JC Chasez, John Lyndon, Michelle Williams & Brandon Boyd
News just came out that a star-studed national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar will kick-off June 9. I'm always a little weary of any pop celebrities in Broadway shows. The fact that this tour has not one but four pop star singers does make me think it probably will be a disappointment. HOWEVER, Jesus Christ Superstar is one of my favorite shows of all time... maybe even my favorite, so I'm going to have to see this tour even if it's just to complain about it.
The tour will star lead singer of the Sex Pistols John Lyndon aka Johnny Rotten as Herod, Incubus lead singer Brandon Boyd as Judas, NSYNC's JC Chasez as Pontius Pilot, and Michelle Williams as Mary Magdalane. Jesus will apparently be played by Ben Forster, the winner of a UK TV reality series to find the next Jesus called "Superstar".
Am I the only one who is more impressed with the fact that there was a JC Superstar tryout reality show than about a bunch of washed up pop starts being in the tour?? I want to watch Superstar! How can I find it in the US??? It was either really bad if there was a bunch of crappy pop American idol types trying out or awesome because there were real rock singers from bands trying out. I guess I'll have to figure out how to watch the show to find out.
Boyd and Williams were on Good Morning America this morning to announce the tour and sing the title song. I have to say I'm pretty impressed with Boyd's performance, he has the perfect voice for Judas and I'm excited to see him on stage. Williams looks like she might break apart from being malnourished but I'm sure she'll do a decent job, she does have a good voice. The 12-year old inside me is actually really excited to see JC, because he was my favorite! I still think he's really sexy, hopefully he doesn't suck. I really don't know what to think about Johnny Rotten playing Herod, if he still has energy and his voice is still there it might be awesome, but he's pretty old now.
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera based very loosely on the Gospel's account of the last week of Jesus' life. It highlights political and interpersonal struggles between Judas Iscariot and Jesus, struggles that are not in the Bible. The show began life as a record-breaking album in 1970 before it landed on Broadway in 1971. It was subsequently revived on Broadway in 1977, 2000 and 2012. I saw the 2012 performance and thought Judas and Jesus were amazing! It will be hard to top them.
Someone uploaded a video of the entire 2012 Broadway production that they must have secretly taped. It's actually decent quality. If you have some time to spare check it out. And thank you to whoever took this video!
Every once in a while a broadway show opens that I have to see ASAP no matter what I have to pay... If/Then was one of those shows! I've been excited about this since I first read about it last summer. Well I didn't waste any time and got tickets for the first Saturday night performance of previews.
First of all I think Idina Menzel is one of the most talented broadway performers out there. She could be in the most boring show and I would still be impressed. Then there's Anthony Rapp... one of my absolute favorite broadway performers of all time! I have a thing for nerdy guys and when you combine his nerdy appearance with his amazing voice and his terrible but cute dance moves you've basically made my perfect man (yes yes I know he's gay, but I can still admire him). To add to the Rent alumni list Michael Greif, former director of Rent, is also directing If/Then.
I have to admit that after Adele Nazeem... I mean Idina's performance at the Oscar's a couple weeks ago I was a little worried that her voice might be fading. That is 100% not true, she was as funny, inspiring and sassy as she was almost 2 decades ago when she began in Rent and her voice was so strong! I actually remember her belting out this giant note at the end of a song that felt like it blew me back in my seat. The note went on for so long I could feel the whole audience gaping in silent admiration. Of course the audience exploded for her after. I'm a sucker for those moments in shows. Idina has still got it!
LaChanze playing Kate and Anthony Rapp playing Lucas
Idina's role in this show is supposedly similar to what is happening in her personal life right now. (Her and Taye Diggs recently split after 10 years of marriage. I know... so sad! I always liked to think they were the perfect super talented couple.) Idina plays Elizabeth, a recently divorced woman in her late 30's who just moved back to NYC to start her life over again. When she gets there she meets up with her bi roommate from college Lucas (Anthony Rapp) and makes friends with her apartment neighbor Kate (LaChanze). Throughout the show you see how choices that Elizabeth makes change her life.
The theme of the show is a brilliant idea. Everyday we make decisions and each one leads our life in a different direction, sometimes in small ways sometimes in big ways. You don't think about how something as small as choosing to go out to bar with a new friend or something as big as choosing to switch jobs can change the entire course of your life. You don't think about it because it would drive you insane, but it was still interesting as a story theme.
Oh and by the way one of Elizabeth's "life paths" has a lot to do with a very sexy man, the character Josh played by James Snyder. I love Anthony Rapp but I found myself drooling over James throughout the show!
Idina Menzel as Elizabeth and James Snyder as Josh
If/Then is a musical by the Next to Normal creators Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey. The music was definitely similar, I found myself singing Next to Normal songs during intermission and then remembering it was by the same talented duo. My favorite song was "What the fuck?" haha not only was it awesomely funny it presented a situation that I think everyone can relate to. That moment when you've gone further than you planned and you're saying to yourself "what the fuck am I doing???" And you decide to just go for it. I've been in that situation and the next morning you're either really excited that this might turn into something great or really beating yourself up because you know you shouldn't have done that. It's the same for Elizabeth in the show.
Overall I really liked If/Then, although if not for the presence of Idina Menzel and Anthony Rapp I don't think it would have the same appeal. I liked the story of If/Then but the deep emotion of Next to Normal just wasn't there. Nor was the cool personality and catchy songs of Rent. In fact other than "What the fuck" I actually have a hard time remembering any of the other songs... I didn't dislike any of them but none of the other songs had that "stick in your head, I have to download this song!" presence. I plan to see it again once the popularity dies down a bit in a few months to see how I feel about it the second time. For right now I don't think it would be in my top 5 shows (which Rent and Next Normal are in!).
True to its Rent origins If/Then has a lottery for tickets. It comes as no surprise that the lottery has been insanely crowded since it began. I was happy to shell out the $75 it cost me for rear mezzanine tickets so that I didn't have to go through the crazy lottery just to probably not win tickets at the end. But if you have more patience and optimism than me and would like to try the lottery, names are pulled 90 minutes before every showtime and tickets are $25 cash only.
After the show I waited stage door to get autographs (which I don't do for very many shows I see), the crowd was insane! But I did get my playbill signed by Idina and Anthony and got a couple pictures, although they weren't very good thanks to me being so short.
Idina signing autographs after If/Then
PS - I'm absolutely in love with the cover photo of Idina Menzel on Billboard today! She looks beautiful I can only pray that when I'm in my 40s I look as amazing as she does and my life is half as inspiring. Enjoy the video of her photo shoot below!
If/Then is playing at the Richard Rogers Theatre on 46th (between 7th & 8th). It is currently in previews and officially opens on Thursday, March 27th.
Being from upstate NY, I usually find it hilarious how much people in the city freak out over a few inches of snow. However, one awesome thing that always comes out of snow storms in the city is the Broadway show discounts that come out of it!
During the past 7 years that I've lived in and around NYC I've only seen Broadway close once and that was for Sandy. Since I was trapped in my Hoboken apartment by floods I agreed with that decision. I trudged through the snow and made it into the city for work today though which means I will of course be taking advantage of one of the great deals and seeing a show tonight. Who cares if it's gonna be 2 degrees, right?!?
Here are the discounts so far. I'll update this throughout the day if more are announced:
A Night with Janis Joplin: offering a "snow day discounts" for performances Jan. 2-4. Tickets start at $32 by using code JJSNOW an can be purchased at the box office or online.
Machinal (new musical from Roundabout Theatre Company): offering $20 tickets when you show your metro card at the box office only.
DISASTER!: (disaster movie musical comedy now playing Off-Broadway at the St. Luke's Theatre): offering a one-day-only "Snow Day" discount on Friday, January 3rd. Tickets for $30.00 will be available in-person at the box office only by using the code DISNOW for the matinee (2:30PM) and evening performances (8:00PM).
Outside Mullingar (First preview of new play from Manhattan Theatre Club at the Friedman Theatre): All tickets for the performance tonight only will be available for $50 by using code OMSNW14 or coming to the Friedman box office.
After Midnight: Offering 50% off any ticket with the mention of SNOW at the box office for today's 2pm & 8pm shows.
Motown the Musical: announced on Facebook that they are offering $49 tickets at the box office today with the code SNOW.
...And of course there's also all the shows that have rushes and lotteries that should have plenty of tickets available today from cancellations. See the updated list here.
