New Mid-Season Shows - Smash

You're probably thinking that I must know some powerful people in high places to get to see the premiere of Smash three weeks before it's heavily promoted premiere date.

Well, I do not. But some powerful people in high places did think that it would be a good idea to release the pilot online and offer it as a free download on iTunes three weeks before its Feb. 6^th premiere date.

At first, I didn’t really see the logic behind this. Shouldn’t they want everyone to watch the actual premiere so that the show gets good ratings? But then I realized that it was actually a pretty brilliant move. Because here I am writing (and thus promoting) about the premiere before it airs, which will perhaps lead to some people watching it who might not have otherwise.

Yup, I’m playing right into their little evil plan.

Although, the creators and producers must be pretty confident in the show to make a bold move like that. But, to be honest, I can’t blame them. This show has some big names attached. It did, after all, stem from one of the many ideas rolling around in Steven Spielberg’s mind, who is also billed as an executive producer. The cast also includes a range of acclaimed individuals, such as Anjelica Huston, Debra Messing, Brian d’Arcy James, Christian Borle, and Katharine McPhee. Not to mention, the filming quality is more in the ballpark of movies rather than television.

"Smash" is a musical drama that celebrates the beauty and heartbreak of the Broadway theater as it follows a cross section of dreamers and schemers who all have one common desire - to be a "Smash." The series centers on a desire to create a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe - written by the successful songwriting duo of Tom (Tony Award nominee Christian Borle, "Legally Blonde: The Musical") and Julia (Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, "Will & Grace"). Julia recently began the process of adopting a child with her husband Frank (Tony Award nominee Brian d'Arcy James, "Shrek The Musical") of many years, but her focus is torn when she has the opportunity to write another Broadway hit. A rivalry soon forms for the lead role between a youthful, inexperienced Midwestern beauty Karen (Katharine McPhee, "American Idol") - who is trying to find fame in the big city against all odds - and stage veteran Ivy Bell (Megan Hilty, "9 to 5: The Musical"), who's determined to leave the chorus line and finally get her big break. A tenacious producer Eileen (Oscar winner Anjelica Huston, "Prizzi's Honor") discovers the "Marilyn" project and jumps on board with a brilliant director, Derek (Jack Davenport, "Pirates of the Caribbean" films) - whose talent is matched by his cunning and egocentric amorality.

Did I not mention there is singing?

There’s singing.

I don’t mean that everyone suddenly bursts into song and dance in the middle of the street (although I do think that that is perfectly acceptable behavior)...it’s a show about a Broadway show, so of course there will be singing.

But please, please, please, do not compare this show to Glee (and I in no way mean that as an insult to either show). Yes, they both have singing, but, in my opinion, the comparison ends there.

As a lover of all things Broadway and theatre related, I had high expectations for this show that I didn’t think it would live up to. And, I have to admit, most of this had to do with the fact that I was pretty dubious of Katharine McPhee as the star of the show. Yes, we know she can sing, but act? With this kind of heavy-duty role and among a cast of Oscar, Emmy, and Tony winners and nominees?

But, she proved me wrong. While, this was still only one episode, I thought that Katharine McPhee did a pretty darn good job of living up to the high-pressure role.

Overall, I’m pretty excited to see how this show goes. Anjelica Huston and Debra Messing both delivered top-notch performances (I also really enjoyed Megan Hilty's performance as Ivy!). The songs were well-written and performed, and the storyline and characters were well built-up and developed. You will particularly enjoy the show if you are any kind of theatre nerd.

Those guys at NBC certainly do know what they are doing. It’s a pretty safe bet that I will watch the pilot again when it premieres Monday, Feb. 6 at 10:00 p.m.

If you also are curious and do not wait until then, you can watch the episode online here or here, or download it for free on iTunes.

Who knows, maybe Smash will be a smash!

How to See "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" With Really Trying

Have you ever rushed?

Not the super duper un-fun kind.

The slightly tiring, but oh-so-incredibly worth it kind.

Rushing is when you wait in line at the box office of a Broadway show, the morning of the show, for a chance to get partial-view tickets at an extremely discounted price. This past Saturday, me and my three closest friends all “rushed” to see “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” on Broadway and it was so much fun and so magickal.  Here is the timeline of our little adventure:

Friday

9:00 p.m. – I and my fellow PA’er arrive in NJ

11:30 – I and my partners-in-crime go to sleep

Saturday

4:30 a.m. – Wake up

5:17 – Run (literally) to catch, and nearly miss our train (Mr. Conductor, thank you for not actually leaving without us, but there was no need to be that rude)

6:30 – Arrive in The Big Apple

6:45 – Get in line for tickets at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre Box Office...behind a group of girls who sprinted past us to get in line ahead of us

6:47 – Contemplate our chances for actually getting tickets when the box office opens at 10:00 a.m., considering we are the 70^th people in line

7:00 – Learn that the people at the front of the line have been camping out since midnight

7:01 – Contemplate how these people who have been camping out since midnight managed to stay warm/safe

7:05 – Contemplate whether or not The Gentlemen’s Club next to the theatre lost some business overnight as a result of the long line of young girls standing in front of it

7:10 – COFFEE

7:55 – Watch as small children are dropped off in Range Rovers and Mercedes for their classes at the Broadway Dance Center, the door of which my popsicle-friends and I are blocking

8:00 – Lose feeling in toes despite two pairs of fuzzy socks

8:30 – Lose feeling in fingers despite wearing two pairs of gloves

9:00 – Glare at all the well-slept individuals who are being dropped off to join their friends in line ahead of us

9:30 – Shiver n’ Shake!

9:58 – Realize that we are now at the middle of a line that extends the entire block from 8^th to 9^th Avenue and is at LEAST 150 people in length

10:00 – Begin to move ahead in line

10:04 – Panic...we did not want to have put ourselves through all that for nothing!

10:06 – Glare at the sprinting, line-cheating girls in front of us as they hold up the line to take pictures
10:15 - Have a minor heart-attack as the box office announces that the matinee showing is sold-out
10:16 - Continue to have heart palpitations as we watch the last 10 people in front of us get tickets
10:19 - Huge moment of relief, catharsis, and excitement as the sprinting-girls tell us to go in front of them because they can only see the matinee, which puts us at...
10:20 - We reach the box office window and officially secure four tickets (originally $145 each) for $30 each
10:21 - I literally skip for joy down the street
10:25 to 12:00 - Thaw
12:00 p.m. to 7:20 - Frolic around Times Square to keep warm and in order to avoid giving in to sleepiness
7:25 - Gawk at line to get into the theatre that wraps around the building and gawk at the OTHER line that wraps around the other side of the building of people waiting at the stage door in preparation for the end of the show
7:35 - Gawk at our incredible seats.

SEE?

7:45 - "Did somebody say Draco Malfoyyyy?"

8:00 to 10:30 - Watch an incredible show with an outstanding leading man, continue to be in awe that we are close enough to see the sweat and bruises of the actors, be slightly embarrassed for my generation as girls practice inappropriate theatre-etiquette throughout the performance, and smile and laugh the entire time

10:45 - Get practically crushed to death by the mass of people outside theatre waiting outside for the star of the show to make an appearance

10:46 - Decide to call it a night rather than confront the mob of die-hard fangirls

12:06 - Deliriously board a train while  we all still exclaim over how great and funny both the show and it's star were

1:35 - 21 hours later, with stiff and sore muscles, heavy eyes, tangled hair, and happy happy happy hearts we (finally) go to sleep

Sorry that was so long, but it was a very very long day.

You are probably wondering why me and my friends would put ourselves through that and why so many people put themselves through an even longer ordeal than we did.

Well, I'm just guessing here, it may have had a little something to do with this:

Who knew Beau Bridges was so popular with the younger crowds?!

If you did not hear, Darren Criss of Glee and A Very Potter Musical fame took over for Daniel Radcliff as J. Pierpont Finch, the lead role in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying", for a three-week run from January 3 to January 22. 

And the Gleeks and Starkids came out in full-force to show their support.

My friends and I are all theatre geeks and have been talking for a long time about going into the city and "rushing" a show, and as we are also Gleeks and Starkids (we also saw the stupendous Lauren Lopez...Draco Malfoy from AVPM!), Darren Criss's short run was just the kick in the pants we needed to finally go through with our plans.

And as cold and exhausted and sore as we were, we genuinely enjoyed every minute of the day. There is certainly something to be said about sitting in the cold, on a New York City sidewalk, for hours with your friends. It's something I think you can really only do when you are young. Plus, it felt special to get to see someone we admire in a live performance, that will only ever take place for a short period of time. And let me tell you, it was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime performance. Darren Criss's enthusiasm, humor, charisma, quirkiness (I still maintain that he is my kindred spirit in awkwardness) and exceptional talent were perfect for the role. The rest of the cast, Beau Bridges, Rose Hemingway, and Christopher J. Hanke were also absolutely wonderful. Darren Criss, or not, it was a great show!

The experience was something my friends and I will most certainly repeat, although next time I don't think we will have to get up quite as early to fight off any fangirls. It was a special day with my dear friends that I will always remember.

I think a Broadway show is something that everyone should experience at one time another (that may just be the drama nerd in me talking, but give it just one try), and the option of "rushing" makes it an affordable (and memorable) option for everyone!