Schwartz at 75 - Lyric Theatre

[alece10]

Just announced concert at Lyric theatre Sunday 17th September and prices are not bad at all.
Great line up too.
www.whatsonstage.com/news/west-end-concert-to-celebrate-75-years-of-stephen-schwartz_1235745/

[kyvai]

I just stumbled across this when I was pottering around the Nimax website, nabbed a ticket sounds like a nice Sunday evening…..with Kerry Ellis, Rachel Tucker and Louise Dearman all on the bill though, who gets Defying Gravity? Or will they do it as a trio? 🤔

[alece10]

Giving this a bump to find out if anyone else is going?
I'm at the Sunday evening concert.

[capybara]

I’ll be there Sunday evening.

Can we fix the typo in the thread title though? Setting my teeth on edge!

[alece10]

Sept 15, 2023 16:09:07 GMT capybara said:

I’ll be there Sunday evening.

Can we fix the typo in the thread title though? Setting my teeth on edge!

Only just noticed the missing "T". Sorry.
Maybe admin can do it as although I created the thread don't think I can edit the title.
I pray for your teeth until it gets fixed 😀

[tcodd1]

My partner and I are there on Sunday evening too. Looking forward to it and the additional surprises in store! 💚

[theatrekiwi]

Don’t usually post at the interval but my goodness who let the intern loose on the lighting desk!!! It’s so bad and quite the distraction for me.
Started 10 mins late, otherwise great so far!

[alece10]

Sept 17, 2023 14:39:20 GMT theatrekiwi said:

Don’t usually post at the interval but my goodness who let the intern loose on the lighting desk!!! It’s so bad and quite the distraction for me.
Started 10 mins late, otherwise great so far!

Hopefully they will figure out how to work it by tonight

[stageyninja83]

Stephen announced Baker's Wife to the Menier next summer.

[Being Alive]

Sept 17, 2023 15:48:25 GMT stageyninja83 said:

Stephen announced Baker's Wife to the Menier next summer.

That'll need a star in it

[theatrekiwi]

Sept 17, 2023 14:59:53 GMT alece10 said:

Sept 17, 2023 14:39:20 GMT theatrekiwi said:

Don’t usually post at the interval but my goodness who let the intern loose on the lighting desk!!! It’s so bad and quite the distraction for me.
Started 10 mins late, otherwise great so far!

Hopefully they will figure out how to work it by tonight

Much more restrained on the lighting in Act 2. Not quite sure why the aggressive flashing, moving and colour changing through EVERY song... Also lights just going on or off without any sort of subtle fade and often times the singers not lit very well. Act 2 was definitely improved, a lot less of the flashing and the performers generally lit at the front!

A great cast they pulled together for this, for me Emma Kingston was a huge standout. Can't wait to see what roles are ahead for her.

An enjoyable Sunday afternoon at the theatre for me


PS If anyone has (or gets) a program for this and is able to share the set list, would be very much appreciated!

[sky]

Sept 17, 2023 16:52:30 GMT theatrekiwi said:

Sept 17, 2023 14:59:53 GMT alece10 said:

Hopefully they will figure out how to work it by tonight

Much more restrained on the lighting in Act 2. Not quite sure why the aggressive flashing, moving and colour changing through EVERY song... Also lights just going on or off without any sort of subtle fade and often times the singers not lit very well. Act 2 was definitely improved, a lot less of the flashing and the performers generally lit at the front!

A great cast they pulled together for this, for me Emma Kingston was a huge standout. Can't wait to see what roles are ahead for her.

An enjoyable Sunday afternoon at the theatre for me


PS If anyone has (or gets) a program for this and is able to share the set list, would be very much appreciated!

Act One

Magic To Do (Pippin)
The Wizard and I (Wicked)
Corner of the Sky (Pippin)
God Help The Outcasts (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
Home Again (Captain Louis)
Love Power (Disenchanted)
Lost in the Wilderness (Children of Eden)
No Good Deed (Wicked)
Colours of the Wind (Pocahontas)
Beautiful City (Godspell)
All Good Gifts (Godspell)
Ain't It Good (Children of Eden)
When You Believe (The Prince of Egypt)

Act Two

The Spark of Creation (Children of Eden)
Out There (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
Children of the Wind (Rags)
As Long As You're Mine (Wicked)
The Hardest Part of Love (Children of Eden)
Meadowlark (The Baker's Wife)
Look the Other Way (Making Magic)
Bless the Lord (Godspell)
Defying Gravity (Wicked)
Forgiveness' Embrace
Chanson (The Baker's Wife)
For Good (Wicked)

If anyone remembers who performed which number, please do add on!

[AddisonMizner]

I didn’t realise there was a matinee performance of this. Gutted that I missed it!

[geweena]

Halfway through so far….

Act One

Magic To Do (Pippin) - Hiba Elchike, Jamie Muscato, Sharon Rose
The Wizard and I (Wicked) - Rachel Tucker
Corner of the Sky (Pippin) - Jamie Muscato
God Help The Outcasts (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) - Caroline Sheen
Home Again (Captain Louis) - Stagebox Kids?
Love Power (Disenchanted) - Emma Kingston
Lost in the Wilderness (Children of Eden) - Rob Houchen
No Good Deed (Wicked) - Louise Dearman, Rachel Tucker, Kerry Ellis
Colours of the Wind (Pocahontas) - Hiba Elchike
Beautiful City (Godspell) - Carl Spencer
All Good Gifts (Godspell) - Rob Houchen
Ain't It Good (Children of Eden) - Emma Kingston
When You Believe (The Prince of Egypt)

Act Two

The Spark of Creation (Children of Eden)
Out There (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
Children of the Wind (Rags)
As Long As You're Mine (Wicked)
The Hardest Part of Love (Children of Eden)
Meadowlark (The Baker's Wife)
Look the Other Way (Making Magic)
Bless the Lord (Godspell)
Defying Gravity (Wicked)
Forgiveness' Embrace
Chanson (The Baker's Wife)
For Good (Wicked)

[Being Alive]

Louise Dearman's Meadowlark was STUNNING, and Rachel Tucker coming straight out the gate and singing the living hell out of The Wizard and I were worth the price of admission.

Emma Kingston has a cracking voice but I've never thought her that good an actress (but in a concert setting she works super) - and I'd now like to see Muscato as Fiyero (he really showed Houchen up I thought...hugely emotional to see Adam Pearce back on stage too, thought he was really lovely.

Overall it was a bit ropey (the lighting was appalling and the sound all over the shop) but the people you expected to deliver really did, and were just about worth what I paid for a ticket (the lowest price bracket...!)

[bobbievanhusen]

Agree about Dearman's Meadowlark. It was the highlight of the night for me. I also really liked Caroline Sheen's God Help The Outcast, though I suspect Alison Jier's version would have been through the roof. I also really like Stephen Schwartz singing Chanson.

Would have loved to have seen Jamie Muscato do Proud Lady from The Bakers Wife.

Emma Kingston can sing and technically she's great, but she leaves me cold. And there was alot of Emma Kingston tonight.

Overall I thought it was just OK, not helped by the whooping and cheering mid riff.

[mattnyc]

When “Meadowlark” is done right (like it was tonight), it’s always a highlight. There’s nothing worse than a bad performance of that song - it NEVER ends.

[bobbievanhusen]

What I loved about it, was that it was sung as written. No riffing, no showing off, just a great vocal, with some genuine emotion behind it.

edit - In complete contrast, I REALLY didn't like that jazzy/swing version of Out There.

[westendfan1]

Sept 17, 2023 19:17:10 GMT geweena said:

Halfway through so far….

Act One

Magic To Do (Pippin) - Hiba Elchike, Jamie Muscato, Sharon Rose
The Wizard and I (Wicked) - Rachel Tucker
Corner of the Sky (Pippin) - Jamie Muscato
God Help The Outcasts (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) - Caroline Sheen
Home Again (Captain Louis) - Stagebox Kids?
Love Power (Disenchanted) - Emma Kingston
Lost in the Wilderness (Children of Eden) - Rob Houchen
No Good Deed (Wicked) - Louise Dearman, Rachel Tucker, Kerry Ellis
Colours of the Wind (Pocahontas) - Hiba Elchike
Beautiful City (Godspell) - Carl Spencer
All Good Gifts (Godspell) - Rob Houchen
Ain't It Good (Children of Eden) - Emma Kingston
When You Believe (The Prince of Egypt)

Act Two

The Spark of Creation (Children of Eden)
Out There (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
Children of the Wind (Rags)
As Long As You're Mine (Wicked)
The Hardest Part of Love (Children of Eden)
Meadowlark (The Baker's Wife)
Look the Other Way (Making Magic)
Bless the Lord (Godspell)
Defying Gravity (Wicked)
Forgiveness' Embrace
Chanson (The Baker's Wife)
For Good (Wicked)

Any chance of hearing who sang what in the second half please?

[sophie92]

Sept 18, 2023 8:03:32 GMT westendfan1 said:

Sept 17, 2023 19:17:10 GMT geweena said:

Halfway through so far….

Act One

Magic To Do (Pippin) - Hiba Elchike, Jamie Muscato, Sharon Rose
The Wizard and I (Wicked) - Rachel Tucker
Corner of the Sky (Pippin) - Jamie Muscato
God Help The Outcasts (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) - Caroline Sheen
Home Again (Captain Louis) - Stagebox Kids?
Love Power (Disenchanted) - Emma Kingston
Lost in the Wilderness (Children of Eden) - Rob Houchen
No Good Deed (Wicked) - Louise Dearman, Rachel Tucker, Kerry Ellis
Colours of the Wind (Pocahontas) - Hiba Elchike
Beautiful City (Godspell) - Carl Spencer
All Good Gifts (Godspell) - Rob Houchen
Ain't It Good (Children of Eden) - Emma Kingston
When You Believe (The Prince of Egypt)

Act Two

The Spark of Creation (Children of Eden)
Out There (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
Children of the Wind (Rags)
As Long As You're Mine (Wicked)
The Hardest Part of Love (Children of Eden)
Meadowlark (The Baker's Wife)
Look the Other Way (Making Magic)
Bless the Lord (Godspell)
Defying Gravity (Wicked)
Forgiveness' Embrace
Chanson (The Baker's Wife)
For Good (Wicked)

Any chance of hearing who sang what in the second half please?

The Spark of Creation (Children of Eden) - Hiba Elchike
Out There (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) - Rob Houchen
Children of the Wind (Rags) - Emma Kingston
As Long As You're Mine (Wicked) - Rachel Tucker & Jamie Muscato
The Hardest Part of Love (Children of Eden) - Carl Spencer & Adam Pearce
Meadowlark (The Baker's Wife) - Louise Dearman
Look the Other Way (Making Magic) - Caroline Sheen
Bless the Lord (Godspell) - Sharon Rose, Emma Kingston & Hiba Elchike
Defying Gravity (Wicked) - Kerry Ellis
Forgiveness' Embrace - This wasn’t done, I’m guessing it would have been Alison Jiear
Chanson (The Baker's Wife) - Stephen Schwartz
For Good (Wicked) - Started with Louise & Kerry, then Rob & Jamie, and then gradually the rest of the cast all joined

[Dr Tom]

I made a late booking for the matinee. Only in the Balcony, but the view was very clear (and I was even able to move slightly during the interval to avoid a woman who insisted in leaning forward - she was able very keen on grabbing a few snaps of Matt Lucas).

I thought this was an excellent concert. A good mix of songs and excellent performers. Always a treat to see Mukeni Nel dancing as well, even if the dancers weren't name checked.

Being in the Balcony and ushered in through a side entrance, I didn't spot any sign of programmes being sold, so thanks for the posts with the song list too.

[FrontroverPaul]

Sept 18, 2023 9:46:41 GMT Dr Tom said:

I made a late booking for the matinee. Only in the Balcony, but the view was very clear (and I was even able to move slightly during the interval to avoid a woman who insisted in leaning forward - she was able very keen on grabbing a few snaps of Matt Lucas).

I thought this was an excellent concert. A good mix of songs and excellent performers. Always a treat to see Mukeni Nel dancing as well, even if the dancers weren't name checked.

Being in the Balcony and ushered in through a side entrance, I didn't spot any sign of programmes being sold, so thanks for the posts with the song list too.

   
  It took me a moment or two to recognise Matt Lucas when he came on; I'm not a fan but thought he looked great, he's lost a lot of weight. He had a clipboard and seemed somewhat unprepared for his role but was included in the programme as the presenter so not a late replacement. I didn't think it appropriate for him to comment several times that some people had stood up to applaud certain performers. The two almost complete standing ovations were the really special performances but everyone was at the top of their game.

 I didn't recognise a few of the songs but apart from the one to showcase the kids group they were all bangers ! 

  

[capybara]

Really enjoyed this last night. What a fabulous cast assembled for a special event.

Obviously I knew all the Wicked numbers but a lot of the others were new to me, so that was a great way to discover Schwartz’s other works.

A fantastic evening celebrating the 75th birthday of the great lyricist and composer Stephen Schwartz.

But what a privilege to see Rachel Tucker belting out ‘The Wizard and I’ on a West End stage 13 years after the first time I saw her in green.

And how brilliant to finally see Kerry Ellis’s ‘Defying Gravity’, not to mention Louise Dearman joining them for a triple-Elphaba ‘No Good Deed’.

But the star of the night was Emma Kingston - the range on that woman! Exciting times ahead for her.

[alece10]

Great evening watching Schwartz at 75 last night. After some sound issues at the start it all went swimmingly well. Some fantastic singing especially from the women. He has certainly written some belting songs for female characters. Stephen Schwartz came on stage and announced that The Bakers Wife will be opening at The Menier Chocolate Factory in July and a cake with candles was brought on to wish him happy birthday. I say cake, it was more of a tray bake still in its tin but the thought was there.

[alece10]

Rob Houchen put on IG a couple of days ago a message about people recording footage from the concert and putting it online.
He says the concert will hopefully be streamed so good news for those who didn't get to see the concert.

He also said just now that he is taking a break from IG for a while.