Cast Elizabeth Stanley (Clio/Kira), Max Von Essen (Sonny), & Larry Marshall (Danny Maguire, Zeus)
For complete info, see the official Xanadu on Broadway website.
Xanadu is just a fun musical. They added more plot than the movie had, yet it's still a short one act musical that's fun to enjoy. The music is still great and the tour cast is very good. Larry Marshall made Danny Maguire/Zeus much more enjoyable to watch. I'm a big fan of Kerry Butler, so I don't think anyone could live up to her performance, but Elizabeth Stanley does a great job. Max Von Essen also does well as Sonny, though Cheyenne Jackson seemed to fit perfectly in that part, in spite of the fact that he wasn't originally supposed to play Sonny on Broadway.
If you get a chance to see the show and you enjoyed the music from the musical, it's a lot of fun and a nice light musical night out. :-)
Grade: B-
Reviewed by Kat at the 6:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Stephen Lynch (Robbie Hart), Christina Sivrich (Julia Sullivan), Constantine Maroulis (Sammy), Kevin Cahoon (George), Amy Spanger (Holly), Richard H. Blake (Glen Gulia), Rita Gardner (Rosie), Felicia Finley (Linda)
For complete information on this cast, see the official The Wedding Singer site.
I was a little bummed when I saw that Christina Sivrich was going to be playing Julia instead of Laura Benanti (or even her standby, Christina is an understudy). However, Christina very quickly showed me that I had no need to worry. I can't imagine Laura Benanti or her standby doing any better than Christina Sivrich did as Julia Sullivan. She was perfect for the part and has a great voice.
I saw The Wedding Singer with a group of 6, though it was chosen by my sister who didn't end up making the trip... I don't think any of us expected much of the show, but we were all very pleasantly surprised. I'm very glad we got to see this musical while it lasted (not long after we saw it, we heard that it's closing at the end of the year). If you liked the movie, go see this show! Heck, even if you didn't and you liked the 80's, see the show! And even if neither of those are true and you're in NYC and have time, check it out. My dad hadn't seen the movie (though he will soon) and isn't a child of the 80's, but he really enjoyed the musical.
What I liked is that they were smart enough to change the music throughout the show and still keep in the important songs from the movie (the two Adam Sandler songs). The costumes were amazing, the cast is great, and I highly recommend The Wedding Singer musical. Stephen Lynch does try a bit too hard to be like Adam Sandler at a couple points, but overall I thought he did a good job.
If you can get there before the end of the year, The Wedding Singer is very enjoyable. After that, I'm sure it will tour. It's a fun show and I'd definitely see it again if it comes to town.
Grade: B+
Reviewed by Kat at the 8:00 PM show | 0 screams
Definitely a fun interactive show. As long as you get into the fun and are aware that there's a coat check in the basement, so you can dress up in 80's costumes and stash your non-80's coats, it's a great time. Fun 80's music, dancing... complete with the nerd (carrying a Cabbage Patch Kid), the bad guy, the prom committee head, the foreign exchange student, the principal, etc.
This would have been a lot more fun if A. We had dressed up and B. We had gone with a larger group.
I recommend putting together some costumes and going with a group of friends. It's only available Saturday nights and be aware that drinks, which are very small, are also very expensive - even for New York. Plan on drinking after you leave Webster Hall, which turns into a dance club after the Prom, which you get into for free - sort of the "after prom," but the entire cast of the show is gone by that point.
Grade: B-
Labels: 2005, 80's, comedy, dancing, interactive, musical, Off-Broadway
Reviewed by Kat at the 8:00 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Jennifer Garner (Jenna Rink), Mark Ruffalo (Matt Flamhaff)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's 13 Going on 30 page.
From the previews, I was expecting 13 Going On 30 to be the female version of Big. I love Big and I'm a big fan of Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo, so the decision to see 13 Going On 30 was simple.
I was very pleasantly surprised that 13 Going On 30 wasn't just a female version of Big. In fact, as much as I love Big, I think I enjoyed 13 Going On 30 even more. Perhaps it's because I'm 30 and all the music took me back to when I was younger, but I really got into this movie. I left the movie dancing. I had so much fun with the 80's music and the story. It was such a great romantic comedy.
Grade: A
Labels: 2004, 80's, comedy, dancing, drama, fantasy, Jennifer Garner, Judy Greer, Mark Ruffalo, movie, romance
Reviewed by Kat at the 5:50 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Adam Sandler (Robbie Hart), Drew Barrymore (Julia Sullivan), Christine Taylor (Holly Sullivan)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's The Wedding Singer page.
Such a cute romantic comedy. Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore make a great pair in The Wedding Singer! I loved the 80's music for the soundtrack. So many memories... And then for Billy Idol to show up in a scene was too funny. Enjoy the flashbacks and the 80's memories this movie brings back for you and the sweet love story.
Grade: B+
Labels: 1998, 80's, Adam Sandler, comedy, Drew Barrymore, movie, musical, romance
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:30 PM show | 0 screams