For Janine...Thanks for reading!

Bye Bye Birdie
I am a firm believer that any show is worth seeing because you never know if there is something that you can learn and take away from it. Well, I didn't learn any life lessons from this show, but it was entertaining. The show certainly did what every show should do in my opinion; which is give its audience a two and half hour break from their everyday lives. Bye Bye Birdie is a show that was conceived purely to entertain and it does its job well. However the problem I see is that the show is dated to a point that it is not really relevant right now. There were parts that could have been modernized and given a fresh spin but this production didn’t seem to take too many liberties.
The good thing was that there were a lot of kids in the audience due to Conrad Birdie being played by Nolan Gerard Funk. Allie Trimm & Matt Doyle were fantastic in this production! I also saw Bill Irwin's understudy Jim Walton as Harry and he was a great talent to get the chance to see.

Bottom line - The more sophisticated theatre goers may not like this show because it's so simple and there is nothing really special about this production. To be honest I expected more, but my Mom really like it so I was happy with the show because of that.

Favorite aspect: Costumes...?
Favorite number: Honestly Sincere
Favorite Song: How Lovely to Be a Woman
Can't get out of my head: Bye Bye Birdie...and of course We Love You Conrad
Favorite scene: When they are on The Ed Sullivan Show
Talent to watch out for: Brynn Williams

Learning Opportunities - Part 1

After a very busy week here is the first part of multi-post update.

Situation Interactive: http://www.situationinteractive.com/

This company is a web based marketing company for the entertainment industry (Sports, Culturals, Theatre, etc…) They are the driving force behind Hair’s website – http://www.haironbroadway.com and Billy Elliot’s http://www.billyelliotbroadway.com/ Both are great websites for creating that vital connection to the audience (hence the interactive part of the company’s name). Also both of the sites have designs that are modern, organized, and are user friendly.
Side Note: Be sure to check out http://www.wearebillyelliot.com/ - Just listen to the actors, kid wranglers, Director, Techies, etc… Their stories make me want to go see the show again which means that it is doing its job. I have a soft spot for watching people’s dreams come true and that was one of the main reasons I wanted to be a Producer in the first place.
Anyways about once a month Situation Inactive hosts panel discussions for their clients. The topic that I was invited to attend was Customers. They had a Theatre Producer, Sports marketer, and Cultural non-profit marketer. I got invited because the Producer that was speaking was Ken Davenport and people at my job know I’m a fan of his work.

Another side note: Regardless of the industry that you work in if you are invited to a Panel discussion, seminar, or conference that has nothing to do with your line of work - go anyways. You never know what you can pick up from the speakers and use for your job. That’s why blogs are so great…I find out so much blog posts and comments.
As brief as possible here is what I learned… If you don’t understand my short hand or have any questions feel free to let me know.

Getting new and returning customers – Customer goes to a show and then nothing happens - What if there was some kind of next day follow-up.
Example: Buying a suitcase and the very next day receiving a follow-up e-mail with a 25% off coupon
Social Media – planting ads that’ll circle around back to the website that you want them to be on.
Example: 13 The Musical – Ken planted ads on the sites that his target market would be hanging out on and led them back to the website that they designed for 13 to interact and talk about theatre. – Word of mouth is and will always be the #1 ticket seller – The question now becomes how you keep the conversation about the show going.

How much is too much communication? – Markets should be segmented and email information should be targeted toward your clients. This is so when they receive emails from you the customer will want to read them because it’ll be relevant to their needs. Speak to your customers in their voice

Customers that will pay for premium tickets don’t care about the price they just want the experience of being in a great seat at a show. There is more that they can gain from these customers.

You’ll have customers that will purchase a package on a sports site these that product because they are familiar with it. Sports marketers from time to time they will send out an additive offer but mostly will only email the person when the product they purchased is about to go on sale again.

Customer relationships – When you establish a relationship with a client it’s like a friendship - giving relevant content to the customers helps to foster that relationship. Giving their email information away breaks that trust and makes people angry because for some reason an Inbox is a very sensitive thing.

Added value – They talked about Ken Davenport’s blog post about Airline on American Airlines you can go up to get you confirmation and upgrade your seat to first class for $350.00. At that point you’re like ok… that’s not bad and you don’t even think about the $800.00 you already spent on the ticket. Can they do this at theatres? Hey you want to give me $20.00 to upgrade your seat from the Balcony. Even Hotels? $100.00 to upgrade to a suite?

Show Concierge – basically an extra Usher at shows to talk to people – knowledgeable about NYC restaurants, Attractions, the next show you should see. Face to Face interaction.

Playbill is successful because that’s what they walk out of the show with. It serves as a reminder of the experience. Also Soundtracks, signed material these things can extend the experience and keep people talking about it.

Asking questions to customers engages them in a way that gets them thinking and talking. Which can keep them coming back - What do you think about??

Unique experiences – added value for customers – Post Game, Roundabout talkbacks, Behind the Scene Tours.

Cultural events have a lot of things to say – meaning a lot of information to pass along. The best is insider information because it brings people inside the experience. Example: Interviews

They talked a lot about collecting data – Getting email address is priority - Placing business cards in fish bowls seems to be the best way.

Last three points:

Build size of email list
Accept the way things are but find ways to work around them
Segment – Market - Target

Davenport does it again!

MY FIRST TIME WANTS YOU TO HAVE A SAFE HOLIDAY:
FREE CONDOMS TO ALL TICKET-HOLDERS
“Provocative, amusing and moving!” – NY Post
“A diverting evening of first-time tales that is by turns comical, erotic, sentimental, galling, heart-rendering, and even mildly political.” – Toronto Globe & Mail

“80 minutes of titillation! The theatrical equivalent of a date-movie!” – Newsday
“Funny and touching to sweet, sexy and silly!” –Village Voice

Ken Davenport (theproducersperspective.com) today announced that condoms would be distributed at all performances of his Off-Broadway hit My First Time (www.MyFirstTimeThePlay.com) in December.

Mr Davenport explains, “I recently received a comment on my blog from a young man who told me that he and his girlfriend lost their virginity to each other after seeing My First Time. Last year, a study revealed that 96% of the audience had sex immediately after seeing the show. We’ve always known that My First Time gets people in the mood, and now we just want to make sure that everyone is prepared!”

MY FIRST TIME is the new play in the style of The Vagina Monologues featuring four actors in hysterical and heartbreaking stories about first sexual experiences written by real people . . . just like you.
Even before its opening, My First Time quickly became the most talked about show in town, having been featured in TMZ.COM, the New York Times, Daily News, Associated Press, Playboy Magazine, and on television on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” as well as news programs on CBS, CNN, BBC, and MY9, as well as in a national Apple iPhone commercial. My First Time has been performed internationally, in Spain, Korea, Italy, Mexico, Chile, New Zealand, and Malta.

In 1996, a decade before blogging began, a website was created that allowed people to anonymously share their own true stories about their ‘First Time.’ The website became an instant phenomenon as over 40,000 stories poured in from around the globe that were silly, sweet, absurd, funny, heterosexual, homosexual, awkward, shy, sexy and everything in between. And now, these stories and the unique characters in them are all brought to life in MY FIRST TIME.

Performances continue at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues). For tickets, call Telecharge.com at 212/239-6200. Call 1-888-MY1-TIME or visit www.MyFirstTimeThePlay.com .

PRESS CONTACT:
David Gersten & Associates
240 West 44th Street / Penthouse, New York, NY 10036-3906

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I received this press release in a mass email from one of my co-workers today with the caption "Well this is certainly an interesting campaign". Just goes to show you that Ken Davenport is a Producer/Marketing genius that knows how to get people's attention and get them talking about theatre.

Memphis

I believe it was Bryan Darcy James who said it best when he said, “Revivals are for wusses” (or something close to that) on an ATW panel about performing. It’s true and Memphis is just another show that proves his theory. This show is a big splashy musical comparable to Hairspray, but in my opinion Memphis is much better. The show to me is about the passion to do what you think is best regardless of what everyone else thinks and the reality of Newton's law for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Also there is a plot line on how fickle fame can be. Be sure to check it out if you can!

Favorite aspect: Sets – they were beautiful
Favorite number: Stand up
Favorite Song: Memphis Lives in me
Can't get out of my head: Steal your Rock n Roll
Favorite scene: Felicia catching her train or Bus
Talent to watch out for: Derrick Baskin, James Monroe Iglehart, and Hillary Elk.

One question - 30 something producers?

Recent Shows

The Understudy: My first Off-Broadway Show in about 4 years – so I was very excited! This play was pretty standard and had a strange rhythm to it. A lot of the jokes you have to be a theatre person to understand. Overall I thought it was entertaining and worth seeing.

Favorite Scene: When the two actors are arguing over how the character should hold the prop gun.
Favorite Aspect: Sets
Need to learn more about: Kafka

Billy Elliot: Billy Elliot was a show that I had no strong interest in seeing until after the Tony Awards. The show is a different type of musical, that is more focused on Music and Dance than singing. I was pleasantly surprised because I didn’t think it was going to be as good as it was. In my opinion, it will join the epic musical club alongside Les Miserables, Phantom, and Miss Saigon.

Playing Billy: Trent Kowalik - This kid is the best dancer I've ever seen on stage - especially tap.
Favorite Number: Tossup between Angry Dance and Electricity –I may like Angry Dance a little more… When you see it you’ll see why it’s so hard to choose between the two.
Favorite Song: The Stars Look Down
Favorite Aspect: Choreography
Song I can’t get out of Head: Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher
Need to learn more about: The UK miners' strike

Superior Donuts: I enjoyed this play it was worth seeing. I’m just going to use two words to describe my take on it. ..Surprisingly Moving

Favorite Aspect: Sets
Favorite Scene: The ending
Need to learn more about: Writing

That’s all Folks…


Next up will be…Memphis, Bye Bye Birdie, Present Laughter (My favorite Noel Coward Play!), & Rock of Ages.

Broadway Cares

It's Broadway Cares Holiday Donation time...so go see a show and buy some memorabilia for a lot of great causes.

For more information about Broadway Cares check out their website at http://www.broadwaycares.org/.
It's a wonderful organization that raises a ton of money each year for various charities.

Under Construction...

I am stuck at home with the flu this weekend and needed a project... : )

October 25, 2009 - Ok, I'm done.

Interesting...

Still intrigued by Mr. Ken Davenport’s Audience Study Blog Click here

As an Usher at the Hilton Theatre during the run of Young Frankenstein I learned a lot about this subject from daily interaction with the patrons. I remember this one time a woman was so upset about Rodger Bart being out that she walked up waving the notice and screamed that the paper in her hand was a problem. Then she demanded to know why he wasn't going to be on stage that night. Which we were not allowed to tell even if we did know; if they were sick sometimes I would bend that rule but it depended on how I thought the person would react.
I never realized just how much patrons cared about the subject until almost every time there was an understudy on patrons would ask me, "Is Sutton Foster's Understudy any good? I paid a lot of money for these seats.” Which for that show some groups paid about $450.00 per ticket.

For Young Frankenstein we were lucky that all of the understudies were very talented (except for one of Igor’s but Christopher Fitzgerald was hardly ever out). Rodger Bart’s understudy Jon Patrick Walker was the best!

I think that audience members are very sensitive to what they paid for. For many patrons going to the theatre is a special event with family and friends. In my opinion the problem is the psychology behind when you plan something and things don't go exactly the way you imagined, it's in our nature to get disappointed. Therefore I think the main perception that needs to be changed is at the point of sales. Personally I think in an ideal world the audiences would be built around the show concepts. People should be paying to see the show not the stars in the show.

I think it would help if audience members were more informed about policies and procedures (i.e. If the actor's name is above the Title and they are out you can get your money back), of course within reason. I found once I explained to an audience member certain things that they were much more content and willing to accept the situation. An uninformed audience is one most likely to get fed up and tell their distant cousins about it. That's why I love that telecharge.com will sometimes let you know if a big name star will be on vacation before you purchase the tickets. Also for day of information we now have www.broadwayunderstudies.com (there is also a West End version).

Something to ponder: What would be some good ways to keep an audience informed though?

Ticketmaster or Telecharge sending out a mass e-mail if there are any changes 24 hours before the show?

Making the fine print larger?

Broadway for Dummies book? (I wonder if they have one already) Broadway 101 pamphlets?

Promoting the informative sites like broadwayunderstudy.com?

Original Material on Broadway

Inspired by my good friend Ant Mennuti I decided that this update should be about my theories the lack of original material on Broadway. Some people may ask why not take a recognizable product and present it back to the audience in a different art form. They argue that taking a popular movie and making it into a show that tweaks the story makes it original material. Nope, friends the dictionary defines original as the following...

1. belonging or pertaining to the origin or beginning of something, or to a thing at its beginning: The book still has its original binding.
2. new; fresh; inventive; novel: an original way of advertising.
3. arising or proceeding independently of anything else: an original view of history.
4. capable of or given to thinking or acting in an independent, creative, or individual manner: an original thinker.
5. created, undertaken, or presented for the first time: to give the original performance of a string quartet.
6. being something from which a copy, a translation, or the like is made: The original document is in Washington.

There is no mention of remakes or reinvents to be found...I think that people are ready and want to see something original on stage. My mother always talks about getting to see the original productions of shows being revived today and they hold a special place in her memories.

Here are two of my theories…I don’t pretend to be an expert on the subject these are just my thoughts…
Theory # 1 – You already have an audience for the material.

It’s logical to think that when you take a preexisting story you will have an audience that comes with it. Which then creates word of mouth because once that audience finds out there is something new coming out using their favorite story they’ll start talking about it. Questions such as, “I wonder how [insert actor here] will do as Elizabeth Bennet?” will be asked and the ever so popular statement, “They better not ruin my favorite story.” will be heard. I have to admit to being one of these types of audience members myself. When I heard that Pride and Prejudice was becoming a Musical I asked/spoke the statements above to anyone who would listen. Pride and Prejudice is my favorite book, and the BBC Film version is my favorite movie. It could be a really great musical if it is done right. I have an idea in my head about how the show could work, but that is for another post entirely.

Theory # 2 – Producer’s are the Audience members themselves – having an attachment to the material can be deadly in this business.

I remember whenever I Stage Managed or Teched a show in college that I loved whatever show I was working on. Alas… after a performance when I had asked my friends what they thought I would get really offended and not understand why they didn’t like some of them. Now that I look back I liked some pretty crappy shows which shall remain nameless. So I agree with the point that one should never so close to the material that they become blinded by their love of it.

I like the shores of America...Comfort is yours in America...Knock on the Doors in America...West Side Story

West Side Story is not one of my favorite shows to begin with, but I really wanted to see this production because I was curious about the Spanish integration and I had never seen it on stage before. They used the original choreography that Jerome Robbins created instead of going a new route and I couldn't picture any other type fitting in so well. The dance fights were beautifully done, but I wanted the show to be on bigger stage I felt it needed more room especially in the Dance scene. I actually sat wondering how many times people had been kicked during rehearsals because they seemed so close sometimes. The rumble was perhaps my favorite scene. I thought the lighting was really well done. I was impressed with the staging and arrangements of the music. However, I could see why people wouldn't like this version as much as the original though it almost seemed too happy.

I thought that the Spanish was a really great addition to the story it added a realism creating more of a border between the groups. I think this story is extremely relevant and I liked the reminder that we still face this ignorance and prejudice. Different doesn't mean wrong and I think that people need a reminder like that every day.

I really enjoyed watching the production because Arthur Laurent (who is somewhere in his 90s right now) directed this version and I have to say that watching this production made me realize that the experienced people in the business are the true experts.

I loved the end of the show the best where Tony is shot - having one of the Jets to place the shawl on the grieving Maria was brilliant. Josefina Scaglione delivered her speech with just the right amount of effective passion. Then the bows had no music playing which was such a brilliant way to end the show. It was wonderful to watch the fruits of such a seasoned Professional's labor.

Next up Superior Donuts and Billy Elliot in November or December!

Dreams

One of the most common themes in Theatrical productions, Movies, and TV shows are dreams. Characters striving for some goal or searching for something that makes them complete. Most fail a couple of times; they may get sidelined by something then comes some defining moment where an inspiring song plays and the person gets better at what they are doing or just closer to what they want. The Mom, Dad, teacher, or coach has a heart to heart chat with the person and at long last comes the TADA! moment when they achieve what they had been fighting for. The audience is supposed to get inspired by the story and get motivated to achieve their own dreams. The point I am trying to make is we are all suckers for these types of stories and that's why the theme is so common.

Now there is a dark side to this type of entertainment and I believe the problem that now develops is that people get lost in those stories and they keep watching them over and over again because it's better than their real life. They get a sort of high from watching it because the brain produces endorphins that put them in a happy state. You might be asking yourself why I would be so against the happy state. It's just because the "happiness" is not real; it is not their own achievement people just take on that elation from the fake moment. See in real life Mom and Dad are so consumed by their own lives they don't pay attention to little Timmy's wish to go to an elite acting camp. In real life practicality has to win out most of the time and for this very fact the dreamers of this world are a dying breed. It's sad that people turn to false entertainment happiness and do not strive for what will make them truly happy.

Reality can really be heartbreaking...and that is why there should be more shows like Next to Normal in the theatre world. Shows that are real, gritty, and will break your heart that is what we need. Producers can't give this to people sadly because the thing is Dreams are mass appeal and reality is a bit more off the beaten path these days. I hope that we’ll see more shows out there that are real and that dare to be different.

In the meantime go see Next to Normal

Quote of the Day...

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Why Theatre?

Ever find that when you’re really passionate about something people are always asking you what it is about that thing that makes it so special to you? Well I get that question all the time about theatre. So I decided to take a blog post to try to describe the reason that I love theatre so much.
1. When you watch a show you are often watching dreams come true...whether it's the actors, the crew, the producers, the writers, or the company manager's dream you are watching the fruits of someone labor of love. I don't think I've ever met anyone in the industry who didn't love going to work every day and felt extremely lucky to be where they were. Which is very rare thing; there are not a whole lot of industries out there that can make that claim.

2. The ability to create is almost endless - There is just so much you can put on stage to entertain, make a statement, to encourage and inspire people.

3. It's as scary as it is rewarding - there is something attractive about that combination

4. It's challenging - The theatre industry requires you to think creatively and problem solve every day. Plus it is always different from one day the next.

I guess that's it - at least the reasons that I can put to words. These questions are always hard because I think it's hard to describe anything we love. We don't always know exactly why we love the things we do…we just kind of do.

The Twelfth Night and Waiting for Godot

Theatre weekends are always the best most relaxing weekends for me...I don't know why but being in a theatre looking around at the lighting grids, reading the playbill about to see a show are some of my favorite moments. Especially in a house like Studio 54 which has no real house lighting and is lit by Stage lights. Studio 54 is my favorite Broadway House because when I walk in I feel like I should be in a flapper dress with a feathered hat on my head ready to go swing dancing or to a speak easy once the show is over. (Did I mention I was a bit of a nerd? Just checking)

Plus NYC provides great food options for before or after a show so be sure check out the restaurant McCormicks and Schmick's Seafood for great crab cakes. If you are looking for food options before Shakesphere in the Park however do not go to the Upper East Side. I have learned that Upper East Siders shop and do not eat from Lex to 5th Avenue. 3rd Avenue you'll start to find places but be sure you to have cash on you. Moving onward the purpose of my Blog...

The Twelfth Night - This was the first time that I had gotten the opportunity to see professionals perform Shakespeare and it was an incredible experience. First let me say that the Twelfth Night is one of the easier more accessible plays that Shakespeare wrote; it is in my opinion his best comedy. Raul Esparza was amazing as always, he didn't blow me away like he did during Speed-the-Plow but this wasn't that type of role. Anne Hathaway had an absolutely surprising stage presence which was really interesting to watch. I thought she'd be more stagnate and professional on stage but she was relaxed. Also...Man can she sing! The people that really stole the show were David Pittu who played Feste, Hamish Linklater - Andrew Aguecheek, and Jon Patrick Walker playing Fabian. Also Jay O. Sanders and Julie White were fantastic of course! All of these characters had the audience putty in their capable hands. Every time they came out the audience just wanted more and more. David Pittu really was my favorite though he was just brilliant! The way he seemed to be tailoring his performance to the audience’s reactions but not compromising his character was so different to experience. Can't wait to see him in more stuff, he is definitely one that I am going to keep my eye out for. I'd hate to say it but Audra McDonald was really great, but she was just so rigid on stage until the very end.

What I really loved about this play was the musical score they wrote for it. It was beautiful and the cast were all talented vocally. I was worried because I hadn't seen a play in so long that did not have scenery changes, but the way the blocking was done there was no need for it. The formation of the director's blocking allowed the audience to know where the characters were at all times. Kudos to Daniel Sullivan!

The Delacorte Theatre was a great venue - great site lines, but always remember to bring a sweater when you go see a show there because it is right off of Turtle pond and that makes it windy and cold sometimes. Learn from my novice mistakes.

Waiting for Godot - Ah gees...this play takes a certain audience and I don't know if I am the type to fit into that audience. It was a good play again no scenery changes, but this time during the first act I was falling asleep (sorry guys - shameful I know...but it's never happened to me before). Bill Irwin was really good - Nathan Lane was Nathan Lane but at times too much of his usual actor ticks came out (actor ticks - what I call recognizable actions and vocal inflections that actors reuse in various roles) John Goodman not a big fan but he was creditable. John Glover was great- his role was the most interesting to me. The play overall was about Waiting for something to change and being trapped in the same place because you keep on Waiting; People equate it to being in Purgatory. I felt like the first act they were talking in circles too much and the second act was much better. It was heart breaking at times, funny, and it gave you a lot to think about. It's one of those I don't quite know what I think of it but it was interesting and I'm glad I saw it.

Next up will be either West Side Story or Billy Elliot. I want to see Hair but I don't know what I'll end up seeing...until next time

Violet the Musical

I usually encourage people who like theatre to research smaller low key musicals because you never know what you'll find. I tell people this because I am a firm believer that every show has something for you to learn and discover about people. 9 out 10 times when you are sitting in the audience you identify with the situations that those characters are going through. Violet the Musical is an example of one of those shows that has a lot to say. If you are not familiar with this musical I highly encourage that you check the soundtrack out.

Violet is about vanity, healing, and perceptions. It contains a great message to teens about self-acceptance and it has a unique Southern heart to it which makes it memorable.

Billy Porter currently has a CD out with Soulful Broadway tunes, and on it he sings a song from the show called Let it Sing (which is available on itunes). It's a beautiful song and to me it is about breaking away from whatever holds you back from living your life.

Great site for just listening to random shows

Musical Theater International: http://www.mtishows.com/

(These posts will most likely all be completely random like this one)

Favorites

Favorite Musical of all time: Toss up between South Pacific & Guys and Dolls

Favorite Composer(s): Rodgers & Hammerstein, Stephen Schwartz, Tom Kitt, & Jason Robert Brown

Best Show I saw in 2008: Lincoln Center's South Pacific - Wow!

Favorite new show (2009 so far): Next to Normal

Favorite Actor: Norbert Leo Butz/Craig Bierko/Raul Esparza

Male vocals: Norbert Leo Butz, Aaron Tveit, & Matthew Morrison

Favorite Actress: Sutton Foster/Sherie Rene Scott

Female Vocals: Sutton Foster, Jennifer Damiano, & Stephanie J. Block

First Broadway show that I saw: Beauty and the Beast

First show that I remember seeing: Jekyll & Hyde

Favorite Lighting Designer: Kevin Adams

Favorite Director: Jack O'Brien/Michael Grief

Choreographer: Rob Ashford/Jerry Mitchell

Can't wait to see: Catch me if you Can

9 to 5

*Saw this show in previews - some things may have changed and improved

hmmm - I thought this show was entertaining, an enjoyable night of musical theater. However I was disappointed with this show because it just did not live up to the hype surrounding it. From the trial run I was expecting the next Wicked, but I thought that before about Young Frankenstein and clearly I was mistaken. Don't get me wrong there were very commendable aspects such as the music was great (especially Stephanie J. Block's Ballad in act two) and the performances were top notch. The Lighting Design & Choreography were my favorite tech aspects for this show. I expected more from the sets but the office and house sets were beautiful.

I didn't like all the crazy fantasy segments I thought they were kind of Hokey - The best number was most likely Roz's number in the Women's Restroom in Act One.

Allison Janney is a great actress - her singing voice isn't my favorite but still creditable.
Meagan Hilty - Is really great in this role
Stephanie J. Block - Has a fantastic voice and did her best with what she was given.
Marc Kudisch - Really talented guy he holds his own against the powerful women cast

Show stealer = Kathy Fitzgerald who played Roz

This show had a lot of heart and is really a (for lack of better term) "girl power" type of musical. The friendship that develops between the three women is really the heart of the show and aspect of the show is really well written.

I guess I just felt what I've felt about a lot of shows recently - that it could have used some more work.

Would recommend for - A girls night out - College groups

Next to Normal

It has been a long time since I've walked out of the theatre wowed. Lately, on Broadway I've been feeling like I have seen a lot of shows that could have used a little more time at the drawing board. This show is polished and it shines brighter than the Crown Jewels. Next to Normal is a musical that truly wears its heart on its sleeve; it manages to be both funny and heartbreaking at the same time. This show I can honestly say is the best Original Musical that I've ever seen, it maybe the only one now that I think of it.

Just hand the Tony's over to Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey right now.
Michael Greif too!

The cast was brilliant as well!

Trust me this show is worth seeing, so go see it now!