tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post9176468865242762430..comments2024-03-28T17:39:34.611-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Noel MacNeal and NBC's THE WIZ LIVE on Tonight at 8!Jungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-86169750073061945062015-12-04T01:58:19.554-05:002015-12-04T01:58:19.554-05:00I was so excited when the Wiz's head appeared!...I was so excited when the Wiz's head appeared! Wonderful!Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-65588258734021972592015-12-03T23:48:09.311-05:002015-12-03T23:48:09.311-05:00Oh, it was wonderful! I kept waiting for the Wiz&#...Oh, it was wonderful! I kept waiting for the Wiz's head, of course, and it was a delight -- I loved every minute and every song! Thank you, Noel!Leslie Budewitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11942314846112875042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-33364273060535693192015-12-03T17:59:33.049-05:002015-12-03T17:59:33.049-05:00Thanks for the great behind-the-scenes post, Noel....Thanks for the great behind-the-scenes post, Noel. I'm excited to watch The Wiz tonight. <br /><br />And lucky you to be working with Kenny Leon! I was a huge fan when he ran the Alliance Theater in Atlanta many years ago. He's a fine talent, and I'm sure it's a mutual admiration society with the two of you.<br /><br />Katieexlibrisnchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17018316742019110682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-84543290025023384422015-12-03T17:27:39.440-05:002015-12-03T17:27:39.440-05:00Hallie, Shakespeare in the Park was a favorite rea...Hallie, Shakespeare in the Park was a favorite reason to take the bus to NYC as a kid. In Boston we had our own plays in the park, but going to New York was great adventure.Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-24390952534270092962015-12-03T17:11:01.172-05:002015-12-03T17:11:01.172-05:00This is great! I'm one of those kids, long ago...This is great! I'm one of those kids, long ago, who snuck in between acts. I can't make myself apologize. <3Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-84046022021399728932015-12-03T14:27:44.833-05:002015-12-03T14:27:44.833-05:00Noel, you are such a super star here with all the ...Noel, you are such a super star here with all the Reds! I'm always excited about watching a production or event that Susan has apprised us of you appearing in. Be it America's Got Talent, Big Bird, or now The Wiz, it's high entertainment and talent. Being in the MacNeal house must be like winning the Creative Bowl, and I'm happy to hear that you are writing a novel. Of course, the luckiest member of your family is Mattie, with his amazing bedroom makeover from last year. I need to remind my daughter that The Wiz is on tonight, but I might have to DVR it for the kids, as she gets them to bed rather early. It will be awesome to watch it with them later.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I grew up in a small town that wasn't near NYC or other theater towns. However, it was the golden age of movie musicals, and I usually got to watch those on television. I loved West Side Story, Carousel, Oklahoma, South Pacific, The Music Man, Camelot, My Fair Lady, and, of course, The Wizard of Oz. I still don't live near the big city venues, but I do subscribe to the Broadway Musical series at our fine arts center where I live, and I love watching the professional troupes perform musicals that I missed live. Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-86802402457921157432015-12-03T13:05:08.601-05:002015-12-03T13:05:08.601-05:00I saw the "Making of the Wiz Live" last ...I saw the "Making of the Wiz Live" last week and can't wait to see the finished product tonight. It's a terrific musical--saw it years ago in San Francisco. I am a Broadway junkie, but as I live in California, I have to make do with SF productions. However, I do fondly remember seeing the original production of Hair, Golden Boy with Sammy Davis, Jr., Stop the World, I Want to Get Off with Anthony Newley, and Hello, Dolly with Ginger Rogers on Broadway before we moved west from Pennsylvania, and they were all magical to me. In 2008 my hubby and I took a trip to NYC and saw In the Heights, which later won the Best Musical Tony and the cast album Grammy--I played that album in my car for 2 years! Now I'm dying because I want to see Hamilton, the new musical by the brilliant creator/composer/star of In the Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda. I also have a very special place in my heart for the yearly Christmas-season broadcasts of the short opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors. I remember watching it on Christmas eve in wonder. The music is gorgeous!Margie Buntingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-85823071073978237672015-12-03T12:57:19.558-05:002015-12-03T12:57:19.558-05:00Sorry I'm getting to this late. Noel we are SO...Sorry I'm getting to this late. Noel we are SO DELIGHTED to have you making a bow on Jungle Red, and I can't wait to watch the show tonight. <br /><br />My parents were playwrights so I got taken to a lot of theatre, and even though we lived in Los Angeles GREAT shows came through. So I saw Ethel Merman (not Mary Martin) in Annie Get Your Gun. I think Julie Andrews might have been in the LA production of My Fair Lady -- she wasn't the big star she is now. Also Flower Drum Song and South Pacific (YES, with Mary Martin). <br /><br />When I got to NYC for college I saw Funny Girl with Barbra Streisand and Marat/Sade with Glenda Jackson and many Shakespeare productions in Central Park including Meryl Streep and Raoul Julia in The Taming of the Shrew. <br /><br />I get chills in a theatre whenever the curtain goes up. Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-24773874020762396122015-12-03T12:41:18.035-05:002015-12-03T12:41:18.035-05:00Oh, and I should have mentioned seeing HAIR at the...Oh, and I should have mentioned seeing HAIR at the Aquarius Theater in Hollywood on it's first run there.Rick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978136287154214297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-60769208358500602842015-12-03T12:39:39.595-05:002015-12-03T12:39:39.595-05:00Peter Pan with Mary Martin was the first I saw, I ...Peter Pan with Mary Martin was the first I saw, I think. Then it was THE MUSIC MAN, HIGH SOCIETY, SOUTH PACIFIC, OKLAHOMA, MY FAIR LADY and CAMELOT. Loved them all, and still do. Much later, A CHORUS LINE.Rick Robinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07978136287154214297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-63272763236747321502015-12-03T12:31:01.589-05:002015-12-03T12:31:01.589-05:00Weeeeee're off to choose the winners!
THE WI... Weeeeee're off to choose the winners! <br /><br />THE WINNERS ARE!<br /><br />Laura DiSilverio's secret choosing method has selected: <br /><br /><br />THE NEW READAHOLICS BOOK TO Pat D. for her "Melrose gives Aunt Agatha chewy candy to shut her up" comment.<br /><br /><br />The T-Shirt to: Libby for what Sherlock gives Russell.<br /><br />Email your address to Hank at h ryan at whdh dot com and I will send your info to Laura!<br /><br />YAY!<br />Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-67695187262797435752015-12-03T12:17:29.604-05:002015-12-03T12:17:29.604-05:00You had me at "Giant Head," Susan. Have...You had me at "Giant Head," Susan. Have just set DVR to record. <br /><br />The Wizard of Oz and The Sound of Music were the two musicals that were staples throughout my childhood, but I don't recall either one having much of an impact. I probably was in the backyard reading!<br /><br />Congrats to your hubby, Neal: what a challenge and what fun it'll be to operate Queen Latifah's Giant Head.<br /><br />~TriciaTFJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01145220939173150233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-35323773246783816972015-12-03T11:01:44.824-05:002015-12-03T11:01:44.824-05:00I remember seeing "The Wiz" in its origi...I remember seeing "The Wiz" in its original Broadway production. What a collection of great performers and what a fun show.<br /><br />The musical that had the greatest impact on my life? Easy. "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," in a production at the Little Theatre of Alexandria (VA). I was in that production and one of my fellow actors introduced me to the woman who would become my wife. We're at 43 years and counting. Now that's a show with staying power!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-64281618725760150262015-12-03T10:58:47.758-05:002015-12-03T10:58:47.758-05:00I don't think I've ever seen The Wiz. I sh...I don't think I've ever seen The Wiz. I should set the DVR for tonight (I'll be at The Boy's basketball game).<br /><br />I loved watching all those dance musicals - Gene Kelley, Fred Astaire. Still find them mesmerizing.Liz Millironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919409969263609919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-3619797890876349062015-12-03T10:50:49.848-05:002015-12-03T10:50:49.848-05:00I haven't seen The Wiz and have been looking f...I haven't seen The Wiz and have been looking forward to tonight's production for weeks. Now I want green food and green cocktails:-) Let's see. I have some Midori. Suggestions, Susan?<br /><br />Knowing Noel was Big Bird in the Macy's parade make that extra-special, so very excited to be able to say tonight that I have a connection to the Giant Head:-)<br /><br />And I love that we'll all be watching together.<br /><br />Childhood musical? The Wizard of Oz, of course.Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-15025048425576156792015-12-03T10:36:23.521-05:002015-12-03T10:36:23.521-05:00I live in NYC and I try to take advantage of all m...I live in NYC and I try to take advantage of all musicals that are on Broadway. I remember the first time I saw The Wiz on Broadway with Stephanie Mills and OMG..I was truly amazed with the power of her voice and stage presence. I wanted to be on that stage with her singing "Home." <br /><br />I've been waiting to see this production and I'm going to be watching singing all the songs and I hear there's one new song and it sounds great.<br /><br />Kudos to your husband Susan. I'll have to find something green to drink.<br /><br />Dru AnnDruhttp://drusbookmusing.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-36292398724172836722015-12-03T10:16:00.163-05:002015-12-03T10:16:00.163-05:00I saw "Peter Pan" at Vassar College when...I saw "Peter Pan" at Vassar College when I was young enough to BELIEVE. The production was outdoors, and I still remember the magic.<br /><br />My first Broadway play was "Camelot" for my 16th birthday! Since then I have seen many, many productions of musicals -- my children's shows, community theater, etc. Most recently I saw my brother-in-law in "South Pacific."<br /><br />Very excited about this production of "The Wiz" -- my foster son was the star of this show as a senior at his high school, Duke Ellington in DC. He is involved somehow in tonight's play -- he lives in NYC now, a graduate of AMDA. Noel, his name is Keith McCormick.<br /><br />Thank you for sharing this!Denise Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02790883493798517829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-59125872746174368412015-12-03T10:01:08.696-05:002015-12-03T10:01:08.696-05:00Go Noel! I'm so looking forward to watching to...Go Noel! I'm so looking forward to watching tonight. I adore all musicals, but the first movie musical I saw was the Wizard of Oz. Didn't go too well. The tornado scared me. The witch scared me. And I had to be carried out screaming when I saw the giant head!Rhysnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-44660430828661237822015-12-03T09:23:53.059-05:002015-12-03T09:23:53.059-05:00I couldn't be out here (at Grumman Studios nea...I couldn't be out here (at Grumman Studios near Bethpage L.I.) without the CONSTANT love and support from Susan (and the Kiddo). There is so much camaraderie and appreciation for being given this opportunity, from every member of the cast right up to Kenny Leon himself. It's going to be historic, people!Noelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05069346803145253300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-35270548783031593052015-12-03T09:20:10.293-05:002015-12-03T09:20:10.293-05:00Yes, the real Peter Pan, wow! SO fabulous.Yes, the real Peter Pan, wow! SO fabulous.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-29880535889728764792015-12-03T09:19:12.492-05:002015-12-03T09:19:12.492-05:00AMazing amazing amazing--I have goose bumps!
As a...AMazing amazing amazing--I have goose bumps!<br /><br />As a kid? All the Fred Astaire Ginger Rogers musicals in the movies. West Side Story, certainly. And as I got older, A Chorus Line, no question. In the 1970s, I played that record nonstop for months. <br /><br />And as an adult? Wicked. I have to tell you Defying Gravity is my theme song.<br /> <br />But I am SO excited about tonight! Noel, you'll be in the midst of your role--but thousands of Reds will be cheering and applauding!<br /><br />And your MYSTERY! What a wonderful idea.<br /><br />xoxoxo Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-63483757256291489192015-12-03T09:16:16.572-05:002015-12-03T09:16:16.572-05:00Thanks, guys! BTW, Noel's working on his first...Thanks, guys! BTW, Noel's working on his first novel, a MYSTERY set behind-the-scenes of a certain children's television show....Susan Elia MacNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00349842866995778987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-2734372102519204072015-12-03T09:01:48.229-05:002015-12-03T09:01:48.229-05:00Yes, Karen, we did see Peter Pan when it was first...Yes, Karen, we did see Peter Pan when it was first televised . . . it was amazing.Joan Emersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06810313925049108163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-36874986515602880762015-12-03T08:46:08.793-05:002015-12-03T08:46:08.793-05:00This is so cool! First we get to see Noel in the p...This is so cool! First we get to see Noel in the parade, and now as a giant head. Do we live right, or what? :-) Seriously, though, it is amazing to get to know the behind-the-scenes stuff like this. Thank you for sharing it. <br /><br />I've been seeing the promos for The Wiz, and stressing over missing it tonight because we're having dinner out. Then I remembered that we have a digital doohickey and I can save it to watch! I've only used it one other time, so fingers crossed that I can figure out how to work the thing. <br /><br />Joan, did you see Peter Pan the first time it aired on TV? Because it was also a live production. I remember that, very clearly, and the difference of the sound from taped or filmed ones. My mother actually let me stay up to watch it, which in itself was a minor miracle. Karen in Ohionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-38999003747927920552015-12-03T08:43:37.973-05:002015-12-03T08:43:37.973-05:00We don't have the space to discuss the musical...We don't have the space to discuss the musicals that have influenced my life. That would be a very long list. Anyone who follows the BOLO Books Facebook page knows that I am constantly in NYC seeing shows and posting comments. <br /><br />I will say that I lived in San Diego for about 7 years and while we were there, the La Jolla Playhouse (a major regional theater) did a production of The Wiz that really should have made a transfer to Broadway. They covered the stage in television screens and really made the show accessible to modern audiences. I am hoping that tonight's production will also manage to bridge that gap - as The Wiz is a dated piece of theater, but still deserves to be celebrated and brought to the masses once again. <br /><br />I'll be watching and wishing I had a green cocktail!Kristopherhttp://www.bolobooks.comnoreply@blogger.com