DEAR DAN

A selection from the mailbag over the last month.

~~~

Hey Dan! How's your day?

Have you seen any great Broadway shows lately? I'm headed to NYC soon and was wondering if you have any recommendations.

Have a great day!

L

I haven't seen any shows lately--but I can tell you what I've heard. My brother recently saw Jersey Boys, and he's been playing the soundtrack for his daughters and teaching them to sing and dance, he loved it so much. He raves about this show; but it's all about the music.

Avenue Q has a little bit more of an edge, if you like politically-incorrect humor. Of course, Hairspray is always a winner. I've heard mixed reviews about both Xanadu and Legally Blonde--leaning to the negative side, sadly, apparently they are (gasp!) b-o-r-i-n-g.

BUT--whilst in Denver I met several people who saw The Little Mermaid's pre-Broadway run, and they liked it--good news, as I am a huge fan of that soundtrack--so if you're going to NYC in November, you can catch that show. Fun Fact: to play the under-sea scenes, the actors wear shoes with rollers in the heels, like the little kids zip around with in the mall. Pretty cool. But no Peter Pan-style cables and pullies, no flying around.

Other recommendations, anyone?

~~~

Dear Dan,

I was dating a guy for about a month, we were together almost nightly from the day we met, everything was going amazing even though neither of us had expected to meet someone we clicked so well with. Then one night, he had a party and a girl at the party came up to me, claiming to be his girlfriend. I got upset and left, but the more I thought (and talked to friends), the more sure I am that she was a friend that he got to pretend.

Why would a guy pretend to cheat on a girl he was so invested in only hours beforehand? I've asked a couple people and they say guys do this sometimes. I'm hoping you can share some insight as to why guys do this and whether it's all guys or just heteros.

Thanks.

B

These days I am very interested in the topic of men and their commitment issues--I just read The Nanny Diaries, in lieu of seeing the (apparently wretched) film, and it has my brain spinning. Why are men so scared of commitment? What would compel a man to go through alllllllll this effort, instead of just giving it a shot? And then they feel "trapped," which I don't get. We'll talk about this issue later. The book, I mean, as well as the men it profiles. Not the movie.

Oh yeah, and B--this guy of yours is a total douchebag and if he's going to make up stupid stories like this I can't imagine what redeeming qualities he would have to compel you to speak to him in the first place.

**
ADDENDUM: This writer sent me a photo of the guy in question, with the request to not publish the image. And I have to say that request is killing me, because he is a slice of deliciousness--and in the photo he is almost naked, you would enjoy gazing at it for hours on end. With this photo in mind, the writer is forgiven for her temporary lack of judgement. All readers are encouraged to send in photos of almost-naked men thank you very much.
**

~~~

Dear Dan,

I've been strangely affected by the entries from the Overeater's Diary you found. Are you going to publish any more of her entries?

Yup. And I got another diary mailed to me, too, by someone who wants me to share hers as well. Tough to read.

Comments

[Melene]

I came here via Blackbird.

Mary Poppins and Curtains are both FABULOUS. Both very different shows and I don't recommend Curtains for children, but my husband and I loved it last May.

[Ms. Pants]

Oooooh, Dan! You could start up a post-secret type thing with journal entries and full journals! (P.O. Boxes are relatively cheap.)

[Elle]

Avenue Q and Jersey Boys are great - but Spring Awakening lives up to the hype.

[Molly]

I saw Company in February and it was the best show I had seen, though I don't think it is still play, so umm guess it doesn't matter!

Ahh...the thinks we do for hot men!

[Genevieve]

I can second Molly's Company recommendation (we saw it together, in fact). And I can also highly recommend an off-Broadway show called Altar Boyz. Sort of along the lines of Ave. Q in its irreverence, and hilarious to boot.

I've heard great things about Spring Awakening and not so great things about the Spelling Bee.

[Mike]

Big ol' theater queen weighs in...

First of all, Company has closed, so it's out.

I hated Spring Awakening with a passion, but clearly there are many people out there who love it lots, so what do I know.

Haven't seen Xanadu yet, but it got surprisingly good reviews and just about everyone I know who has seen it has loved it. Campy fun.

I loved Curtains, although the kiddies will be alternately bored or confused. The humor is a bit on the raunchy side (in a very good-natured, Borscht Belt kinda way). I suspect people who grew up on classic musicals will like it more than those who didn't.

I really enjoyed Jersey Boys - it's still a pretty tough ticket to get.

The Drowsy Chaperone is lots of fun (again, probably more for those with some working knowledge of musical theater). Apparently it hasn't been doing as well lately, which means good and relatively cheap (discounts, TKTS booth) seats are available.

Spelling Bee is a good show. Very funny, and works well for people who aren't as into the theater. It's a rare case where the book is better than the score.

Legally Blonde... eh. They just announced that MTV is going to broadcast the entire show. I'd say wait for TV and watch it for free.

[s]

i remember seeing the jersey boys guys on good morning america or something a couple years ago. john lloyd young/frankie valli was sooooo fucking unbelievably hot. i cannot lie. looks like a good show. ...which really means... he is so sexy i'd go see it ten thousand times if i could.

[Yummsh]

Always, ALWAYS go see the Disney stage productions. Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin were incredible, and I can't wait to see Mary Poppins.

I saw Avenue Q three years ago, and I've never laughed so hard in my life. No idea if it's changed over the years at all, but I can't recommend it more.

Hype or no, I wouldn't go see Jersey Boys in exchange for a Jenna Fischer sundae on a sea of million-dollar bills. Well, maybe I would.

[kryss]

1st, if you can get to Rent before Adam and Anthony leave, your mind will blown! I flew up to see them on ReOpening Night and it was so good that my broke grad school butt is flying back Sunday for another viewing.

2nd, I think you're right about what you said about "B's" guy... it makes me sad to think about how many people are so afraid of potential pain at the end of a relationship that they choose the immediate pain of watching the person walk away. And as for the guy's deliciousness, hopefully someone equally beautiful will come along sans commitment issues. I'd bet that "B" appreciates your thoughts and feels better knowing she's got the support of Dan (and maybe other readers).

3rd, the diaries are a bit like postsecret but longer... not sure if many of your readers have livejournal or xanga accounts, but maybe they should send them to you and you could post an anon. list so we could continue this trend of journal loving without the people who post here feeling so on display?

4th and lastly, you freaking rock Dan... not for any one specific reason, just in general :)

[Lisa]

Thanks everyone for the great recommendations! So much to choose from I may need to see 3or 4 of them. And Thanks, Dan for posting this! You do rock!

L.

[willam]

Legally Blonde- Fun, frothy and infectious. loved it but i'm tight with LBB, the star (will you pick up that name i just dropped dearheart?)
Spring Awakening- good tunes, didn't shatter my life and alter my being like Rent did @14
Young Frankenstien- pre broadway run in seattle was great. happened to catch it and cant wait to see it in NYC. Megan Mulally kills in it and Sutton Foster is great.

[Meg]

SPRING AWAKENING IS FANTASTIC.

then again, i'm only 18, so what do i know?

[Hephaestion]

Dan, the best (and gayest) show on Broadway now is "Grey Gardens"... a MUST SEE for any gay guy. Seeing the 1970s cult-fave documentary of the same name before going is recommended, and if you see it, you will thank me for the rest of your life. Christine Ebersole is a GODDESS. (She is also the most gay friendly actress in history.) And her performsnce is so good it is of HISTORICAL quality greatness. She just won the Best Actress Tony last June for this show. It is MAGNIFICENT. A TRUE tour de force. But see the documentary before seeing the Broadway show because otherwise you won't know how PERFECT Ms. Ebersole's take on Edie Beale is.

[Hephaestion]

I've heard that Xanadu is hilarious, and you know that Cheyenne Jackson is the hottest gay actor/singer on Broadway, with the sexiest LEGS in the history of the world, so just seeing his legs would be worth the cost of admission. If you haven't seen the Incredible Mr. Jackson in anything, google his name to find his website and check out the photos of him when he starred in "All Shook Up" and "Rocky Horror Picture Show." He is SMOKIN'!!!!!!

[Jules]

Avenue Q & Wicked are 2 of the best b'way shows I've ever seen! (I've seen both 3 times, and I'm not one to repeat...)

[Kels]

Regarding Broadway shows: all I've seen that's playing now is Young Frankenstein, but I recommend it wholeheartedly! They recycle a lot of jokes from the movie - which is great, since the movie is hilarious - and the music is wonderfully fresh and catchy as heck. You can't NOT have a good time!

[Paula]

I was in NYC in May and saw several shows.

I am an almost-52 yr old mom and I absolutely LOVED Spring Awakening. I was familiar with the original play and this version was very true to the intent of the original. Some things, like teenage angst and curiousity never go out of style! Got the soundtrack and listen to it frequently, although not around my 10 yr old! Hairspray was a fun afternoon. The other shows I saw are now closed.

[emily]

Grey Gardens closed in July. (Otherwise I would recommend it.) Spelling Bee is great. Same for Spring Awakening and Ave Q. Go see Jersey Boys only if you can listen to that music for 2 hours straight. I cannot.

[Scott]

Oh, Jersey Boys isn't bad...like a lot of what's on Broadway now (Legally Blonde, for example), it's definitely fluff, but it's fun fluff. Mermaid--not so much. Saw it in Denver (twice) and was not impressed. If you need a dose of Disney, Poppins is much better. Ave. Q is fantastic...saw it in Vegas, and catching it again on tour as it comes through. Spring Awakening--eh. It was ok, but I got that angsty teenager stuff out of my system a while ago, when I was a, well, angsty teenager.

[Randy]

Saw Legally Blonde this last Friday and it was a lot of fun! Very energetic and spoofed itself quite a bit. It's not gonna change the world, but it doesn't claim to do that unlike some others who say they're the new sound of Broadway and fail miserably in my book (they will remain nameless). There is a lot of great stuff out there now. I would avoid Chorus Line though. Not that great.

[Corey]

I loooved The Drowsy Chaperone and for those few that know who Jonathan Crombie is (Gilbert in the Anne of Green Gables Miniseries) he's playing the lead right now. Yummy.

Otherwise I'd second the rec for Rent as long as Anthony and Adam are still in it!

[Billy]

In August I saw A Chorus Line, Curtains and The Drowsy Chaperone.

ACL was entertaining but it is a revival so nothing new but the current cast is good.

Curtains stars David Hyde Pierce of Fraiser fame and previously in Broadway's Spamalot. He won a Tony for his performance in the Curtains' role. It was a very entertaining show.

The Drowsy Chaperone was a very very funny. Not what I expected and a bonus that it still contains some of the original cast.

Keep in mind some of the more popular shows will be difficult to get tickets, especially Wicked! Disney productions are never on sales at TKTS, so it is full price for those at the box office.

Oh... the next big hit in previews is the new Mel Brooks production of Young Frankenstein which stars Megan Mullally [Broadway credits and played Karen Walker on Will& Grace].

Have Fun!

[Michael]

Xanadu-- NOT BORING! The funniest thing I've seen in ages, with a book by Douglas Carter Beane who also wrote the hilarious "Little Dog Laughed" (laughs served in the best way possible, with a side of Johnny Galecki and Tom Everett Scott weiner). As someone else mentioned, Cheyenne Jackson's thighs are worth the price of admission alone. Seeing his ass packed into piped satin booty shorts? Well, don't get me started. Oops. I am started.

I also agree that seeing Rapp and Pascal back in RENT after all these years is practically transcendent. Yeah, I just outed myself. Showtune Queen. But all the crazy RENT-heads are out of the woodwork to see them so the energy in the theater is AMAZING and the harmonies, well, they always have been.

[Michael]

"It's like children's theater for forty year old gay men."

PS That's a line from "Xanadu" and it couldn't be more true, so you might keep that in mind when considering my review.