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Autographed Playbill and Ticket from Ghost The Musical |
Sometimes New York City can test the patience of a Saint, and just when I think I should start plotting my escape to the West Coast, or maybe the Caribbean, I do something so very New York City and have so much fun and am so in the moment that I scrap my escape plans, and appreciate being a part of the fabric of the City that NEVER sleeps!
Last week was one of those moments! I got invited to see
Ghost The Musical on Broadway with
The Moms and I had absolutely no idea what to expect. Like many, I was a HUGE Patrick Swayze fan and honestly couldn't imagine seeing someone else play Sam. I also couldn't really imagine the story as a musical, or seeing it re-cast.
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Ad for Ghost directly across the Theatre |
About
The show that's thrilling London is now on Broadway. GHOST is a new musical adapted from the hit film by its Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin and directed by Tony Award® winner Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage, The Norman Conquests). The original score is by multiple Grammy® Award winners Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard, and includes the iconic "Unchained Melody" by The Righteous Brothers.
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Sam and Molly, Ghost the Musical on Broadway |
Synopsis
English: GHOST is a timeless fantasy about the power of love. The story follows Sam and Molly, a young couple whose connection takes a shocking turn after Sam's untimely death. Trapped between two worlds as a ghost, Sam refuses to leave Molly when he learns she is in grave danger. Desperate to communicate with her, he turns to a storefront psychic, Oda Mae, who helps him protect Molly and avenge his death.
Spanish/Espanol: GHOST es una fantasía atemporal sobre el poder del amor. La historia sigue a Sam y Molly, una joven pareja cuya relación da un giro impactante después de la muerte prematura de Sam. Atrapado entre dos mundos como un fantasma, Sam se niega a dejar de Molly cuando descubre que ella está en grave peligro. Desesperada para comunicarse con ella, él se convierte en un escaparate psíquico, Oda Mae, que le ayuda a proteger a Molly y vengar su muerte.
Cast
Sam Wheat (played by Patrick Swayze in the movie) is played by Richard Fleeshman who originated the role of Sam in both the West End and world premier Manchester productions of
Ghost The Musical.
Molly Jensen (played by Demi Moore in the movie) is played by
Caissie Levy who originated the role of Molly in both the West End and world premier Manchester productions of
Ghost The Musical. Most recently, she starred as Sheila in the 2009 Tony
® Award winning Broadway revival of
Hair. Other Broadway credits include: Elphaba in
Wicked (Los Angeles, Broadway u/s); Penny Pingleton in
Hairspray (Broadway, first national tour); and Maureen in
Rent (national tour).
Oda Mae Brown (played by Whoopi Goldberg in the movie) is played artfully by Da'Vine Joy Randolph a Philadelphia native makes her Broadway debut in Ghost.
Carl Bruner (played by Tony Goldwyn in the movie) is played by Bryce Pinkham whose credits include: Broadway: Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Lincoln Center: Knickerbocker Holiday (with Kelli O'Hara, Victor Garber and the American Symphony Orchestra. Off-Broadway: Orphans' Home Cycle (Signature Theater/Hartford Stage); Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Public Lab). Regional: A Funny Thing Happened..., Our Town, Beyond Therapy (Williamstown); A View From The Bridge (Guthrie Theater); All's Well That Ends Well, Woman Of No Importance (Yale Rep); The Just, Much Ado About Nothing (Chautauqua Theatre Co.); Dublin Carol (Nora Theatre). TV: "God In America," "The Good Wife." Bryce is a proud collaborator with Theater of War, a program that performs Greek tragedy for American military audiences; his latest trips were to Guantanamo Bay and Japan. Awards
Butterflies I will tell you that the show blew me away! They certainly managed to breathe new life into an old Ghost! The show is brilliantly cast and while respect is payed to the original storyline, not once do they try to imitate it. Each actor makes the role their own and the special effects are woven so well into the story and it is visually stunning.
And I have to point out that Da'Vine Joy Randolph who plays Oda Mae Brown certainly makes a powerful Broadway debut. When her voice is first heard, much like a parade, you literally FEEL her voice. It's just that stunningly powerful!
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Questions and Answers Session with Ghost the Musical on Broadway Cast |
We were also treated to a Questions and Answers session after the show, and the cast shared favorite moments, how they felt about the original film and how it felt to step into their respective roles. One of the questions I asked was which special effect was the hardest to pull off on stage and I was told the very final scene was the most challenging despite the fact that illusionist Paul Kieve served as a consultant. I won't reveal how it's pulled it off, but I will tell you that this show is a MUST SEE!
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Questions and Answers Session with Ghost the Musical on Broadway Cast |
It was so cool to see the cast directly after their performance, as you can see from the photo above and the laughter, they definitely enjoy working together, and what stood out from the Q&A was how they mentioned that because of the illusions this play has afforded them the opportunity to get to know the crew in a way they probably would not have otherwise. This play is truly a collaborative effort between cast and crew and it very much shows!
As you can see I did some outside the theatre door stalking and got a few shots with the cast outside the theatre!
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Bryce Pinkham signs my playbill outside the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre |
This happened so fast I didn't event get to take off my glasses! Bryce plays the 'bad guy' in Ghost the Musical, but as you can tell he is super friendly and super sweet! He posed for this picture twice because the first one didn't come out right, he previewed it himself and said, we'll just have to take this again! There is something very Jude Law remniscent with Bryce, he certainly played a very a convincing bad boy!
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Da'Vine Joy Randolph who plays Oda Mae Brown in Ghost the Musical on Broadway
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Da'Vine Joy Randolph almost got away, but I was on my way to get cheesecake and saw her! I was so moved by her performance, I had to have a picture! On the far left is Mama Butterfly, Center is Da'Vine Joy Randolph and that's me, Ascending Butterfly on the right! This time I remembered to take off my glasses! Her performance was fantastic, and I can't wait to see what role she takes on next!
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Left: Ascending Butterfly Right: Mama Butterfly outside Lunt-Fontanne Theatre |
I couldn't get the zoom to shoot a bit farther back, so there we are in front of the Ghost sign of Molly and Sam! I couldn't get you guys free seats, but I did nab you a discount to Broadway's most fun Ghost of the Summer!
++++++++++++ DISCOUNT COUPON ++++++++++++++++
The supernatural power of love has arrived on Broadway as Ghost The Musical, adapted from the Academy Award winning film, opened on April 23, 2012 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street)
Special Discount Code for Independence Day June 29th – July 8th only – Tickets $79 for Prime Orchestra and Front Mezzanine Seats
Ghost the Musical’s Unchained Summer – June 18th – July 28th $89 for Prime Orchestra and Front Mezzanine Seats
Mention Code MOMS at TicketMaster.com or call 877-250-2929 or bring this offer to the Lunt-Fontanne Theater Box Office at 205 W 46th St., NYC
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Get social with Ghost the Musical on Broadway on Facebook and Twitter!
Butterflies, if you do see the show, please be sure to come back here and let us know!
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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. No monetary compensation has been received. I attended a performance of Ghost the Musical courtesy of The Moms - Feel free to visit our disclosure page for additional information regarding our disclosure policy.