18/09/2022
One door closes, another door opens. That's what they say. Thats the saying, that took root and was repeated by repeaters. Why can't it be, "one door closes, another opens, and then another and then another...until we convert it all into an open air Outdoor Amphitheater? The longest running play on Broadway, Phantom of the Opera closes after 35 years. Tell them another door opens...Mine.
The Phantom of the Opera opened in 1988 at the Majestic Theatre and has been playing there ever since. Created by the powerhouse giants of theater, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, director Hal Prince, and producer Cameron Mackintosh. The Majestic Theater is located at 247 West 44th Street, between Seventh Avenue and Eighth Avenue. The Majestic Theatre was the largest theater when it opened in 1927, and in the words of Robert Wankel, President of the Shubert Organization, " The Magic of Broadway exists here". So true. A bad show could be a hit at The Majestic. Phantom earned $1.30 billion during its impressive Broadway run, and has played an astonishing 13,733 performances with over 19 million tickets sold.
The success of Phantom of the Opera and Broadway in general is a testament to the people of New York City, and the energy you feel through your body the moment you step off the train onto Grand Central station, Penn Station, LaGuardia, JFK or 42nd street Times Square. The whole city is an awakening of your senses that allows you to experience a story, a show and Theater Wonder like nothing else. New York City breathes New life. This is why shows start here. The enormous talent pool of appreciation of the musical, theatrical comedy arts, that does not exist anywhere else in the United States. We have Los Angeles and Chicago, Miami, and Vegas..but it's not the same.
Comedian Joby Saad's one man show "The Village Idiot" is a culmination of his life touring the country as most shows open on Broadway, and then go on to tour the country, Joby has toured the country for 35 years. Opened for Jeff Foxworthy, Brian Regan, Tim Allen, Rob Schneider, James Gregory, Tim Wilson, Paula Poundstone, and then Headlining. Developing his show and material along the way. I do everything backwards, so I'm told. But Hey! I do it. I get it done. I've already done the National Tour, now I'm ready to open on Broadway.
It is sad to hear of the closing of Broadway's longest running show, Phantom of the Opera... but technically, "The Fantastiks" at the Jerry Orbach Theater is Broadway's longest running show that ran a total of 42 years (until 2002) and 17,162 performances, making it the world's longest-running musical. Some would say it doesn't count because, it was an Off Broadway production, located at 210 W 50th St, New York, in the heart of the Theater district. I was "Mortimer" in my High School production of the Fantastiks so, I'm a bit partial. Thanks Mr. Cowan! (Antioch High School Drama Teacher)
The Broadway version of the Village Idiot show is a combination of material that I have developed that could not find a home elsewhere. Pieces of material that would work individually but, couldn't compete with the touring show I had already perfected. As a consummate performer...my first responsibility was to the ticket buying audience. To do the show that I wanted to do, often times felt indulgent. People hired me to do a particular job. Not to develop my one man show on Broadway, as I was often reminded. Comedian Joby Saad rose quickly in the Comedy Club circuit Headlining all the comedy Clubs, Zanies, Comedy House Theaters, Comedy Zones, The Punchlines, Funny Bones, Jokesters in the Bahamas. Joby became a regular at the Hollywood Improv, the Comedy Store, Dublin's on Sunset, and The Ice House in Pasadena, and his own show the Village Idiots at Caffe Luna on Melrose in Hollywood. He trained at the famed Beverly Hills Harvey Lembeck Comedy Workshop where Robin Williams, John Ritter and Bryan Cranston developed their chops.
Joby moved to NYC in 2004 and he was just beginning to make headway performing at Carolines, The Broadway Comedy Club, Stand -up NY, The Underground, when his clean comedy put him back out touring the Christian Church Circuit after a winning performance at the National Pastors Conference in San Diego and many Christian Youth Mega Church events. Performing Christian Churches throughout the country almost exclusively for the next 10 years as a celebrated comedian from his stand out performance on the Warner Bros produced "Thou Shalt Laugh" and others. He also did several Military tours, Entertaining our Troops receiving his orders from the Department of Defense.
Joby Saad is back in NYC where he left off before the Church Tour, but after covid. He is eager to present the show he has always planned to do. What is the Village Idiot Show?
Joby says, "I don't really want to see anyone call anyone an Idiot, but if you need one, I'm here for you. Also, I have the stories and experience that can back it up.
Like the time he went to St. Patricks Cathedral on his mothers insistence to attend Catholic Mass, dismissing that the service was spoken in Spanish. "I figured half the mass service is spoken it latin, which I don't understand either...so whats the big deal". Half way through Joby's masterful lip synced participation, Joby realizes it's not a mass service but a large scale community of married couples renewing their wedding vows. Joby continues to mouth the words he does not understand and tries to fit in with a church filled with puzzled onlookers. They may have thought I lost my spouse, or that I was an idiot.
Joby's comedy is about overcoming challenges and full filling a childhood dream of being like Houdini, and wanting to perform the Upside Down Chinese Water Torture Cell Escape. It's also his sister's dream to see him drown. It's Joby's dream to star on Broadway. Joby will attempt the Water Torture Cell escape as the shows climax. Technically, it's what they call an off-off Broadway show, because the Big Theater companies and Theater organizations want to disadvantage the smaller companies. Off and Off - Off Broadway have nothing to do with the quality of the performances or the location of the Theater. It is only to distinguish between the size of the theaters. Because of Joby's long history of performing comedy and taking his show all over the country, not to mention his improvisational and experimental nature, located in the heart of the Theater District (358 West 44th street) between 8th and 9th ave at the Sonnet Theater, The Village Idiot on Broadway is the most Broadway show of all. Off Broadway, and Off-Off Broadway are outdated and mis-leading terms that need to be abolished.
One block up from The Majestic Theatre on 44th street is the Sonnet Theater inside the Producers Club, and the Village Idiot on Broadway. Phantom will play its final performance on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. Who will move into the newly available, largest most beautiful, most prestigious Broadway Theatre? FunnyGirl? Kinky Boots? The highly anticipated Melody the Musical starring Julie Benko? or The Village Idiot? Performances Nov 9-13th 2022 Tickets villageidiotbway.com
Comedian Joby Saad aka the Village idiot delivers his brand of clean, outrageous comedy that includes mime, dance, improv and guarantees non stop laughter.
