I made the costumes for Sutton, Jay, and Harriet. Its madness of course as there is only a 10 day production period. Everyone is bleeding from the eyes by the time it hits the stage. Sutton (she's a sweetheart) was rehearsing Sweeney and Mattress at the same time. Of course she dissolved and got sick for three days, just from stress, but huge champ, jumped up and killed it. I've done more Encores shows than I can recall (I walk backstage and only remember which ones when I see the posters on the wall). I think they keep getting more elaborate because each production competes with the previous.
I saw went to encores for the first when pal Joey was playing, then once upon a mattress and recently last night jelly’s last jam I’m very impressed how fast they pull these productions together. I do wonder why they have such a shirt rehearsal period
@aileyboy it's all money and scheduling. Each day is more expensive and the agreements with unions is that only a certain amount of work will happen or it will all fall into a far higher pay grade. I'm sure Sutton is doing this for a sliver of her usual fee.
I was Princess #12 (the princess who fails at trivia at the beginning) when I was in high school. Mattress is very popular for middle and high schools in the US
I saw Sutton in this production on 1/28 and then in Sweeney Todd on 2/9. She was great in both completely different shows. I don’t live in New York so I had to make two separate trips to see her. So yes, I’m a Sutton fan.
In all the years I have been to NYC to see shows and such, I have never seen a show at Encores! I like though, how they bring lesser-known or less-produced musicals to their stage and give them a new life. Even if it may be for just 2 weeks, it still is an incredible series that they do. I'm so excited to see my first Encores production this weekend with Jelly's Last Jam!
The spurs running joke was added for this production. I choreographed & co-directed a school production of Mattress years ago. I wasn’t thrilled with the script changes & really missed the song “The Minstrel, the Jester & I” which they cut. But I agree with you Mickey, that Sutton Foster was fantastic in this show! It’s a perfect role for her. Last season I saw City Center’s Oliver! & this weekend I’m seeing Jelly’s Last Jam. Also have tickets for Titanic in June. Hope you’re able to come back to NY & see that one!
I was delighted to be able to see this production. I figured the combination of Foster and Urie, two terrific physical actors, would be great, and I was not disappointed.
Michael Urie is an amazing talent. I had the pleasure of seeing him in a dramatic role in Tony Kushners A Bright Room Called Day at the Public and he absolutely nailed that too. Lovely guy and great to see him so in demand lately.
Sorry I couldn't get to see Mattress! I had to pull all my old Playbills, so at City Center Encores I've seen: Hair 2001, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn 2005, Juno 2008, On the Town 2008, Lost in the Stars 2011, The Cradle Will Rock 2013, Cabin in the Sky 2016, Working 2019, Dear World and Light in the Piazza last year and will see the Titanic matinee in June (with The Wiz that evening). I also saw the City Center Gala productions of Sunday in the Park with George 2016, Evita 2019, Parade 2022 and Pal Joey last year. Next month a friend flies up from Texas and we are seeing 8 shows in 5 days: Tommy, Lempicka, Illinoise (I saw this at The Fisher Center/Bard College last summer), Water for Elephants, Merrily We Roll Along, Sweeney Todd, Days of Wine and Roses and Titanique. I think we'll be sorta tired when all is said and done -- but worth it!
Your theatre reviews are wonderful and insightful, and I especially appreciate this one. In the ancient days of my youth (1968) I played the Jester in a production at small theater near Chicago, so the show is a special remembrance for me. Now I am directing local theatre here in Cincinnati, Ohio, and this might be a show that needs to be reprised here. I'll suggest it to some producers I know. Please keep your excellent reviews coming!
I love your vlog and your critique of the show. Love Sutton Foster in everything and anything. I’m grateful I’m able to call up her performance in Anything Goes on PBS. I also adore Michael Urie. Aside from his dupliciis character, Marc in Ugly Betty and he also appeared opposite Sutton on Younger. I remember seeing his fantastic one man performance in Buyer and Cellar in person and also on TH-cam streaming live during the pandemic to raise funds to support those in the theatre community who were out of work due to all the theater closures. Lastly Cheyenne Jackson doing his best tongue in cheek redo of Robert Goulet’s Lancelot in Camelot. 🙏👍😎
I just saw this at the Hudson. Several of the same cast members. Loved Sutton Foster’s performance. I also really enjoyed Ana Gasteyer and David Patrick Kelly as Queen and King, but the whole cast was quite good. Glad it will be available to be seen by more people. It’s a fun way to spend an evening at the theatre.
Since these are short runs, it's really a shame that they're not filmed for television. PBS's 'Great Performances' series (which recently filmed the Broadway revival of Purlie Victorious) should look into this...
This was the perfect storm for me - I played Dauntless at theater camp, I am an Encores subscriber, and I adore Sutton Foster (seeing Sweeney Todd tonight). I loved this production and your review captured it perfectly.
Nikki Renee Daniels is one of my favorites! She was an ensemble member of a show I saw in 2006 and I thought she was a stand out talent! Since then I've seen her perform at least a dozen times, she is an incredible talent!
Maybe it won’t get a full revival but I think this revised version will have life as an updated book for a community theatre or school theatre departments
Thanks for your review! It almost makes me wish that I'd gone to see it. I saw SJP in the 90's but only remember her singing "SHY", I enjoyed her performance but have never been a fan of the show having seen too many BAD productions of it by high schools and community theaters. As far as Encores itself, you are right in that its intent was to present musicals that were forgotten and probably wouldn't get a revival. They were to be as close to the opening night performance as possible, original orchestrations, dance arrangements( which were often lost), script(which were frequently adapted and no definitive version existed) and using full orchestra. My roommate was in the chorus of ALLEGRO in 1994 and became a fan the first year. The first few years they were more semi-staged with performers using scripts, if my memory is right Later the they became more complete and polished productions, but always with the wonderful orchestra front and center. Lately some of the shows have new books as you said this one did. Encores is truly one of NYC's brightest gems!
This looks like a really fun production- I wish I could have seen it! I've only seen one of the television versions from years ago. I have a soft spot for Sutton. She was actually the assistant director of the children's theater production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella that I was in when I was 13 years old. We are talking nearly 30 years ago- Sutton was a young unknown! I had no idea how talented she was at the time- had I known back then that she had already toured in Will Rodgers Follies at that point, I would have been following her around at rehearsal like a lost puppy. 😆 If you've read her autobiography, she briefly mentions working at a community theater for children while living in Memphis- that was us! The following year, she was touring with Grease, and I got to see her go on for Sandy back when she was still listed as the understudy. I was totally blown away that someone I'd once worked with had made it into a Broadway tour. And then watching her get to Broadway and win multiple Tonys was surreal! I haven't seen her live on stage since that tour of Grease, but one day I hope to say hello again and ask her if she remembers Cinderella at the Germantown Children's Theatre. I don't have a lot of specific memories of working with her other than that I thought she was nice. I do remember her teaching the cast how to do a waltz step for the ball scene.
I was at the opening night performance (after a matinee of Merrily - what a day!) and I loved it. I wasn't familiar at all with this musical, but I couldn't resist a show with Sutton Foster, Michael Urie, Harriet Harris and Cheyenne Jackson. Along with J. Harrison Ghee, who I had heard good things about, that's a stacked cast for me. They did not disappoint. I even enjoyed the spurs running gag. As a Brit I felt like I was watching an American version of panto. An extremely good panto that was existing on very little rehearsal time. That impressed me no end. I also thought the theatre itself was beautiful. The perfect setting for a fairy-tale.
I absolutely love Sutton Foster!! I’ve seen her in 6 shows on Broadway. My favorites being Shrek and Little Women. But she just has “It”. She lights up a stage and definitely has that star quality which is so rare these days! And thx for your thorough review MickeyJo. I always enjoy your chanel!
I can't wait for your review of Sutton Foster and Aaron Tveit's performances in Sweeney Todd! I was also fortunate enough to see Sutton in Anything Goes, but on Broadway back in 2011. Thanks for your review and curtain call of OUAM - I was especially excited for this video because I actually got to see this show! This was my first Encores production and first Mattress production I saw, but I had read the composer, Mary Rodger's memoir before seeing the show and was also familiar with "The Princess and the Pea" story. Mattress was an all-star cast (got to see talented Broadway veterans who I hadn't seen before and were well cast) and although I wanted to see it because of Sutton Foster, who's always a joy to watch, I truly enjoyed all of their performances, including the fabulous orchestra - what a treat! Like you, I also loved the costumes. I enjoyed the show but didn't love it and agree with you that it does not need a Broadway transfer. I thought the show's material was okay (I smiled but never laughed out loud) but am grateful for the opportunity to have seen a professional production of the show.
I literally came straight here after reading the Hadestown West End Review from WhatsOnStage. I'm a big fan of your channel (came for Cinderella tea, stayed for your thoughtful and thought-provoking reviews) but I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts on the WhatsOnStage review lol. I've seen so many memes including a hilarious "&Eurydice" poster, but I'd love your take!! Have a great day :)
Too bad you weren't able to see The Light In The Piazza with Ruthie Ann Miles (taking a break from Sweeney Todd) last year at NY City Center. Wonderful production. Love your SIX necklace; hope they have it the next time I see the show.
I recently watched the black and white tv version with Carol Burnett, then clips of the later color version. I found the humor excessively broad, esp. in the later version. The older b&w version was charming in some ways -- excellent choreo on the Spanish Panic, some naturalness and restraint, which were thrown to the winds in the later color version. I wish Ken Berry were in the earlier version -- he was sweetly understated and, heck, I just like him.
I'm so glad to hear that they rewrote the book. I just saw a production locally with the old book and the King is extremely sexist in the old one. Hopefully they changed him chasing, kissing and grabbing the maidens around the kingdom. It really doesn't fit in to what is acceptable and reads rather creepy in the now.
I may have been at the same performance you were at. Once Upon a Mattress is one of my least favorite of all musicals. However, this version was brilliant. Michael Urie and Sutton Foster were wonderful with delicious chemistry. Harriet Harris is always hilarious. Everything was much more engaging and funny than I've seen before. So happy I saw this show! Also, I'm seeing Jelly's Last Jam tomorrow. My roommate and I have a subscription to Encores! so I have seen a lot of the shows. It's a wonderful series and even the bad shows (looking a you "The Life.") are worth seeing. I highly recommend the series.
I saw this on its second weekend! Loved it! I knew Winifred would be an amazing role for Sutton! I’m 90% sure the spurs joke was added. I saw a hs performance multiple times a few years ago. I didn’t realize the book was rewritten and I was surprised I didn’t remember the spurs joke. This makes more sense if it’s a new joke.
It seems like anyone who does theater does this at some time in their career! Community theater for me, in the chorus as "Sir Strut" (there was a shortage of guys).
ENCORES!MATTRESS. Harriet Harris is the Definitive Queen. Sutton Foster and Carol Burnett (only saw the 1964 tv film) were both Sensational playing Winnifred. IMHO, Sarah Jessica Parker, whom I saw in 1997, is the Definitive Winnifred. She was Brilliance from Moat to Mattresses! SIDEBAR: Patti LuPone’s GYPSY started at ENCORES ! Fun Channel, MickeyJo 🎉!
It was lovely! Sutton was simply amazing and absolutely stuck the landing on the physical comedy. Sooo. My bf and I also saw Sweeney last week and Sutton was a revelation! I was surprised to find I preferred her interpretation over Anneleigh! Sutton was very funny and extremely physical. But she and Aaron had a darkness that I didn’t really feel with Josh Groban and Anneleigh Ashford.
Me too. Got my tickets before the full cast was announced. I’m really looking forward to this now that I know Bonnie Milligan, Ramin Karimloo, Brandon Uranowitz, Judy Kuhn, Drew Gehling and Chuck Cooper are in the cast.
One of my favorite childhood memories was the TV production which had Carole Burnett reprise her original role. It'd be nice if this actually sees a full production -- even if Sutton won't be there. I'd definitely go back to NYC for this. This, despite my distaste for modern rewrites of older plays -- I hated, HATED, the rewrite of the R&H Cinderella. Maybe, maybe the new material is what Mickey Jo didn't like? I do wish modern producers would stop with all the rewrites of the old classics. At least until they find writers who have the talent to match their over-blown egos.
LOL! I saw that. NYT reviewed it as the worst show in the history of Encores! I agree. Some good performances but the revised script was painfully bad. That was my experience. Of course, YMMV.
I would love Encores to do Most Happy Fella and be such a success it has a BWAY run. If it hadn't opened in the same season as MFL, MHF would stand higher in the canon.
Mattrress premiered in 1959, not 1960. A lot of lame jokes were added, like the spurs, and a lot of the other funny lines were cut. My only guess is the librettist wanted to put her own stamp on the show.
I made the costumes for Sutton, Jay, and Harriet. Its madness of course as there is only a 10 day production period. Everyone is bleeding from the eyes by the time it hits the stage. Sutton (she's a sweetheart) was rehearsing Sweeney and Mattress at the same time. Of course she dissolved and got sick for three days, just from stress, but huge champ, jumped up and killed it. I've done more Encores shows than I can recall (I walk backstage and only remember which ones when I see the posters on the wall). I think they keep getting more elaborate because each production competes with the previous.
This is so insightful. Thank you for your hard work. It’s stunning.
you did a great job!
I saw went to encores for the first when pal Joey was playing, then once upon a mattress and recently last night jelly’s last jam I’m very impressed how fast they pull these productions together. I do wonder why they have such a shirt rehearsal period
mostly to keep things cost effective and to draw big stars..@@MarcusMartn
@aileyboy it's all money and scheduling. Each day is more expensive and the agreements with unions is that only a certain amount of work will happen or it will all fall into a far higher pay grade. I'm sure Sutton is doing this for a sliver of her usual fee.
I was Princess #12 (the princess who fails at trivia at the beginning) when I was in high school. Mattress is very popular for middle and high schools in the US
I saw Sutton in this production on 1/28 and then in Sweeney Todd on 2/9. She was great in both completely different shows. I don’t live in New York so I had to make two separate trips to see her. So yes, I’m a Sutton fan.
In all the years I have been to NYC to see shows and such, I have never seen a show at Encores! I like though, how they bring lesser-known or less-produced musicals to their stage and give them a new life. Even if it may be for just 2 weeks, it still is an incredible series that they do. I'm so excited to see my first Encores production this weekend with Jelly's Last Jam!
Once upon a mattress is having a short run at the Hudson will see it again
The spurs running joke was added for this production. I choreographed & co-directed a school production of Mattress years ago. I wasn’t thrilled with the script changes & really missed the song “The Minstrel, the Jester & I” which they cut. But I agree with you Mickey, that Sutton Foster was fantastic in this show! It’s a perfect role for her.
Last season I saw City Center’s Oliver! & this weekend I’m seeing Jelly’s Last Jam. Also have tickets for Titanic in June. Hope you’re able to come back to NY & see that one!
I was delighted to be able to see this production. I figured the combination of Foster and Urie, two terrific physical actors, would be great, and I was not disappointed.
Michael Urie is an amazing talent. I had the pleasure of seeing him in a dramatic role in Tony Kushners A Bright Room Called Day at the Public and he absolutely nailed that too. Lovely guy and great to see him so in demand lately.
Sorry I couldn't get to see Mattress! I had to pull all my old Playbills, so at City Center Encores I've seen: Hair 2001, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn 2005, Juno 2008, On the Town 2008, Lost in the Stars 2011, The Cradle Will Rock 2013, Cabin in the Sky 2016, Working 2019, Dear World and Light in the Piazza last year and will see the Titanic matinee in June (with The Wiz that evening). I also saw the City Center Gala productions of Sunday in the Park with George 2016, Evita 2019, Parade 2022 and Pal Joey last year.
Next month a friend flies up from Texas and we are seeing 8 shows in 5 days: Tommy, Lempicka, Illinoise (I saw this at The Fisher Center/Bard College last summer), Water for Elephants, Merrily We Roll Along, Sweeney Todd, Days of Wine and Roses and Titanique. I think we'll be sorta tired when all is said and done -- but worth it!
Your theatre reviews are wonderful and insightful, and I especially appreciate this one. In the ancient days of my youth (1968) I played the Jester in a production at small theater near Chicago, so the show is a special remembrance for me. Now I am directing local theatre here in Cincinnati, Ohio, and this might be a show that needs to be reprised here. I'll suggest it to some producers I know. Please keep your excellent reviews coming!
I love your vlog and your critique of the show. Love Sutton Foster in everything and anything. I’m grateful I’m able to call up her performance in Anything Goes on PBS. I also adore Michael Urie. Aside from his dupliciis character, Marc in Ugly Betty and he also appeared opposite Sutton on Younger. I remember seeing his fantastic one man performance in Buyer and Cellar in person and also on TH-cam streaming live during the pandemic to raise funds to support those in the theatre community who were out of work due to all the theater closures. Lastly Cheyenne Jackson doing his best tongue in cheek redo of Robert Goulet’s Lancelot in Camelot. 🙏👍😎
I just saw this at the Hudson. Several of the same cast members. Loved Sutton Foster’s performance. I also really enjoyed Ana Gasteyer and David Patrick Kelly as Queen and King, but the whole cast was quite good. Glad it will be available to be seen by more people. It’s a fun way to spend an evening at the theatre.
Since these are short runs, it's really a shame that they're not filmed for television. PBS's 'Great Performances' series (which recently filmed the Broadway revival of Purlie Victorious) should look into this...
This was the perfect storm for me - I played Dauntless at theater camp, I am an Encores subscriber, and I adore Sutton Foster (seeing Sweeney Todd tonight).
I loved this production and your review captured it perfectly.
Nikki Renee Daniels is one of my favorites! She was an ensemble member of a show I saw in 2006 and I thought she was a stand out talent! Since then I've seen her perform at least a dozen times, she is an incredible talent!
Maybe it won’t get a full revival but I think this revised version will have life as an updated book for a community theatre or school theatre departments
Thanks for your review! It almost makes me wish that I'd gone to see it. I saw SJP in the 90's but only remember her singing "SHY", I enjoyed her performance but have never been a fan of the show having seen too many BAD productions of it by high schools and community theaters. As far as Encores itself, you are right in that its intent was to present musicals that were forgotten and probably wouldn't get a revival. They were to be as close to the opening night performance as possible, original orchestrations, dance arrangements( which were often lost), script(which were frequently adapted and no definitive version existed) and using full orchestra. My roommate was in the chorus of ALLEGRO in 1994 and became a fan the first year. The first few years they were more semi-staged with performers using scripts, if my memory is right Later the they became more complete and polished productions, but always with the wonderful orchestra front and center. Lately some of the shows have new books as you said this one did. Encores is truly one of NYC's brightest gems!
This looks like a really fun production- I wish I could have seen it! I've only seen one of the television versions from years ago. I have a soft spot for Sutton. She was actually the assistant director of the children's theater production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella that I was in when I was 13 years old. We are talking nearly 30 years ago- Sutton was a young unknown! I had no idea how talented she was at the time- had I known back then that she had already toured in Will Rodgers Follies at that point, I would have been following her around at rehearsal like a lost puppy. 😆 If you've read her autobiography, she briefly mentions working at a community theater for children while living in Memphis- that was us! The following year, she was touring with Grease, and I got to see her go on for Sandy back when she was still listed as the understudy. I was totally blown away that someone I'd once worked with had made it into a Broadway tour. And then watching her get to Broadway and win multiple Tonys was surreal! I haven't seen her live on stage since that tour of Grease, but one day I hope to say hello again and ask her if she remembers Cinderella at the Germantown Children's Theatre. I don't have a lot of specific memories of working with her other than that I thought she was nice. I do remember her teaching the cast how to do a waltz step for the ball scene.
I've always wanted Sutton to sing Swamps of Home
I was at the opening night performance (after a matinee of Merrily - what a day!) and I loved it. I wasn't familiar at all with this musical, but I couldn't resist a show with Sutton Foster, Michael Urie, Harriet Harris and Cheyenne Jackson. Along with J. Harrison Ghee, who I had heard good things about, that's a stacked cast for me. They did not disappoint. I even enjoyed the spurs running gag. As a Brit I felt like I was watching an American version of panto. An extremely good panto that was existing on very little rehearsal time. That impressed me no end. I also thought the theatre itself was beautiful. The perfect setting for a fairy-tale.
Aw I was in a version of this in High School. Memories.
I absolutely love Sutton Foster!! I’ve seen her in 6 shows on Broadway. My favorites being Shrek and Little Women. But she just has “It”. She lights up a stage and definitely has that star quality which is so rare these days! And thx for your thorough review MickeyJo. I always enjoy your chanel!
I played Lady H (a lady-in-waiting) in a high school production of OUAM. I have fond memories from that show.
Just saw this today at the Hudson theater. They have schmackery’s at the concessions
I LOVED it! I was in NYC that week from Seattle and we saw most of the same shows...I don't know how I didn't run into you.
I can't wait for your review of Sutton Foster and Aaron Tveit's performances in Sweeney Todd!
I was also fortunate enough to see Sutton in Anything Goes, but on Broadway back in 2011.
Thanks for your review and curtain call of OUAM - I was especially excited for this video because I actually got to see this show! This was my first Encores production and first Mattress production I saw, but I had read the composer, Mary Rodger's memoir before seeing the show and was also familiar with "The Princess and the Pea" story.
Mattress was an all-star cast (got to see talented Broadway veterans who I hadn't seen before and were well cast) and although I wanted to see it because of Sutton Foster, who's always a joy to watch, I truly enjoyed all of their performances, including the fabulous orchestra - what a treat! Like you, I also loved the costumes.
I enjoyed the show but didn't love it and agree with you that it does not need a Broadway transfer. I thought the show's material was okay (I smiled but never laughed out loud) but am grateful for the opportunity to have seen a professional production of the show.
I literally came straight here after reading the Hadestown West End Review from WhatsOnStage. I'm a big fan of your channel (came for Cinderella tea, stayed for your thoughtful and thought-provoking reviews) but I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts on the WhatsOnStage review lol. I've seen so many memes including a hilarious "&Eurydice" poster, but I'd love your take!! Have a great day :)
Too bad you weren't able to see The Light In The Piazza with Ruthie Ann Miles (taking a break from Sweeney Todd) last year at NY City Center. Wonderful production.
Love your SIX necklace; hope they have it the next time I see the show.
I recently watched the black and white tv version with Carol Burnett, then clips of the later color version. I found the humor excessively broad, esp. in the later version. The older b&w version was charming in some ways -- excellent choreo on the Spanish Panic, some naturalness and restraint, which were thrown to the winds in the later color version. I wish Ken Berry were in the earlier version -- he was sweetly understated and, heck, I just like him.
I'm so glad to hear that they rewrote the book. I just saw a production locally with the old book and the King is extremely sexist in the old one. Hopefully they changed him chasing, kissing and grabbing the maidens around the kingdom. It really doesn't fit in to what is acceptable and reads rather creepy in the now.
I may have been at the same performance you were at. Once Upon a Mattress is one of my least favorite of all musicals. However, this version was brilliant. Michael Urie and Sutton Foster were wonderful with delicious chemistry. Harriet Harris is always hilarious. Everything was much more engaging and funny than I've seen before. So happy I saw this show!
Also, I'm seeing Jelly's Last Jam tomorrow. My roommate and I have a subscription to Encores! so I have seen a lot of the shows. It's a wonderful series and even the bad shows (looking a you "The Life.") are worth seeing. I highly recommend the series.
Gonna try and catch my first encores ever when I go to NYC Hopefully this year, Ramin in titanic sounds like it’ll be amazing
Thanks. Appreciate the review. Wanted to see Mattress, but couldn’t make it work.
I saw this on its second weekend! Loved it! I knew Winifred would be an amazing role for Sutton! I’m 90% sure the spurs joke was added. I saw a hs performance multiple times a few years ago. I didn’t realize the book was rewritten and I was surprised I didn’t remember the spurs joke. This makes more sense if it’s a new joke.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, slap-stick and all, but I agree with you I don’t think it’s right for a full B’way run. 🎭🥰
It seems like anyone who does theater does this at some time in their career! Community theater for me, in the chorus as "Sir Strut" (there was a shortage of guys).
ENCORES!MATTRESS. Harriet Harris is the Definitive Queen.
Sutton Foster and Carol Burnett (only saw the 1964 tv film) were both Sensational playing Winnifred.
IMHO, Sarah Jessica Parker, whom I saw in 1997, is the Definitive Winnifred. She was Brilliance from Moat to Mattresses!
SIDEBAR: Patti LuPone’s GYPSY started at ENCORES !
Fun Channel, MickeyJo 🎉!
It was lovely! Sutton was simply amazing and absolutely stuck the landing on the physical comedy.
Sooo. My bf and I also saw Sweeney last week and Sutton was a revelation! I was surprised to find I preferred her interpretation over Anneleigh!
Sutton was very funny and extremely physical. But she and Aaron had a darkness that I didn’t really feel with Josh Groban and Anneleigh Ashford.
Though it's not likely to come to broadway, wouldn't it be an awesome television ! Netflix, AppleTV, NBC Live, are you listening?
The only thing i knowcaboutvthe show is that it made Carol Burnett a big star.
I will be seeing Titanic in June.
Me too. Got my tickets before the full cast was announced. I’m really looking forward to this now that I know Bonnie Milligan, Ramin Karimloo, Brandon Uranowitz, Judy Kuhn, Drew Gehling and Chuck Cooper are in the cast.
One of my favorite childhood memories was the TV production which had Carole Burnett reprise her original role.
It'd be nice if this actually sees a full production -- even if Sutton won't be there.
I'd definitely go back to NYC for this. This, despite my distaste for modern rewrites of older plays -- I hated, HATED, the rewrite of the R&H Cinderella. Maybe, maybe the new material is what Mickey Jo didn't like? I do wish modern producers would stop with all the rewrites of the old classics. At least until they find writers who have the talent to match their over-blown egos.
I've only seen one Encores production, Billy Porter's The Life...
LOL! I saw that. NYT reviewed it as the worst show in the history of Encores! I agree. Some good performances but the revised script was painfully bad. That was my experience. Of course, YMMV.
All the reviews coming tonight
I had a busy weekend!
I would love Encores to do Most Happy Fella and be such a success it has a BWAY run. If it hadn't opened in the same season as MFL, MHF would stand higher in the canon.
Can't believe you never even mentioned Mary Rogers- daughter of Richard.
RODGERS
Mattrress premiered in 1959, not 1960. A lot of lame jokes were added, like the spurs, and a lot of the other funny lines were cut. My only guess is the librettist wanted to put her own stamp on the show.
are you going to see Jesus christ superstar dirc by Ivo van Hove in Amsterdam?
I'm hoping to see its return engagement this Summer!
The worst Anything Goes Star I have ever seen. Totally wrong voice