Profile for tmdonahue

Because of the pandemic, it's been a long time since I've been to NYC and the theatre.  Before the pandemic, I loved both of the late Joe Allen's restaurants, Joe Allen's and Orso.  The food at both places is not special, write home to mom, Michelin star but it is always and consistently good and well-priced.  Service is good too.  I've also had some good meals at Becco.

Until you find a couple geniuses to do it, none of them.  How Green Was My Valley?  Tales of the South Pacific?  Pygmalion?  Wicked? (Have you read the novel?)  The Ballad of Sweeney Todd?  Fun Home ?

Somewhat off-topic, a book of children's poems, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats?

More off topic, what about adapting a painting into a musical, ala "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte"?

Genius.

This is self-serving, but you might want to look at our book, Stage Money, 2nd Edition.  The book looks at the financing of professional theater, both commercial and not-for-profit.  It is not a textbook and was written as a general background.  We began it because what we read in newspapers and on the internet didn't quite make sense to us.  After researching the topic, it does make sense.  The 2nd edition was in the publication process when the pandemic hit so it doesn't include anything about the effect of that on theater or what the recovery will look like. 

I didn't sign an NDA so I think I can write this.  I rec'd a prospective on this production.  It is non-Equity and the physical production will be downscaled from the original Broadway production.

This is self-serving but if you want to know more about the financial structure of professional theater, I recommend our book Stage Money Second Edition.  We wrote it because although we'd been lifelong theater goers, we didn't understand the financial structure of professional theater.  The second edition was in publication when the pandemic started and so doesn't have anything to say about that or the future, but it gives a good, quick general background to the jobs, sources of money, risks of investment, unions, ticket prices, etc.

"It started out like a song" from Merrily We Roll Along.

Joe Hardy from "Damn Yankees," a show I love in spite of everything.

A cast album would not reflect her well but for me the best was Tyne Daly.  She created a fierce Rose on stage.  When she sang "Everything's Coming Up Roses" it was like a premonition of doom.

What's the stop clause?

from the second edition of our book, Stage Money:

"Theater licensing organizations have awakened to the number of high schools and even elementary schools that stage Broadway musicals and the organizations are making special efforts to market to this niche’s needs.  According to the New York Times, in 2012, high schools spent about $300 million on theatrical productions.  This figure is from the Educational Theatre Association which also maintains that the potential audience for high school productions in 2017-2018 was over 46 million people. According to the Times, Freddie Gershon, the co-chairman of the licensing firm Music Theatre International, created this business more than 20 years ago working with Stephen Sondheim to adapt Into the Woods for schools.

"One company specializing in this area, ITheatrics, works for licensing businesses to craft simpler, shorter versions of musicals that are appropriate for elementary and middle schools.  For example, Annie, on Broadway is a two-act, 2.5 hour-long musical with eight principal roles and an ensemble. The middle school version is 60 minutes long and has 25 speaking roles plus the ensemble. The 30-minute elementary school version has 20 speaking roles plus the ensemble.  (In school theater it is believed that there should be roles for everyone who wants to appear on stage.)

"There is a national festival called the “Junior Theater Festival” which brings student groups from all over to perform for each other, attend workshops, and witness new adaptations made just for them.  The festival is sponsored by Playbill, Disney Musicals, and Music Theatre International.

"Sean Patrick Flahaven, the chief executive office of the Musical Company, said a successful title in the youth market can generate $1 million or more a year in revenue.  Music Theater International has a program called Broadway Junior, offering 62 shows, some in different formats for different performing venues, some of them shows that have never been seen on Broadway.  Each show includes a “Show Kit” that includes a director's guide, curriculum activities and lesson plans, 30 actor scripts, two rehearsal/accompaniment CDs, a piano/vocal score, a DVD with choreography, and 30 copies of “Family Matters” a book to guide parents of the budding performers.  Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization offers “Getting to Know” or “G2K” versions for younger performers.  Theatrical Rights Worldwide LLC calls its adaptations “School Editions” and “Young at Part.” And so on."

This was written before the pandemic so the "Junior Theatre Festival" happened on-line this year.  This has been going on for some years, at venues around the country.  Maybe you're not crazy.  
 

I saw this revival.  Hadn't seen the script earlier.  I thought Whoopi was dull and seemed tired.  (Perhaps she was tired on the day I saw it.) The scenes with all her musicians were the opposite: alive, observant, involving.

Me, too.  I especially liked ending it with Rannells' novelty lyrics to "I Believe."

The original Follies in 1971-1972. I was an undergraduate at Michigan at that time and didn't have the money to go to NYC, but that's the one that got away to me.

To Owen22:  Yes!  I also love the idea of the three songs written to be, eventually, sung together.  "Now," "Soon" and "Later."  "...It's intolerable being tolerated."  On and on.  What a wit.