Falsettos: Welcome to Falsettoland circa 1992

William Finn (music & lyrics) and James Lapine (book) created such a non-traditional sound and voice when they wrote this show. This team is also responsible for the very similarly unique sound of The New Brain (which I loved when it was performed at the New York City Center Encores! Off-Center: https://frontmezzjunkies.com/2015/06/28/a-weird-and-wonderful-new-brain/ ). It’s a powerful voice that sounds like no other. The music in Falsettos is gorgeous and fun, complex and surprising, and with a show aimed at exploring sexuality, alternative families, and AIDS, it doesn’t, even to this day, seem to handle these in traditional or melodramatic ways. It has given us a more realistic, heartfelt, and sobering view, while delicately managing to avoid becoming a Lifetime movie of the week.

Christian Borle returns to the Broadway stage after a successful run as the total rock star Shakespeare in the very funny Something Rotten. This time he’s portraying a far more complex part, and although his performance is a bit rough around the edges, he mostly succeeds. That beautiful and powerful voice of his brings us into his world where we, eventually, give into his charm. As Marvin, he has the delicate task of making us root for him, as he leaves his son and wife to be with another, the not-so-sympathetic Whizzer (played with an arrogant charm by Andrew Rannells). It takes some time to get on board with this new couple as they passionately do battle for control, fighting and loving with a fierceness of lions. This hesitation is especially real as we are totally won over by the delectable Stephanie J. Block (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) and her show stopping portrayal of

the suffering ex-wife, Trina. Her knock out number, ‘I’m Breaking Down‘ and her second act ballad, ‘Holding to the Ground‘ win us over completely. We are totally on her side, and thrilled to witness her falling for the psychiatrist, Mendel. He is hilariously played by Brandon Uranowitz (An American in Paris), with such emotional depth and comic zest that we forgive his character of all the moral and ethical issues brought forth, and we happily embrace their romance.
Maybe one of the most charming roles, besides the delicious lesbians next door (the incredibly talented team of Tracie Thoms and Betsy Wolfe) is the young son, Jason, played with endearing delicacy by Anthony Rosenthal. His awkwardness and strength register and

compel us, especially in the fantastically fun number, ‘The Baseball Game‘ to join in and cheer him on.

[…] #BrandonUranowitz @BranUran #AnthonyRosenthal @anthonyrosentha #TracieThoms and #BetsyWolfe https://frontmezzjunkies.com/2016/10/27/falsettos #Falsettos: Welcome to Falsettoland By Ross Years and years ago I saw this show on Broadway. I […]
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[…] https://frontmezzjunkies.com/2016/10/27/falsettos […]
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[…] https://frontmezzjunkies.com/2016/11/20/sweet-charity/ @Falsettosbway @Lincoln Center Theater https://frontmezzjunkies.com/2016/10/27/falsettos #ticktickBOOM @KeenCompany https://frontmezzjunkies.com/2016/10/28/tick-tick-boom/ read, like, […]
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[…] come wonderful performances by the likes of Stephanie J. Block ,cracking us up in Falsettos (https://frontmezzjunkies.com/2016/10/27/falsettos/), Rachel Bay Jones , Laura Dreyfuss, and Jennifer Laura Thompson all breaking our hearts […]
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[…] in with the clapping because Wonka is being played by the always captivating Christian Borle (Falsettos, Something Rotten!). His opening number, “The Candy Man” (this song and “Pure […]
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[…] Christian Borle Falsettos […]
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[…] Jackson Musical Ari’el Stachel, The Band’s Visit, Atlantic Theater Company Brandon Uranowitz, Falsettos, Lincoln Center Theater Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Kate Baldwin, Hello, Dolly! […]
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[…] REVIVAL OF A BROADWAY OR OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL Cats Falsettos Hello, Dolly! Miss Saigon Sunset Boulevard Sweeney Todd Sweet […]
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[…] Dolly! Photo Credit: Julieta Cervantes ✅Hello, Dolly! ✅Sunset Boulevard ✅Miss Saigon ✅Falsettos ❌Cats Best Actress in a Play ✅Laura Linney, The Little Foxes ✅Laurie Metcalf, A […]
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[…] the lighting design by Jane Cox (Amelie, NYTW’s Othello) and the sound by Dan Moses Schreier (Falsettos) working on the same strong theatrical ideal that inspired Sondheim. Musically, this piece is […]
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[…] Falsettos […]
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[…] that didn’t irritate this too-old-to-be-in-the-audience reviewer. Anthony Rosenthal (Falsettos) as Johnny carried himself well and seemed more than your average Broadway kid, styling a portrayal […]
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[…] from Damn Yankees (1955), sung with gusto and great harmony by Brandon Uranowitz (Falsettos), Michael Xavier (Sunset Boulevard), Chuck Cooper (The Life) and the always amazing Tony Yazbeck […]
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[…] been told it’s a bit long and dull, but with a cast that includes Stephanie J. Block (Falsettos), Robert Fairchild (American in Paris), Kelly O’Hara (The King and I) and the dreamy Patrick […]
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[…] Globe winner for HBO’s ‘The Normal Heart‘), Andrew Rannells (Broadway’s Falsettos), and Zachary Quinto (Signature’s Angels in America, 2013 Broadway’s The Glass […]
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[…] lighting by Paul Miller (Encores!’s Big River), and sound design by Dan Moses Schreier (Falsettos), this is a night of celebration that should not be missed. It’s fun and festive, and makes […]
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[…] Garcia (Glorias Porteñas), it the deeply sympathetic and thoroughly engaging Brandon Uranowitz (Falsettos, Prince of Broadway) as Otto Kringelein, the very ill and dying Jewish bookkeeper looking for a […]
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[…] bloke by the name of Bill Snibson, played by the very endearing Christian Borle (Broadway’s Falsettos) who learns much to his surprise, that he is the 14th heir to the Earl of Hareford. He’s not […]
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[…] Lane’s Fortune’s Fools) and the tightly clad sexual beast, Andrew Rannells (LCT’s Falsettos, The Book of Mormon). The gifts are piled in the corner, just as fast as the jabs and jokes start […]
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[…] and multi decade Half Breed star to bring it home. And with Stephanie J. Block (Broadway’s Falsettos) as the main Cher, I’m breathing a sigh of great relief. Please let it be better than Summer […]
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[…] this time around, just a smartly transformative costume design by Jen Caprio (Broadway’s Falsettos) that beautifully lets Iglehart’s plant life grow before our very eyes in ways we […]
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[…] Cher‘ delivered spectacularly by the fabulous Stephanie J. Block (Broadway’s Falsettos). She delivers something so spot on perfect that I had to keep reminding myself that this was an […]
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[…] dressed to perfection in gloriously curvy designs by costume designer, Jen Caprio (Broadway’s Falsettos, Off-Broadway’s Daniel’s Husband), it’s an undeniable old-fashioned Lichtenburg […]
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[…] with his three work place buddies, Mike, devilishly well played by Colin Hanlon (Broadway’s Falsettos); Larry, cheerily portrayed by Paolo Montalban (PH’s Bella…); and Waldo, played to the […]
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[…] Fat Pig, FX’s ‘The Americans‘) and Brandon Uranowitz (Broadway’s Falsettos). They are curled up sweetly on an old couch in their spectacular loft apartment in New York City, […]
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[…] + Peggy Eisenhauer (Broadway’s Pippin) and sound by Dan Moses Schreier (Broadway’s Falsettos), brings forth the clowns one by one as summoned with Nathan Lane’s (Broadway’s Angels […]
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[…] The Heights), and the national treasure Tracie Thoms (Broadway’s Falsettos), we are given a glimpse into the life of the hardworking waitress to the worn out millworker, […]
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[…] by the elastically funny and brilliant Christian Borle (Broadway’s Something Rotten!, Falsettos) who scores one point after the other with each assorted character he dons a wig or hat for. […]
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[…] Rhodes (Broadway’s Bright Star). The music direction by Vadim Feichtner (Broadway’s Falsettos), with orchestrations by Frank Galgano & Matt Castle (Roundabout/Fiasco’s Into the Woods) […]
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[…] and whip-smart Stephen Sondheim (Follies; Sweeney Todd) with a stellar book by James Lapine (Falsettos; Passion), the musical that premiered on Broadway in 1984, captivates, as always and, most likely, […]
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[…] Tuc Watkins (Cherry Lane’s Fortune’s Fools) and the sexually engaged Andrew Rannells (LCT’s Falsettos, The Book of Mormon). They sail in filling the room with fire and spark, followed closely by the […]
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[…] O. Harris (NYTW/Broadway’s Slave Play) in a scene with Brandon Uranowitz (Broadway’s Falsettos) as Louis, Laura Linney (MTC/Broadway’s My Name is Lucy Barton) as Hannah Pitt, and the […]
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[…] “One Song“; Ali Stroker (Broadway’s Oklahoma) and Tracie Thoms (Broadway’s Falsettos) delivering the “Take Me or Leave Me” goods most spectacularly; Ben Platt […]
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[…] and their quiet grandson, Pierre Salomon, tenderly portrayed by Peyton Lusk (LCT/Broadway’s Falsettos) whose only wish is to have a croissant. The later American Molly would totally get behind that […]
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[…] as Tony Award Winner, Paulo Szot (Broadway’s South Pacific), Betsy Wolfe (Broadway’s Falsettos), Stark Sands (Broadway’s Kinky Boots), Justin David Sullivan, Melanie La Barrie, Ben Jackson […]
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[…] has gotten it all wrong. Sadly I missed out on seeing the wonderful Betsy Wolfe (Broadway’s Falsettos) in the role that I hear she excels in, but boy, did Tunnicliffe do justice to the part, living it […]
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[…] for us, these two musicians are played by the always reliable Christian Borle (Broadway’s Falsettos; Off-Broadway’s Little Shop…) as Joe/Josephine and the wonderfully uplifting J. […]
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