Profile for GaryTokyo

Encores has been a spectacular success under Jack Viertel, who clearly had a love and deep knowledge of musical theater that made every season an event. His successor seems to have a different view of the series judging from her interviews, but hoping for the best. She's directing the final show of Viertel's final season, Thoroughly Modern Millie, a baffling and discouraging choice for this classic series. Anyone else find that decision odd??  https://sekenbanashi.wordpress.com/2019/06/27/encores-and-millie/

An odd choice for sure. But the rights holders have spoken, so we can just hope for the best .Strange that it's coming essentially at the same time as the Spielberg film, especially since the approaches of the populist filmmaker and decidedly non-populist stage director are likely to be vastly different. The contrast should be a show in itself. https://sekenbanashi.wordpress.com/2018/07/14/ivo-van-hoves-west-side-story/#more-3393

The film version of SWEENEY TODD and the NBC Live productions suggest a new way forward for movie musicals, and a creative look at old material is always welcome. But it's hard not to be skeptical.
https://sekenbanashi.wordpress.com/2018/01/31/spielbergs-west-side-story/

Harold Prince's lines in Tokyo and Osaka were delivered in Japanese in prerecorded voiceover by a big musical star here. That worked well enough, allowing them to trim unnecessary subtitles and add a well-known Japanese name to the marquee. The problems were elsewhere.