Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
theaterdude2
Stand-by Joined: 3/28/16
#1Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/30/18 at 11:44pm
I can't believe that those are my choices but I've left one slot open and normally in a second I'd choose Carousel. But so many people have a huge dislike for this production. Some friends say that while it's not great, its well sung and they liked the choreography.
Someone on the other board just posted that they actually found Summer entertaining and that the audience liked it because of the music.
What would you choose? I'm in NYC in the middle of my trip and I can't make up my mind.
Any suggestions?
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#2Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/30/18 at 11:46pm
I would recommend several other shows, but of those three, I'd easily go for SpongeBob.
Do not waste your money on this disaster of Carousel.
Olivia11
Stand-by Joined: 7/30/16
#3Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/30/18 at 11:50pm
I’ve seen Carousel and La Jolla tryout of Summer (I don’t think much changed during the transfer, unfortunately). I have not seen Spongebob.
I would not recommend Summer. I thought Carousel was fine with some outstanding vocals and choregraphy with talented dancers. Though I understand some of the criticism, I thought it was a very enjoyable evening.
BroadwayBeebe
Featured Actor Joined: 2/10/16
#4Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/30/18 at 11:50pm
Let me start this by saying that Carousel is one of my favorite pieces. I saw Carousel and Summer both last weekend and can’t think of anything I would hate to sit through as much as what I saw. This is a botched Carousel and Summer was a fun regional production at best. (LaChanze was out, but her understudy did her best with the material.)
Spongebob is wildly creative and I truly love the show and the world Tina Landau has created around it. I walked into previews expecting to tell everyone of the mess I had witnessed. I’ve since gone back multiple times and recommended it to countless people. Go with the sponge Hands down.
Elegance101
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/24/17
theaterdude2
Stand-by Joined: 3/28/16
#6Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/31/18 at 12:02am
Is there a narrative to Spongebob? I don't know the show but is it going to feel like I'm at a kid's show?
I listened to the CD the other day and like about 4 or 5 of the songs, which is more than I expected. It's so difficult to be in NY and not see Carousel. Weird.
BroadwayRox3588
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/5/16
#8Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/31/18 at 12:36am
theaterdude2 said: "Is there a narrative to Spongebob? I don't know the show but is it going to feel like I'm at a kid's show?
I listened to the CD the other day and like about 4 or 5 of the songs, which is more than I expected. It's so difficult to be in NY and not see Carousel. Weird."
I haven’t seen any of these shows yet. I am seeing Spongebob in June. Before it opened, I never would have guessed I’d want to see it. Based on reviews on here plus professional critics’ reviews, I had Carousel high on my list until it entered previews. Then it went off my list completely. Then some of the reviews were positive so I put it back on the list. Then I realized I had to cut one show from my June list so I am now not seeing Carousel. It has a strong score which even most critics agree is well sung in this revival, features great choreography even if some of the dance numbers don’t make sense in the context of the plot. Reviews of the acting though has been mixed-to-bad for most of the cast, with the exclusion of Mendez’s Carrie. She’s an apparent front runner for Featured Actress at the Tony Awards. However, the biggest complaint is about how O’Brien has altered the book (and inexplicably cut some songs) to deal with the book’s perceived outdated view of domestic abuse.
As someone who considers himself a Donna Summer fan (although not a super fan), I have not heard one flat out rave of the show. It doesn’t interest me at all. Snippets of disco masterpieces fit into a plot that whitewashes her life to emphasize her Christian faith at the expense of minimizing her allure to her gay audience.
So, as I’ve said I have not yet seen any of the three shows. My preference is obviously Spongebob. The consensus by most seems to be that it wildly exceeds expectations, features some particularly great performances (most notably Slater’s) and imaginative stagecraft. The storyline isn’t going to win any awards and the songs are hit-and-miss.
So, I think it is between Spongebob and Carousel for you. It really comes down to your gut instinct. I do doubt Spongebob will ever experience a revival. Maybe it’ll tour? If it does, I’m not sure it will be able to recreate the stagecraft and will most probably not feature Slater’s performance. Carousel, on the other hand, will likely experience another revival again and it is hard to imagine any future revival being more poorly revived than this one.
Hope you let us know what you decide and your thoughts afterwards.
#9Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/31/18 at 12:47am
I would go for a flawed production of a masterpiece (especially where, as your friends rightly note, it is beautifully sung and choreographed) over highly polished vacuity.
#10Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/31/18 at 2:13am
If you consider yourselves to be connoisseurs of great music, then go hear the great music sung by a talented cast with a large orchestra.
The music alone should be enough of an attraction. Thousands don't go to see hundreds of annual productions of Carmen because they dig the libretto.l
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#11Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/31/18 at 5:14am
Carousel is far from perfect, but it's not even close to the worst thing I've seen.
Regardless of so many raves and cries of " it's so much fun!" I just can't muster any enthusiasm for the Sponge. I truly fear I would sit there with loathing.
I also have no interest in Summer as I don't care for biopic, and this one seems particularly bland.
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These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
stlrod
Featured Actor Joined: 2/4/11
#12Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/31/18 at 6:50am
I saw SpongeBob Sunday. Chose it over Carousel. Big mistake. It is an overpriced children's show. Came as close to walking out at intermission as I ever have. Thought Gavin Lee's big number might provide redemption It didn't and two women in front of me must have been thinking the same thing as they left immediately after his number. I can't imagine Carousel being worse (or Frozen for that matter.)
Updated On: 5/31/18 at 06:50 AM
#14Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/31/18 at 7:16am
SpongeBob for sure. Carousel and Summer are both huge piles of dreck.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#15Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/31/18 at 7:45am
As someone who grew up with Spongebob from the beginning (I’m 24), I was bemoaning what dreck this could’ve possibly been. When I got tickets from a friend, I decided that it was worth a show. The book is pretty much a 15-minute serial stretched to 2.5 hours, but I was enraptured by the ingenuity of the production design and I really felt the cast working hard to win me over, and they did. I left feeling like the world sucked a little less.
Carousel was beautifully sung and danced, but left me totally cold (aside from Renee Fleming).
Summer, aside from the performances by the Donnas, was an utter travesty all around. Honestly, Colman Domingo and co. Should be ashamed of themselves for their Wikipedia-style desecration of an icon.
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theaterdude2
Stand-by Joined: 3/28/16
#16Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/31/18 at 8:36am
Thank you all for your comments. If you've been following along, you can see that there's no clear winner even on this thread!
There are obviously detractors of both shows. Just as I think I'm sold on Spongebob, someone writes to say that they were underwhelmed, and the same goes for Carousel.
Seeing as I am a fan of Carousel, saw the Lincoln Center production which I loved...I still wonder how I could go wrong with it even if it's just to listen to the score again well sung on Bway with a full orchestra. But then I think of the production design and performances of Spongebob and I get stuck again!
I've never ever had a problem with indecision like this before when choosing shows to see.
2 new pieces of news: lots of people saying cast members of Spongebob have been out, and last night over at Carousel, Renee Fleming didn't finish the show...I need to see if I can find any news about who will be out when I go, which is a only a day away. Perhaps that will make the decision for me. For example, if Ethan is out of Spongebob, I wouldn't go.
Thoughts?
taylortrensch
Leading Actor Joined: 1/20/18
#17Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/31/18 at 9:34am
theaterdude2 said: "Thank you all for your comments. If you've been following along, you can see that there's no clear winner even on this thread!
There are obviously detractors of both shows. Just asI think I'm sold on Spongebob, someone writes to say that they were underwhelmed, and the same goes for Carousel.
Seeing as I am a fan of Carousel, saw the Lincoln Center production which I loved...I still wonder how I could go wrong with it even if it's just to listen to the score again well sung on Bway with a full orchestra. But then I think of the production design and performances of Spongebob and I get stuck again!
I've never ever had a problem with indecision like this before when choosing shows to see.
2 new pieces of news: lots of people saying cast members of Spongebob have been out, and last night over at Carousel, Renee Fleming didn't finish the show...I need to see if I can find any news about who will beout when I go, which is a only a day away. Perhaps that will make the decision for me. For example, if Ethan is out of Spongebob, I wouldn't go.
Thoughts?"
You should follow Curtis Holbrook and Jesse JP Johnson's social media pages. Curtis is currently on vacation, however, and I don't know when he returns so if anyone will cover Spongebob, it's Jesse. Those two cover Spongebob and always post when they go on for Ethan. Additionally, you can always purchase rush tickets for Spongebob after the board goes up as they play in a huge house and rarely sell out. Spongebob attendance has been pretty great lately, except for some ensemble members who went on short vacations over the holiday weekend (Lauralyn, Brandon, Curtis) and Brian Ray Norris (Krabs) missed a day. Ethan is known to be out for matinees, so I think if you see an evening show he'd be on. Spongebob > Carousel any day, especially if you've watched the Lincoln Center production. The decision is ultimately up to you, but I think you should see Spongebob. It's rare that anyone leaves there without a smile on their face.
don't message me thinking im taylor trensch?? what would he be doing on bww?? you can't possibly be that dumb bye
#18Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/31/18 at 9:53am
I would choose Carousel before the others and I've only Spongebob but I can't stand audience members singing along with a cast on stage throughout a performance which is what is encouraged with Summer.
I just saw Carousel yesterday at the matinee (everyone was there and no subs during the show) and enjoyed it. never seen it before nor the movie and while it had it's flaws it was still enjoyable. The casting of a POC as Billy seems like a no brainer especially in a setting like Maine so there's that difference from other productions. Additionally, I hate extended dance numbers in a show but really enjoyed the choreography in the show (I can't believe I'm typing this) some of the moves are really creative. Had there been chemistry between the two leads it might have made it better but still it was enjoyable.
SpongeBob is a theme park musical on Bway. Pretty much one note with some creative direction but lackluster songs. It would probably fair better on the big screen than a stage.
#19Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/31/18 at 10:09am
taylortrensch said: "Ethan is known to be out for matinees, so I think if you see an evening show he'd be on. Spongebob > Carousel any day, especially if you've watched the Lincoln Center production. The decision is ultimately up to you, but I think you should see Spongebob. It's rare that anyone leaves there without a smile on their face."
Hold up, I have a Saturday matinee (6/23) ticket to see Spongebob Squarepants. I heard Slater didn’t do Sunday matinees. Are you saying Slater doesn’t do Saturday matinees either?
#20Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/31/18 at 10:23am
Miles2Go2 said: "taylortrensch said: "Ethan is known to be out for matinees, so I think if you see an evening show he'd be on. Spongebob > Carousel any day, especially if you've watched the Lincoln Center production. The decision is ultimately up to you, but I think you should see Spongebob. It's rare that anyone leaves there without a smile on their face."
Hold up, I have a Saturday matinee (6/23) ticket to see Spongebob Squarepants. I heard Slater didn’t do Sunday matinees. Are you saying Slater doesn’t do Saturday matinees either?"
I think that’s neither here or there. I saw it the Thursday right after the Tony nominations and he was out.
I haven’t seen Summer, but I’ve seen the other two and would still choose Carousel, hands down.
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#21Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/31/18 at 10:28am
Spongebob is the most fun I've had at a musical in at least 10 years. That would be my pick.
#22Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/31/18 at 11:16am
SpongeBob is hilarious, heartwarming and creative. I've been recommending it left and right.
Alex172005
Chorus Member Joined: 2/13/18
#23Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/31/18 at 11:53am
This was literally my conundrum today. Couldn’t decide what to see. Already had tickets to Cursed Child, Band’s Visit, and Frozen.
I went with SpongeBob, and got great $79 tickets with the discount code available at www.broadwaybox.com
#24Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/31/18 at 12:12pmFYI. Just received email from TodayTix. Tickets starting at $45 for Carousel although I think for tomorrow tickets might start at $59. Not sure where seats are though.
robskynyc
Broadway Star Joined: 4/17/18
#25Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 5/31/18 at 3:22pm
if you saw/liked the lincoln center performance, then do not go see this version of carousel. because you'll be comparing it the entire time and it doesnt hold up.
i say spongebob :)
taylortrensch
Leading Actor Joined: 1/20/18
#26Carousel, Summer or Spongebob?
Posted: 6/1/18 at 2:43am
Miles2Go2 said: "taylortrensch said: "Ethan is known to be out for matinees, so I think if you see an evening show he'd be on. Spongebob > Carousel any day, especially if you've watched the Lincoln Center production. The decision is ultimately up to you, but I think you should see Spongebob. It's rare that anyone leaves there without a smile on their face."
Hold up, I have a Saturday matinee (6/23) ticket to see Spongebob Squarepants. I heard Slater didn’t do Sunday matinees. Are you saying Slater doesn’t do Saturday matinees either?"
Sorry Miles - I was unclear in my original post! I just meant that looking at all of his absences, Ethan misses matinee shows more than he does evening shows. It's not guaranteed that Ethan will be out of a matinee show, but I notice he misses them more than he does evening shows. You're seeing the show after the Tonys' so maybe they'll give him an alternate by then. Also, just thought I'd add that Karen the Computer will be played by a new actress at your show as Stephanie Hsu is leaving to be a part of Be More Chill on June 15!
don't message me thinking im taylor trensch?? what would he be doing on bww?? you can't possibly be that dumb bye
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