Showing posts with label #Broadway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Broadway. Show all posts

Monday, April 7, 2014

{#Broadway Alert} Go see #MothersAndSons! @MothersSonsBway #Theatre



One of the best parts of being a born and raised New York City Girl is the Theatre. My mom loves Broadway and it's one of the first things she introduced me to. It's been a lifelong love ever since. While I have mixed feelings about Musicals (always have) - don't get me wrong I love Music and I love theatre, but have always had mixed feelings about folks breaking into song every few minutes. Thankfully over the years many have blown me away, but for me drama, (the non singing every two seconds kind), is very much what the theater is about for me.




I recently had the opportunity to enjoy Mothers and Sons while it was still in preview.

ABOUT:

The play centers on Katharine Gerard (portrayed by Tyne Daly), who pays an unexpected visit to the New York apartment of her late son's partner, who is now married to another man and has a young son. Katharine finds herself challenged to face how society has changed while generations collide as she revisits the past and begins to fully see the life her son led in spite of her disapproval.

Cast shot of Mothers and Sons











CAST:

Actress Tyne Daly

Katharine Gerard - Portrayed by Tyne Daly - She created this role in the world premiere of Mothers and Sons at Bucks County Playhouse and in 2011 was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame. Her TV credits include Six nominations and FOUR Emmy Awards for Cagney & Lacey.





Actor Frederick Weller




Cal Porter - Portrayed by Frederick Weller  - His Broadway credits include Glengarry Glen Ross, Take Me Out, Seascape, The Rehearsal, The Little Foxes and Six Degrees of Separation.









Will Ogden - Portrayed by Bobby Steggert - Like Tyne, he originated this role at Bucks County Playhouse, his Broadway credits also include: Big Fish, Ragtime, and 110 in the Shade.




Actor Grayson Taylor




Bud Ogden-Porter -  Portrayed by Grayson Taylor - is making his Broadway Debut in Mothers and Sons after originating the role of Bud at Bucks County Playhouse.





My Take:

The Golden Theater was actually just the perfect size, it lent enough intimacy to truly focus the audience right in on all the action. Katharine certainly shakes things up when she arrives suddenly at the home of her son's former partner, but in the process the layers slowly peel away leaving her exposed, revealing her vulnerability and at the core of it all is a Mother. A Mother who has lost her son. (it is revealed she has also lost her husband and is truly alone.) A Mother who lost the larger part of her son's adulthood because she couldn't accept his choices. It is a powerful story, one that to some degree is that much more powerful because the storyteller lived it. To help paint a clearer picture on the backstory, please read A Playwright's Status Report - McNally's 'Mothers and Sons' Gauges a Changed America By Patrick Healy of the New York Times.

The complex relationship between Mothers and Sons, what comprises a 'modern family', and the difficulties same-sex couples experience in society all make for a well written emotional rollercoaster where one moment the audience is laughing and then crying the next. It is moving and compelling and I urge you to see it!

Tracy from Ascending Butterfly at Golden Theater New York City Mothers and Sons Signage


Charitable Auction:

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids is currently taking bids for a chance to have drinks with Tyne Daly, Terrence McNally, Bobby Steggert and Frederick Weller after a performance of Mothers and Sons on Broadway via CharityBuzz.com.

For all my Butterflies out there who are Mothers how do you deal with decisions your adult children make that you do not agree with? Have you personally dealt with a parent who refused to accept your life choices? If so, how did you handle it?


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FTC Disclosure: Ascending Butterfly was provided Press Tickets to Mothers and Sons for editorial consideration. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure. All opinions are 100% my own! No monetary compensation has been exchanged!

Friday, April 12, 2013

{Theatre Review} If Kinky Boots The Musical @KinkyBootsBway doesn't make you want to sing and dance in the aisle, check your pulse! #KinkyBootsBway

Playbill for Kinky Boots The Musical on Broadway
Playbill for Kinky Boots The Musical on Broadway


Last week during a week I can only nickname 'Birthday Madness', I got to see the new Broadway Musical,  Kinky Boots still in previews. I brought along Mama Butterfly who had already seen the movie version (I have not yet seen the movie), but I made her promise NOT to tell me anything about it!

Kinky Boots The Musical Sign at The Al Hirschfeld Theatre
Kinky Boots The Musical Sign at The Al Hirschfeld Theatre


Synopsis:

From Grammy® Award-winning pop icon CYNDI LAUPER and four-time Tony Award® winner HARVEY FIERSTEIN comes the exhilarating new musical KINKY BOOTS, directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner JERRY MITCHELL.

Kinky Boots The Musical Signage in front of The Al Hirschfeld Theatre


Charlie Price (Tony nominee Stark Sands) has suddenly inherited his father’s shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola (Billy Porter). A fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, Lola turns out to be the one person who can help Charlie become the man he’s meant to be. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible… and discovers that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world.

Featuring a sensational new score, knockout dancing and a spectacularly uplifting story, KINKY BOOTS is the must-see new musical that proves that sometimes, the best way to fit in is to stand out!

Kinky Boots The Musical Signage of Cyndi Lauper in front of The Al Hirschfeld Theatre


En Espanol:

Charlie Price repentinamente ha heredado la fábrica de calzado de su padre, que está al borde de la quiebra. Tratando de cumplir con el legado de su padre y salvar su negocio familiar, Charlie encuentra inspiración en forma de Lola (Billy Porter). Un fabuloso actor que necesitan unos stilettos robustos, Lola resulta ser la única persona que puede ayudar a Charlie a convertirse en el hombre que ha destinado a ser. Mientras trabajan para apagar la fábrica de alrededor, este improbable par los hallazgos que tienen más en común que siempre soñado posible... y descubre que cuando cambias de parecer acerca de alguien, puede cambiar el mundo entero.


Trailer:




Cast:


Stark Sands plays Charlie Price in Kinky Boots The Musical at The Hirschfeld Theatre

Billie Porter plays Simon/Lola in Kinky Boots The Musical at The Hirschfeld Theatre

Billie Porter as Lola in Kinky Boots The Musical at The Hirschfeld Theatre

Annaleigh Ashford plays Lauren in Kinky Boots The Musical at The Hirschfeld Theatre

Celina Carvajal plays Nicola in Kinky Boots The Musical at The Hirschfeld Theatre

Daniel Stewart Sherman plays Don in Kinky Boots The Musical at The Hirschfeld Theatre


Marcus Neville plays George in Kinky Boots The Musical at The Hirschfeld Theatre
Sebastian Hedges Thomas plays Young Charlie in Kinky Boots The Musical at The Hirschfeld Theatre
Marquise Neal plays Young Lola in Kinky Boots The Musical at The Hirschfeld Theatre


Eugene Barry-Hill plays Simon Sr. in Kinky Boots The Musical at The Hirschfeld Theatre

Stephen Berger plays Mr. Price in Kinky Boots The Musical at The Hirschfeld Theatre


My Take:

The way I open this post is exactly how I feel about Kinky Boots The Musical, if this play doesn't make you want to jump out of your seat and start singing and dancing, you may need to have your pulse checked! There really is no other way to describe it, but you leave the theatre feeling uplifted, happy and with a smile on your face!

It's incredibly well cast, and they all work so well playing off of each other, that it is hard to pick a personal favorite among this amazing cast!

I love the way The Musical takes time to give you backstory for the characters and truly carries the stories through, like seeing both young Charlie and young Simon, and how they relate to their Fathers and then how those foundations from their youth carry through to the way they are as young men, and how the relationship with Simon and his father Simon Sr. evolves overtime. It's a beautiful story of what would normally seem an unlikely friendship. While it claims to celebrate what makes us unique and different, it is actually a celebration of the things that unite us all, wanting to live up to our parents expectations, yet also wanting to chart our own course and dance to beat of our own drummer, looking for a love that allows us to be who we are without trying to change us, and that the most amazing ideas sometimes come from the most bizarre series of coincidences and circumstances!

And THIS:



Butterflies you just have to see it to find out why I'm highlighting this graphic!

The Theatre has been a strong part of my life since I was a child, and I will say my very first two plays set the bar super high, but this has to be the standout for me for 2013 so far, there is just nothing bad to say about it, well cast, strong storyline, an incredible musical score (Cyndi Lauper NAILED it!), and it's just a great paced, high energy, FUN time on Broadway that you will certainly kick yourself if you miss it! (Kick yourself with a high heeled kinky boot for missing it in fact!)

Get Social:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Get the latest updates by following @KinkyBootsBway via Twitter and be sure to use the hashtag #KinkyBootsBway

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - You can also check out the latest news on their Facebook page (and you can press the video trailer above to go straight to the YouTube page).

Here is me and Mama Butterfly and I'm holding up my tickets high:


Had to ham it up with Cyndi Lauper in the middle! (What is your favorite Cyndi song of all time? For me it's an even tie between Girls Just Wan't to Have Fun and Time after Time!)

I definitely say 'Ticket' butterflies (Do NOT Miss this one!), and when you see it, please come back here and share your thoughts! And remember when all else fails:




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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post, no monetary compensation has been received by Ascending Butterfly, we were provided only with our seats for editorial consideration. All Opinions are always 100% my own. I LOVED THIS SHOW!