Archive for Musicals.Net Musicals.Net |
| Jelliclaw |
US Tour audience interaction (and a few other questions)Hello MdN CATS forum!I'm seeing the nat'l tour in San Diego, CA next month. I haven't seen the tour live for about five years and I can't remember anything about it. One thing I was curious about was the interaction with the audience. From what I've heard, the only interaction is the "green eyes", "there's a man over there...", Rum Tum Tugger dancing with an audience member, and Bustopher throwing his flower. Is there any interaction aside from this? Also, where do the Cats tend to go in the "green eyes" scene? I'm sitting in the "dress circle" (apparently I'm too dull to figure out what a dress circle is =P) in the San Diego Civic Theatre. The dress circle area appears to be pretty far back (seating chart pdf file: http://sdcivic.org/downloads/SDCT_SeatingChart.pdf). Do you think there's any chance of the cast coming through that area during the overture, supposing they do at all? A few last questions, I'm sorry! - For those who have waited by the stage door for autographs...did you ask the ushers where the stage door was or find it yourself somehow? Are the ushers usually willing to inform you? - Is Felix Hess still with the cast? I hear he's pretty good? - Who plays Grizabella currently, and did you feel that she was a good Griz? - I have two tour autographs given to me by a friend, one from Delaine Andrzejewski (Bomba) and another from Samantha Shafer (Sillabub). Are either of these actresses still with the cast? - Aaanddd...any random tidbits you'd like to share, or your experiences going in costume? Thank you! |
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| darkmage |
When I saw it last week in Tucson, they also came out in the audience for a bit at the beginning of "Moments." So that was fun. I didn't interact with the cast as I had second row balcony seats. They were really good seats, and I could clearly see everything, they just weren't down in the very front orchestra rows.
Felix Hess is indeed still with the cast. You too will enjoy Tweaker Skimble.  I think he makes a great Skimble, actually--he's hyper and overzealous just like I always imagined Skimble to be.
Delaine Andrzejewski and Samantha Shafer are no longer with the cast. If they are they weren't in my Playbill. Griz has a good voice, but her acting skills go right out the window somewhere in Act II. I've seen Grizzes that couldn't act AT ALL so inconsistent is better than zero. Still, though... 
My full trip report is on the CCDB forum. Since you're a member you can read it there. 
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| VictoriaTWC |
I'm seeing the show in San Diego. I live there. Seeing it twice. What date are you seeing the show? PM about it if you'd like to meet up. The only interactions are the ones that you've already mentioned. They don't go out into the audience anymore during the end of Misto's number, sadly. No more going up onstage to meet Old D. too. Since you haven't posted a seat number just the dress circle, you will be high up in the upper balcony. It overhangs the main Orchestra seats. When Rumblepurr and I saw the show in San Bernardino we had cats in the balcony during "Green Eyes," which is a rarity. I've seen Troika before in San Diego a few years back and they did not do a balcony run. The theatre is pretty big and it would take a marathon run to get back downstairs into the backstage area. But maybe they've changed that and brought back some balcony action. All I can say is: Look out for some suprises. The cats usually stick to the end aisle during "Green Eyes," at the Civic. Maybe one or two come down to the front of Row AA and hiss but its for such a short time. Ushers usually pretty much don't know where the stage door is. They are temporary hired help and may not be able to let you know. The best person to ask is a Security Guard, or one of the House Managers. Stage doors are pretty easy to find. At the Civic its in the back near the unloading dock. You will see the giant Troika painted truck back there and the door should be up a flight of stairs. Felix Hess is still doing Hyper Piper Skimble. He is very good as Skimble, with little motions and gestures and twiches. Tricia Tangeuy plays Grizabella. I've seen better Grizzi's but she has an excellent voice. Her face reminds me of Glinda the Good Witch of the North (from the Wizard of Oz movie). Her face just doesn't match the character. Sort of heart shaped and pinched. She reminded me also of Renee Zellwegger. Both actresses have left, I'm sorry. Going in costume is a hit or miss affair. Definately better if you can gather a group of friends to give you some support. People will ask you for photographs and the house managers will get upset about it. Lately the house has been keeping alert to "costumed" people who see the show. They really don't want you to take photos with the audience. Maybe outside the theatre, but not in it, and especially NOT in the main house facing the stage in an aisle or in your seats. Copyrights and all. This years cast is pretty good. Bom is sexy and sparkly. Misto is an evil demon cat who is played this year as a really Hissy-Fit kitty. Demi is really neurotic and scared to death of Macavity. It really comes out when you are 4 feet from the stage. I loved the actor who played Plato. Watch out though...he hisses extrememly loud if you try to touch him. 
Other than that, enjoy the show! Purrs, VTWC |
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| Jelliclaw |
Thanks for the information, VTWC and Darkmage!
My seat is 27 in row C, I believe. |
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| Rumblepurr |
Stage DoorIn the times I have been to the San Diego Civic, the stage door and loading dock are on the corner of C Street and 3rd Avenue. If you have your compass points - this would be the SE (southeast) corner of the theatre complex. The problems you might face there - the light rail trains go by on C Street and the "Street People" are in the area as well. If you go there, a couple of friends might be wise...We did notice at the California Theatre in San Bernardino that some cast members did show up in the balconies during Green Eyes, but access is the key as well as the amount of space given to the edge... If I remember the Civic correctly, they might be able to do that since they did have members of the aerial puppets up there during "The Lion King". Rumblepurr 
The Writer Cat. |
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| The Drama Queen |
Is threre somewhere I could find a cast list of the current National Tour?? Someone I know is supposedly in it, but I'm not sure. | ||
| Rumblepurr |
Cast List...At least what I know of... GO HERE |
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| Jelliclaw |
One last question, guys.
How long does it -usually- take the cast to start exiting the stage door? |
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| JinxCat |
When Pounce and I saw it, the gal who plays Jenny got out within 5 min o.o They can be pretty quick if they want to be out of there.... (this is Jinx from ccdb by the way) |
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| Vice |
Oh god. He's pure awesome. |
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| jcstar |
Munkustrap came right up to me during OVERTURE. I was tempted to pet him, but he got "scared" for some reason.
Demeter came up to me during the bows. The cats were all over the place during OVERTURE. I was amazed. Andy. |
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| Quaxo! |
I was too high up for any of the action in Capitol Theater, Yakima, WA, for any of the action, But Auditions for the 2008-2009 leg of National tour are on The 19th of This Month!!! they are in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Dance Center! I wish I could go, but I still have school next year, so I would have to decline if I was cast, and I don't have much experience under my belt anyways 
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| Jelliclaw |
Just saw the show on Saturday! (VTWC, I would have contacted you but my Internet wasn't working: I ended up seeing the show both at 2:00 and at 7:30)
During Green Eyes they hardly moved through the audience at all. It was still very awesome, though. I didn't get any interaction, since I was in the middle of row C (I think) at 2:00 and in the dress circle at 7:30. Backstage (whee, autographs!) before the show Felix Hess said he'd try to find me but like I said, being in the middle prevented that =( I did catch a Misto streamer, though. I pretty much had to jump out of my seat and then reach into a toddler's booster seat to get it, but I later wore it around my neck feeling very accomplished. It was a wonderful show. Hopefully I'll post a report and pictures later. |
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| The Drama Queen |
Are there any other tours of Cats in the US right now, besides Troika? Or at least were there any within the past year? | ||
| Rumblepurr |
ToursAs far as I know, there is only ONE professional tour - the Troika Tour. Anything else is a regional put on by that area's performers.Rumblepurr
The Writer Cat. |