Rocky

Rocky is playing at the Winter Garden located at 1634 Broadway. It runs two hours forty minutes with one intermission. This is an open ended show.

The show premiered in Hamburg, Germany in 2012.

The story is based on the 1976 film of the same name. Sylvester Stallone wrote the screenplay and stared in it. The movie earned $225 million. It won three Academy Awards, Best Picture, Best Director and Best Film Editing.

Andy Karl made his Broadway debut in “Saturday Night Fever” (1999). He was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for ”The Mystery of Edwin Drood” (2013).

Eric Anderson was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for “Soul Doctor” (2013).

Alex Timbers is the director. He was nominated for a Tony Award for “Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson (2011) and “Peter and the Starcatchers” (2012). Alex was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2011 for “The Pee Wee Herman Show”.

Steven Hoggert is the fight choreographer. He was nominated for a Tony Award for “Once” (2012). Steven was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for both “Beautiful Burnout” and “Peter and the Starcatchers”. Steven won a Laurence Olivier Award in 2009 for “Black Watch”.

Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens wrote the original score. They won a Tony Award and were nominated for an Academy Award for “Ragtime” (1998). In 2010 they were nominated for a Tony Award for Best Revival for “Ragtime”. Stephen and Lynn were nominated for a Tony Award for “Once on an Island” (1991). As a team they were nominated for several Drama Desk Awards, “The Glorious Ones” (2008), “Dress Rose” (2005), “A Man of No Importance” (2003), “Seussical” (2001) and “Ragtime” (1998).

Thomas Meehan wrote the book. He won a Tony Award for “Hairspray” (with Mark O’Donnell 2003), “The Producers” (2001) and “Annie” (1977).

The play takes place in Philadelphia in 1975.

Rocky Balboa (Andy Karl) is a prize fighter who wins a fight once in a while. When he does win he does not earn much maybe $71 minus incidentals, he clears $41. His only other income is collecting money from store owners. The hood Gazzo (Eric Anderson) tells him if the butcher won’t pay him the $200 to break his thumbs. Rocky can’t do it.

He has had a crush on his childhood friend Paulie (Danny Mastrogiorgio) sister Adrian (Margo Seibert) for a long time. Adrian works in a pet store.

The gym were Rocky works out banishes him from the gym. The manager Mickey (Dakin Matthew) tells him he is 29 and washed up. If you haven’t made it by now, you never will.

Rocky and Adrian becomes a couple.

The prize fighter Apollo Creed (Terence Archie) is in Philadelphia for a big fight. He has to find a new fighter since the one he was going to fight got injured. Apollo picks Rocky because he is known as the Italian Stallion.

Rocky trains for the fight. He told he will get $150,000.

Before the fight is about to begin Rocky comes down the left aisle. Apollo comes from the right with his large entourage. The emcee Tommy Crosetti (Eric Anderson) gives a blow by blow description on who is hitting who.

Well if you can’t remember who wins the fight I’m not going to tell you.

This is a very enjoyable musical. I was surprised. It was well acted. The set was remarkable.

I especially like when Rocky is training for the fight. When he is running around Philly the visual effects in the background make you feel like he was running. Yes he runs up a flight of stairs. The audiences in the first twelve rows in the center of the theatre are move to the bleachers behind the ring. The ring is moved over those seats.

The fight choreography is done by Steven Hoggett. It was remarkable. You can feel the impact of every punch.

Andy and Margo have beautiful voices.

Andy’s rendition of “My Nose Ain’t Broke”,”Keep On Standing” and Margo’s “I’m Done” were the best songs in the show.

The Orchestra was excellent. The opening number with the drums was “WOW”. One of the musical numbers resembles “Eye of the Tiger”.

This is one show I would not miss.

Review by Rozanna Radakovich

Photos by Annazor.

To read a candid interview with the cast, scroll down to the left for recent photos. Click on resent photos for this and other shows.