One great part of Thanksgiving is getting up early and catching the Macy’s Parade on TV in order to get a preview of what is hot on Broadway right now. You can hear year-round about what’s worth seeing on Broadway, but for a short hour or so on Thanksgiving morning there are televised previews and you get to judge for yourself. Here’s what came out to Harold Square this morning:
- Legally Blonde
This looks to be a cute retread of the movie. The number they performed was both show-stopping and a bit heartwarming and in the context of the story. It held its own. I wouldn’t make the trip to NYC for this, but would look for it as the second show of a double-feature day on Broadway. - Young Frankenstein
I am not familiar with the story, but this number appears to have cut away from the plot to toss in a very contrived show-stopper which wasn’t really that impressive. I’m probably going to skip it. - Xanadu
I think, they took an obscure movie injected with old favorite songs from the 80s and roller skates. I couldn’t understand what this show was about. The songs were not originals or performed in a particularly interesting new rendition. I am staying far away from Xanadu. - Mary Poppins
Disney surely had the easiest transition from a smash-hit musical movie to a hit musical stage show. Still they didn’t mail it in, upping the ante on Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious with great choreography and drawing it out a bit more to give it that Broadway show-stopper feel. The show looks strong, and I wouldn’t have thought I would want to see it on Broadway, but now I’m thinking about it
And that’s the best part of watching the parade on Thanksgiving morning, is getting to discover for yourself which of the hot or new shows on Broadway you think are worth going to see.
   ÂÂÂ
Very true! I tuned in a little late this morning and missed the Legally Blonde performance. But I enjoyed the Young Frankenstein bit. I thought the Xanadu one was a bit of train-wreck, mostly because the main girl had a screechy voice and was way off on her lip synching. I would’ve considered seeing it before, but probably not now. Mary Poppins was good, but probably still not something I’d make the trip for. However, I *love* that Bob Saget is now in The Drowsy Chaperone! I saw that show last year on a tip from Scotte and J-Lo, and just loved it!
No, no, no – you have to move towards Xanadu! See the movie, then see the show. BELIEVE ME, it’s hilarious.
So, according to DancerinDC, Xanadu is actually spoofing on itself. It’s very tongue-in-cheek, something that didn’t come through on the Macy’s day broadcast very well at all. All right, I’ll revive my thought to not run away from it.