TORCH SONG (2018) Previews

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/7/18 at 1:16pm

Previews for the first Broadway revival of Harvey Fierstein's Torch Song begin in just a few days (Tuesday, October 9, 2018) at the Hayes Theatre. Starring Michael Urie and Mercedes Ruehl, Torch Song is set to open officially on Saturday, November 1 for a limited run currently through Sunday, February 24, 2019.

Who's going?!

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 10/7/18 at 1:28pm

Saw this off-Broadway. Wonder what changes if any they will make for the B'way version.

[JBC3]

Posted: 10/7/18 at 1:32pm

Is front row too close for this?

[The Josh]

Posted: 10/7/18 at 2:08pm

JBC3 said: "Is front row too close for this?"

Definitely not, based on the off-broadway staging, and the Hayes is pretty small, but who knows what changes they've made since then?

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 10/7/18 at 4:12pm

I just used the new code (up to 50% off, TSBWW) and chose center mezzanine for the first preview!

I’ve never been in this theater and was worried that the front row would be too close (was only $60 more total), but hopefully the theater feels as small as people say it is. Comments on A View From My Seat say that there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

I’m so happy this play came back and is now being transferred to Broadway. It was one of the first gay plays I ever read and holds a special place in my heart.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/8/18 at 12:55pm

Would love to hear invited dress reports tonight, especially if there's any significant changes from off-Broadway last year.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/9/18 at 7:30pm

Bump for tonight's first preview!

[Bwayfan292]

Posted: 10/9/18 at 8:11pm

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bou0pPXBhQs/?hl=en

 

Not my picture, but heres the “show curtain”

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 7:45am

I was at the first preview last night and had a really great time. I loved Michael Urie’s performance so much; I don’t remember the last time someone had me belly-laughing like that in the theater, but it’s been a while. Not only his line readings, but his physical comedy was wildly hysterical. When he acts out what an “oops” is had me near tears. Arnold is the eptimore of “character you want to root for,” causing the three hour runtime to feel too short rather than too long. 

Urie alone makes this must-see theater, but everyone in the cast is great. Even the Fugue in the Nursery section, the most difficult to pull off, worked for me. Laurel and Alan both made an impression with their short amount of stage time. 

Of course, a good deal of the glory needs to go to Harvey, not only for still including Legs Diamond on his bio, but for re-crafting his play so well. 

Although the musicals have been turds this season, at least the plays of late have been doing their best to bail us out.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 8:21am

Whizzer, did they reinstate the singer into the first part? She was cut from the off-Broadway production, but a friend was working on projections for the transfer that led me to believe she may have been put back.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 8:33am

The evening opens with a projection of a singer on the back wall as Urie’s backstage room slides into place, but that’s it.

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 8:35am

Has it changed at all from 2ST? I liked it there, but not feeling any major pull to return...

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 8:44am

I agree with everything said. Especially Michael’s “oops” bit - I could be wrong, but I don’t remember it being as hilarious in the off-Broadway run last year.

Amazing performances for a first preview. Everyone’s performances have gotten better in my opinion. Even Ward Horton (Ed), who IMO was the only weak link in the 2nd Stage run - here he is so much more natural and believable, not just in his line delivery but his physical character as well. I also don’t remember Roxanna Hope Radja (Laurel) being so funny the last time, but I wanted her to never get offstage.

Very minimal slip-ups from this phenomenal cast - a line studder or two, a moment when Michael tripped on the phone chord in “Widows and Childen First”...I do think Jack Difalco could enunciate more as some lines were muddy, but nothing distracting at all.

Just a really wonderful night of theater. I hope the cast felt how much we were eating it up. This (the original trilogy) holds such a special place in my heart and I am so happy this production transferred and has become even stronger. I truly could have sat there for another two hours.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 12:08pm

I had the same issues with Jack DiFalco that I did with him in MARVIN'S ROOM last year --- he's supposed to be playing a teenager --- but he looks (and acts) like he's 30. 

 

[MarilynMonroeSmash]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 12:22pm

Was there any merch for sale?

[A Director]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 1:15pm

No mention of Mercedes Ruehl.  Has she been replaced?

[haterobics]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 1:51pm

A Director said: "No mention of Mercedes Ruehl. Has she been replaced?"

Seems like a leap after the only two people who saw it didn't mention her...

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 1:53pm

Mercedes has not been replaced. She nails every second she is onstage. Again, I think even her performance was better here than it was at 2nd Stage (and that’s saying something).

I saw a decent sized amount of merch walking out of the theater (I will be going back this weekend and getting a better look) - magnets, beautiful window card, a couple t-shirts, a hat, my eyes didn’t catch it but I know they are rereleasing the script with both the original trilogy and new condensed versions included. They were also handing out buttons on the way out that said “Torch Bearer” with the logo and their social media info/hashtags on the card. I’m not sure if the buttons will continue to be a thing, but I know they were handed out at the invited dress and last night.

[Eliza2]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 5:58pm

WhizzerMarvin said: "I was at the first preview last night and had a really great time. I loved Michael Urie’s performance so much; I don’t remember the last time someone had me belly-laughing like that in the theater, but it’s been a while. Not only his line readings, but his physical comedy was wildly hysterical. When he acts out what an “oops” is had me near tears.Arnold is the eptimore of “character you want to root for,” causing the three hour runtime to feel too short rather than too long.

Urie alone makes this must-see theater, but everyone in the cast is great. Even the Fugue in the Nursery section, the most difficult to pull off, worked for me. Laurel and Alan both made an impression with their short amount of stage time.

Of course, a good deal of the glory needs to go to Harvey, not only for still including Legs Diamond on his bio, but for re-crafting his play so well.

Although the musicals have been turds this season, at least the plays of late have been doing their best to bail us out."

I saw Urie in The Government Inspector last year and left the theatre thinking that he just might be the best at physical comedy I've ever seen live. This makes me look forward to seeing Torch Song even more next month!

[UnderTheHill]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 7:32pm

I also have to concur, the show was fantastic, the entire cast was great, but especially Michael Urie who should be a lock for a Tony nomination, especially since he is on the stage during the entire performance.  We were 3rd row mezz via TDF and my other half couldn't stop laughing, he has a very distinctive laugh so everyone would have heard him. lol

This is definitely a must see.  Seeing Boys in the Band, then this, it has been a great year for play revivals.

 

[tvgus2]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 8:17pm

How does there merchandise table look like? Any window cards yet? 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 8:49pm

tvgus2 said: "How does there merchandise table look like? Any window cards yet?"

Scroll up and you’ll have your answer. 

 

[UnderTheHill]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 8:51pm

We got two buttons when leaving, one is Torch Bearer and the other is #TheTorchIsLit.  They also gave out "Love, Respect. Vote." stickers at the ticket window.

 

[ilysespieces]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 9:17pm

I picked up a ticket through tdf for the Saturday evening show, on a whim, but this thread has made me so excited to see it. I've been seeing a lot of plays recently, but most dramas with some occasional funny moments. Can't wait for Saturday!

[Sauja]

Posted: 10/10/18 at 9:57pm

Glad to hear it’s landing so well. For those who saw it off Broadway and on, were there noticeable changes, or was it more just a sense, as mentioned, of the humor landing even better, etc?