Grease Photos from June 6h

Tay4me · Veteran Member

Grease Photos from June 6h

Aragall · Senior Member

Great photos, Tay4me.

Now I have a silly question. I just love that curl in the middle of Max's forehead. Does anyone know if there's a name for that?

hammergirl · Newbie

ha taylor you was awesome as always . soulpatrol cant wait to see you on july 3and 4 soulpatrol

DogsandBirds · Guru

They used to be called a spit curl.

BBS420 · Guru

griz wrote:
Thanks Tay4Me! Awesome pictures!! There's SO many great ones, I can' t even pick a fave, but this one is great with Max and Laura backstage. I still don't think that's just his own teased hair - I vote that it's a wig. What do you think?

-- Edited by griz at 23:59, 2008-06-07

I can't figure it out, it looks like his hair, but a lot more of it.

Aragall · Senior Member

DogsandBirds wrote:
They used to be called a spit curl.

Thank you, DandB. It is just so perfectly formed and perfectly placed. Very cool! I think this look suits Max.

-- Edited by Aragall at 01:59, 2008-06-08

DogsandBirds · Guru

The cast has a really terrific hairdresser.

BBS420 · Guru

DogsandBirds wrote:
The cast has a really terrific hairdresser.

if that's just Taylor's hair, the hairdresser is a miracle worker.

it looks a lot thicker.

Tay4me · Veteran Member

Max and Laura taken last night - June 6th

-- Edited by Tay4me at 03:21, 2008-06-08

Judy · Senior Member

Thanks for the pictures everyone, they're great ! The hair is exactly the way they used to wear it back then.We used to call the curl Max has a drop curl,anyone who was bold enough to wear one was cool ! My first date had one and I remember my Dad called him a hoodlum LOL ! Grease brings back so many great memories.

greatwhiteway · Senior Member

You tube has the video of Taylors performance up. He was OK but not the performer Buntrock was. I do suppose he will draw people in as that u tube video has over a thousand hits so far.

MrE1111 · Guru

There is absolutely no acting required in that part.

greatwhiteway · Senior Member

Sorry Mr. E there is. Buntrock brought it. I originally did not want to say it but Taylor's voice is not as strong, or as good as Buntrock's.He also did not bring the classic, bombastic cheesy feeling to the number which made him such a hit in the play. I also don't think the change in costume and hair (wig) did much for Hicks. But as someone said, perhaps given time he will improve. I just think Buntrock is a hard act to follow...though Tylor will most likely do mfine given his popularity.

-- Edited by greatwhiteway at 13:27, 2008-06-08

BBS420 · Guru

can Buntrock's performance be seen anywhere?

amc365 · Veteran Member

Was Doody recast on Friday? I can't tell in the thumbnails if that's Ryan Patrick Binder.

Tay4me · Veteran Member

greatwhiteway wrote:

Sorry Mr. E there is. Buntrock brought it. I originally did not want to say it but Taylor's voice is not as strong, or as good as Buntrock's.He also did not bring the classic, bombastic cheesy feeling to the number which made him such a hit in the play. I also don't think the change in costume and hair (wig) did much for Hicks. But as someone said, perhaps given time he will improve. I just think Buntrock is a hard act to follow...though Tylor will most likely do mfine given his popularity.

-- Edited by greatwhiteway at 13:27, 2008-06-08

Just curious to know if you went to the show on Friday and saw Taylor's opening performance? I don't think it's fair to judge Taylor on one performance against somebody that has done it numerous times.

Aragall · Senior Member

BBS420 wrote:
can Buntrock's performance be seen anywhere?

Or perhaps there is footage of Buntrock's very first time performing on a Broadway stage. That would be the only fair comparison. In the past 2 years that I've been following Taylor's career, I don't ever recall reading that he's done any musical theater.

One thing I do know about Taylor Hicks is that he is very smart. He is always observing, listening and using the information that he takes in. There will be steady improvement in his performances, to be sure.

Ray · Senior Member

I enhanced the signal in the clip, so that I could hear Taylor clearly. He is fantastic! I kept replaying it. His sound and style are perfect for that song. He gives it a romantic quality, which adds a whole other dimension to Buntrock's and Avalon's versions. I don't know if the band is playing any differently, but now the song rocks! His flawless falsetto, way up to high E-flat, adds just the right touch of period authenticity. The little that can be seen of his moving around the stage looks relaxed and commanding. This is a star turn that justifies the hype.

MrE1111 · Guru

Perhaps I spoke too harshly.

In terms of replacements, when I heard Taylor Hicks was stepping in, I thought "now that is great casting." "Teen Angel" requires the ability to charm an audience and sell the song. It's not "Rose's Turn," there's no mental breakdown, nothing that really requires "acting." But you MUST be able to get the audience in the palm of your hand - and Hicks had that on Idol, and I'm sure he'll have it now.

Buntrock is a fine actor but this role didn't even use him to his fullest potential.

BBS420 · Guru

coming from you, that means a lot!!

NYState of Mind · Member

Having never seen Buntrock's version of Teen Angel, there's no way I would ever attempt to make any kind of comparison. I was very pleased with Taylor's opeining night on Broadway. Reports from backstage before the show indicated he was "jumping in his skin with nerves".

I saw Taylor on opening night of his very first concert tour where the reports of nerves were the same. He delivered a great show, but after listening to reviews and watching videos of subsequent performances, it was obvious that he gradually became more comfortable in the new role as a major headlining act.

It is a well-known fact that Taylor feeds off of the audience. I'm sure that he is taking mental notes at each performance of those things that get the most audience reaction and will refine his performance as he goes along.

I am excited that Taylor was given this opportunity and chose to take it and run with it. In the long run, it will serve as a valuable learning tool for him conitnue to develop as a performer and entertainer.

grannygreaser · Senior Member

Aragall wrote:

BBS420 wrote:
can Buntrock's performance be seen anywhere?
Or perhaps there is footage of Buntrock's very first time performing on a Broadway stage.

I don't think there is a clip of his first performance on YouTube, but there are several clips from the various shows he has done. Les Miserables was one of the first and there are a couple of clips from it. A few clips from Phantom of the Opera as well. Buntrock has been performing many years on Broadway so all that experience does come into play.

I thoroughly enjoyed Buntrock's performance in Grease, although there isn't a clip of it that I could find. I thought he brought a lot of humor to the role and made it a lot of fun.

I thought Mr. Hicks did a fine job, but it is hard to judge anything from a clip taken by an audience member versus seeing it live. He is playing the role very differently from Buntrock and making it his own. If his performance reaches out and touches the audience, then he is successful. And yes, he will grow in the role as Max and Laura have grown over the past year.

BBS420 · Guru

grannygreaser wrote:
Aragall wrote:

BBS420 wrote:
can Buntrock's performance be seen anywhere?
Or perhaps there is footage of Buntrock's very first time performing on a Broadway stage.

I don't think there is a clip of his first performance on YouTube, but there are several clips from the various shows he has done. Les Miserables was one of the first and there are a couple of clips from it. A few clips from Phantom of the Opera as well. Buntrock has been performing many years on Broadway so all that experience does come into play.

I thoroughly enjoyed Buntrock's performance in Grease, although there isn't a clip of it that I could find. I thought he brought a lot of humor to the role and made it a lot of fun.

I thought Mr. Hicks did a fine job, but it is hard to judge anything from a clip taken by an audience member versus seeing it live. He is playing the role very differently from Buntrock and making it his own. If his performance reaches out and touches the audience, then he is successful. And yes, he will grow in the role as Max and Laura have grown over the past year.

I looked on youtube, but came up empty.
I am seeing the show in august, so I'm sure he will be more comfortable in the role.
btw, I am excited to see the show, and New York.

Judy · Senior Member

Ray wrote:
I enhanced the signal in the clip, so that I could hear Taylor clearly. He is fantastic! I kept replaying it. His sound and style are perfect for that song. He gives it a romantic quality, which adds a whole other dimension to Buntrock's and Avalon's versions. I don't know if the band is playing any differently, but now the song rocks! His flawless falsetto, way up to high E-flat, adds just the right touch of period authenticity. The little that can be seen of his moving around the stage looks relaxed and commanding. This is a star turn that justifies the hype.

I absolutely love your observation of Taylor's performance,this quote blew me away "This is a star turn that justifies the hype " You put into words what so many have tried to say,thanks !

-- Edited by Judy at 00:47, 2008-06-09

grannygreaser · Senior Member

I looked on youtube, but came up empty.
I am seeing the show in august, so I'm sure he will be more comfortable in the role.
btw, I am excited to see the show, and New York.

Type in stephen buntrock in the search. It came up with a few, but some of them are just short bits of audio from Les Miz used in comparisons of the various actors who have played the role. The best one is probably from Phantom: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ3gVARhY-8

I am sure you'll have a great time at the show and in New York. It's a fun city!

BBS420 · Guru

grannygreaser wrote:
I looked on youtube, but came up empty.
I am seeing the show in august, so I'm sure he will be more comfortable in the role.
btw, I am excited to see the show, and New York.

Type in stephen buntrock in the search. It came up with a few, but some of them are just short bits of audio from Les Miz used in comparisons of the various actors who have played the role. The best one is probably from Phantom: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ3gVARhY-8

I am sure you'll have a great time at the show and in New York. It's a fun city!

I will check it out. Thanks.
I am meeting a few online friends for dinner and the show.

BBS420 · Guru

I watched The Music of the Night, he has a very powerful voice.

Grayboy · Newbie

Ray wrote:

I enhanced the signal in the clip, so that I could hear Taylor clearly. He is fantastic! I kept replaying it. His sound and style are perfect for that song. He gives it a romantic quality, which adds a whole other dimension to Buntrock's and Avalon's versions. I don't know if the band is playing any differently, but now the song rocks! His flawless falsetto, way up to high E-flat, adds just the right touch of period authenticity. The little that can be seen of his moving around the stage looks relaxed and commanding. This is a star turn that justifies the hype.

Thanks, Ray. I have read many of your posts and it really means a lot for you to say this.. biggrin

NYState of Mind · Member

grannygreaser wrote:
I looked on youtube, but came up empty.
I am seeing the show in august, so I'm sure he will be more comfortable in the role.
btw, I am excited to see the show, and New York.

Type in stephen buntrock in the search. It came up with a few, but some of them are just short bits of audio from Les Miz used in comparisons of the various actors who have played the role. The best one is probably from Phantom: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ3gVARhY-8

I am sure you'll have a great time at the show and in New York. It's a fun city!

Thanks for that link. WOW! He does have a very powerful and beautiful voice. It's very obvious that he has a lot of experience and stage training. I don't envy Taylor having to follow him. Taylor does seem to have taken the right steps in making his time in this role unique to him rather than trying to "replace" Mr. Buntrock. After seeing that video, I have no doubts that he was great in that role.

DogsandBirds · Guru

Aragall wrote:

BBS420 wrote:
can Buntrock's performance be seen anywhere?

Or perhaps there is footage of Buntrock's very first time performing on a Broadway stage. That would be the only fair comparison. In the past 2 years that I've been following Taylor's career, I don't ever recall reading that he's done any musical theater.

One thing I do know about Taylor Hicks is that he is very smart. He is always observing, listening and using the information that he takes in. There will be steady improvement in his performances, to be sure.

I saw Mr. Buntrock's first performance of this show on stage. He was absolutely perfect.

hairdresser25667 · Member

DogsandBirds wrote:

The cast has a really terrific hairdresser.

What I would give to be the hairdresser.
I just love tho's styles.

slackerbacker73 · Veteran Member

You can listen to Buntrock's Beauty School Dropout from the cast recording at.....

http://www.rhapsody.com/album/greasenewbroadwaycastrecordingdigitalversion/beautyschooldropout

-- Edited by slackerbacker73 at 05:08, 2008-06-09

slackerbacker73 · Veteran Member

Judy wrote:
Thanks for the pictures everyone, they're great ! The hair is exactly the way they used to wear it back then.We used to call the curl Max has a drop curl,anyone who was bold enough to wear one was cool ! My first date had one and I remember my Dad called him a hoodlum LOL ! Grease brings back so many great memories.

That totally cracked me up!

Judy · Senior Member

slackerbacker73 wrote:
Judy wrote:
Thanks for the pictures everyone, they're great ! The hair is exactly the way they used to wear it back then.We used to call the curl Max has a drop curl,anyone who was bold enough to wear one was cool ! My first date had one and I remember my Dad called him a hoodlum LOL ! Grease brings back so many great memories.

That totally cracked me up!

Needless to say there wasn't a second date .LOL

BBS420 · Guru

slackerbacker73 wrote:
You can listen to Buntrock's Beauty School Dropout from the cast recording at.....

http://www.rhapsody.com/album/greasenewbroadwaycastrecordingdigitalversion/beautyschooldropout

-- Edited by slackerbacker73 at 05:08, 2008-06-09

Thanks.

Aragall · Senior Member

BBS420 wrote:
slackerbacker73 wrote:
You can listen to Buntrock's Beauty School Dropout from the cast recording at.....

http://www.rhapsody.com/album/greasenewbroadwaycastrecordingdigitalversion/beautyschooldropout

-- Edited by slackerbacker73 at 05:08, 2008-06-09

Thanks.

I'm not that familiar with Rhapsody, so I downloaded the song at itunes.

OBG2 · Newbie

NYState of Mind wrote:
Having never seen Buntrock's version of Teen Angel, there's no way I would ever attempt to make any kind of comparison. I was very pleased with Taylor's opeining night on Broadway. Reports from backstage before the show indicated he was "jumping in his skin with nerves".

I saw Taylor on opening night of his very first concert tour where the reports of nerves were the same. He delivered a great show, but after listening to reviews and watching videos of subsequent performances, it was obvious that he gradually became more comfortable in the new role as a major headlining act.

It is a well-known fact that Taylor feeds off of the audience. I'm sure that he is taking mental notes at each performance of those things that get the most audience reaction and will refine his performance as he goes along.

I am excited that Taylor was given this opportunity and chose to take it and run with it. In the long run, it will serve as a valuable learning tool for him conitnue to develop as a performer and entertainer.

I too have seen Taylor's opening night performance from YouTube--both BSD and the Curtain Call-and while he missed a couple steps in the curtain call-from the pics the look on his face told me that he was having a blast doing the part-living part of his dream of many years. That's enough for me. He's happy and having fun-and as a SP fan that's a very important thing.

I too have seen many tour performances and agree with NY State of Mind. Taylor is smart and very observant--always thinking ahead of the "expected" and planning the next strategy. True he
isn't Stephen Buntrock--who is--except Stephen Buntrock? He WILL get better as the summer progresses-he will refine the errors-change "bangs are combed" to the correct line and his performance will only improve. The reports of nerves are pretty standard for Taylor-for ANY performer for that matter. If I were opening on Broadway, I'm not so sure I could get THROUGH opening night, much less hold it together like Taylor did. He'll knock it out of the park--in his way and before this summer is over--give him time and in the meantime, stand back and hang on for a
wild ride from the Soul Man/Teen Angel!!

If things hold together here at home, I will be attending the matinee on June 25-riding the Greyhound bus from Alabama just to see Taylor in person. Looking forward to experiencing the whole Broadway deal-if only for one day--hope I can meet some of you there. ( If you will notice my new avatar, I chose it on purpose--the little brown dog on the shelf above Taylor is the gift I sent for opening night-the dog sings Ray Charles' "I Can't Stop Loving You"--and Ray Charles is Taylor's favorite singer!! Sweet for me--and please excuse the personal touch here--but I'm proud of this pic!!)

May I respectfully thank the regular members of this forum for accepting us Soul Patrollers for the summer and for their polite, respectful comments about Taylor's opening night performance! I sincerely hope we reciprocate in like manner. God BLess!!

-- Edited by OBG2 at 02:45, 2008-06-10