Laura & Max's Last Show

LauraFan1 · Senior Member

Laura & Max's Last Show

LauraFan1 · Senior Member

Ha---I'm replying to my own message! I forgot to add that I LOVED seeing Daniel Everidge at the Stage Door, my sister and I noticed him right away, and told him how good it was to see him! I was thankful to see him perform back in September, and I'm glad he was able to be at the show on Sunday.....he is a great Roger :) Such a fun evening, and soooo special, words are not really enough to describe it, it was something you really had to see in person, and again, I was SOOOOO beyond happy to be there!!!!!!!!

Bill747 · Veteran Member

LauraFan1 wrote:
... I wish someone would've taped the show for it to be shown on tv sometime... Dana

Thanks for the review, Dana.

I also wish someone had taped their final show and then upload it to YouTube. In any case, here are some other memorable videos of Laura & Max's Grease year:

1. Favorite solo & Pair performance, (at Fox morning show, 30 Aug 2007) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7AygYB01m4&feature=related

2. Favorite interview (at WNBC Weekend, 23 Dec 2007):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGm11ffMms0

3. Favorite cast performance (at Tony Awards)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBAIm14owVo&feature=related

Greaser Bill

slackerbacker73 · Veteran Member

Is Allie the new Patty Simcox or is she just filling in?

Hello799 · Senior Member

Thanks for posting your thoughts Dana. And it sounds like you and your sister had a great time in NYC without us. I too am glad that you were there. TAKE CARE.

greasefan · Senior Member

LauraFan, I'm glad to hear your NYC trip was successful and memorable! It sounds like you had a great weekend!

LauraFan1 · Senior Member

greasefan wrote:
LauraFan, I'm glad to hear your NYC trip was successful and memorable! It sounds like you had a great weekend!

Thanks all, VERY much!!!! Let's see, I believe Allie was just filling in for Allison; there was a separate little sheet in the Playbill saying that she was substituting for her. She was very good, just a different Patty Simcox than Allison. It was such a wonderful time, you could tell the audience was SO appreciative of Max and Laura-----they deservedly got HUGE rounds of applause when they came on for the first time, then after their solo's. They are such hugely talented people; I just was so happy to see them a final time!!!!!!!!!! What a fun show :) I loved that even though it was their last night, they were not too busy to sign autographs and take photos, etc. Even though I'm sure they had a party or two lined up to attend, and were probably excited for that. Those two really appreciate their fans, you can tell. What a great night, I can't say that enough

Dana

azure · Senior Member

LauraFan -

Nice recap! Sounds like you had a blast. It's great that you got to see Laura and Max's last performance! You'll always be able to say that you were there when they were new actors, and you saw their final performance in their first Broadway roles! What fun it will be to follow their (sure-to-be) long and successful careers!

(And I'm glad you liked TH! One fan at a time! LOL!)

StockardFan · Senior Member

Glad you had a great time LauraFan!

LauraFan1 · Senior Member

azure wrote:
LauraFan -

Nice recap! Sounds like you had a blast. It's great that you got to see Laura and Max's last performance! You'll always be able to say that you were there when they were new actors, and you saw their final performance in their first Broadway roles! What fun it will be to follow their (sure-to-be) long and successful careers!

(And I'm glad you liked TH! One fan at a time! LOL!)

Thanks guys!!! Yes, it was incredible, and Azure, you are right: I'll always be able to say I was there for it, when they were fresh, new actors :) I loved that they autographed my Playbill, as well......such fun times!!!!! And yes: Taylor surprised me; I remember rooting for Katherine McPhee to win American Idol, but holy God, Taylor has one amazing voice, very powerful!!!!! He did a great job and was so very nice to everyone after the show, very sweet, nice and humble; very low key guy who you know is very thankful for what he has. Hope you are able to see him sometime, it's well worth it!!!!!!! Hope your day is good!!!

dana · Veteran Member

just to put in my 2 cents, i agree with everything dana mn said about the final show. max and laura were as good as i've seen them in the 3x i've seen the show. i was really happy that they had a great last performance for their sakes as well as for the audience -- so wonderful to leave on a high note, so to speak! their voices were so, so strong, their solos were perfect (to my ear), and their performances overall were very tight, very organic, very natural. kathleen marshall and david ian should be very proud.

max did some terrific acting (both comic and not; he has GOT the chops) that i hadn't remembered before (i think eris noted same in her post) which made the show feel fresh and i really felt the 'danny and sandy' connection in a way that i hadn't the other 2x i saw the show. how much of what was on stage for this last performance was fueled by the 'max and laura' connection and the fact that they're 'leaving' each other is unclear -- i'm sure they were conscious of their own friendship that night in a way that they might not have been before since it was their last night together. whatever it was, though, it made the show really come together in a very special way, at least for me.

the rest of the cast was terrific and the whole lot of them couldn't have asked for a more well-wishing audience. the group hug at the end -- which i'm sure included a fair number of tears that any of us further back than the first few rows couldn't see -- was really touching. i, too, was surprised that a bigger deal wasn't made of this last show -- no flowers, no announcements -- but the hug almost made up for that.

and yes, max and laura were super gracious and clearly grateful at the stage door. their love for their fans is very palpable and much appreciated. they are special people.

it's sad to see this chapter of the 'grease' story end. i'm lucky enough to work near the brooks atkinson and walk by the theater every morning and it'll be weird to not look over at that marquis and say 'ah that's where max works' and send good thoughts. i have to say, though, that i think max and laura should be congratulated for the performances they gave, for proving every nay-sayer wrong, and for the poise with which they handled (both on stage and off) this first step of what i'm sure will be long, creative careers for both of them. brava and bravo!

ot: i got to hang out w/dana mn and her sister after the show and it was very fun to bring a fun 'message board friendship' out into the real world!

ok, yay max! yay laura! green lights and blue skies both of you!

dana
nyc

LauraFan1 · Senior Member

dana wrote:
just to put in my 2 cents, i agree with everything dana mn said about the final show. max and laura were as good as i've seen them in the 3x i've seen the show. i was really happy that they had a great last performance for their sakes as well as for the audience -- so wonderful to leave on a high note, so to speak! their voices were so, so strong, their solos were perfect (to my ear), and their performances overall were very tight, very organic, very natural. kathleen marshall and david ian should be very proud.

max did some terrific acting (both comic and not; he has GOT the chops) that i hadn't remembered before (i think eris noted same in her post) which made the show feel fresh and i really felt the 'danny and sandy' connection in a way that i hadn't the other 2x i saw the show. how much of what was on stage for this last performance was fueled by the 'max and laura' connection and the fact that they're 'leaving' each other is unclear -- i'm sure they were conscious of their own friendship that night in a way that they might not have been before since it was their last night together. whatever it was, though, it made the show really come together in a very special way, at least for me.

the rest of the cast was terrific and the whole lot of them couldn't have asked for a more well-wishing audience. the group hug at the end -- which i'm sure included a fair number of tears that any of us further back than the first few rows couldn't see -- was really touching. i, too, was surprised that a bigger deal wasn't made of this last show -- no flowers, no announcements -- but the hug almost made up for that.

and yes, max and laura were super gracious and clearly grateful at the stage door. their love for their fans is very palpable and much appreciated. they are special people.

it's sad to see this chapter of the 'grease' story end. i'm lucky enough to work near the brooks atkinson and walk by the theater every morning and it'll be weird to not look over at that marquis and say 'ah that's where max works' and send good thoughts. i have to say, though, that i think max and laura should be congratulated for the performances they gave, for proving every nay-sayer wrong, and for the poise with which they handled (both on stage and off) this first step of what i'm sure will be long, creative careers for both of them. brava and bravo!

ot: i got to hang out w/dana mn and her sister after the show and it was very fun to bring a fun 'message board friendship' out into the real world!

ok, yay max! yay laura! green lights and blue skies both of you!

dana
nyc

I echo everything Dana NY has said here----it was truly, TRULY special to see this show with these two extremely special people....to me, no matter how good Derek & Ashley are, they do not compare with Max & Laura, just MY humble opinion

I too am sad to see this chapter of GREASE ending; however, I know Laura & Max will go on to great things; they are both in for long careers and I'm sooooo excited to follow them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And if I may, for me, one of the biggest highlights of the night was meeting Dana from NY!!!! She is AMAZING, and it was an honor to actually meet in person-------I love the fact that this GREASE board has given me a new friend

Yay for GREASE, have a good day everyone!

Kristen · Guru

For me, Ashley was the one I wanted to see all along!!! I am so glad that she has this opportunity now! After 16 months of waiting, Ashley's fans are being richly rewarded by getting to see her as "Sandy" now! Not only does she have the look, she's got the singing, acting, and dancing mastered as well! She's a wonderfully talented girl, and she'll continue to shine as "Sandy!"

Wish I Knew It All · Senior Member

Kristen wrote:

For me, Ashley was the one I wanted to see all along!!! I am so glad that she has this opportunity now! After 16 months of waiting, Ashley's fans are being richly rewarded by getting to see her as "Sandy" now! Not only does she have the look, she's got the singing, acting, and dancing mastered as well! She's a wonderfully talented girl, and she'll continue to shine as "Sandy!"

Me too Kristen, and for thousands of others! She got rave reviews in "Hairspray" and I'm sure will get rave reviews in "Grease." She is truly a triple
threat! Can't wait to see the show!

dana · Veteran Member

aw thanks!!! right back atcha!

to bring this back to the point of the thread, laura and max's last show and meeting new friends made for a very special evening.

i hope derek and ashley's fans have the same experience that max and laura's have had over the past year!

Eris · Guru

Having seen both the teams of Max & Laura and Derek & Ashley I have to say that I feel there is no "better". It's like comparing Beethoven to Bach. One isn't necessarily better than the other - they're simply different. They approach their roles in different ways.

AshleyFan · Veteran Member

LauraFan1 wrote:

dana wrote:
just to put in my 2 cents, i agree with everything dana mn said about the final show. max and laura were as good as i've seen them in the 3x i've seen the show. i was really happy that they had a great last performance for their sakes as well as for the audience -- so wonderful to leave on a high note, so to speak! their voices were so, so strong, their solos were perfect (to my ear), and their performances overall were very tight, very organic, very natural. kathleen marshall and david ian should be very proud.

max did some terrific acting (both comic and not; he has GOT the chops) that i hadn't remembered before (i think eris noted same in her post) which made the show feel fresh and i really felt the 'danny and sandy' connection in a way that i hadn't the other 2x i saw the show. how much of what was on stage for this last performance was fueled by the 'max and laura'

dana
nyc

I echo everything Dana NY has said here----it was truly, TRULY special to see this show with these two extremely special people....to me, no matter how good Derek & Ashley are, they do not compare with Max & Laura, just MY humble opinion I too am sad to see this chapter of GREASE ending; however, I know Laura & Max will go on to great things; they are both in for long careers and I'm sooooo excited to follow them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And if I may, for me, one of the biggest highlights of the night was meeting Dana from NY!!!! She is AMAZING, and it was an honor to actually meet in person-------I love the fact that this GREASE board has given me a new friend Yay for GREASE, have a good day everyone!

Well goodbye Laurafan.

Wish I Knew It All · Senior Member

AshleyFan wrote:

LauraFan1 wrote:

dana wrote:
just to put in my 2 cents, i agree with everything dana mn said about the final show. max and laura were as good as i've seen them in the 3x i've seen the show. i was really happy that they had a great last performance for their sakes as well as for the audience -- so wonderful to leave on a high note, so to speak! their voices were so, so strong, their solos were perfect (to my ear), and their performances overall were very tight, very organic, very natural. kathleen marshall and david ian should be very proud.

max did some terrific acting (both comic and not; he has GOT the chops) that i hadn't remembered before (i think eris noted same in her post) which made the show feel fresh and i really felt the 'danny and sandy' connection in a way that i hadn't the other 2x i saw the show. how much of what was on stage for this last performance was fueled by the 'max and laura'

dana
nyc

I echo everything Dana NY has said here----it was truly, TRULY special to see this show with these two extremely special people....to me, no matter how good Derek & Ashley are, they do not compare with Max & Laura, just MY humble opinion I too am sad to see this chapter of GREASE ending; however, I know Laura & Max will go on to great things; they are both in for long careers and I'm sooooo excited to follow them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And if I may, for me, one of the biggest highlights of the night was meeting Dana from NY!!!! She is AMAZING, and it was an honor to actually meet in person-------I love the fact that this GREASE board has given me a new friend Yay for GREASE, have a good day everyone!

Well goodbye Laurafan.

In a lot of OUR humble opinions, there will be no one to ever compare with Derek and Ashley. Different opinions are what makes the world go around. It is now time for Ashley and Derek fans to revel in the excitement!

Best Wishes to you Laurafan. Take care!

Kentucky Woman · Veteran Member

Max and Laura shined Friday and Saturday night. Unfortunately, I didn't get to stay in New York Sunday. I had to get back home. What I wanted to say about Laura and Max is they were so very friendly outside the stage door. They autographed my Playbill and Laura wrote a short hello to my little boy. My son has cerebral palsy and can't travel very far from home but I share all my pictures on a big screen with him. What a wonderful group of talented young people. I loved show! I'll be back in September. I love New York!

Maxismylove · Senior Member

Hello friends. I wanted to come on one last time to say hello and goodbye to all the old and new fans.
Of course we are so proud of Max and Laura and yet sad that it is over, yet we believe that God is opening another window for each of them as this one closes. Was that picture of Max carrying Laura off the stage just too much? I cried for 2 days each time I looked at it. Priceless.
Jane and I need a copy of that.
I wanted to also say that the Crumm's could not be happier for Ashley and Derek and know that they will be awesome in their own way.
It is not right to compare them or to get in to blogging competitions because each is an individual and has many special things to bring to the role.
We sent both of them our best on their first show and will make our way to NY to see their performance at some point.
I also want to congratulate the Keeling and Spencer parents as we know how they are bursting with pride for their babies.
Molly, if you look at these boards at all, call me!!!!

Fondly (even for Mr.E)

Kristen · Guru

I'm sure that Max will have continued success in his career! I wish him all of the best!

dana · Veteran Member

maxismylove --

thanks for sharing your boy w/us! you and yours should feel super proud of what max did both on stage and off. he's a total class act and that's a tribute to you!

be well!

dana
nyc

LauraFan1 · Senior Member

AshleyFan wrote:
LauraFan1 wrote:

dana wrote:
just to put in my 2 cents, i agree with everything dana mn said about the final show. max and laura were as good as i've seen them in the 3x i've seen the show. i was really happy that they had a great last performance for their sakes as well as for the audience -- so wonderful to leave on a high note, so to speak! their voices were so, so strong, their solos were perfect (to my ear), and their performances overall were very tight, very organic, very natural. kathleen marshall and david ian should be very proud.

max did some terrific acting (both comic and not; he has GOT the chops) that i hadn't remembered before (i think eris noted same in her post) which made the show feel fresh and i really felt the 'danny and sandy' connection in a way that i hadn't the other 2x i saw the show. how much of what was on stage for this last performance was fueled by the 'max and laura'

dana
nyc

I echo everything Dana NY has said here----it was truly, TRULY special to see this show with these two extremely special people....to me, no matter how good Derek & Ashley are, they do not compare with Max & Laura, just MY humble opinion I too am sad to see this chapter of GREASE ending; however, I know Laura & Max will go on to great things; they are both in for long careers and I'm sooooo excited to follow them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And if I may, for me, one of the biggest highlights of the night was meeting Dana from NY!!!! She is AMAZING, and it was an honor to actually meet in person-------I love the fact that this GREASE board has given me a new friend Yay for GREASE, have a good day everyone!

Well goodbye Laurafan.

Oh goodness, thank you, but I'm not going anywhere! This board is just waaaaay too entertaining

It's very humorous and I'm sure there's more to come! Take care and hope you are enjoying your weekend

pinkfan · Senior Member

I am a little confused about you Laurafan1. It seems to me that during the Grease TV show you were a fan of Ashley's. I seem to remember some Emails to her fan site from a Dana in Minnesota. In fact I am sure of it. But I could be wrong, perhaps you are not the same person. I will have to do some research.

DogsandBirds · Guru

pinkfan wrote:

I am a little confused about you Laurafan1. It seems to me that during the Grease TV show you were a fan of Ashley's. I seem to remember some Emails to her fan site from a Dana in Minnesota. In fact I am sure of it. But I could be wrong, perhaps you are not the same person. I will have to do some research.

Maybe she changed her mind? I hear people do that all the time!

Hello799 · Senior Member

pinkfan wrote:
I am a little confused about you Laurafan1. It seems to me that during the Grease TV show you were a fan of Ashley's. I seem to remember some Emails to her fan site from a Dana in Minnesota. In fact I am sure of it. But I could be wrong, perhaps you are not the same person. I will have to do some research.

Can't comment on her being a fan of Ashley, but I can GUARANTEE she is a BIG fan of Laura.

LauraFan1 · Senior Member

Hello799 wrote:
pinkfan wrote:
I am a little confused about you Laurafan1. It seems to me that during the Grease TV show you were a fan of Ashley's. I seem to remember some Emails to her fan site from a Dana in Minnesota. In fact I am sure of it. But I could be wrong, perhaps you are not the same person. I will have to do some research.

Can't comment on her being a fan of Ashley, but I can GUARANTEE she is a BIG fan of Laura.

Hey Mike, how are you? Oh yes ha ha, you know I'm a huge Laura fan

I also do like Ashley, I think she is talented and very nice.....I just have always thought Laura was the perfect Sandy, and just didn't see the role fitting Ashley very well, especially when it came down to the two of them on the GREASE television show----to me, Laura had it all over Ashley in every regard. Again, it's not to say I didn't like Ashley, I'm sure she was good in Hairspray and other shows, and she was nice enough to send me an autograph last year

Hello799 · Senior Member

DogsandBirds wrote:
pinkfan wrote:

I am a little confused about you Laurafan1. It seems to me that during the Grease TV show you were a fan of Ashley's. I seem to remember some Emails to her fan site from a Dana in Minnesota. In fact I am sure of it. But I could be wrong, perhaps you are not the same person. I will have to do some research.

Maybe she changed her mind? I hear people do that all the time!

Especially women. The first thing that my wife taught me was......women have the right to change their mind at any time for any reason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Dana, How are you?????

pinkfan · Senior Member

People certainly are allowed to change their minds, but I just went back and reread the Emails and based on that, If you read them, you would understand what I mean. However, no matter. Laura is a lovely girl and very sweet too. I have had many an occation to talk to her and I have never thought of her as anything but genuine and sweet. She has been very good to Ashley too.

DogsandBirds · Guru

pinkfan wrote:

People certainly are allowed to change their minds, but I just went back and reread the Emails and based on that, If you read them, you would understand what I mean. However, no matter. Laura is a lovely girl and very sweet too. I have had many an occation to talk to her and I have never thought of her as anything but genuine and sweet. She has been very good to Ashley too.

We had an issue when Taylor Hicks fans showed up here with people who liked him and those who like Chris Daughtry. Them vs us kind of thing.

I see no reason to start that here. No one is being negative HERE about anyone who has been or is currently in this cast.

Let's hope we can keep it that way :)

pinkfan · Senior Member

Agreed, time will take care of all.

grannygreaser · Senior Member

DogsandBirds wrote:

We had an issue when Taylor Hicks fans showed up here with people who liked him and those who like Chris Daughtry. Them vs us kind of thing.

I see no reason to start that here. No one is being negative HERE about anyone who has been or is currently in this cast.

Let's hope we can keep it that way :)

I agree, D&B. One of the things that has been so nice here is that everyone has been supportive of all the contestants on GYTOTIW and enthused about their various jobs and how well all of them are doing. Everyone on the show was talented and the reality is, any of them could have played the roles. That's why they were in the finals.

Just look at how many made or are making their Broadway debuts since the show ended... Max, Laura, Ashley, Allie, Derek, Kate, and soon, Kevin, Kathleen and possibly Austin if his show goes to Broadway. I love seeing this...

StockardFan · Senior Member

Whoa, let's not have a nasty Laura vs. Ashley thing, kids!

They're both great! And everyone has a right to prefer who they would like to prefer.

Eris · Guru

I don't like the "Ashley vs Laura" thing either. After the show ended I would hear so many negative things about Laura and I just didn't care for it. Ashley and Laura are both so beautiful and talented that when the show was on I could not choose between them. I knew either of them would be wonderful in the role. So the show ended with Laura winning. So what? Ashley had a wonderful experience in Hairspray which I doubt she would trade for anything. Laura has bowed out gracefully and not it is Ashley's turn to take center stage. Let's not cheapen it by picking about who's "better". As I said before there is no "better".

StockardFan · Senior Member

I agree, they were my favorite 2, and could have seen either of them in the role. And now they will both have had the opportunity!

LauraFan1 · Senior Member

Hello799 wrote:
DogsandBirds wrote:
pinkfan wrote:

I am a little confused about you Laurafan1. It seems to me that during the Grease TV show you were a fan of Ashley's. I seem to remember some Emails to her fan site from a Dana in Minnesota. In fact I am sure of it. But I could be wrong, perhaps you are not the same person. I will have to do some research.

Maybe she changed her mind? I hear people do that all the time!

Especially women. The first thing that my wife taught me was......women have the right to change their mind at any time for any reason!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Dana, How are you?????

Hey Mike, how are you doing today? Ahhhh, I can't believe a week ago now I was at Legally Blonde right now, and then Grease later....that was a GREAT Sunday in my book

Now I am busy plotting how I can re-visit "Blonde" again: what a fun, fabulous, wonderful show that was; I REALLY want to see it with the new Elle, Bailey Hanks

She's making me have to go back to Broadway again!!!! Hope your day is good

Brite Eyes · Veteran Member

Yawn......

Eris · Guru

My sister's been asking me to take her to see Bailey in Legally Blonde so I guess I'll be planning that one of these days.

LauraFan1 · Senior Member

StockardFan wrote:
I agree, they were my favorite 2, and could have seen either of them in the role. And now they will both have had the opportunity!

Absolutely, Stockard Fan! Like I said before, I like both Laura and Ashley, I just felt at the time of the GREASE tv show that Laura was the better choice for the role, and it turned out that the majority of people agreed with me. I think it's great that they've both now gotten to experience the part! I'm beyond excited for the new opportunites Laura will have in store for her, and that she's had sooooooooooooooooo many wonderful experiences this year: recording her first cast album, being featured on many television shows, singing at Carnegie Hall with Max, and performing on the Tony Awards (just to name a few) Here's to the knowledge that "Sandy" was her first Broadway role with MANY more to come, how exciting!!!!!!

LauraFan1 · Senior Member

Oh, you'll love it!!!! It was very cute with fun songs, just overall a great, fun time.....I want to go see Bailey in the role sooo bad now, she definitely has a new fan, & I'd love to see her in person :)

Eris · Guru

LauraFan1 wrote:
Oh, you'll love it!!!! It was very cute with fun songs, just overall a great, fun time.....I want to go see Bailey in the role sooo bad now, she definitely has a new fan, & I'd love to see her in person :)

I've actually seen Legally Blonde twice and Lauren's seen it once. But she wants to go back for Bailey.

Nad · Senior Member

You can like both of them it is ok... they are so different... Laura braught somehting to the role and Ashely will bring somthing else.... I am a huge fan of Laura.. she has a voice wow... but Ashley as fire too you can not compare an apple and an orange...

StockardFan · Senior Member

I'd love to see Bailey in LB, but I'm not going up to NY any time soon. I'll have to settle for the tour with Becky.

Eris · Guru

I haven't seen Becky as Elle but I hear she's quite a firecracker in the role.

snickers · Veteran Member

Eris wrote:
I haven't seen Becky as Elle but I hear she's quite a firecracker in the role.

I have heard great things about Becky as well!