texfans5 wrote:

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OK...I'm dying to hear how opening night went. What did you think?

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Positive things here too! I guess we shall have to wait it out. 

Eris went to show, but hasn't posted yet.

Broadwayworld.com had some good reviews! :)

It was also posted earlier that the show was sold out and that it was standing room only! I think that's wonderful! :)

Just because it was bad though, you can't assume they weren't really at the show can you? I mean obviously everyone will have their own opinions.

-- Edited by slackerbacker73 at 05:20, 2008-07-23

Are you talking about the person who said Derek's voice cracked during "Sandy"?

I always thought that clip was very unfair to Derek anyway! It happened once! Once--yet they showed it over and over! It was really quite unfair editing for him! I'm glad he's impressing people now! :)

In all honesty it did happen in more than one performance. I remember David Ian making a big deal about it the second time.

They did play that clip with Kate over and over and over. I did think that was unfair.

-- Edited by slackerbacker73 at 05:42, 2008-07-23

I actually rewatched the GYTOTIW shows a couple weeks ago, and I think it happened in Footloose. There aren't many videos of him on youtube, so I can't tell for sure. I will have to go back and watch that episode.

I think he had a deeper voice than most of the guys on the show, and maybe they had him singing songs that were too high for him.

I just got home a little ago and I had a great time. I was so jumpy and excited for it to start. It was a 7pm show so I had to leave work an early just to make it on time. If I had left at five I would have arrived after 7pm and I haee being one of those people who comes late. It's happened twice to me because of outside circumstances and it was so embarrassing.

Anyway, I got to the theatre at about twenty to seven and had some time to peruse my playbill. It's still black and white and says Grease but now Derek and Ashley are in there.

Tonight Natalie went on as Marty, Allie went on as Cha-Cha, and Matt Hydzik went on as Kenicke. That was pretty neat because Matt was Kenicke on the tour that Derek did a few years back. So I thought it was really great that they got to share the stage for Derek's Broadway debut.

I didn't feel there were any real differences between Natalie's Marty and Robyn's Marty nor Alli'e Cha-Cha and Natalie's. They both gave great performances but neither felt different from what I had seen before.

Matt was a really great Kenicke. Definitely up to par with Matt Saldivar. His Kenicke was a little softer than Matt Saldivar's. Matt S had some "rough" edges and a toughness about him. Matt H had the toughness but just didn't come off as "rough".

First off, they cut the opening bit with Danny and Sandy in the sunset. I was really disappointed by that because I'd been looking forward to that very first moment of the show to open with Derek and Ashley.

When they did come on stage there was, of course applause. It also took a few moments to get over the oddness of it. After seeing Max and Laura in the roles for so long there was this strange momentary weirdness that I can't quite explain. Not a bad weirdness

Ashley was great as Sandy. Her Sandy comes off as a bit more self-assured than Laura's. A bit more sure of herself and what she wants. She's a bit tougher - especially in the scene where she gets jealous over Danny going over Patty's house to get some homework. She looks great in all her costumes and is a real star.

Derek's Danny was a bit more "Italian" than Max's and his was, actually, less self-assured than Max's. He let us see past that tough shell a bit more than Max did. It's not a surprise that I enjoyed his performance. I ADORED how he played the drive in scene. So much different than Max - much more comedic. I, first, noted Derek's comedic ability when he was in All Shook Up in California and it shines through here.

There was a decent crowd at the stage door and I got to say hi to everyone. It was really a great night all around and I'm so glad I was able to go.

Kristen wrote:

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I really think that it happened only once to Derek.  They only had that one clip.  If they had more clips, they would have shown them too.

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Derek cracked twice.  The first time was on the duet of From This Moment On with Kate.  They replayed that one over and over because it was a pretty major crack.  The second one was on Heaven.  That one was a very short and quick one.  So quick that Jim and Kathleen weren't even sure it was a crack.  Only David pointed it out.  But I was there that night and he indeed crack.  I remember cringing when it happened and looking over my shoulder at his mom.  I'm guessing they didn't reply that one because it was so quick and didn't make as good TV as the one with Kate.

 

-- Edited by Eris at 06:02, 2008-07-23

I'd love to see them!

Well, I do live more than an hour away from the city. It takes time to get home! lol

THANK YOU, ERIS! :) I am looking now! :)

Eris wrote:

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This is not just Derek and Ashley's opening night but the whole weekend.



-- Edited by Eris at 06:35, 2008-07-23

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Thanks Eris!  Thoroughly enjoyed them!  Thanks for posting!  I can go to bed now.

Thanks for the recap Eris,glad that all went well.

Kristen.......Thanks for the link,sounds like they had a good night.

I'm just glad that Kathleen Marshall could see past two cracks. :) Derek is "Danny," and from the moment that I saw Ashley on the TV show, she was "Sandy!" I am just glad that they are getting their chance to shine now! Well, Ashley has been shining in "Hairspray," but now she gets to shine as "Sandy!" They are both stars, and I can't wait to see them perform!!!

Eris, I'm glad you had such a great time........it's awesome that you could see Max and Laura and then Derek and Ashley two days apart so you could really compare the two performances and the differences between them.

Looking forward to your pictures!

THANKS! I knew we could count on you, Eris, to get the post up so quickly. I'm so happy to read how well it went and that you liked their performance on opening night...like a good wine, they can only get better as they breathe in the broadway stage.

slackerbacker73 wrote:

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Are you talking about the person who said Derek's voice cracked during "Sandy"?

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I was at the show and I didn't hear Derek's voice crack and I was really listening for it. I was kind of holding my breath hoping the very best for him and I though his voice was great.

Thanks so much for the recap, the pictures, and the link!!

I liked the opening too. I was so excited at the prospect of the curtain rising and Derek and Ashley being on stage but alas it was not to be.

Maybe Ashley asked them to take it out because she didn't want to risk upsetting me by kissing my "husband" too much.