Theatregoin'
 

I've got a list of things I'd like to see locally in the next year or so. Anybody interested? (More to come after the Taper releases their schedule.)

Assassins
Sondheim's darkly funny abstract musical about the various presidential assassins in America. This is one of my favorites, also Tom's, also Mousepod's.
Playing now through 9/20/08
West Coast Ensemble Theater Company
El Centro Theater, Hollywood

Once on this Island
Beautiful musical fantasy in which a young girl must prove to the mythical gods of her island that the power of love is stronger than death
September 2-14
Reprise! Theater company
Freud Playhouse at UCLA

Spring Awakening
Duncan Sheik's terrific musical, based on a nineteenth-century German play that was banned there - about teenagers discovering sexuality.
Oct 29 - Dec 7, 2008
Ahmanson

Frost/Nixon
Very well-received political drama by the screenwriter of Last King of Scotland and The Queen (among others) - about, obviously, journalist Frost and President Nixon.
Mar 11 - 29, 2009
Ahmanson

Chess
ABBA's Bjornsen and Ulvaeus' musical about a love trial at an international chess tournament.
May 5-17, 2009
Reprise! Theater company

Mary Poppins
(duh)
Nov 2009.
Ahmanson

Chess and Poppins appeal

Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Maybe

Assassins, Spring Awakening, Frost/Nixon and Mary/Poppins look good to me.


Um, someone else pick dates.

I'm in for anything happening October or later.

I'd go to all of those.

I wonder what variation of CHESS you will get. It's been revised and rewritten countless times, and, as far as I know, has never really conme together as a satisfactory show, but the music is so glorious, it hardly matters.

Spring Awakening is a maybe. I saw Poppins London. It was great.

Assassins and Once on This Island I am interested in.

Chess, maybe. I love the music but I hear the experience of watching it isn't as nice.

Mary Poppins, hell no. I heard the music on the cast album and hated it.

Not listed, but also really good, is The Drowsy Chaperone, which I am interested in seeing again when it hits San Diego at the end of September.

Oh, yes, Cherny - I meant for others to add in anything that might interest them!

I'm curious about Chess because it is the premiere of a brand-new book. I'd like to see if it improves the experience.

Assassins and Once on this Island are comin' up soon - so early next week (hopefully allowing for people who are interested to chime in) I'll look at ticket availability and dates. Saturday nights good for people? Sunday matinees?

I'd love to see Chess, and Mary Poppins is a definite.

Anybody else read this in Madeline Kahn's voice?

I love Quick Time Harch!

The Fly? LA Opera I think?

The artistic director of West Coast Ensemble is one of my customers downtown, I'll ask about group rates for Assassins - I'm definitely going.

Not so interested in Island or Chess - but, could be fun as a Swanking. Everything else looks good.

9 to 5: The Musical is going into the Ahmanson next, It's being produced by Dolly Parton (who I know orders ThinKrisps through one of my stores.) I'm sure that, even if it's not brilliant theatre, it'll be good fun. I'll go see that.

ASSASSINS!

^ Oh, did I mention Victor Garber (the man intimidates the Hell out of me) bought ThinKrisps on Sunday? :D We talked theatre, me and Victor.

I think you and € would really enjoy Spring Awakening. Full of good, if perhaps a bit hokey, German angst. It's a lot of fun.

I'm torn whether I want to see it since we saw it in New York. Part of me wants to see the comparison, part of me would rather just have the NY cast as my memory.

Damn you... Get out of my head!

I loved Spring Awakening on Broadway. The German aspect was plenty enough to merit a recommendation to Mr. Meinke.

I'm up for Mary Poppins...

• Assassins: interested
• Once on this Island: Saw the original touring company in LA. Fun little show. Will probably pass on this iteration though.
• Spring Awakening: have subscription ticket
• Frost/Nixon: probably a good show, but not especially interested
• Chess: Way, WAY interested! One of my top five favorite shows of all time, space, and dimension.
  Chess is notoriously difficult to stage. I saw the original London production and absofreakinglutely loved it! I have seen five other productions since, some were good, some so-so, but I would jump at the chance to see any production.
• Mary Poppins: have subscription ticket

I would highly recommend seeing Dame Edna! I have seen her twice before and it was a screamingly funny show/experience both times.

I am looking forward to seeing what Dolly & company can do with 9 to 5, as well as the premiere of Minsky's, and a revival of the well-received but tragically dark Parade.

Anybody want to come see Once on this Island with us on Sunday? Tickets are a bit pricey, $75/ea.

Eeek, no, can't afford. sorry.

Ouch!!! expensive. I wish I could but alas, BJ's sister is getting Spring Awakening tickets next week and I suppose I'll probably have to pay her for them ;) Also, my dad turns 60 on Sunday, so I'm seeing Brian *ack* *gag* Wilson at the Bowl (my 7th concert there this summer, holy moses). Seriously, I'm bringing my Nintendo DS :)