Bright Moments Posted August 16, 2008 Author Report Posted August 16, 2008 just got my tickets! me & the mrs. are going to see the show in NYC on sept 6!!! Quote
Bright Moments Posted September 7, 2008 Author Report Posted September 7, 2008 folks i have never steered you wrong. if you are anywhere near NYC you HAVE to see this show. It was INCREDIBLE! the actor that played FELA was amazingly versatile - playing sax and trumpet in addition to singing, dancing and BEING FELA. the theater was converted to "The Shrine" - FELA's club in Nigeria. The music - all FELA compositions was masterfully played by Antibalas - a Brooklyn based Afrofunk band. The cast was spectacular - loads of singing and dancing - even the audience was on its feet dancing - as the life story of FELA KUTI was told. its a small venue (only about 300 seats) and it was sold out when i saw it last night! the run is only 1 month - so as i said in post #1: carpe diem! Quote
Bright Moments Posted September 7, 2008 Author Report Posted September 7, 2008 some reviews: daily news NJ.com Quote
Bright Moments Posted September 20, 2008 Author Report Posted September 20, 2008 run ends sunday. Fela! Critic's Pick: Reviewed by Ben Brantley Off Broadway, 37 Arts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- REVIEW SUMMARY That the beat goes on, insistently and persuasively, makes “Fela!,” the pulse-racing new show about the Nigerian musician and activist Fela Anikulapo Kuti, nigh impossible to resist. If you set aside your basic nervous and circulatory systems, though, you might observe that by the standards of the well-made musical, “Fela!” leaves a lot to be desired. The structure of the book, written by Jim Lewis and the choreographer and director Bill T. Jones, feels slapdash to the point of confusion. For all the impudence and exuberance of the wall-to-wall music by Mr. Kuti that is used here, a pious haze of hagiography hangs over the show, creating the blinkered view of a great man martyred. Yet the ascendancy of the music in “Fela!,” and the three-dimensional translation of it by Mr. Jones and his vibrant design team, makes such criticism irrelevant for as long as you’re in your seat (or out of it, since the audience is regularly encouraged to stand and undulate). — Ben Brantley Read the Full Review SHOWTIMES / VENUE Opening Date: Sept. 4, 2008 Closing Date: Sept. 21, 2008 Remaining Shows: Sept. 20, 2008 2:00 p.m. Sept. 20, 2008 8:00 p.m. Sept. 21, 2008 2:00 p.m. Sept. 21, 2008 7:00 p.m. 37 Arts 450 W. 37th St. New York, NY 10018 Ticket Price: $76.25 Ticket Information: Ticketmaster: 212-307-7171, http://www.ticketmaster.com » Buy Tickets Readers' ReviewsReport a Problem Post | Posting Policy | FAQ Average Reader Rating (4.5 stars, 37 votes) NEWEST READER REVIEW STUPENDO!!!, September 16, 2008 Reviewer: robirighi STUPENDO is the italian for WONDERFUL, but you can add the most prizing adjectives to this great musical. We came all the way from Italy to enjoy it and I can tell it was worth the trip. I hope it will make it to larger audiences and to other countries so that those who were not as lucky as us can fully enjoy it. Our nine year old Asia had also the chance to enjoy all the kindness of all dancers and musicians and of Mr. Bill T. Jones himself, who were all very happy to say hello to the only kid in the audience that nite. Just a STUPENDO lifetime souvenir for her and for us too. Asia, Laurence and Roberto from Rimini - Italy Read All 14 Reader Reviews NEWS THEATER| September 19, 2008 Theater Listings By THE NEW YORK TIMES (NYT) MOVIES, PERFORMING ARTS/WEEKEND DESK| August 29, 2008 The Listings By THE NEW YORK TIMES (NYT) 2901 words MOVIES, PERFORMING ARTS/WEEKEND DESK| August 22, 2008 Theater By THE NEW YORK TIMES (NYT) 2926 words CURRENT CAST Starring Sahr Ngaujah, Abena Koomson, Anne Andre, Corey Baker, Calvin C. Booker, Lauren Deveaux, Nicole Chantal DeWeever, Rujeko Dumbutshena, Aimee Graham, Talu Green, Karma Mayet Johnson, Ismael Kouyate, Maia McKinney, Marcus Phillips, Daniel Soto, Sparlha Swa, Jill M. Vallery and Iris Wilson Fela! Quote
Bright Moments Posted September 20, 2008 Author Report Posted September 20, 2008 will i be the only big "O" member to have seen this show? i am shocked, SHOCKED!!!! Quote
Hoppy T. Frog Posted September 22, 2008 Report Posted September 22, 2008 will i be the only big "O" member to have seen this show? i am shocked, SHOCKED!!!! I love Fela with all my heart, but this kind of stuff gives me the heebie-jeebies. I also don't trust "Afrofunk" bands that are mostly Brooklyn honkeys either. What next "Huey Newton!" the musical? Quote
Hoppy T. Frog Posted September 22, 2008 Report Posted September 22, 2008 $76? What's pidgin (or Yoruba) for "insult for everything he stood for"? Seriously, if you have $76 burning a hole in your pocket, just buy a few more of his records. Or better yet spend it a West African restaurant. Quote
WD45 Posted September 22, 2008 Report Posted September 22, 2008 Were I there, I would have gone to see it. AND I would have gone to a West African restaurant. Quote
Teasing the Korean Posted September 22, 2008 Report Posted September 22, 2008 There are a lot of fellas in musicals. Trust me, I've slept with most of them. Quote
Bright Moments Posted September 22, 2008 Author Report Posted September 22, 2008 well folks i tried ta school ya! Quote
PHILLYQ Posted September 23, 2008 Report Posted September 23, 2008 will i be the only big "O" member to have seen this show? i am shocked, SHOCKED!!!! I love Fela with all my heart, but this kind of stuff gives me the heebie-jeebies. I also don't trust "Afrofunk" bands that are mostly Brooklyn honkeys either. What next "Huey Newton!" the musical? Have you ever seen Antibalas? They're not a band of 'mostly Brooklyn honkeys', they are mutiracial, and Brooklyn has quite a few people who were born in Africa. I've seen Antibalas play and they would be a perfect fit to a musical about Fela as they draw much inspiration from Fela. Perhaps you should try listening to their music. Quote
riverrat Posted September 27, 2008 Report Posted September 27, 2008 I am a huge fan of Fela. With more lead time, this would have been a perfect opportunity for us to travel to NYC, do the touron* thing, and take in this show. Oh yes, and visit a West African restaurant! *touron: term from my ski patrol days meaning a clueless person visiting the area for the first time, who appears lost. Etymology is tourist crossed with a moron. Quote
Bright Moments Posted June 7, 2009 Author Report Posted June 7, 2009 good news folks - FELA! is coming to BROADWAY!!!!!!!!!!! do NOT miss this show!!!! FELA! Coming to Broadway!!! Quote
Bright Moments Posted November 20, 2009 Author Report Posted November 20, 2009 Don't miss this!!! Fela! on Broadway Quote
Bright Moments Posted May 11, 2010 Author Report Posted May 11, 2010 11 Tony nominations! 11 Tony NominationsNational Tour Planned! National Tour Planned Quote
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