Hamilton - Now Showing at Blaisdell Concert Hall

I was very fortunate to have been invited to the Media Night showing of Hamilton, courtesy Broadway in Hawaii.

The Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical debuted last night at Blaisdell Concert Hall, sharing the story of Alexander Hamilton.  

I was very familiar with the worldwide acclaim that the musical has received, but I was unfamiliar with most of the story of Alexander Hamilton.  This musical was a fantastic way to learn about such a prominent individual, along with other important political and military figures of the time.

The performances in Hamilton were unlike any other I've experienced.  The integration of rap, hip hop, and R&B created an engaging (although sometimes difficult to understand since they sometimes rapped so fast!) platform to deliver the background of one of the most significant figures in America's history.  

In addition to the unique musical styles, the incorporation of cast members of diverse backgrounds, in my opinion, enhanced the story line, allowing audience members to look beyond the surface and into each individual's being.

There were so many noteworthy performances, with the cast members belting out their hearts and captivating the audience, but my favorite was Helpless.  The rhythm, lyrics, and the story had me entranced.  

I laughed, I cried, and I learned a lot of history.  I found the story of Hamilton intriguing, and the story of his wife, Elizabeth, inspiring.  

I saw many young kids at the show, and I would totally bring my own kids to experience this amazing musical (there are some curse words sprinkled throughout the show).

Find tickets online at https://www.broadwayinhawaii.com/bih/event/Hamilton.

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The New Production of The Phantom of the Opera Premieres in Hawaii

Last night I was fortunate to have watched Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall (runs through September 1).

Cast members Jordan Craig, Emma Grimsley, Derrick Davis

The production incorporates reinvented staging and scene design, and is performed by a cast and orchestra of fifty-two.

The media night performance was spectacular. I had never seen the show - I've only seen the movie, and I thought the story was engaging, the sets were intriguing, and the songs were stirring.

The Phantom of the Opera had the right amount of humor speckled throughout the show, and each time Raoul, Christine, or The Phantom sang, it was captivating.

I thought the set design was clever, especially The Labyrinth Underground, and of course - the other "star" of the show, the chandelier, was a spectacular sight.

The closer you are seated to the stage, the better it will be to see important aspects of the show, however, no matter where you are seated, you will be enthralled by the new production. By the end I was moved to tears by the powerful final scene, and I was fortunate to have met cast members Jordan Craig, Emma Grimsley, Derrick Davis at an after party and tell them in person just how amazing their performances were.

The Phantom of the Opera is part of a three-show series presented by Broadway in Hawaii beginning in the fall of 2019 that also includes The Illusionists – Live From Broadway and RENT – The 20th Anniversary Tour. The only way to secure your tickets now is by purchasing the three-show package or by ordering a group of 10+. Visit www.BroadwayinHawaii.com for details.

For more information on the production and a video sneak peek, please visit www.ThePhantomOfTheOpera.com/ustour/

Fun facts about The Phantom of the Opera Tour from a recent press release:

Load–in

• 75 local stagehands are hired in every market to load the production into the theatre
• 35 local stagehands are used for each performance
• 20 trucks are used to move the production from city to city (16 trucks in the building, 4 more trucks for the jump/advance)

Costumes

• The show incorporates most of the Maria Björnson designs from the original production.
• There are a few pieces from the original production that are over 25 years old used in this production.
• Over 1,200 costume pieces used during the show.
• Each ballet girl goes through a pair of ballet shoes every 2-3 weeks
• Madame Giry has only 1 costume

Wigs

• Over 120 wigs travel with Phantom
• About 50 wigs are used in the show every night
• All wigs are made from human hair except for 5
• Stock of about 50 mustaches

Sound

• Phantom uses over 200 speakers
• Approximately 50 are used just for the surround sound package

Electrics

• Over 85 moving lights in the design that utilizes 4 different kinds of haze/smoke effects.

Chandelier

• Over 6,000 beads are on the chandelier
• Each strand has 632 beads
• The chandelier weighs 1 ton
• This new chandelier was designed by Howard Eaton (who designed the Olympic rings for the London ceremonies)

Scenery

• The main scenic wall weighs 10 tons and rotates around the stage
• The 2 opera boxes scenic elements together take up a full truck to travel from city to city

Orchestra

• 17 orchestra members plus conductor perform Andrew Lloyd Webber’s magnificent score every performance

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