BIG B'way '96

[@BakingItOnBroadway]

Thank you thank you. This show meant so much to me when it came out. I had never seen kid performers do on stage what THOSE kids did. It blew my mind. And the score, as others have mentioned, is just SO strong. Reading "Making it Big" was fascinating. Apparently there was a lot of resentment towards the show with FAO Schwartz being a main producer on the production. Shame. Deserved better.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Nice recollection, glad the kids are featured here.

[@christopherbush9027]

I know this show didn’t live up to the hype, and like other shows that season got swallowed up in the RENT explosion-but I really loved this show. I wish they hadn’t gutted it when it went out on tour (sadly the version that is also licensed by MTI). A delightful score with an extremely hard working and talented cast. The book Making It Big is a must read for any fan of musical theatre! Thank you Spiderwoman for posting!!!

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

The new songs added for the tour and subsequent licensed version were inferior to the original songs, as I recall. As usual with such revisions, the show was not better, just different.

[@christopherbush9027]

aurora spiderwoman well said as always!

[@trixiftube]

aurora spiderwoman But these three numbers are still in, I hope?

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Yes---"Cross the Line" still ends the first act, and you couldn't possibly cut "Stop Time," the best song in the show.

[@JoshFreilich]

@@auroraspiderwoman5886This Isn’t Me is back in the show! Although I will admit Little Susan Lawrence and We’re Gonna Be Fine makes me wistful!

[@MW53516]

Interesting hearing Broadway ensembles before modern audio mixing equipment (and sweetening tracks).

[@chocolatesouljah]

Oh! My! Aurora Spiderwoman! I have longed for this footage. The Shubert, 1996. I remember the cast of youngsters spilling out of the stage door. One of them even had a skateboard, as if to say "I may be young but I'm on Broadway." I really love this show. I could write an essay. Super hero Daniel Jenkins should have won the Tony. I saw Nathan Lane in "Forum" and at the performance I saw he seemed, grumpy, depressed and somewhat towards the audience ad-lib wise. When I saw Whoopi Goldberg the following summer she was the genuine article. I do wish this show had been a comeback role for Jon Cypher and Barbra Walsh could have had a big defining moment. with this show. Barbara Walsh did not get nominated for a Tony but there was some stiff competition that yer for Featured Actress. This show suffered a weird backlash that wouldn't happen today. That it was "corporate" that somehow FAO Schwartz had created a commercial, that it was based on a movie, that it was a part of "sanitizing" time square, that Broadway was becoming Disney-ized. It reminds me of the 90s. A white rapper would be ridiculed back then and now not a big deal. A show like "Big" seemed too slick and geared towards kiddies and FAO Schwartz, which was housed at Trump Tower at the time was commercializing Broadway. I think if this show opened today it would have had a longer run because the climate is ready. No, it wasn't a musical breakthrough but it was good, clean and entertaining fun. And it's reception was pretty much dimmed by a breakthrough of sorts. A lil' rock n roll musical some may be familiar with called "Rent."

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Such an interesting comment, thank you. And I'd take this score over so many of the ones acclaimed since. Too bad Maltby and Shire never had the hit they deserved.

[@chocolatesouljah]

aurora spiderwoman Thanks so much for responding! Yes! I agree about Maltby & Shire. Not receiving their due. I have this fantasy that some current it girl… Say Jessie Mueller, for example is in a revival of “Baby” and it finally gets the long run and acclaim that it deserves. At least thanks to your channel these ghosts have come to life and can be enjoyed in the present.

[@DanielRuf]

Thank you so much for uploading, this was my second Broadway show when I first came to New York City and I loved it (first was Forum with Nathan Lane.... which i loved even more)

[@chocolatesouljah]

I saw both of those shows as well!

[@danieltice3428]

Another amazing upload! Wow. Still gotta read “making it BIG”. I’ve always been intrigued by this show and it’s story. I have to say that curtain call is exhausting to watch. Wow.

[@richardmayora1289]

It was just awful. I still apologize to my niece for taking her to see this, her first Broadway show.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

@danieltice: Very glad you liked it; agree about that curtain call.

[@SweatyOracle]

Remember when Broadway group numbers sounded organic and live before pre-recorded ensemble vocals became somewhat of a norm? Sadly I fear that we can never go back to before...

[@reneastle8447]

What if we can? The Retro Decade Revival Project is gonna bring organic and live Broadway group numbers back into the mainstream. Our goal is to bring real entertainment, true talent, pure originality and diversity, old school and more back into the public mainstream, starting with the 1980s.

[@Rednuhtfonos]

Thank you for this, I have vivid memories of the Cast Recording giving me solace as I was nervous for surgery as a young man. I'll never forget crying in the lobby listening to "I Want to Know." Who is that fierce young man in the red pants and suspenders with the white tee? I hope he kept dancing, such energy.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Lovely memory---I know I have several like that.

[@marcgawronski7380]

I believe the dancer is Brandon Espinoza, who I later saw with Bernadette Peters in Gypsy

[@chocolatesouljah]

Thank you for posting this!

[@pika23]

This was bad I heard. I remember driving to work and hearing about it. Same day as a guy driving the herrs potato chip van, ran through the barrier on the bridge I crossed on the way there 😆😅😂

[@marisamitchell8611]

Do you have any footage of Thou Shalt Not (and/or their Macy's parade performance)? This just popped into my head. I got to meet Norbert several times before he did TSN & I'm a huge fan.

[@alidaylami8073]

Do you have footage of Lillias White as Grizabella?

[@DavidAsset78]

I really liked this show, especially the chorus dancers who i thought were amazing. Unfortunately, the critics didn't agree with me.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Curiously enough, "Big" got a favorable review in the New York Times, but Vincent Canby didn't seem to have much influence.

[@JoshFreilich]

Some of them did, like Vincent Canby and Joel Siegel!

[@herebemaddy150]

Barbara Walsh :O wow! Although that scene is a total waste of such a gorgeous song.

[@norazanger2261]

This was one of my favorite shows! My mom saw the original production many times, even though it didn’t last long on Broadway. The first time we were in the first row and were absolutely blown away! It upsets me that this show didn’t last longer and the tour was a real disappointment

[@CSM100MK2]

sorry 4 u

[@CSM100MK2]

The mothers song may be one of the true songs that deserves to last from this terrible musical.

[@CSM100MK2]

This is terrible.This performed like this on Broadway?? wtf....