In high school, I made friends with some of the drama kids. It was so cathartic to be around people who understood my passion and to be in a place where there was no judgment. During intermission, we’d jam to showtunes in the dressing rooms. I always ask musical theater fans what their favorite musical is, and I hear all of the standards: Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Les Miserbles, Hamilton, and Rent, but never have I come across a fellow fan of Miss Saigon. In fact, any musical fan friend I’ve mentioned it to has said that while they’ve heard good things about the show, they have not experienced it themselves.

The musical is an updated adaption of the opera Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini and features a score by the genius duo behind Les Miserables, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boubil. It is Broadway’s thirteenth longest running show, opening in 1991 after succeeding in the West End in London for 2 years. Filipina singer Lea Salonga made her musical debut as the lead heroine, Kim, at the age of 17.

Set during the fall of Saigon during the final days of Vietnam War, the musical tells the tragic story of a young orphan who gets entangled in a world of prostitution and corruption to survive. On her first night as a bargirl at the seedy bar Dreamland, Kim’s virginity is bought by a US marine, John, for his friend Chris. Chris is initially reluctant to partake in his gift, but relents, and desperate for any connection, the two fall in love. Chris vows to save Kim from her life of degradation, only for the two to be tragically separated when the US troops were suddenly recalled home. It’s a tragic love story that pulls at the heartstrings and despite its risque subject matter, it never comes across as profane, just a sad way of life for these characters.

The score is beautifully done with wonderful songs such as: “Sun and Moon” and “The Last Night of the World” two of Kim and Chris’s love songs, as well as “I Still Believe,” and the heartbreaking showstopper “I’d Give My Life For You.”

In 2014, the show was revived in London and fellow Filipina, Eva Noblezada was cast as Kim. Following a successful 2 year run, it transferred to Broadway  for a year before closing once more. A film adaption has been rumored to be in the works for years, however, nothing has as of yet, surfaced, though the 25th anniversary performance was filmed and released on DVD in the UK.

Having a wide range of shows to choose from, I can honestly say that Miss Saigon is one of my absolute favorite shows. Not only does it showcase the most under-represented culture and ethnicity, but the story is so engrossing that you’re sucked right in and your heart breaks along with Kim’s. Her journey from scared child to fearless mother willing to die for her young son is captivating and the shocking ending leaves you in tears. This is a story of survival, love, determination, and above all else, strength that is universal to everyone.

Why this amazing show isn’t more popular among the theater crowd, I will never know. Seriously, if you have not seen this show, or at least listened to the soundtrack, you are missing out. There are very few times before that a show has impacted me as much as Miss Saigon did when I finished the 2014 live recording album for the first time. I am hopeful that the success of both productions of the revival will spur the film adaption on an that the revival cast will get to reprise their roles on screen; Eva Noblezada was born to play this role and after having heard her countless times on the album and seen her in the 25th anniversary live DVD, there is no one else who can do the role justice, besides Lea Salonga, of course.

The OBC  and 2014 live recordings can be found on Youtube, as well as the 2001 Manila tour production — featuring Lea Salonga. I was able to find the 25th anniversary movie on a site and download it onto my computer since it was never released in the US on either DVD or digital.

Please go and check this show out. Even if it isn’t your cup of tea, even if it isn’t your new favorite show, it’s worth a shot.

The post Miss Saigon Is An Underrated Gem appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

Since 2003, the musical adaption of Gregory Maguire’s hit novel “Wicked: the Lives and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” has mystified fans worldwide. The musical tells the story of Elphaba (future Wicked Witch) and how she became “wicked.” G(a)linda has a prominent role as well as Elphaba’s roommate and reluctant friend. The roles were originated by Idina Menzel (who won the Tony for Best Actress) and Kristin Chenoweth. The show is currently the sixth longest-running show on Broadway, grossing over $1.3 billion.

For years, rumors have circulated that a film adaption is in the works. Back in 2015, Lea Michelle and Harry Styles were listed as Elphaba and Fiyero on the IMDB page for the movie. In 2017, former Pussycat Dolls lead singer, Nicole Scherzinger was rumored to be vying for the leading role of Elphaba.

Also in 2017, the show writer Stephen Schwartz confirmed that a film adaption is in the works and gave fans a release date: December 20, 2019! However, after the announcement that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical “Cats” is getting the feature film treatment, the “Wicked” movie once again fell by the wayside…until February 8th, 2019, when it was announced that at last (hopefully) the film will be released on December 22, 2021.

Little is known about the film except that Stephen Daldry will direct, Winnie Holtzman (who wrote the book for the musical) will pen the script along with Stephen Schwartz, and Mark Platt is set to produce.

I am so excited for this movie! “Wicked” is one of my all-time favorite musicals. Ideally, I would love for Idina and Kristin to reprise their roles, but I understand that they are both too old to play college-aged girls. However, the second act could be set 20 years down the road, and then the door could be open for them to come back. I have some ideas for the main cast as I would have it. Given my deep affection for the show, I am incredibly protective and critical of the unreleased casting. Some musicals can succeed with leads that act better than sing, but “Wicked” is not one of those shows. From Elphaba belting out “Defying Gravity” and “No Good Deed” and G(a)linda’s operatic notes, powerhouse vocalists are required to do the show justice.

First off, I definitely think the vocals should be live in the movie. With the success of other live musicals such as the 2012 “Les Miserables” film and “Across the Universe” in 2007, the idea of using live vocals as opposed to the traditional prerecorded tracks has become slightly more popular. Personally, I feel that using the actor’s live vocals adds intimacy and rawness to a movie that can’t be accomplished by lip-synching. That’s why I’m hoping that real singers are cast instead of actresses.

Here are my top picks for the movie cast, as well as some honorable mentions.

1. Elphaba: Samantha Barks

This British songstress got her start on the musical reality series “I’d Do Anything” in 2008, where she competed for the role of Nancy in a new production of “Oliver.” She performed “Defying Gravity” on the show, and came in third, but after playing the role of Eponine in the West End as well as the 25th Anniversary concert, she went on to play Nancy, before reprising her role of Eponine for the “Les Mis” movie. Currently starring as Vivian in the Broadway production of “Pretty Woman the Musical,” Barks’ other theatre credits include Velma Kelly in the Hollywood Bowl production of “Chicago,” and Kathy” in the West End production of “The Last Five Years.” She’s an incredibly talented vocalist and actress and has proven more than once that she has the pipes to wear Elphaba’s hat.

2. G(a)linda: Perrie Edwards

A 1/4 of British girl group Little Mix, Perrie Edwards is known for her stellar voice. Though she does not often get to showcase her operatic skills, Edwards is capable of hitting impressive high notes. I don’t know how good of an actress she is, but I think with a dialect coach’s help to mask her British accent, she could make a wonderful G(a)linda.

3. Fiyero: Brendon Urie

The Panic! at the Disco frontman is known for his versatile voice, impressive vocal range, love of dance, and dashing good looks. I think that if anyone could pull off Fiyero’s swagger and bring his “Dancing Through Life” number to new levels of amazing, Urie is a perfect choice. At 31, he’s a little old to play the role, but he looks a lot younger, and I’d love to see him play a bad boy. During his stint in “Kinky Boots” on Broadway, he impressed fans with his acting and vocals.

4. Madame Morrible: Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep is undeniably the greatest actress in the business. While she is less known for singing ability, Streep did get her start on Broadway and had starred in three musical film adaptions: “Mamma Mia!,” “Into the Woods,” and “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” as well as singing in such films as “Postcards From the Edge” and “Ricki and the Flash.” The role of Madame Morrible is not huge, but Meryl would definitely be able to steal the show in the role, channeling her character of Miranda from “The Devil Wears Prada” with Morrible’s icy demeanor and caustic insults.

5. The Wizard: Hugh Jackman

The Aussie heartthrob is best known for his role as Wolverine in the “X-Men” franchise films, but he is also a song and dance man. He starred as Jean Valjean in the “Les Mis” film, as well as P. T. Barnum in “The Greatest Showman.” His theatre credits include originating the role of Peter Allen in “The Boy From Oz” on Broadway as well as his one-man show, in which he sang pop tunes as well as old theatre favorites. It would be nice to see Jackman not play the hero for once, though the role of the Wizard is more an anti-hero than a traditional villain.

6. Nessarose: Barrett Wilbert Weed

This theatre actress is best known for originating the roles of Veronica in “Heathers: the Musical” off-Broadway and Janice in “Mean Girls” on Broadway. Possessing solid rock ‘n roll vocal abilities, Weed would nail the minor role of Nessarose. I’d bet she could pull off vindictive spoiled brat very well, but convey a hint of Nessarose’s inner fragility.

Honorable Mentions:

Elphaba: Ciara Renée,  Naya Rivera, Cynthia Erivo, Emili Sandé,  Leona Lewis, Rita Ora, Anna Kendrick, Demi Lovato, Lea Michele, Jessie J.

G(a)linda: Amanda Seyfried, Megan Hilty, Kristen Bell.

Fiyero: Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Jonathan Groff (only with Lea Michele,) Darren Criss, Shawn Mendes.

Madame Morrible: Helena Bonham Carter, Jessica Lange, Michelle Pfeiffer.

The Wizard: Joel Grey, Christopher Walken, Sir Patrick Stewart, Matthew Broderick,

Nessarose: Lea Michele

The post ‘Wicked: The Movie’ Dream Cast appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

Urie made his debut on Broadway in “Kinky Boots,” a musical by Cyndi Lauper. He played the lead role of Charlie Price from May 26, 2017, through August 6, 2017. His run with the show was met with stellar reviews and extensive press coverage.

I have not seen Kinky Boots, nor have I seen a bootleg version of Brendon’s time in the show, but being a huge P!ATD fan, I can’t help but think about what roles I’d love to see him play in some of my favorite Broadway shows. For these choices, I have taken into consideration his vocal skills, charisma, and sex appeal.

1: P.T. Barnum in “The Greatest Showman.”

The film, starring Hugh Jackman was hugely popular at the time of its release toward the tail end of 2017. Though Hugh Jackman has said that he’d happily don the top hat again in a sequel, a Broadway adaption would be the next logical step rather than another movie. In order to successfully transition from stage to screen, the hypothetical show would need the right star. Hugh Jackman is a terrific actor and talented singer, and although he has performed on Broadway before in his one man show and in the OBC of “The Boy From Oz,” I feel that a great successor would be Brendon Urie. He already covers the films title song “This is the Greatest Show” for the “The Greatest Showman: Reimagined soundtrack,” and knocked it out of the park, and fans of P!ATD will know just how well he can pull off a top hat and red jacket. This one is written in the stars!

2. The Phantom in “The Phantom of the Opera”

The Phantom of the Opera is beloved by many and revered to be the greatest musical of all time; it’s certainly the longest running! The title character of the Phantom is supposed to be dark, mysterious, and sexy despite his facial disfigurations; charming beyond belief and possessing top-notch vocal skills. This role screams Brendon Urie!  The role calls for a tenor or a high baritone singer, and Mr. Urie would rock the hell out of the half mask. I’d kill to hear him belt out “It’s over now, the music of the night!” To be fair, I do think that he’d be a great Raoul, too, but true “phans” know what a terrible character Raoul is, so I won’t even go there.

3. John in “Miss Saigon”

In the tragic musical about the fall of Vietnam, John is an ancillary character; as Chris’s friend and comrade, he plays a key role in several scenes and opens the second act with the soulful “Bui Doi” number. I do not doubt in my mind that Urie could take the song to levels that no one has before.

4. Christian in “Moulin Rouge!”

The film was wildly successful in 2001 when it was released. For years, a stage adaption was rumored to be in the works with the film’s stars Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman, though nothing came of it for years. On July 10, 2018, a new version of the musical premiered in Boston at the Colonial Theatre. The cast included Aaron Tveit and Karen Olivo. With an opening date on Broadway set for July 26, 2019, the previews will begin on June 22 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. The jukebox musical has incorporated more modern songs into the new production, so if Brendon were to play romantic writer Christian, who’s to say maybe a Panic! song couldn’t be included as well?

5. Fiyero in “Wicked.

“After 16 years on the Great White Way, the musical is still going strong, with a film adaption allegedly in the works. The male lead, Fiyero has been played by rock singer and American Idol alum Adam Lambert; a rich bad boy with a soft side he keeps hidden from the world, the character goes from an airheaded playboy to a hero in his own right. Given his affinity for dancing and his ability to hit higher notes, I could easily see Beebo courting everyone’s favorite witches.

6. Jude in “Across the Universe.”

The jukebox musical comprised of Beatles songs was released in 2007 to mixed reviews. A stage adaption has never surfaced, but, if it ever were to happen, I couldn’t think of a better actor to step into Jim Sturgess’ shoes than Brendon Urie. Although the role of Jude calls for a British accent (the character hails from Liverpool,) I’m sure with the right dialect coach, Urie could easily pull it off.

7. Buddy Holly in “Buddy – the Buddy Holly Musical.”

This musical uses the music of Buddy Holly to tell the story of the beloved musician’s rise to fame and his tragic end.  In the music video for “Ready to Go (Get Me Out of My Mind) one of the characters that Urie impersonates is a Buddy Holly-esque singer. He had the look and moves down pat.

8. Stacee Jax in “Rock of Ages”

The fictitious rock god seen in the 80s rock jukebox musical has been played by the likes of Tom Cruise in the film adaption. He’s portrayed as a washed-up alcoholic, blowing gigs and burying his sorrows in alcohol, drugs, and pretty girls. If the show were to ever reopen on Broadway, or get the “Live” treatment on TV, I think Brendon would be an interesting Stacee Jax, if for no other reason than to hear him belt out iconic rock anthems.

9. Melchior in “Spring Awakening.”

I am well aware that this one is a bit of a stretch as Melchior is supposed to be a teenager and Brendon Urie is 31, but he could pull off the character’s broody personality and would kill songs like: “Totally Fucked,” “All That’s Known,” “The Bitch of Living,” and “Left Behind.” If late 2000s Brendon Urie had done a musical, this is the one he’d have done.

10. Roger in “Rent.”

I don’t know why I keep mentally casting Brendon in these broody roles, but we already know that he pulls off guyliner in a way that few can and his rendition of “One Song Glory” would literally explode all of the ovaries everywhere.

11. Hedwig in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.”

If anyone could follow in John Cameron Mitchell and Neil Patrick Harris’ immortal footsteps in the role of the transgendered rock star Hedwig, Brendon Urie is your man! He can wear the heck out of heels and he would slay “The Origin of Love.”

12. Frank N. Furter in “The Rocky Horror Show.”

This one follows much the same line of reasoning as my previous suggestion. Frank N Furter is a pansexual alien from Transexual who likes to dress like a woman and create men in a lab, and he still has the time and energy to seduce both Brad AND Janet. This role has Brendon Urie written all over it. With his trademark dirty sense of humor, he could ad lib his way through the show, and it would be genius. I will be severely disappointed if this one never comes to be.

So, there you have it, my dream roles for Brendon Urie to play either on Broadway or in some incarnation of said shows. I am in no way affiliated with Brendon or with Panic! at the Disco, I’m just a huge fan of the band, the man, and awesome musical theater.

The post Top Broadway Roles That Brendon Urie Would Slay appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

On Sunday, January 27th, 2019, the much anticipated “Rent Live” aired on Fox. “Rent” is the latest in a long line of televised “live” musicals appearing on network television starring new casts. Others in this vein include: “The Sound of Music,” “Grease,” “Hairspray,” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.””Rent” is an updated version of the famous opera “La Bohème,” by Puccini, and tells the story of a group of artists living in New York’s Alphabet City during the height of the AIDS pandemic. It was released in 1996, at a time when the show’s inclusion of gay, bi, and cross dressing characters were not shown in the mainstream, as well as the AIDS crisis and the issue of drug addiction. The show’s writer, Jonathan Larson, tragically died on the night of the final dress rehearsal, but his show has graced Broadway stage for 12 years in its original run, as well as several national and international tours, productions in Mexico,  London, and France, and a short revival off-Broadway in 2011. A feature film was released in 2005, starring all of the original cast members: Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Jessie L. Martin, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Idina Menzel, and Taye Diggs, as well as welcoming new stars Rosario Dawson and Tracie Thoms.While the televised version of “Rent” received the lowest viewership of all the live musical renditions, that is not to suggest that it was not good. I’ve been a fan of the show since the movie came out; I’ve seen it live three times, I know the soundtrack by heart, and I have to admit that while I was excited at the prospect of a new filmed version of my beloved show,  I was hesitant about the cast and how it would survive on Fox networks. I was surprised when I saw the track listing for the soundtrack and saw that racy songs like “Contact” were included.   I was not able to watch it on the night it aired, due to work, but I have a friend who sent me clips of Tinashe’s rendition of “Out Tonight” Mimi–the S & M dancer burdened with HIV and a heroin addiction, is my favorite character in the show, and “Out Tonight” is my absolute favorite song. I watched the Snapchat videos, anxiously. I am very protective and particular about the character and song, and I had my reservations about Tinashe. She is incredibly talented, don’t get me wrong, but I wasn’t sure that she had the pipes to pull off the iconic song. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw her performance in its sexy and raw glory. After that one clip, I was sold.I didn’t get to watch the full show until today, but I had already heard that fans felt slighted that the televised version wasn’t “live.” Not true. Actor Brennin Hunt (Roger) injured his foot and was told that he would be unavailable to perform on show night; the entire cast and crew were faced with a dilemma. There were no understudies and they didn’t want to cancel the show until his foot was healed, so, in true “Rent” fashion, the show went on, much as it did on that final dress rehearsal, the night that Jonathan Larson died. The version that was aired on TV was the pro-shot dress rehearsal, with the exception of the last 10 minutes or so. The cast did perform on show night, but in a stripped down, concert style, as opposed to the full-blown show, as planned.  This version of “Rent” differed slightly from previous incarnations.The most notable change is that Mark this production is not white, as he has always been. Actor Jordan Fisher brought a new likeability to the character that no other actor has done, at least, not for me. “Rent” has always been an inclusive show, with 5 of the 8 original cast members being non-white. The costumes were changed slightly: Mimi’s signature blue pants were reworked into a short blue skirt, Angel’s Santa Claus dress was lengthened and included a train, Maureen sported cow print pants for her ridiculous “Over the Moon” performance, and, of course, the signature Mark sweater was redesigned from red and blue to red, brown, green, yellow, and blue. The original Mark sweater did appear, however, during the “Christmas Bells” number when Angel and Collins are shopping for a new coat; the vendor displays it, but Angel declines.As well as costume changes, the show also had edited lyrics, which I didn’t mind. There were some casual lyrics changes throughout the show that I thought were nice, and some songs that were shortened, namely the voicemails. The biggest changes were the new, more involved sets and the added dialogue, as well as the included focus on the Life Support group and their message.  The Broadway production of “Rent” featured a simplistic set of a few tables, and the railing on which Mimi dances seductively during “Out Tonight.” The new production featured hardwood flooring, beds, an actual motorcycle, and multi level set, where we get to see glimpses of Mimi’s apartment.There is a new scene just before “I’ll Cover You,” the love song between gay HIV+ professor, Tom Collins, and drag queen–also HIV+–Angel Dumot Schunard. The added dialogue sees Angel asking Collins about her new outfit and proclaiming that this new costume is more “her.” This new production did away with the notion of Angel as a cross dresser, and passed her off more as transgender.Other new scenes include extra bits with the Life Support meetings and their message of love and acceptance, as well as more authentic make up for the AIDS stricken characters.One scene in particular that I found genius was just before Mimi and Roger’s tragic “Without You” number, where Mimi comes home late (out buying drugs) and Roger accuses her of cheating with Benny, their landlord and ex-friend; Roger coughs and Mimi asks if he’s okay. That was not in the original production, nor any other that I have seen. Then, during the musical beds portion of the song, Roger gets into Angel’s vacated hospital bed–complete with IVs. Whether this was to indicate that Roger had an AIDS scare and was hospitalized, or just a way to reuse a set piece without overcrowding the stage, I’m not sure, but regardless, I thought it was a nice addition, as well as Mark’s narration that Angel had been hospitalized most of the winter. “Contact” the song in which the main characters all have sex with their respective partners (except Mark, who is masturbating) plays out much like it normally does on stage, with the exception of a near-death Angel seeming to revived and revitalized by the orgy on stage, only to die. This version of the song was more cybernetic and mechanical than previous versions, but I thought it worked well. 

While the show may have garnered lower rating than hoped, I don’t feel that this is reflection on the show itself. The vocals were not perfect, but these imperfections added to the rawness of the show and made it more believable. The core message of the show — No Day But Today — is just as poignant now, as it was 22 years ago, as is the theme of acceptance, no matter someone’s ethnicity, sexual orientation, or station in life.  This show means the world to me, and I am proud that it’s legacy and integrity were upheld. Hopefully a new generation of fans have now been spawned, and this show will never go unheard.

The post RENT Live: An Honest Review appeared first on Theatre Nerds.