Text and photo by Gordon T. Hughes
This is not a review of The Cher Show. In all transparency, I am lucky enough to be a part, a very small part, of the team that is bringing this show to Broadway.
The show had a very nice run in Chicago this past summer. If you were lucky enough to see it there I’m sure you smiled and clapped along to many of the tunes you knew from the Sonny and Cher Show or from one of many of Cher’s post show days, whether in Las Vegas or Atlantic City or wherever else she appeared.
Well, all I can say is strap in for the Broadway version.
Stephanie Block, as one critic said, “does not play Cher—she absolutely channels her.”
So I was there in my orchestra producer’s seat November 1st for the opening of previews awaiting a polished version of what I had seen in Chicago.
Our lead producers Flody Suarez, a former NBC network television programming executive now in his first time out as a Broadway producer, partnered up with Jeffrey Seller. Oh you know him: Rent, In The Heights, Avenue Q, and yes, Hamilton.
Now I’ve had the pleasure of working with some remarkable talent in my day: La Bete, Stick Fly, An American In Paris and currently Come From Away. This musical is something different, something very different.
So, I said this is not a review. WestView News has real critics far and away better than me to do that job.
AlI I can say is with my many years as a Broadway baby I am so proud to be a part of this show, so very proud. And I really, really recommend that all my pals from Panino Mucho Gusto Cafe as well as all my friends and neighbors in the West Village go north of 14th Street to the Neil Simon Theatre and take in this wonderful musical about a remarkably talented woman and hear her story.
Talk about women’s empowerment…
See you at the theatre.
