmore opened her club, The Fishtank, as glamourpuss Miss Kitty established The Cathouse. Heels click and tensions rise as old wounds are opened and the two clubs fight to survive.

Type: Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) or Dynamic Set: Stationary

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: Obviously, you’ll appreciate this more if you’re gay.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Union Actors: All

Total Actors: 18

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium to fast

Was there an intermission? No

Length (Including Any Intermission): 110 minutes

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? I’d consider it

Mainstream Appeal: Medium

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Simple Storyline: The storyline was thankfully easy to follow just like in Back to the Future: The Musical. There are some shows out there (especially plays) that could use some dumbing down.
Brendan: While the script was irreverent and light on depth (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing), there were genuinely touching moments, particularly with Brenden (played by young actor Yair Keydar) as he navigated his self-discovery. In the song “I’m Just Brendan,” I was moved by his interaction with the actor in the mirror. It resonated with the gay kid in my past who lacked a gay role model growing up.
Costumes: Naturally, a drag-themed musical demands a dazzling and diverse repertoire of costumes, and costume designer Marco Marco delivered just that. The pièce de résistance was undoubtedly the giant-assed hat featured in the funeral scene.
Nick Adams: Nick Adams’s toned and muscular silhouette interestingly contrasted to his drag queen persona as Alexis Gillmore. He truly embodied the lyric that he was a “the cheerleader and the quarterback.”
J. Elaine Marcos: As a Pinoy, I loved how J. Elaine Marcos spoke a Filipino auntie accent as one of the characters she portrayed. Represent!
Gags: Throughout the show there were repeating funny gags like Pus Puss DuBois’s eyebrows or the mystery of Alexis and Kitty’s falling out.
Gay-ish Pop Culture References: The script was filled with hilarious references to gay-ish pop culture like Cats, Britney Spears, Golden Girls, Shakira, Miley Cyrus’s “Wrecking Ball,” and Hillary Duff’s iconic TikTok dance trend. My favorite moment was when a queen quoted Mommie Dearest with “I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at the dirt!”
Nick Laughlin: Puss Puss DuBois (played by Nick Laughlin) was a hilarious mix of Jennifer Coolidge and a southern belle.
via GIPHY

Rant(s)

Romantic Side Story: I was disappointed that the love interests were cis heterosexual characters. This is a gay show for crying out loud! At least one of the love interests need to be LGBT.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Female Drag Queens: I was surprised to learn that cis heterosexual females could be drag queens.
Soundtrack: Strangely (or more like “obviously”), the soundtrack didn’t nearly evoke the same feeling as experiencing the songs performed live. I’m actually thinking about deleting the soundtrack from my Broadway playlist except for “Drag is Expensive.” I love the “Ohhhhhhhh” chorus harmony in that song!
Singing: Every time I attend a drag-themed musical, I’m always a bit worried they’ll lip-synch like in a typical drag show. Fortunately, all the drag performers in this show sang.
Seat Choice: Choose tickets at “house left” or “house center” away from the band. It’s almost never a good idea to sit close to the band in a musical because the accompaniment often drowns out the vocals. That being said, my “house right” tickets were acoustically not terrible.

Venue: New World Stages – Stage 3

Venue Physical Address: 340 W 50th St, New York, NY 10019

Venue Classification: Off-broadway

Price Range: $47-184

Ticket Affordability Options: Check out the show’s website for online rush or lottery tickets. You can also likely buy discount tickets at the TKTS booth.

Dates: 10/21/24 was opening night. As of 12/12/24, Telecharge was selling tickets as far as 3/30/25.

Seating: Assigned Seating

Like/Comment/Share my Social Media Posts About this Performance:

Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

https://dragthemusical.com/

Pictures: See production pictures below by Matthew Murphy.

Cast and Production Team: See pictures below.

Alaska Thunderfuck and the cast DRAG The Musical. © Matthew Murphy.

Alaska_Thunderfuck, Jujubee, Jan Sport, and Nick Laughlin in DRAG The Musical. © Matthew Murphy.

Jujubee, Jan Sport, Alaska Thunderfuck, and Nick Laughlin in DRAG The Musical. © Matthew Murphy.

Nick Adams, Eddie Korbich, and Alaska Thunderfuck in DRAG The Musical. © Matthew Murphy.

Nick Adams in DRAG The Musical. © Matthew Murphy.

Shubert Brothers & Beyond – Tour – Review – Broadway Up Close

@showsiveseen "Shubert Brothers & Beyond" walking #tour from @Broadway Up Close. A mix of history & storytelling w/ an insider's interesting perspective on #NYC's rich theatrical heritage. The 1st stop of my 1st (gasp!) pilgrimage to #Broadway. #showsiveseen #theatre ♬ Ok I Like It – Milky Chance

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Shubert Brothers & Beyond walking tour from Broadway Up Close. A mix of history and storytelling with an insider’s interesting perspective on NYC’s rich theatrical heritage. The first stop of my first (gasp!) pilgrimage to Broadway.

Recommendation:
See it.

My Synopsis: A walking tour of the Broadway theatres primarily owned by the Schubert Organization located in the middle portion of the theatre district.

Synopsis from the Company: Our SHUBERT BROTHERS & BEYOND TOUR will explore all of the Broadway theaters in the middle of the Broadway theatre district from 44th Street to 46th Street. As Times Square transformed from an area full of manure and horse stables to one of the busiest tourist destinations in the world, a battle for Broadway was brewing between a group of theatrical titans and three scrappy brothers with the last name of Shubert. Set against the backdrop of Broadway’s most famous theaters, tour-goers will hear about the Shubert Brothers who monopolized Broadway against all odds with the help of an awkwardly named architect. Add in the true origins of the Tony Awards and rarely heard stories from famous musicals ranging from Oklahoma! to Hamilton and we promise you’ll walk away with a new appreciation for just how far Broadway has come over the past 100 years. Utilizing iPads chock full of rarely seen photographs and videos from years of research, tour-goers will see Broadway’s past and present merge before their eyes. Each Green Team Guide is a professional actor or stage manager who will interweave their personal stories to provide an up close glimpse at the life of a theatrical artist.

Type: Walking Tour

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but it probably makes more sense sequentially to start with their Broadway Beginnings tour.

Union Actors: One – The tour guide was a member of the Actor’s Equity Association

Perceived Pace: Medium speed

Length: 1.75 hours and 0.5 miles

Was This the First Time I Attended This? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? I would attend a different tour from this group. I’m particularly interested in the first tour of the series Broadway Beginnings or the interior theatre tour Hudson Up Close.

Mainstream Appeal: Medium

Company: Broadway Up Close

Location: The Theatre District at 44th, 45th, and 46th streets starting at Lyceum Theatre and ending at Times Square

Price Range: $41 for the regular public tour. Additional price options are available for children and for private tours.

Like/Comment/Share my Social Media Posts About this Experience:

Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

https://www.broadwayupclose.com/shubertbrothersandbeyond

Pictures: See pictures below by Sascha Reinking.

Yellow Face – Play – Review – Roundabout Theatre Company’s Todd Haimes Theatre

@showsiveseen David Henry Hwang's "Yellow Face" #play at @Roundabout Theatre Company starring Hollywood celebrity, @Daniel Dae Kim. Delightful Asian father portrayal by Francis Jue. We laughed, fumed, & cried. Performing till 11/24/24. Review: showsiveseen.com/10365 Photos: Joan Marcus Director: Leigh Silverman Stage Managers: Charles Means & Janet Takami #theatre #showsiveseen #broadway #yellowFace #asian ♬ People Like Us – Revel Day

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): David Henry Hwang’s Yellow Face at Roundabout Theatre Company starring Hollywood celebrity Daniel Dae Kim. Delightful Asian father portrayal by Francis Jue. We laughed, fumed, & cried. Performing till 11/24/24.

Recommendation:
See it, especially if you’re Asian. Like most theatre productions, there were sadly few Asians in the audience despite being an Asian-themed play!

My Synopsis (No Spoilers): Autobiographical account of David Henry Hwang’s experience with historical yellow face casting controversies in the NYC theatre scene.

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: Broadway’s new triumph is the New York Times Critic’s Pick, the “relevant, insightful, and very funny” (Greg Evans, Deadline) Broadway premiere of Yellow Face. Daniel Dae Kim (Lost, Hawaii Five-O) heads the cast of Tony Award® winner David Henry Hwang’s hilarious is-he-or-isn’t-he comedy of identity, show business, and (perhaps) autobiography, directed by Tony nominee Leigh Silverman (Violet, Suffs). Kim stars as an Asian American playwright who protests yellowface casting in the blockbuster musical Miss Saigon, only to mistakenly cast a white actor as the Asian lead in his own play. The repercussions resonate wildly in this laugh-out-loud farce about the complexities of race that “builds to a climax of startling power” (Daniel D’addario, Variety).

Type: Play

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) or Dynamic Set: Dynamic

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: To appreciate the story fully, you’ll need to know about the NYC theatre scene in the 1990s and late 1980s. I’m curious if this play would do well outside NYC since most audience members outside NYC will not be familiar with some references.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Union Actors: All

Total Actors: 7

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Was there an intermission? No

Length (Including Any Intermission): 1.5 hours

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Probably not, but it was good

Mainstream Appeal: Medium

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Scenic Design: I’m always a fan of modern minimalism. It was reminiscent of an even more minimalist version of Company‘s scenic design. Arnulfo Maldonado uniquely designed two L-shaped shadowbox-like structures that rotated to indicate location changes in the story.
Projection Design: Yee Eun Nam presented newspaper articles in a visually appealing way.
Reporter: The scene between David (played by Daniel Dae Kim) and the reporter (played by Greg Keller) was well-written and skillfully executed as a great “fuck you!” moment for people with a public platform. I’m so curious how much of that account was historically accurate. I already feel a bit betrayed by a major plot point that the script later conceded wasn’t real.
Jane Krakowski: Marinda Anderson’s(?) impersonation of Jane Krakowski was spot on, at least compared to the Ally McBeal version.
Emotional Response: As an Asian American, I felt the indignation of the cultural appropriation and microaggressions toward Asians. My dad, too, was moved to tears by other portrayals toward the end of the show. They say that great art should evoke emotion, and this piece certainly did!
Favorite Line: Something like “Did you catch your [non-Asian] boyfriend put butter on his rice?”

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Commentary on Yellow Face Casting: The script presented some interesting points in defense of yellow face casting. But it was hard to determine what the Asian American playwright David Henry Hwang actually intended to convey on his stance. Additionally, the show started out as a preachy morality play seemingly written for the playwright’s vain commentary, but the show eventually hit its stride and became entertaining.

Theatre Company: Roundabout Theatre Company

Venue: Todd Haimes Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 227 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036

Venue Classification: Broadway

Price Range: $58-348 plus the ticketing fees if you’re not buying at the box office.

Ticket Affordability Options: Download the TodayTix app for digital rush tickets. You can only purchase the digital rush tickets on the app and not the website. You can also likely buy discount tickets at the TKTS booth like I did.

Dates: September 13 to November 24, 2024

Seating: Assigned Seating

Like/Comment/Share my Social Media Posts About this Performance:

Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

https://www.roundabouttheatre.org/get-tickets/2024-2025/yellow-face/

Pictures: See production pictures below by Joan Marcus.

Cast and Production Team: See pictures below.

Ryan Eggold, Marinda Anderson, Daniel Dae Kim, Kevin Del Aguila. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Daniel Dae Kim, Ryan Eggold, Marinda Anderson. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Daniel Dae Kim, Ryan Eggold. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Daniel Dae Kim, Ryan Eggold, Shannon Tyo. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Daniel Dae Kim, Greg Keller. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Francis Jue, Marinda Anderson, Kevin Del Aguila, Daniel Dae Kim, Ryan Eggold, Shannon Tyo. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Daniel Dae Kim, Kevin Del Aguila, Marinda Anderson, Francis Jue. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Tammy Faye – Musical – Review – Palace Theatre

@showsiveseen Won 1st row lottery tickets to @Elton John, @Jake Shears, & James Graham's "Tammy Faye" #musical at the beautiful Palace Theatre. Starring Katie Brayben & Christian Borle. She's the infamous Imelda Marcos & Evita of the #evangelical #Christian #church. Fantastic technical video design by Finn Ross. What a triumph! Review: showsiveseen.com/10272 Director: Rupert Goold Stage Managers: Timothy R. Semon, Joanne Pan, Fatimah Amill, Nic Steffes Choreography: Lynne Page #tammyFeye #religion #TV #television #broadway #showsiveseen #theatre #christianity @Tammy Faye on Broadway ♬ God Gave Me You – Blake Shelton

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Won 1st row lottery tickets to Elton John, Jake Shears, & James Graham’s Tammy Faye musical at the beautiful Palace Theatre. Starring Katie Brayben and Christian Borle. She’s the infamous Imelda Marcos and Evita of the evangelical Christian church. Fantastic technical video design by Finn Ross. What a triumph! #religion #TV #television

Recommendation:
See it, especially if you grew up in the evangelical Christian church.

My Synopsis (No Spoilers): The rise and scandalous fall of the 1970s American televangelist power couple, the Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker.

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: The story of a traveling preacher’s wife who beamed into homes with a message of hope… and stole the country’s heart. It’s the 1970s. As satellites broadcast brand-new cable programming into American homes, millions fall in love with Tammy Faye Bakker–the charismatic wife of pastor Jim Bakker. Together, they build a nationwide congregation that puts the fun back into faith. But, even as Tammy dazzles on screen, jealous rivals plot behind the scenes, threatened by her determination to lead with love. Wrapped in a joyful and deliriously fun score that could only come from Elton John, with lyrics by Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears, a book by Olivier Award-winning playwright James Graham, and directed by Olivier Award winner Rupert Goold, Tammy Faye shines a sparkling light on the generous, loving, often lonely soul behind the illustrious lashes. Reprising her celebrated West End performance, the divine cast is led by two-time Olivier Award winner Katie Brayben (Tammy Faye), two-time Tony Award® winner Christian Borle (Jim Bakker), and two-time Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris (Jerry Falwell).

Type: Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) or Dynamic Set: Dynamic

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but you’ll appreciate this show more if you either grew up in the Christian church or knew about Tammy and Jim Bakker

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Union Actors: All

Total Actors: Too many to count

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Was there an intermission? Yes

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.75 hours

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Absolutely!

Mainstream Appeal: High

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Music: Obviously, Elton John’s music was phenomenal and I can’t wait for the soundtrack. You can definitely hear his style in the “electric” gospel opening number “It’s the Light of the World” portraying Billy Graham’s trailblazing role in televangelism. Interestingly, the Olivier Awards performance in the UK was way tamer. Even the Good Morning America performance didn’t do the live version justice. Another favorite song was “He’s Inside of Me” because of how the lyrics expose how so many Christian expressions can be double entendres. Christian Borle (Jim Bakker) also sweetly effortless harmonized with Katie Brayben (Tammy Faye) in “If Only Love.”
Hair, Makeup, and Costumes: Luc Verschueren (Hair/Wig/Makeup Design) and Katrina Lindsay (Costume Design) realistically recreated the groovy (and tacky?) look of the 1970s. What were we thinking back then?
Set Design: Bunny Christie designed a fantastic backdrop of 42 squares with a fitting retro feel similar to The Brady Bunch TV show intro song and Hollywood Squares. Squares doubled as a TV screen or a window for actors to appear. Seattle Rep designed something similar with less squares and no doors in their Bruce play. Additionally, exposing the offstage wing walls during the TV set scenes was an efficient and effective use of the theatre space.
Video Design: What’s a musical about a TV evangelist without video? Finn Ross designed a setup that live broadcast the on-stage actors throughout the show on 20 of the “Hollywood Squares.” He also added effects, so the video resembled the 1970s. It was unique how the second act began with a live video of Katie Brayben (Tammy Faye) in her backstage dressing room as she made her way on-stage. The video setup was truly a technical marvel. However, there were sometimes when the retro TV frames partially obstructed text. Additionally, when theatre productions broadcast live video, there’s always a noticeable delay compared to what’s on stage. Nevertheless, the technical video setup exhibited some of the lowest latency I’ve seen in theatre … but there was still some delay. Is there any way to overcome this? Is it just a physical limit like the speed of light?
Gay PTL Members: The gay guys in the Praise the Lord (PTL) singing group were hilarious comedic relief. I loved it when Elliott Mattox (ensemble) seemingly enjoyed being whipped when reenacting biblical skits.
Controversial Interview: Speaking of homosexuals, as a gay man myself who grew up deep in the church, the scene about Tammy Faye’s historical interview with a homosexual pastor with AIDS hit home.
Iconic Fall: There is something incredibly delicious about observing an icon scandalously fall from glory and then rising above it. It’s like when Britney Spears shaved her head. She’s gonna be alright!
Commentary on Religion: Growing up in a conservative Chrisitan environment (and escaping to tell about it), I appreciated the critiques on Christianity in regard to politics, power, hypocrisy, control, and money.
Stunning Moments: From the blindingly bright flash in the second act opening song or the dramatic curtain fall, I do love a good shocker in the theatre. 😉
Favorite Lines: Something like “credit is another word for faith” and “Heritage USA [Christian theme park] is like Disney for good people.”

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Audience Breakdown: It was interesting that the line to the men’s restroom was significantly longer than the line to the women’s restroom, which is unusual for a musical. In fact, towards the end of the intermission, the theatre had to allow men to use the ladies’ room because the second act was about to begin. I wonder if the audience was skewed to more men. If so, it’s probably because Tammy Faye could be considered a gay icon.
Historical Accuracy: There were many moments in the show when I wanted to check the historical accuracy. Was there really a scandalous phone call live on their TV show? Did Jan really have pink hair? Was the porn and underwear thing true? Did Tammy Faye sing on TV?

Venue: Palace Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 160 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036

Venue Classification: Broadway

Price Range: $59.75-319.50 plus the Broadway Direct fees if you’re not buying at the box office.

Ticket Affordability Options: See the show’s website for information on rush and lottery tickets. If I can win the lottery for this show, so can you! You’ll likely also find discount tickets at the TKTS booth.

Dates: Opening night was 11/14/24. As of 11/14/24, the ticketing website offered performances up to 3/30/25.

Seating: Assigned Seating

Like/Comment/Share my Social Media Posts About this Performance:

Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

https://tammyfayebway.com/

Pictures: See production pictures below by Matthew Murphy of MurphyMade.

Cast and Production Team: See pictures below.

The cast of TAMMY FAYE. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

Katie Brayben and Christian Borle. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

Michael Cerveris and the cast of TAMMY FAYE. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical – Review – Roundabout Theatre Company’s Studio 54

@showsiveseen "A Wonderful World: The #LouisArmstrong #Musical" at @Roundabout Theatre Company's iconic Studio 54 starring @james monroe iglehar w/ @James T. Lane performing select nights. Tons of tap dance. The ex-wives characters were vocal powerhouses! #jukebox Review: showsiveseen.com/10204 Book: @aurinsquire Director: Christopher Renshaw Choreography: Rickey Tripp and @Dewitt Fleming Jr Stage Managers: RL Campbell, Jen Ash, Alex Luong #theatre #showsiveseen @A Wonderful World Broadway ♬ What A Wonderful World – Live At The BBC – Louis Armstrong

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical at Roundabout Theatre Company’s iconic Studio 54 starring James Monroe Iglehart with James T Lane performing select nights. Tons of tap dance. The ex-wives characters were vocal powerhouses! #jukebox

Recommendation:
See it if you like 1) shows with race as a significant theme 2) or shows with an old timey Southern New Orleans feel.

My Synopsis (No Spoilers): A basic biopic jukebox musical about Louis Armstrong, with all the familiar elements you’d expect from the genre.

Synopsis from the Licensor or Theatre Company: Join Tony Award® winner James Monroe Iglehart and a talented ensemble cast as they bring Louis Armstrong’s incredible journey to life, from New Orleans to worldwide fame. This full-scale musical features a rich tapestry of characters, including the extraordinary women who helped shape his remarkable life and career. Be captivated by Armstrong’s timeless hits like “What a Wonderful World” and “When You’re Smiling,” performed by a large, dynamic cast. Don’t miss this spectacular celebration of music, filled with vibrant dance numbers, stunning sets, and unforgettable performances. Get your tickets now for an unforgettable night that honors the iconic man who defined an era.

Type: Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Static (Stationary) Set? Yes and no, you could argue either way.

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You’ll obviously appreciate this show more if you’re familiar Louis Armstrong’s hits. I was only familiar with a scant few, but I still enjoyed the show.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Union Actors: All

Total Actors: Too many to count

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium speed

Was there an intermission? Yes

Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? No

Mainstream Appeal: Medium to high

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above

Tap Dancing: I love tap dancing in musicals, and I wasn’t expecting to see much of it in this show. But to my surprise, there was a lot more tap dancing than I anticipated. What stood out even more was that the tap numbers were often performed by few dancers, rather than a large ensemble, which is more typical in most musicals.
Personal Advocacy: It was inspiring to see Louis Armstrong’s second wife (Lil Hardin played by Jennie Harney-Fleming) fight for his finances and advocate for his talent’s true worth. This reminded me of how many skilled people in the workforce settle into complacency without advocating for themselves. Too often, they don’t ask for a promotion, request a raise, or explore opportunities elsewhere that might better compensate their talent. Closed mouths don’t get fed!
Favorite Line: Something like “I’m wearing two pairs of underwear cause my lips are so chapped!”

Rant(s)

Ushers: I understand that the ushers were just doing their jobs, but their rough demeanor was totally unnecessary. Am I just not used to East coast ushers?
Venue: This was my first time at the venerable Studio 54 and I was surprised how rundown the performing space was. I guess this is expected of a historical landmark?

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

Rotating Stage: Often when a production utilizes a rotating stage, they tend do overuse the effect like in Hamilton. Thankfully, this show judiciously showcased the rotating effect.
Louis Armstrong’s Music: I’m generally not a fan of Louis Armstrong’s music and I definitely don’t like his voice. It’s sacrilege, I know. I personally think Louis Armstrong’s voice sounds like cookie monster. Kudos to James Monroe Iglehart and James T Lane for subjecting their voices to this extra cookie monster strain! Of note, I feel like the script didn’t explain well enough or dwell enough time on the cause of Louis Armstrong’s unique vocals.