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BROADWAY BOUND 6/6/08 - 9/7/08
Topic Started: May 31 2010, 10:40 AM (669 Views)
mouser
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FROM OPENING NIGHT TO CLOSING NIGHT..... TAYLOR FILLED THE STAGE WITH CAMP AND WIMSY. OUR THANKS FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE

Posted Imagecredit to Purplebutterfly



June 6, 2008 thru September 7, 2008

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Brooks Atkinson Theatre
256 West 47th Street
New York, NY 10036
US
212-719-4099

TICKETS:

Grease: $71.50-$121.50. Call 212-307-4100 or visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.greaseonbroadway.com.

NO PICTURE TAKING OR VIDEO TAKING IS ALLOWED ON BROADWAY


PRODUCTION SCHEDULE:

Theatre: Brooks Atkinson Theatre
Running Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes, with one intermission

Schedule: Tuesday at 7pm
Wednesday at 2pm
Thursday and Friday at 8pm
Saturday at 2pm and 8pm
Sunday at 2pm and 7pm

Please note there will be no performance on Friday, July 4th, 2008.




SEATING CAPACITY: 1080/includes handicap seating


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THE THEATER:

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Built in 1926 and originally named the Mansfield Theatre, the Brooks Atkinson Theatre was renamed in 1960 to honor the famed New York Times drama critic, Brooks Atkinson. This intimate playhouse is popular with theatergoers having housed a long list of distinguished dramas and comedies starring such talents as Matthew Broderick, Glenn Close, Richard Dreyfuss, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, Derek Jacobi, Nathan Lane, Gary Sinise, Kevin Spacey, Jerry Stiller, and Marisa Tomei.

Posted Imagecredit to cbeans

Refurbished in 2000, the theatre is once again illuminated by the original chandelier that had been removed over 40 years ago. The Brooks Atkinson has 1,069 seats and is one of The Nederlander Organization’s nine Broadway theatres.

REVIEWS OF ATTENDEES:

The posters name is Ray:

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.


Posted Image Holding up his costume with over 13,000 rhinestones


Posted ImageHe looks like the Lone Ranger with that "mask".


Posted ImageInternational Man of Mystery


Posted ImageA little bit of his WATW performance ( a very very little )

Posted ImageSeven Mile Breakdown being performed after Grease 's curtain call


Posted ImageWaving Goodbye and thanking the crowd for coming to see Grease


Mine

Candy

Mine


from grannygreaser: A NON SP'er from Grease Forum

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.

Cassie:
Scene: Outside the malt shop (which has a 3D ice cream cone above the door – reminded me of the Big Boy thing that used to be on the Eat ‘n’ Parks around here) – Frenchy’s hanging out, lamenting and wondering how she’s going to tell her crew she’s dropped out of beauty school. P.S. I was watching that darn ice cream cone the whole time, knowing that Taylor was in there. LOL!!!

THEN, the dang ice cream cone OPENS – and there’s Taylor. The audience did make some noise! There was definitely a round of applause and whoo’s for him (when there were none for any other cast member). Taylor was so dang funny coming down in that cone … he had the funniest look on his face, and his arm/hand movements were so sort of absurdly gratuitous. He was very …. ummm … dimple-ish…..

Anyway, he steps out of the ice cream cone (now those are 9 words I’ll probably never say together again), singing, grooving, doing the lean-back. There are occasional cheers from the audience … At one point, when he’s in the middle of singing the song – he throws in a “Soul Patrol”! LOVED IT! A little bit of harmonica – then back into the silly ice cream cone and gone.

Someone said it before, and I’ll say it again: I did not want Taylor’s scene to end! Not enough Taylor. And OMG, did he do a number on Frenchy! I thought she was going to thud.

He did come back during the finale scene – and he’s got the Hand Jive down pretty good now. More harp. Lots of Taylor smiles. Oh – speaking of the harp – before he pulled it out and started blowing, everyone was dancing around the stage, singing. One of the gals in the ensemble kept grabbing at Taylor, under his jacket, trying to take something. He kept trying to “push” her off and get away from her. I’m pretty sure this wasn’t part of the plan and that it wasn’t choreographed. It looked to me like she was playing with him. This went on for several minutes until Taylor was finally able to get away from her, step to front stage, and start blowing on his harmonica (which he whipped out from his shirt pocket – and which that gal was obviously trying to grab from him).

Gypsee:

You could really tell he had come into that role. He hammed it up and sang it so well. I have never heard his voice stronger! He nailed that song and just entertained to the hilt. He is a born star, a born professional, and a born entertainer...and he MAKES PEOPLE HAPPY!

Cutain call....he comes out and again applause! He does the usual walking around with the cast, singing most of the lead on the last song, and trying hard to get the hand jive right...LOL! He is darling and funny, and what he didn't remember, he filled in with his Taylorized steps, and just blew us and the audience away!



credit to Nadine



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I'm so excited for him Posted Image

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Here is an interview with Taylor from Broadway.com
It is really extensive and he says a lot and implies a lot.
Well worth reading.


June 23 ,2008

Taylor Hicks
by Kathy Henderson

https://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=567615&pn=3


Frenchy's got a new muse at Grease, and this time around, her guardian angel is a silver-haired crooner with rhinestone wings sewn into the pattern of his midnight blue suit. When a giant ice cream cone descends from the heavens at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, Taylor Hicks emerges to sing "Beauty School Dropout" in his Broadway debut. By now, audiences have gotten used to reality show winners turning up in musicals (Grease alone has four, with leads Max Crumm and Laura Osnes, Step It Up and Dance champ Cody Green and now Hicks, the season five victor on American Idol) and Hicks' loyal fans, known as the Soul Patrol, are avidly cheering him on. Director Kathleen Marshall plays to his strengths by showcasing Hicks' bluesy harmonica playing and brings him back to sing a verse of the title song (and gamely do the hand jive) during the curtain call. In conversation, the Birmingham native is friendly, down to earth and grateful for the opportunities that have come his way since winning Idol just before he turned 30, after years of struggle. Above all, Hicks seems delighted with his summer gig on Broadway.
How are you enjoying your first experience on Broadway?
I love it! I think the part suits me perfectly, and it allows me to get a toe wet on Broadway. It's a great way for me to start exploring the idea of an acting career and learn what Broadway is all about.

Q: How did this opportunity come about?
A: I was in Birmingham, Alabama, eating a barbecue sandwich and playing golf and writing music for my next album, and my agent called me and asked me if I wanted to do the gig. Basically, I had until I finished my sandwich to decide whether or not I wanted to do it [laughs]. It was a really quick decision, and honestly, I'm having the time of my life. [Broadway] is a wonderful, extremely talented community that deserves all kinds of respect and praise. To go out there and be spot-on every night for eight shows a week—that's live performing at its utmost, and I'm very excited to be a part of it.




Q: Were you familiar with the part, and with Grease?
A: I knew the Frankie Avalon part from the movie, but I thought I could add a Taylor flavor to it—kind of Taylorize the part, no pun intended. I'm able to play some harmonica, and I like the whole rock-and-roll heaven idea. The rock-and-roll gods have been very good to me, and they're good to me in this part too.


Q: What was it like to work with director Kathleen Marshall?
A: She is a force to be reckoned with! I was excited when she started directing me. I thought, "This is very similar to producing an album; it's just theatrical." I've been produced musically, but I've never been directed theatrically. It was a really cool first experience. Kathleen was so accommodating and made it easy for me.

She guided Harry Connick Jr. to a Tony nomination, so you were in great hands. What did she say about Teen Angel's function in the show?
She said that my purpose was to lead Frenchy to go back to high school and put down the teasing comb [laughs]. I'm more or less the voice of reason and the voice of reckoning for this young girl.

Q: Were you nervous before your first performance?
A: I don't think I've ever been so nervous in my whole life! [Laughs.] I've been lucky enough to experience a lot of things—the American Idol stage, singing at the Orange Bowl—but I never would have thought in a million years that I would be as nervous as I was. It's easy to walk out on stage to sing, but when you're coming down 40 feet in an ice cream cone to debut on Broadway, it's a different story.

Q: Did you ever do plays in high school?
A: I was Santa Claus in the second grade and Santa Claus in the eighth grade. I've always come bearing gifts [laughs]. It was always the jolly jester, the entertainer—they always put me in that kind of role, which is perfect.

Q: Had you seen many musicals?
A: I saw Rent probably 10 years ago, and growing up, I always went to the Summerfest shows in Birmingham.


Q:When you saw Rent, did you think, "I should do this"?
A: You know, I was so entrenched then in learning instruments, harmonica and guitar, and writing music that I never really thought about the idea of doing it. But now, having the opportunity to explore a particular part, the idea has come to life.


Q: Your costume is quite different from the all-white suit that was used before. How did that come about?
A:
I just thought about the part and the time period. A rock-and-roll angel in the '50s made me think of the Nudie suits [flamboyant, rhinestone-studded cowboy suits created by Nashville tailor Nudie Cohen] that country-and-western stars like Bob Wills and Porter Wagoner used to wear. I thought: Nudie suit leads to Gram Parsons leads to Teen Angel. And I thought it would be a cool idea to incorporate the angel wings in rhinestones. Martin Pakledinaz, the costume designer for the show, was exceptional in talking with me about the outfit, and his creativity just took off. It's a beautiful suit, and I think it looks great for me and the part I'm playing, especially with the embroidered rhinestone angel wings on the back.

Q:
Why do you think so many American Idol alums have come to Broadway?
A:
In a way, the Idol experience is similar to the Broadway experience. We'd do the group numbers every week [on Idol], and the rigorous schedule is very similar to the Broadway schedule. And it's live! You really have to be on your best game every night, but I've lived in a live setting musically since I was 16 or 17 years old. That's where I thrive.

Q:
I would think that nothing could be as challenging as surviving a season on American Idol, not to mention actually winning!
A:
It's a gut-check and a soul-check. It definitely teaches you a lot about who you are as a person.

Q:
Some Idol alums, such as Clay Aiken, express mixed feelings now about constantly being identified with the show.
A:
It doesn't bother me. Once you become an American Idol, it will always stay with you. You have to work as hard as you can to be as successful as you can—and be glad you're able to perform and grateful you had American Idol to give you that platform.

Q:
Is there extra pressure that comes with Idol in terms of who sells the most records?
A:
Yes, there is pressure. But the measuring stick for American Idol winners is everybody's measuring stick. Each of us has our own identity and our own path. For me as a performer, it's about the marathon, not the sprint. I'm in this for the long haul, whether it be Broadway or acting or music. It's using everything I've learned.

Q:
You never struck me as a top-40 singer.
A:
You have to be who you are, and find and write great songs. Great music will stand the test of time. It will also cross over—radio will come find a great song. And that's what it's about: playing great music and finding great songs and letting those songs speak for themselves.

Q:
You're working on a new record, right?
A:
Yes, I've got a record coming out in the fall. I've written half of it, and I'm going to be recording it while I'm here on Broadway. [Just after Hicks' Broadway.com interview, an announcement came that Vanguard Records, known for jazz, blues and folk recordings, has agreed to distribute the singer's next album, which he will cut on his own label.]


Q:
Your fans seem to be turning out to see you in Grease.
A:
The Soul Patrol is definitely invading Broadway!


Q:
Is having such fervent fans ever a mixed blessing? How do you make sure that the attention doesn't intrude on your life?
A:
I'm just excited to have fans. For a long time, it was a struggle for me—one night I might play for nobody and the next night I would play for 50 people. It was a grind. For me to be able to catch a break and have the opportunity to perform in front of a lot of people? You never take it for granted. And as long as you don't let [fan attention] be intrusive, it won't be. It's out there and you're aware of it, but I'm a private person by nature. I try to keep as much normalcy as I can in my daily life, in my social life, in my private life.

Q:
Are you enjoying living in New York?
A:
I love it. I just spent about four hours in Central Park. When I've come to New York in the past, it's like I leave my hotel room and then I get out of a sedan and then I'm lighting the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center and then I'm stuffed into a sedan again and then I'm in Virginia somewhere. It's been nice because I've been able to enjoy the city as opposed to doing a show or doing a press tour. I'm excited about being here because I know [New York] is where it all starts. Being on Broadway is a big honor for me.



Q:
I hadn't realized that you wrote a book [Heart Full of Soul, subtitled "an inspirational memoir"]. What message did want to convey?
A:
The importance of self-determination and a deep inner belief that you're going to succeed; not letting anything get in the way of your vision, whether it be music or theater or running a Fortune 500 company. I am the American Dream. In four months, I went from playing at a Steak & Ale to performing for 37 million people! The book also allowed me to connect with fans in my own words and show them the prelude to what they see [now]. People talk about overnight success—it's been a 13-year "overnight success" for me. But I really believe that when people become successful, 99.9% of the time it's because they have dedication and don't see anything but the bull's-eye. That's what I wanted to show in the book. You can overcome things if you're good to people and you work hard.

Q:
You're living proof of that, for sure.
A:
I remember standing outside in Las Vegas at American Idol [auditions], and kids were coming up to me asking me where my kid was that was auditioning. If that doesn't make you want to walk away, I don't know what does. But I never walked away. I knew I had a vision, and that was to entertain people—and here I am.

Q:
Is Alabama still your home base?
A:
I was in Birmingham for a few weeks visiting my family, but I don't have a permanent residence. I've been living out of four suitcases for about two years. I went down to two suitcases, but I had to fill two more up and move to New York. I toured Asia in December—I went Jakarta, I went to the Philippines. I went out on tour in February of last year and basically stayed out for eight months.

Q:
That sounds lonely!
A:
You know, I've always made the people I perform with my family. And it's so interesting—the theatrical experience is very similar to what I see with musicians on the road. [Broadway] really is a family atmosphere, and I'm thankful for that. I love working with the cast of Grease.

Q:
Would you like to try a more substantial part in the future?
A:
Yeah, I definitely would. We'll see what happens, but hopefully there's some more stuff in store for me. I'm having a ball.

See Taylor Hicks in Grease at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.







A Broadway tradition is followed by our Taylor. He gets his handprint in cement to be "entombed" at Planet Hollywood in New York, City. What a night , opening night was for him.

courtesy of souldiane


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Daniel Swalec has created a scrapbook of pictures from and of the Grease cast. ENJOY HIS MARVELOUS EFFORT.


http://www.dswalecphoto.com/BLOG_GALLERY/BLOG_13-May-2010_1.html

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Most of these pictures are already in circulation and on Connections or in the Media Vault. I think it is significant that Taylor got his own photo board as did the Sandy/Danny combos ..................... There is only one Taylor Hicks and there have been a couple of Danny's , Sandy's , Pink Lady's and T-Bird's .



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Posted Imagecourtesy of TaylorRHicks




CONGRATULATIONS GO TO THE CAST AND CREW OF THE NATIONAL TOURING COMPANY OF "GREASE" for their tremendous effort and enthusiasm in bringing this reworked musical to 46 cities around the country ( including Canada ) We applaud them and wish them all success and good fortune as they pursue their acting, singing and dancing careers. Broadway will surely be enhanced by their talents .






Five minutes and twenty-five seconds of pure pleasure. Beauty School Dropout has evolved from it's opening night on Broadway to the end of the National Touring Companies run in May.



OPENING NIGHT:

Although we can't see his gestures and facial expressions well, Taylor's vocal quality is superb. The movements are fluid and minimumally staged. The song is sung at a medium pace. with emphisis on the song's words ............

courtesy of tappanga



TWO MONTHS AGO: MARCH 2010

While there were other Frenchies between the beginning and the end of the touring company's national run, Kirsten Wyatt and Kate Morgan Chadwick began and ended the tour as Frenchy. , respectively. There is now a little more stage business and Taylor takes liberties with his time on stage. The emphasis has shifted to included Taylor camp .......


courtesy of kayandmiguel211


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A big thank you goes to the staff of THE SOUL CONNECTION E-ZINE for compiling this intriguing list of accomplishments during Taylor’s tenure as THE TEEN ANGEL in GREASE. This list, by itself, is enough justification for Taylor to have taken that leap onto the Broadway stage.


As fun rides go, Taylor couldn't have picked a better one than Grease. And during all of the campy fun for the past 18 months of touring in addition to his 3 months on Broadway, Taylor didn't just sing, he also built a successful future. Before that final curtain call and before that last copy of The Distance is signed on May 23, Taylor will have accomplished all of the following and more.


1. Proved his “star power” by drawing such large crowds to Grease during his Broadway debut that he was asked to take the show on national tour, securing long-term employment for the entire production company

2. Developed an even richer, more powerful voice

3. Had his own multi-story poster overlooking Times Square

4. Learned the “ropes” of live theatre

5. Obtained his Actor’s Equity card

6. Made many entertainment world connections with stage, film, TV, and musical performers as well as top brass

7. Met at least one head of state

8. Took his own music from The Distance directly to his audiences after every Grease performance

and was able to personally autograph CDs for many new as well as long time fans at every venue.

9. Gained an insider’s knowledge of theatres all over the US

10. Sang the National Anthem at NFL football, MLB baseball games, and Indy car races

11. Carried out all of the public relations work for Grease at TV and radio stations from NYC to LA to Seattle to Miami. . .and back

12. Re-launched his web site at ning.com

13. Began communicating with fans via Twitter from his phone . . . even from his ice cream perched high over the stage

14. Played numerous shadow concert gigs across the US to the delight of both new and longtime fans



With all this going for him, Taylor’s decision

to join Grease was the right move!


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Dear Teen Angel,

What am I to do? It's almost June and "Summer Nights" will soon be upon us. "Freddy My Love" will be taking me on a night out so I won't be "Alone at the Drive-In".; although I suppose " There Are Worse Things I Could Do".

" Look at Me" !! I'm "Hopelessly Devoted" to that guy Freddy. " Your the One That I Want" , Freddy because " We Go Togehter" like bread and butter.
I've asked"Sandy" , " My Friend" , what I should do and she said I should ask you . I just can't stop "Mooning " over this guy.

Signed: "Beauty School Dropout"



Dear " Beauty School Dropout"

Go back to High School Darlin'. You weren't "Born to Hand Jive" with that jive turkey , Freddy.

Signed: Teen Angel



Posted Imagecredit to ATF

Posted Imagecredit to Allison

Posted Imagecredit to cbeans

Posted Imagecredit to Karen




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Following the opening of GREASE , Taylor had his hand print made at Planet Hollywood



credit to DeeDee56tay
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mouser
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credit to OBG


credit to Candy



credit to OBG



Our "Travelin' Man" may not have a girl in every' port 'as chronicled in Ricky Nelson's hit song and he may not be "King of the Road" aka Roger Miller, but he surely isn't travelin' down that "Lonesome Road" anymore.
With 46 cities covered including New York City, Ottawa and Toronto Canada and Minneapolis, MN twice, Taylor has traveled multiple miles , bringing "Teen Angel" to his fans all over the USA.

Because there is a discrepancy between flight distance and driving distance and because there may be more than one airport in a city and we don't know which one Taylor utilized and because Taylor had vacation dates where he went home or went "bye-bye" or went somewhere for an appearance ; it is impossible to get a precise mileage tabulation of the number of miles Taylor has traveled performing in "Grease". This is a good try.


29,238 approximate miles covered by Taylor beginning in New York City , N.Y and ending in Cleveland, Ohio.




Taylor visited The Regis and Kelly Show at the beginning of his Grease Run:





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