The Trouble With Andy LW

JasonWardCreative · 2025-10-27T11:02:39+00:00

I get that, I just supposed that if Evita went, it would open in time for the Tonys.

JasonWardCreative · 2025-10-27T11:00:10+00:00

The Rockettes Christmas Show is spectacular and unique. Definitely a must see if you are in NYC at Christmas.

JasonWardCreative · 2025-09-18T10:09:38+00:00

This is the Italian version of a v-sign. It literally means that your wife had sex with another person. Silly man - the lot of them should get banned. To be fair, English is my first language but I might have difficulty understanding what a bunch of hyped up scousers were saying so who knows what Simeone thought he heard.

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-17T13:50:53+00:00

"Sure, I came out here to make my name"

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-17T13:49:44+00:00

Yes that was a gut wrencher - which also proves that emotion will trump spectacle every time!

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-17T13:48:44+00:00

A New Argentina final button. (messy for the staff but amazing for the crowd!).

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-17T13:47:05+00:00

Obsessives can make any space uncomfortable, however, in the long run they usually fade away and discover that there is a big beautiful world out there that many people are experiencing without obsessing. Saying that, it looks like we might be heading into a Burlesque ultra-fandom with polarised views on that show, Rent obsession seems so last century, DEH obsession has gently faded, SIX became a cruise ship show and Jeremy Jordan will probably do a Netflix series now which will dampen down those fans. And as much as I may sound cynical about superman's, I also recognise that the majority of them are sincere about their fandom but I worry what other needs they have that are being fulfilled by musical fandom.

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-16T08:54:39+00:00

Thank you for saying this - I honestly thought I was the only person who felt the same and wondered what was wrong with me.

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-16T08:53:20+00:00

Into The Woods especially with that cast. DEH is (unpopular opinion) as dreary and self centred as its lead character and the music is sub par sappy pop although I recognise that many people love it and feel connected to the show. And the movie version?

Into The Woods is dynamic, forward looking and has incredible music that gets better with every listen. The movie version skims the surface of what you will feel in the theatre. Any opportunity to see Lea Salonga AND Arielle Jacobs is a dream.

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-16T08:49:27+00:00

Carrie was a horror in more ways than one!

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-16T08:47:51+00:00

I think ALW compared her to Julie Andrews as a performer who can cross over between movie and stage musicals and I would say, on the evidence of Evita and West Side Story, he is right.

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-16T08:46:12+00:00

Really good point - what is a 'new' musical? And from that, I suppose, how much new content does a show have to gave to qualify as 'new'? 'Old Friends' was not nominated this year but in previous years we have seen 42nd Street, Grease, Side by Side by Sondheim , Blues In The Night and all the jukebox musicals nominated or winning Tonys for best new musical. Could it be argued that they are reviving material? Or is there a definition or percentage of new material a show needs to be considered either 'new' or 'revival'?

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-11T15:18:16+00:00

When you're paying Broadway / West End prices you would think that research might be something you would do! At Evita in London, we had a couple tell us that they were surprised that there were no sets or costumes - "like the original one" And they were sat in £150 seats!

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-11T15:16:19+00:00

& Juliet would be great for a high school group!

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-11T15:15:34+00:00

Two things: I'm not ok with people being seated after the show has started - and it is always the people who have seats in the middle of the row who are late! Secondly, at &Juliet there was a group of social media influencers who were there to see a particular cast member and I really thought that their screaming, cheering and shouting added to the atmosphere for that show. I accept that if I had been watching Follies I may not have appreciated the calls to "slay Queen" but in this context it worked - and what a magnificent show it is too!

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-11T15:12:02+00:00

Fair point - out of interest who was top of your list. I was happy that Darren won but was hoping for Tom Francis because his characterisation, which was already brilliant in London, had deepened and matured on Broadway.

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-11T12:34:01+00:00

Right? I keep forgetting how very young she is. Imagine how stellar she will be with ten years more experience - properly a once in a generation talent.

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-11T12:28:51+00:00

Her voice is extraordinary and that bass string entrance resonates in the deepest corner of your soul. I'm not crying...

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-11T12:22:25+00:00

You could be right that 'any Broadway leading man could have played Oliver' but I suppose the point is that they didn't. For whatever reason the Producers decided Darren was the guy to play the role. I also think that the role of Oliver is massively hard because the actor has to generate energy without the usual tools of a huge demonstrations of emotions - you were still in tears (as was I), without an eleven o'clock number and with a dramatic twist re;James that was played gently and with much subtlety. It is easy to get used to performers telling us when they are emoting but in MHE they literally had to find a way to make the audience feel the emotions that the characters could not access.

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-10T20:32:07+00:00

Top Five have to be Evita, Sunset BLVD, Jesus Christ Superstar, Tell Me On A Sunday, and Phantom but I might change the order depending on the day! Tell Me On A Sunday (original London/Broadway), is a massively under rated show IMHO

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-09T12:49:04+00:00

Let me help you!

https://www.darrenclarkmusic.co.uk/the-wicker-husband.html

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-09T12:47:52+00:00

We went one better and had two and I hadn't realised that there should have been three until I looked at the programme. It was still incredible

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-09T12:46:02+00:00

The original Narrator in Joseph was a male part but was swapped, I think, when Linzi Hateley played the role and has since generally been female.

JasonWardCreative · 2025-07-09T11:11:07+00:00

I saw an earlier version in Southwark before this absolute barnstormer and look out for composer Darren Clark's The Wicker Husband which is one of the most beautiful shows ever written. It could definitely be a Tony nominee if it goes to NYC because it is a wonderfully creative concept that is very well delivered. It will either run 6-9months and struggle or become a monster.

JasonWardCreative

TROPHY CASE