Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: Just In Time

This show really shouldn't be my cup of tea. I don't like biopics, I don't really love the big band style of music, I'm suspicious of stunt casting (which this is dangerously close to but I think technically avoids). However, the more I see from this show, the more fun it seems. I like the cast, I like the design choices, I do think it's an interesting take on the biopic formula, and I think overall this is one of the best versions of this show that could exist. Everyone says that this show is about Jonathan Groff being a showman and everyone just having a good time, so I was excited to see another example of that on this parade.

Yep, I think this performance was exactly what it was supposed to be. It was a medley (as it was always going to be), the band was swanky and fun, Jonathan was charming (as was the fun Bowen Yang cameo), it was fun to see Sarah Hyland & Sarah Dickerson get in on the fun (I don't think I've seen anything since they joined the cast), and we got the iconic splish splash dance break. Splish Splash was my way into Bobby Darin (through my neice's musical taste), so I was delighted to see that represented. I remember hearing that Jonathan is leaving the show, and I expect ticket sales will go with him, which I think is fine, I don't know that this show needs to run a long time, but I think I can be glad it was there and glad I got to see it perform here on the parade again. Certainly plenty to be thankful for.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: Ragtime

I'll be honest, there is a small part of me that feels like we don't really NEED another Ragtime revival that does it the traditional way, however I am also kind of excited for this one. The last Ragtime revival came about when I was firt getting into Broadway and I remember being really excited about it, but was bummed when it never even got a recording. So now the fact that it's coming back with this all-star cast does have me a little excited. Is it new and interesting? No. But does it have the potential for being the best iteration of the old version we're likely to see? Yeah, I think it might be.

Before we started, the prediction in our household was that they would begin with the opening and then end with Wheels of Dream, so they through us a bit of a curveball by flipping them. I'll be honest, it started on a low note. I love Joshua Henry so much, but this was not his best lip-syncing performance (and if I'm being honest, not quite my favorite vocal performance, but that's just me). However I did enjoy them ending with the opening. The scale of this show is one of it's greatest strengths and I love the way that was on display here. While they didn't really dance and they weren't really singing, it did make me want to see that group of people do the whole show.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: Buena Vista Social Club

I have never been a huge fan of this show in general, but I certainly acknolwedge that it is objectively good. I'm honestly a bit surprised it's still running but glad it's finding an audience and so happy for the folks who get to see something very different from the rest of what's on broadway.

This performance did seem pretty similar to their Tony performance to me (which is fine) but it did celebrate some of the best parts of this show. The musicians are super impressive (although I presume they weren't playing live today) and the dancing was beautiful (probably was live). Putting the band on a truck was an interesting choice that felt a little superfluous but I guess didn't hurt. As is the way, this performance didn't really make me want to see the show, but I think that's because it's not my kind of show. If it is your kind of show, this performance shows its strengths, and I guess that's all you can ask for.