Show Boat at Lyric Opera Chicago

[jon5202]

Posted: 1/14/12 at 9:34pm

Lyric Opera of Chicago will present Kern and Hammerstein's Show Boat - February 12 - March 17 Included in the cast are Ashley Brown, Nathan Gunn, Morris Robinson and Alyson Cambridge

See commerical TV ad

[jon5202]

Posted: 1/14/12 at 9:35pm

http://www.lyricopera.org/tickets/production.aspx?pid=10258#cast

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/14/12 at 10:06pm

Dang! That's kind of amazing!

[My Oh My]

Posted: 1/15/12 at 12:32am

I hate all of you who are attending.

[jon5202]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 12:08am

two articles on upcoming Showboat at Lyric Opera Chicago opeing February 12

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/ct-ae-0205-showboat-20120203,0,4857686.story

[jon5202]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 12:09am

sorry second article here video to follow after opening

[jon5202]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 12:11am

sorry second article is not popping up so go to first article and click on Show Boat rehearsal

[My Oh My]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 6:28pm

This sounds almost too good to be true. It's the production I've been waiting for since the Hal Prince revival. How refreshing it is to read about a group of artists getting together to stage a classic and doing it honestly.

I may have to book a last minute to the Windy City.

[Marlothom]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 7:35pm

I cannot wait!!!!

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 7:39pm

My oh my, I was thinking the same thing!

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/8/12 at 7:50pm

I'm going to be in Chicago for a weekend in March. Hoping I can nab a ticket for this.

[jon5202]

Posted: 2/13/12 at 1:32am

Showboat opened yesterday at Lyric Opera Chicago

first pics:

http://www.playbill.com/multimedia/gallery/3578/First-Look-at-Lyric-Opera-of-Chicagos-Show-Boat/?pnum=1

Updated On: 2/13/12 at 01:32 AM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/13/12 at 2:35am

I loved the Prince version but am impressed this includes Till Good Luck Comes My Way and especially the underated Hey Feller Interesting they use the London ending song (Dance Away the Night).

One article says the production is already planned to be used at three other American opera companies over the next year and a half--anyone know whihc?

[My Oh My]

Posted: 2/13/12 at 4:43am

Great review: http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/10605869-421/lyric-opera-delivers-a-perfectly-realized-show-boat-for-the-ages.html

It's risky claiming you're a Show Boat aficionado in the presence of Show Boat nuts like me, lol. But I don't even question this production's director because she clearly knows her Show Boat. I am also intrigued at the inclusion of "Hey Feller!" and "Dance Away the Night."

Lyric's design is to the point and resourceful while filling the stage well and providing strong visual cues. I especially enjoy its throwback to the original production's look and scale. The Cotton Blossom is very clever and achieves an imposing quality that makes it almost seem alive when it's the center of attention, and quietly blends into the background when not in the spotlight. Nice!

I, too, really dug Eugene Lee's designs. I usually don't go for sets that attempt to recreate the look you'd get in a natural setting off stage but his texture and character infused settings are like a mix of realism and theatrical. Hard to explain, but not taking anything away from Lyric's designs, Eugene did spoil me as well, lol.

This uses the original Robert Russell Bennett orchestration. As in, the one used originally at the Ziegfeld in 1927 and in a major 1946 revival and...basically most every major, early production staged. That's amazing!! Wish I could goooooooooo.

[temms]

Posted: 2/13/12 at 6:32am

I heard most of the second act today on the radio broadcast, which I wasn't even aware was happening until underway. I picked it up with Frank & Ellie running into Magnolia when she gets the letter from Gay. It sounded glorious with the full orchestra.

As far as the version of the show, from what I could tell it was following the McGlinn recording fairly closely. They reordered some of it - I meant to write it down as it was happening, but if I recall correctly the order went:

Magnolia gets the letter saying Gay has left;
Gay says goodbye to Kim at the school, and they sing "Make Believe";
The trocadero rehearsal scene with Julie singing Bill
Magnolia auditions, and they "rag" the tempo of "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man";
Andy and Parthy arrive in Chicago and Andy goes to look for Magnolia;
The Trocadero New Year, starting with "Washington Square March", then "Goodbye My Lady Love", "After The Ball", and a brief instrumental "Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight";
Joe sings the "Old Man River" reprise;
There was a blip in the radio stream here, so I missed a minute. They then jump to Kim on Broadway singing "Dance Away The Night" - I think it was a radio broadcast.
Then Gaylord has his "You Are Love" reprise;
Following that, Queenie appears to tell about her trip to NY to see Kim and sings "Hey Feller";
Finally, Magnolia and Gay reunite and have the scene with the Lady on the Levee, and it ends with a duet reprise of "Make Believe".

So, fairly close to 1927 except Kim's number is a little earlier and "Hey Feller" is the 11 o'clock number.

Glad to see an operatic "Show Boat" exists now and while I won't make it to Chicago, hopefully I'll catch it somewhere.

[temms]

Posted: 2/13/12 at 6:32am

Double post, oops. Updated On: 2/13/12 at 06:32 AM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/13/12 at 7:49am

My Oh My--which 1946 revival? The one Rodgers and Hammerstein produced didn't use the original Bennett orchestrations but new ones he did (ie no banjo).

Man I had no idea there ws a broadcast--anyone save it? I like the idea of Hey Feller as the 11 O Clock number. I assume In Dahomey, etc, aren't there.

[whatever2]

Posted: 2/13/12 at 11:02am

Eric: i read an unsubstantiated rumor on a well-known opera blog indicating that Washington National Opera was one of the other companies planning to use the Lyric production.

No idea when, or even if it's true ... WNO is one of the few large companies that hasn't yet made its 2012-13 season announcement; normally that would have occurred by now, but I hear tell (more reliably this time) said announcement will be delayed until March.

[dreaming]

Posted: 2/13/12 at 11:03am

I would love, love, love for this to transfer to Broadway. Is there any chance of that? (I like Ashley Brown and would love to see her take on Magnolia.)

[temms]

Posted: 2/13/12 at 12:12pm

Dreaming - this almost certainly will not play Broadway. It's intended for a full symphony orchestra (I'm guessing it numbers about 60), a full opera chorus (numbering around 60-75, I'm guessing, since you need the racial division) plus supernumeraries. It's really designed to be done on an opera schedule - with a day or two off in between performances. Plus it's designed for the Lyric Opera stage, which is larger than any Broadway stage.

So, go see it in the opera house! The great thing about these productions is they get picked up for a number of performances here and there by multiple companies.

[dreaming]

Posted: 2/13/12 at 12:14pm

I live in NY and am traveling to visit family soon, so I can't take any vacation time now for awhile. I wish they would do it at Carnegie Hall or the Met.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 2/13/12 at 12:50pm

Well respected Chicago AEA actors get some time on the Lyric stage in this production!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/13/12 at 1:06pm

Houston Grand Opera will feature this production with a different cast Jan 18-Feb 9 2013.
Houston Grand Opera: Show Boat

[jon5202]

Posted: 2/14/12 at 8:36am

This production of Show Boat will be playing at the San Francisco, Houston and Washington DC opera companies in the coming seasons. Check your local series.

[jon5202]

Posted: 2/14/12 at 8:38am

Another review:

http://theclassicalreview.com/2012/02/a-triumphant-show-boat-rolls-along-magnificently-at-lyric-opera-of-chicago/