No matter if a show closed today or 50 years ago, any recording that is not a commercially released DVD or Cast Recording is considered illegal.

Donations are now closed! Thanks to every single one of you who donated!! I'm happy to report that together we raised $300 for BC/EFA! Thanks once again for all your support!!

Thanks to everyone who has donated so far! If you haven't done so, you guys still have a few days to add to the fund.

With the closing of Frankenstein this week, Jim probably won't get this before Christmas, but as soon as he gets in some other show, I'll be sure to give it to him when I see him. I MIGHT be able to get it to him even if he's not in a show, but that's gonna depend on a few factors that I can't really control. Anyways once I order the Christmas card from BC/EFA, I'll release the info of how much we all raised! Right now I'm really happy about it!! ^_^

Hey guys!! There's still a little less than a week to put in a donation and a little Christmas message for Jim's gift. I'm a bit disappointed at the turnout, only a few people have donated so far! Even something like $5 would be wonderful! So please if you haven't donated yet, do so soon!! Thanks!

Donation Info!!

Nope Radio City is not affected.

~Corinne~: Awwww, Allison must be having such a fun time with that show!!!! It must be such an amzing feeling to be able to be acting with cast like that on BROADWAY!
So, does anyone know what is going on with the strike? I hear most of the major shows have closed on Broadway......I am out of the country........for the moment, so I really need the scoop on this!!!!
Thanks!

lOVE<3 Corinne

All but seven Broadway shows are closed until further notice. The only shows not affected by the strike are:

Young Frankenstein
Xanadu
Mary Poppins
The Ritz
Pygmalion
Putnam County Spelling Bee
Mauritius
Cymbeline

Every other show has been closed since Saturday.

My website, JimStanekOnline.Net is now collecting donations for BC/EFA in Jim's name as a Christmas present for him. If you would like to be involved please visit the link below for more information:

Christmas Gift Information!

Thanks in advance for the donations!

Gingersnap: At least Jim knows how to use a phone.

I've sent a friend request from Hugh's MySpace and my own...I rarely use mine, but Hugh's has been getting a lot of views and friend requests lately so I'll be glad to add the Frankenstein page to our Top Friends list.

I've just added you! Thanks!

And yeah, Jim has been very good with calling, of his own accord, to tell me things. The first time it happened I nearly had a heart attack!!

So, unfortunately, Frankenstein is kind of in trouble. The people behind the show are now starting a campaign to gauge audience interest and to get some positive feedback so more people will be inclined to see it.

So try to go to the show if you can this week. They have a video booth set up where you can tell what you think of the show. On the official website www.frankensteinthemusical.com they're also accepting emails from audience members and will be posting them on the website...I believe the same will happen with the video reviews. So if you love the show, show your support and let your voice be heard! Lets have the audience reviews will ring louder than the critics!

Finally saw Frankenstein last night, here's my review. I'm not going to go in huge amounts of details, in case people haven't seen it, but I will just make a disclaimer that there will be some spoilers here so read on at your own risk.



Overall, it was really good, there are some things that need to be cut or omitted all together however the show is in pretty strong shape.

There are some scenes: the hanging of the condemed man, the creature's awakening, the hanging of Justine, the transformation of Justine into the bride that are theatrically, atmospherically, emotionally, etc. just brilliantly done. I haven't been creeped out like that in a theater ever, the only exception being the final moments of the Sweeney revival. These scenes are really just perfection and in my opinion are worth the ticket price alone!

Some things that I feel need fixing are a lot of the blocking, the death of Elizabeth and the journey across Europe to the Arctic. We were sitting in center orchestra, in the center of the row about five rows in. For nearly any show, these would be ideal seats, far enough away to get the entire "picture" but close enough to see all the facial expressions. However we saw WAY too many backs and often the ensemble would be blocking the action that we should be watching. The hanging and especially the first moments that the creature is brought to life, the latter we couldn't really see what was going on on the back platform. The way this show is designed, the mezzanine would be pretty great seats to see things.

Elizabeth's death was a bit anti-climaxtic. She's a major focus throughout the entire show, yet it just wasn't handled as well as I thought it should be. This moment is supposed to bring Victor's vengence and madness over the edge. She is his main focus and now that she's gone, all he can focus on is obsession with the creature.

The journey wasn't necessarily bad, it just really needs to be shortened a bit.

I loved the simplicity of this production. Just lighting effects and projections and a few props. Yet it still conveyed the mood, some scenes more than others at this point, that they want to achieve. I already had a huge knowledge of the book since I studied it extensively in high school so I really didn't see any issues with the book really at all. A lot of people didn't like that it's a non-linear storyline and what not, but I had no issue following it and I don't think anyone really should unless they come in really late or just aren't paying attention.

The cast is really fabulous on all accounts.
The ensemble is really strong, nice seeing Patrick doing more in this.

Jim is really only used here and there but in his key scene...he's marvelous! Nice to see him get to use his voice more.

It's not a secret that I had a huge issue with Mandy being in Les Miz...I don't know what the change is but she is absolutely wonderful in this, acting, singing, everything!

Christiane has a gorgeous voice (I've loved her since Jekyll & Hyde) and though in many scenes she's basically just in longing for Victor she is still wonderful. Her little letters to Victor informing him of the deaths were extremely well done.

Hunter still needs to find his place in this piece. I had seen him a few times in The Producers and he is obviously doing a complete 180 for this and is working his backdoor off. I like the fact that he is not the "mad scientist" that we're all used to, just the every man with an obsession. However I feel that he needs to take some things up a notch. I don't really feel the obsession and anguish that I should at certain points in the show. Other than that I really enjoyed him.

Now Steve...I'll be honest I felt he was very lackluster as the Beast in Beauty and the Beast. And I really wasn't sure how he'd be in this and what his direction would be, how he would do the character, etc. Steve blew. me. away! He was absolutely brilliant! I mean, I was in awe of his performance. His acting, his singing, his physicality was just utter perfection. If he doesn't win every theater award that he possibly could then it will be a crime. I wish that this wasn't Off-Broadway because I think that he would be a sure thing for a Tony. He is just amazingly brilliant. He is really the anchor in this show, I'm a girl who loves understudies but I don't think I ever want to see anyone else in the role because I don't think anyone could ever do it as well.

I'm really excited to see the show again, it will be frozen by the time I see it so I'll be seeing the finished product. I'm anxious to know what's going to be changed and/or taken out. I really enjoyed myself and I hope that the show has a healthy run. And I can't wait to see Jim go on as Victor!!!

So I just got a call from Jim. He is very excited about tomorrow but unfortunately he says that he probably will not be able to do more after the show than say a quick hello. He says that the cast is on its last legs because of the rehearsal schedule and then putting in preview performances on top of that. So if he doesn't hang around long after a show, this is why. He'll be back to hanging out and chatting afterwards once the show officially opens!

Also expect a new "blog" and exclusive new footage to be on the website, very soon!!

Gingersnap: Some absolutely adorable pictures of Jim up today...

http://www.broa...cfm?colid=22014

Man the new pics never end!! I just put more up from the rehearsal yesterday! I'm so glad that this is getting so much promotion and press!!! Thanks for the heads up!

ETA: After looking at these pictures, expect to see some exclusive coverage of the event on my site very soon. He has the one time use digital video camera I gave him in his hand!

A picture has just been released of Jim as Henry in Frankenstein!! You can find it on my site -- which I also just re-designed today!

vampiresxkiss13: ahhh I neeeed to get my tickets! Any idea if there are that many great ones left? Not that it really matters. I'll sit wherever I have to!

Go to Telecharge and just search for what's avaliable.

Lady D and I got our seats, Row B 2-6. We have a third in our party!