A Sign of the Times
A Sign of the Times
#1A Sign of the Times
Posted: 1/29/24 at 5:36pm
Featuring the songs of Petula Clark, Lesley Gore and Dusty Springfield. Loved their music when I heard it new and fresh in the 1960's, and still love it more than half a century later. Hope this is a massive hit. Oh, yeah!
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photos-Go-Inside-Rehearsals-for-60s-Musical-A-SIGN-OF-THE-TIMES-20240129
Non sibi sed patriae
Actinggbugg474
Featured Actor Joined: 9/4/04
#2A Sign of the Times
Posted: 1/29/24 at 7:14pm
I’m interested in this show, but I can’t find much info about it. Has anyone seen a previous incarnation? Any clue if it’s supposed to be good?
#3A Sign of the Times
Posted: 2/8/24 at 11:52pm
The rescheduled first preview was tonight. Started right at 7:35 and clocked in at just over a 2:30 runtime (compared to the 2:15 listed on Telecharge).
It's pretty lowbrow and clichéd for the most part, but it takes a few interesting twists and turns here and there. Crystal Lucas-Perry walks away with the whole thing, and an effervescent Edward Staudenmayer nearly steals the show in various roles, including a fabulously gay Warhol doppelgänger in the second act. Chilina Kennedy — twice my Carole King in Beautiful — holds her own throughout and comes through near the end with a burning "You Don't Own Me."
It felt nice to be back at New World, which seemed to be about 70% full at best tonight. I can't really imagine this getting good reviews when it opens on the 22nd, but it's nostalgic and panders to its audience.
Safe and somewhat pleasant. Certainly not one of the worst jukebox musicals I've seen.
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Updated On: 2/8/24 at 11:52 PM
BoringBoredBoard40
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/27/21
Smaxie
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/26/05
#5A Sign of the Times
Posted: 2/9/24 at 12:25am
I do love when people on this board get indignant about things they've invented. They announced that the show will convert to a commercial contract after four weeks as a York Theatre Company production. It is staying put at New World Stages.
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
#6A Sign of the Times
Posted: 2/19/24 at 10:30pm
I feel like the majority of audience was over 70 and this show was custom built for them to enjoy and reminisce over “the good old days” even though it’s heavy on the racism and Vietnam, it still plays like a show on a senior citizen cruise.
Cast is all very good, even if the material calls on them to overact and have too many “wink wink nudge nudge” moments to the audience over 60s references.
Opening night is this week and the production has strategically placed people around the theater (and you absolutely can’t convince me otherwise of this) to completely lose their sh*t and get way too over excited at too many moments which was just odd.
Leaving this though, I didn’t know if it had been meant to be a celebration of the 60s or a condemnation of them and honestly, I don’t think the show knew, either.
Theater3232
Featured Actor Joined: 10/16/10
#7A Sign of the Times
Posted: 2/20/24 at 12:40am
What time is a 7:30pm show getting out? Show opens Thursday so I imagine the "plants" are in the audience for these critic performances.
#9A Sign of the Times
Posted: 2/20/24 at 8:07am
I loved Trip of Love, Off-Broadway, which most of this town loathed. I’m curious about this new 60’s revue. For those who might have seen both shows, how do they compare? Thanks!
Updated On: 2/20/24 at 08:07 AM
Zeppie2022
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/22
#10A Sign of the Times
Posted: 2/20/24 at 9:06am
"I feel like the majority of audience was over 70 and this show was custom built for them to enjoy and reminisce over “the good old days” even though it’s heavy on the racism and Vietnam, it still plays like a show on a senior citizen cruise."
I know you did not mean to be insulting but IMO you make it sound like that anybody in their 70's would only enjoy a nostalgia show about their youth. The senior cruise remark was a bit snarky. The people I know in their 70's never look back fondly at the 60's with exception of some of the music. If I overreacted to the intent of your remarks, I will apologize.
"Leaving this though, I didn’t know if it had been meant to be a celebration of the 60s or a condemnation of them and honestly, I don’t think the show knew, either. "
Race riots, Vietnam war and assassinations (JFK, MLK & RFK) are not something to celebrate in a show, to bad show did not condemn it and maybe write some original music.
ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#11A Sign of the Times
Posted: 2/20/24 at 11:35am
Jordan Catalano said: "I feel like the majority of audience was over 70 and this show was custom built for them to enjoy and reminisce over “the good old days” even though it’s heavy on the racism and Vietnam, it still plays like a show on a senior citizen cruise."
Well, this is a York Theatre production and that's basically their modus operandi! They do old things (or new things that feel old), catering to people who saw SUGAR BABIES and NO NO NANETTE and STATE FAIR more than once during their original runs. They don't really stray outside the box, they keep budgets modest, and they remain solvent while never being as wealthy as the more notable companies who have their own space and produce more daring work.
gordi_92
Understudy Joined: 2/23/22
BroadwaysBroad
Understudy Joined: 8/17/23
#13A Sign of the Times
Posted: 2/22/24 at 7:13am
One of the best shows I’ve seen off broadway in a long time
lopside
Stand-by Joined: 11/16/21
#15A Sign of the Times
Posted: 3/17/24 at 9:51pm
Caught it this evening on a comp and ooooooof…
The performers tried but oh my god, not since A BEAUTIFUL NOISE have I seen such remarkable laziness in writing a jukebox musical. Even worse is that the entire show is just based around a milquetoast and generic idea of what the 60s were like. I would’ve rather gone back downtown (no pun intended) and just stared at the Dead Outlaw marquee - I would’ve been more entertained
The worst part was I was sitting in the front row and it was REALLY hard not to let my face give away my distaste in my mouth (I know someone in the show).
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#16A Sign of the Times
Posted: 4/16/24 at 1:08pm
quizking101 said: "The performers tried but oh my god, not since A BEAUTIFUL NOISE have I seen such remarkable laziness in writing a jukebox musical. Even worse is that the entire show is just based around a milquetoast and generic idea of what the 60s were like. I would’ve rather gone back downtown (no pun intended)and just stared at the Dead Outlaw marquee - I would’ve been more entertained."
This for sure is worse than A Beautiful Noise. At least we know what ABN is about - Neil Diamond's life. A Sign of the Times can't even establish that. It's half discussing what a sexist, racist nightmare 1965 was, and half trying to make the same time period seem a nostalgic backdrop for the most generic young artists making it in the big city story.
It also can't commit to a concept musically. It's a period musical, but the Elvis song "If I Can Dream" was written a couple of years after the shows ends. It had previously been marketed as Petula Clark musical and has 8 Clark songs, but she didn't sing the majority of songs featured.
Even who is to blame/credit seems murky. Bruce Vilanch, from Hollywood Squares and writing for the Oscars telecast, was credited as the sole book writer in the two previous incarnations of the show. Lindsey Hope Pearlman is now the sole credited book writer. There's no indication this is a significantly different show.
I enjoyed watching Crystal Lucas-Perry perform, I was already a fan. That's probably the only positive thing I can say about the show.
