<p>Well SA got basically all positive reviews (a rave from the Times) so I'm sure things will pick up for them.</p>
<p>while were on the subject of new shows, just saw the apple tree this weekend. it was really good, kristin chenoweth was too fierce, as always, but i just wish it showed her off more vocally! id recommend it to anyone though, its totally worth seeing and its a theatre where every seat is just perfect ; )</p>
<p>alwaysamom-</p>
<p>gotcha. now i understand. i misconstrued your comment and thought you meant total...but alas. we are both hoping for success. </p>
<p>I saw apple tree as well...and only thought it was good because of Kristin...the show itself was kinda eh, but Kristin was fantastic</p>
<p>Chris</p>
<p>Update on Spring Awakening: </p>
<p>It is apparently doing better than I first thought, but the low percentage of attendance might just have been a bad preview week...hopefully. </p>
<p>The producer said "We're very pleased It looks like we're settling in for a substantial run."</p>
<p>Hopefully he will be right...</p>
<p>Chris, no, it wasn't doing better but now it is! It had four weeks of sub-50% attendance which is atrocious and didn't bode well, especially the week at 39%! However, it has been saved, at least for now, by very good reviews. The same cannot be said, sadly, for High Fidelity. The bad reviews killed it, and it will close on Dec. 17. This is just another issue when you're trying to make a living in theatre. Critics can make or break your show, and thus your job.</p>
<p>Read here:</p>
<p>Does anyone know anything about a new show called LoveMusik with donna murphy(wonderful town) and michael cervasis (sweeney todd)??</p>
<p>Donna Murphy? I have been wondering where she was since Wonderful Town (which was a Wonderful Show!). According to various sources online, this new musical is the story of the romance and marriage of Kurt Weill (Cerveris) and Lotte Lenya (Murphy). The two have appeared together previously in a production of Sondheim's Passion.</p>
<p>Audi, it's going to be a show in the MTC's season next year, opening in May at the Biltmore. There's an Equity call early in the new year, and rehearsals will probably begin around March. Michael was actually cast in this show last spring while still doing Sweeney.</p>
<p>Donna Murphy is in The Fountain with Hugh Jackman...not a big part, but shes in it.</p>
<p>Also notable about this production is the fact that Hal Prince is returning to Broadway to direct it. I'm psyched for it, as I think Michael Cerveris and Donna Murphy are both very interesting performers (if she makes it to any of the performances...). I also LOVE Kurt Weil.</p>
<p>Brendan, your comment about Donna Murphy made me smile. Her attendance has always been an issue, much like Sara Ramirez.</p>
<p>Donna is worth seeing whenever she is on stage. I am not the only one who thinks so: just ask The New York Times' Ben Brantley.</p>
<p>No one is discounting her talents, NMR, just her ability to do 8 shows a week. :)</p>
<p>My daughter is going to see Spring Awakening tonight, though she had seen it at the Atlantic over the summer. Has friends in it.</p>
<p>Just saw the revival of Les Mis last night and thoroughly enjoyed it because the music is my favorite of all shows. However, Daphne Rubin Vega as Fontine was just awful. I think she was so miscast in this role and can't understand why? Did they just want a big name in the role?? Everyone around me was commenting how they enjoyed the show except for her. It was the topic of conversation during intermission. Is their a "scoop" on this? I really was wondering how she got cast in this role. Her voice is very unique and I think fit the role of Mimi in Rent much better. Fontine is another story entirely.</p>
<p>Sorry I don't have any info for you, but your story reminds me of when we saw a tour of Chicago featuring Patty LaBelle as Mama Morton. Every time she came on stage applause rang out, but I was covering my ears as her voice really grates on me.</p>
<p>Yes Daphne's voice was awful...but she was definatley the most committed, and best actress in the show, and I thought her take on Fantine was different. I liked the show, because it was Les Mis, but I thought overall the cast just wasn't incredibly into the show. I thought there could have been better choices made and a little more energy and emotional investment...but, it was Les Mis, so it was still well done.</p>
<p>I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion and that's what makes variety...and discussion. I thought Daphne's voice and acting were subpar-she looked totally out of place. I disagree that the other actors appeared not to be into the show. I personally thought that many of the others showed a perseverance and strength that for a long show such as Les Mis, was prevalent from beginning to end. I think revivals are very difficult because everyone is always comparing to the original-so not only do they have to stand up to scrutiny about the show itself, but the actors are always being compared to those who came before them and very often made the role what it is. That is happening with Chorus Line, Les Mis and even with shows such as Chicago (movie and show), Moulin Rouge, Dreamgirls, Mary Poppins. When there are so many talented actors/actresses able to play a role, its just mind boggling to me why they would put someone in a role who seems so out of place. Daphne just seemed to me, to be totally miscast-her voice, acting, age etc. just didnt seem to fit (atleast to me). Like I said, Les Mis, is my all time favorite because of the music. I just didnt understand the choice of Daphne in that role and was wondering if there was some "inside info" as to why she was put in that part. Obviously the directors/producers liked her and wanted her for that role. Myself and others in attendance were scratching our heads.</p>
<p>Right, I totally understand where you are coming from. I was actually suprised by Celia Keenan Bloger, I expected more out of her, she must have been having an off night. </p>
<p>But, there was an interview on broadway.com explaining their casting choice of Daphne. They wanted to have a multicultural cast, ie. Norm Lewis, Ali Edwolt, Daphne and others. </p>
<p>But I do agree that she was mis cast, I just wanted to defend her acting, because everyone else (at least the night I saw) was a little flat. </p>
<p>But Alexander Gemginani's understudy, Victor Hawks, was phenominal when I saw him. The orchestra had to come in to silence the appluase after Bring Him Home.</p>