Revisions and polishing

gramps3 · Senior Member

Revisions and polishing

MrE1111 · Guru

It's a 10 piece band (2 synthesizer players, a piano, drums, bass, 2 guitarists, tenor sax, and 2 woodwind players.) The synthesizer, of course, makes it sound much larger. The band is under the baton of Kimberly Grigsby, who, despite being a distraction, is a masterful musical director and conductor.

In the eyes of the major NY critics, Kathleen Marshall has always been somewhat of a hit-or-miss. She hit her stride with Wonderful Town (got her her 1st choreography Tony) and skyrocketed with The Pajama Game two seasons ago (her 2nd choreography Tony). She's a very flexible director and is known for playing to the strong suits of the cast members (the Times complimented her on her "personality-defining choreography for specific characters.")

In Grease, most of the problems I've heard about are in her lackluster staging. One person said that to make the show better, they'd have to do a total overhaul. I can't judge, since I haven't seen the show yet.

Wednesday, I'll be able to tell.

gramps3 · Senior Member

MrE1111 wrote:

It's a 10 piece band (2 synthesizer players, a piano, drums, bass, 2 guitarists, tenor sax, and 2 woodwind players.) The synthesizer, of course, makes it sound much larger. The band is under the baton of Kimberly Grigsby, who, despite being a distraction, is a masterful musical director and conductor.

In the eyes of the major NY critics, Kathleen Marshall has always been somewhat of a hit-or-miss. She hit her stride with Wonderful Town (got her her 1st choreography Tony) and skyrocketed with The Pajama Game two seasons ago (her 2nd choreography Tony). She's a very flexible director and is known for playing to the strong suits of the cast members (the Times complimented her on her "personality-defining choreography for specific characters.")

In Grease, most of the problems I've heard about are in her lackluster staging. One person said that to make the show better, they'd have to do a total overhaul. I can't judge, since I haven't seen the show yet.

Wednesday, I'll be able to tell.

Please do respond to these questions again then. Thanks for the info about the band.

Stan/gramps

DogsandBirds · Guru

Nevermind

-- Edited by DogsandBirds at 03:26, 2007-07-30

Ray · Senior Member

I bet that band really rocks the house....can't wait to hear it.

I like the idea of "personality-defining choreography for specific characters".
The professional naysayers have blasted the choreography. Kathleen may have purposely kept it simple and character oriented. I would think that sophistocated choreography in a simple-minded show would be incongruent.

I'll see what people are talking about on the 19th.

-- Edited by Ray at 16:09, 2007-07-30

themusicman · Veteran Member

I always thought that Kenicke and Doody sing "Rock and Roll Party Queen". In this production, Doody and Roger sing it. I wonder why.

MrE1111 · Guru

No, it's always been Doody and Roger...at least according to the text I have.

themusicman · Veteran Member

http://books.google.com/books?id=0Io6l5TUMdQC&dq=Grease+Book&pg=PA3&ots=9MfY95Dums&sig=MdwmwblmBgg9OrCKGxs1HGh6ydI&prev=http://www.google.com/search%3Fhl%3Den%26q%3DGrease%2BBook&sa=X&oi=print&ct=result&cd=2

I guess you're right. But in the 1994 Broadway revival, they did it with Kenicke and Doody.

Cut and paste the long link into your browser and take a look.

-- Edited by themusicman at 08:51, 2007-08-03