Grand Hotel, The Musical

See it if you like dark musicals. 1928 Berlin looks glittery, but it's grimy underneath. Well-paced, GH engrossed me, but it did not fully delight me.

Don't see it if you want memorable songs or to be touched. But GH was beautifully presented (w/only 2 wks rehearsal). Strong ensemble cast; chic dancing.

See it if If you like a big musical. One of Encore's very best production. Rhodes does a great job with this show.

Don't see it if If you do not like a bigger musical, or do not like musicals.

See it if High gloss staging & sensational dancing keeps focus away from clumsy book & uninspired songs Uranowitz & that Tango duet true showstoppers

Don't see it if Book strains for relevancy (#MeToo moments) while drug-addicted narrator is underutilized Ghost of Tommy Tune hovers despite Rhodes' efforts

See it if you love theater,, Great dance numbers. My favorites: Yorke, Snyder Uranowitz & the two Jimmys. This show shoud move to Broadway

Don't see it if you need a linear story, I still feel that the City Center is too big though the sound system has been improved mucho .

See it if you're a fan of the original show or of the film, like musicals that tackle serious matters, enjoy great music, dancing and voices

Don't see it if One act musicals are too long, Berlin 1928 doesn't interest you, don't like atmospheric shows, characters who do bad things, unhappy endings

Also Wow! What a delightful surprise. Who knew Grand Hotel could contain so much dance which helped propel the evening along quickly. Josh Rhodes' direction is absolutely terrific, with his own concepts creating the dynamic of an elegant hotel in post World War I Berlin. The music and book do cause one to recall Tommy Tune's staging of the original back in the 1980's, but Rhodes puts his stamp on everything, from how he handles the entrances in and out of the hotel to his ingenious restaging of "Let's Lift a Glass Together," the one true show stopper from the original, as well as "Roses at the Station." While the plot can be bleak at times, Rhodes's version is just a tad sunnier and ebullient. The cast is uniformly excellent, with costumes and lighting deserving notice, as well as the orchestra and some strong and elaborate orchestrations. It's like revisiting an old valued friend for the first time.... Read more Read less

See it if you are already very familiar with the material and are excited about the prospect of seeing it on stage with very talented performers.

Don't see it if you'd frustrated by seeing a show that really needs a point of view presented without a point of view.

See it if a hoot! marvelous choreography, incredible begin/ending tango, tenor brings down house, B. Uranowitz steals show w comic stylings

Don't see it if a little hokey; tunes not memorable; some performers don't understand acting has 2 be droll in send-up like this

Also There's something else interesting going on in this play: In addition to displaying the grand melodramatic affairs of top drawer society, the "queen bees," this portrayal of a "grand hotel" shows what is going on beneath the surface: the murmurings of workaday activity by the "drones": the sweaty bravado of the male construction workers, the effervescence of the wait staff, the buzzing, hyperactivity of the female switch-board operators, etc. In this way, this work gives the audience a 360 degree view of the hotel as a pulsating community.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a revival of a 30-year old musical that still holds up. You want a sharp, entertaining musical w/great music & performers.

Don't see it if You want a new musical. You want a fully upbeat musical. You prefer lighter themes.

See it if you enjoy musicals. The score is lovely. There are a lot current themes women's rights, antisemitism, drugs issue, etc.

Don't see it if don't enjoy musicals. With enormous resources in people it lacks imagination about how they use them. None of the many themes are explored

See it if you enjoy ensemble musicals or are interested in the Roaring ‘20s. This is a quick show at under 2 hours with no intermission.

Don't see it if multiple storylines tend to confuse you, or you’re looking for a more contemporary story.

Also In truth, I probably would have enjoyed it
more if the woman sitting in front of me sat still for more than 3 seconds.... Read more Read less

See it if Great dancing/singing, stories of life at the Grand Hotel.

Don't see it if If you do not like musical, dancing, want one story.

Also The dancing and singing was excellent. They had the tango dance and it blow you away. The audience love the show and you could hear everyone letting the cast know. The time went by so fast watching this great show. The whole cast on stage and back, did a great show.... Read more Read less

See it if you want to see a show done with great singing, staging and choreography. Encores outdid themselves.

Don't see it if you do not like musicals.

Also I was stunned by the staging and the arrangement of the orchestra. Encores really brought this former Broadway show to life. The costumes, singing and staging were excellent. I had a Grand time!... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a classic musical with multiple characters and songs that all land on target.

Don't see it if You don’t want to see an Encore musical revival.

See it if Great staging and choreography. The score is unusual and hypnotic. Snyder and Uranowitz were outstanding. I liked Dvorovenko, too.

Don't see it if What could be a jumble of disjointed stories is tied together by intersecting the ballerina, baron, accountant, mogul and typist. Well done!

See it if enjoy old Broadway musicals brought back to life by a terrific cast and orchestra

Don't see it if you don't enjoy musicals

See it if you are an Encores fan. The most elaborate & well staged production of theirs I have seen. Great choreography & direction by Josh Rhodes.

Don't see it if you don't care for multiple story lines. Few memorable songs, but all are performed beautifully.

Also Special mention for the superb tango dancers Junior Cervila & Guadalupe Garcia who waft in & out of the proceedings. They're fantastic.... Read more Read less

See it if One of the best Encore productions in its 25 year history. Bravo.

Don't see it if You don’t like concept musicals.

See it if You love a well staged musical. Great costumes. Superior choreography. Super casting. Delightful.

Don't see it if You want junk cursing modern crap. This is an old fashioned solid musical.

See it if several figures united by their stay in Berlin's Grand Hotel appeals; a fan of the actors; seeking old-fashioned frolick, flair, and fun.

Don't see it if you dislike sometimes-dated material; moments of misogyny, sexuality, and assault; spare staging; dances that act as bridges between scenes.

Also Grand Hotel is studded with talent—from the main cast to ensemble. The show positions dark themes (rape, misogyny, death, theft, abortion, depression, murder) against playfulness that initially distracts from then shoves awful realities into hard relief through contrast. In Berlin’s post-Great War Grand Hotel, lives can be remade: a dying bookkeeper (multi-talented Brandon Uranowitz, whose physical comedy, dance, singing, and acting are unmissable) can regain life. A desperate typist (quirky, charming Helene Yorke) can dream of glamor. A desperate conman can be a baron (James Snyder’s singing is stupendous). A faded ballerina (gracefully-strong Irina Dvorovenko) can find love; her overlooked assistant (Natascia Diaz, heartfelt and sympathetic) can find purpose. Among such a sundry group, audiences are sure to connect to at least one figure. Grand Hotel is edgy when crude language and talk emerges—but we leave feeling the continued relevancy of dreams, hopes, and love in hard times.... Read more Read less

See it if It's closed, but I'm hoping it will transfer! James Snyder's voice made the entire evening worth watching! A nicely trimmed rework.

Don't see it if You're looking for an upbeat comedy. It's based on the movie with John Barrymore & Greta Garbo. You want the 2 1/2 hour original.

Also This tightened all the plots from the original -- kept in all the meat and trimmed off all the fat. Great edit of a good show. I hope it transfers. I would pay to see it again. The ballerina couldn't sing and had no chemistry with James Snyder. He was outstanding.... Read more Read less

See it if you like this show, or shows with a Brechtian/Weill touch to them. I don't like this show, but this is as good as it's going to get.

Don't see it if dark pieces reminiscent of the Weimar era disturb you.

See it if you enjoyed it during its original run.

Don't see it if you want to see something fresh.

See it if You want to see one of the best Encores of recent history

Don't see it if You don't like Encores style

See it if Heard great singing of musical numbers that people may not know to focus on the music/story instead of the overall concept

Don't see it if Want a more developed/cohesive storyline

See it if you want a stirring revival with glorious orchestrations. The moving story, almost sung-through, is beautifully staged, sung and danced.

Don't see it if you don't like musicals? I honestly can't think of another reason.

Also I had seen the show on Broadway and at the Donmar in London. This production was the best I had seen, more fluid and cohesive.... Read more Read less