The Weekly Spill #33
broadway, bobs, and other beans
Howdy, divas! I am here to spill the beans for your Sunday evening entertainment. Without further ado, let me proudly present…all of the things I can’t stop thinking about this week.
Ragtime: I am so grateful that I was able to see Ragtime at New York City Center last weekend. The show ran for only 2 weeks as part of City Center’s Encores series, but there are currently rumors that it could transfer to broadway. Ragtime is already a beloved musical with an insanely beautiful score, but then you add this stacked cast and stage it during the election? Say no more, it’s the musical theatre event of the season.
Ragtime belongs to a group I recently heard someone describe as “90s AP U.S history mega-musicals.” Set at the turn of the century, it follows three groups of characters (white, Black, and newly arrived immigrants) as their paths cross in search of the American Dream. The show grapples with the struggle to remain hopeful in a country that fails to live up to its ideals.
This entire cast was a dream, but the two biggest highlights were Joshua Henry as Coalhouse Walker Jr. and Brandon Uranowitz as Tateh. Both of these roles were perfectly cast, and, if this gets a broadway transfer, they both deserve Tony nominations. I would listen to Joshua Henry sing the phone book. I don’t have the words to describe how incredible he is, so just watch these clips:
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Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserLike sorry to brag, but I got to see that live. And yes, I cried. So, Ragtime…10/10.
Marc Jacobs’s Vogue: For the first time, Vogue will have a guest editor. Anna Wintour handed the reigns to Marc Jacobs, and the result is a breath of fresh air.
color! fun! Fashion with a capital F! I watched the behind-the-scenes video about the collaboration, and the vision, creativity, and care that Jacobs brought to the process is so inspiring. It really stands in contrast to the usual issues, and shines a light on what Vogue could be under the direction of someone with a fresh vision. Compared to the playful sophistication of Marc’s ideas, other recent issues feel stale and phoned in.
bob on bob crime Note: I would still love to work there, so if you have a job for me let me just say that this is actually satire and I take it back sorry
Cabaret: I thought Ragtime felt timely…then I won a lottery ticket for Cabaret. How did it feel to watch characters attempt to downplay and ignore the rising power of a fascist regime? Spooky! In one scene, a character wearing a red arm band says “this is just politics, why should it get in the way of our friendship?” So, turns out that IG story the worst person you went to high school with posted last week wasn’t really that original.
Even though I have a lot of thoughts about Cabaret, I tried to go in with an open mind. I don’t think this production is perfect. At times, I could really feel the effort to come across as shocking/crazy/different, and I think they pulled some punches in regards to the Nazi stuff. I don’t disagree with the reviewers who criticized this revival for putting the emphasis on the flash rather than the substance, but I still think it’s worth going to see. Kander, Ebb, and Masteroff’s masterpiece is pretty much impossible to mess up.
I didn’t get to see Auliʻi Cravalho play Sally (her understudy was lovely), but I am happy to report that Adam Lambert’s Emcee was great. It was nothing like Eddie Redmayne’s performance on the Tonys. That might be an unfair comparison, but it is all I have to go off of. Redmayne’s characterization in “Willkommen” felt like a creepy animatronic, but Lambert’s felt more like a campy host of a drag show. Personally I think this is a better choice, and the transformation of the character was genuinely chilling to watch.
Big is moving to Paris ashtray: I already own two of the thnk1994 ashtrays, but this is iconic. So, maybe I need three idk. Can you have too many?
Jonathan Bailey’s Butz t-shirt: Apologies to Ariana and Cynthia, but this is the best Wicked press tour fashion moment. I would like to see shirts with Idina and Kristin’s 2003 headshots.
This is peak theatre kid behavior, and I’m obsessed. Norbert Leo Butz hive rise up!
Julie Andrews singing Getting Married Today: Speaking of Jonathan Bailey, I included his “Getting Married Today” performance in last week’s spill. Consider this a part two, because I found a version where Julie Andrews sings all of the parts. I didn’t think this was humanly possible, but then again, she is practically perfect in every way.
BadReads Reviews: This is my new favorite account on Instagram.
People’s Sexiest Man Alive: Not to be a hater or anything, but… ?? I’m just really curious about the selection process. Who picks the “Sexiest Man Alive?” Like is it one person or a panel? Are we voting? Is it like write in ballots, or do you choose from a list of nominees? I think we need more transparency. Personally, I have concerns, chief among them being that I am really worried that whoever’s picking is lost in time or something. Last year McDreamy won, and now it’s Jim from the Office? Is it 2007? There are so many current options, why are we digging into the archive for mid-aughts men? Frankly, I think the people deserve some answers.
srry but this picture is giving Tyra Banks migraine but make it sexy ANTM vibes Congrats to Emily Blunt I guess?
Okay, that’s it for now! Hope you all have a fabulous week!
we may never get branuran as leo frank but branuran as tateh is here to save us
manny jacinto should've been people's sexiest man alive