Profile for LA Guy

BK - I can understand your comments, but to think that "today's" FILM audiences are going to like (or even accept) such scenes as book numbers is a little naive. Remember "Rent"? That was played exactly the way you suggest - with horrific results. People who want theatre go to the theatre, people who go to the movies want a movie. It isn't enough to simply put the stage show on screen, or the movie on stage (i.e. Producers, Mary Poppins)... Everything has to be adapted to fit the medium it is...

One thing I would have liked to see is Jennifer Holiday and Sheryl Lee Ralph in a small cameo (like Chita's in "Chicago"). Would have been a nice nod to them for establishing these incredible characters...

Absolutley stunning! Being a member of one of the Guild's here in LA, I was able to go to an advance screening of the film. I was a little worried going in for two reasons - (1) there have already been a few reviews (Variety and Hollywood Reporter, for instance) that had differing views on the film, and (2) seeing these special screenings can be dicey, as the audiences may not have the same kind of passion and enthusiasm for a movie that you get sitting in a theatre with true fans. Well, to a...

If Idina is bored with the role, she sure ain't showing it in London. Saw her this past sat matinee, and she was amazing!!!

I have to say that the "Who Hates LA?" thread is petty, ridiculous and simply meant to rile up people and get them to post... I am an LA resident, after living in NYC for 6+ years, and EVERY city, regardless of where it is, has its own special people, places and things that make it unique. I would never say I hate anywhere (aside from where I grew up, but that is more a "state of mind" thing than about the place itself), and to criticize where other people live, work, love, play, etc. is igno...

Tony numbers are all about selling tickets, and with that being the case, I think the number performed (while done very well) will not bring in an audience. "Mack the Knife" would have been more appropriate, since most people know that song (though perhaps not where it is from)... Songs out of context that are not well know generally don't come out well (I think "Lot's Wife," which was an amazing number in "Caroline or Change," didn't play well on the telecast out of context... I think the sa...

Working in the entertainment biz in LA, I have heard a lot about the problems in Vegas. Many people contend that Vegas simply isn't a great town for titles that are not all that well known. MAMMA MIA is a success, but it only set up shop in Vegas after playing for years in London and NYC. Not to mention the fact that everyone knows ABBA and their songs. Problem with an AVE Q and HAIRSPRAY is that these shows really require a kind of "word of mouth" publicity, that just can't be had in Vegas.....

http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=8295

This reminds me of one time when I saw MISS SAIGON in NYC and the helicopter never came down at the end of the "Nightmare" sequence. What was funny, is that after the show, two women sitting behind me got up and said, "For all the talk of the helicopter, I don't see what's so big about it..." They never even realized that what they saw was not supposed to happen. I think the same thing can be said of "Defying Gravity." She almost didn't fly, and I was upset because I knew she was supposed to....

That's one of those weird thing about living in LA. There are people everywhere anytime of the day, whether its on the freeways, at the Coffee Bean or the Wicked lottery... and the other truth of the matter is that there are a lot of freelance people in LA (actors, production people, etc.) who may or may not be working at anytime.

USC also has a BFA program for drama. Very selective, but becoming more and more well regarded in the industry.

The sad state of affairs in "new" musicals. Sort of like how "Tarzan" is a new musical...

Great leads... which lead me to this YAHOO article, which states: Actor Edward Hibbert, who is in the workshop cast, previously told Playbill.com columnist Harry Haun that the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles is looking at the show (indeed, the Ahmanson teases on its season brochure that a new musical is expected there in summer 2006). The Ahmanson website is promising "a new pre-Broadway musical" in 2005-06. The L.A. theatre's website stops short of mentioning the title of the show, but it do...

Anyone have a theatrical index to help us decode?

Skittles - sorry you live 4 hours away, so are you saying that there is no other local market that tours come to? Second, I was simply using the DVD's as an example. You see, theatrical presentations in movie theatres are what drives DVD sales. The same is true of B'Way, it drives tours and tour ticket sales. I was simply trying to show how DVD's deocoratizes movie going, because anyone can see a movie when it comes out on DVD, and tours are sort of the "theatrical" equivalent of DVD's. So ho...

This is currently on the Ahmanson Theatre (Los Angeles) web site, as the teaser announcement for a New "Broadway Bound" musical... what do you think it is? Anyone have a good guess? A New pre-Broadway Musical Mystery, suspense and surprise fill many a good musical, and they are perfectly apropos for this particular announcement. Scheduled for a Broadway workshop during the summer, this new pre-Broadway musical promises to be a must-see sensation. Those of you who love a good mystery may ponde...

ChiChi, the decline in touring shows IS hurting theatres and disappointing audiences. In LA, for instance, this year's "Broadway Series" includes, ANNIE, WHITE CHRISTMAS, and JOSEPH...DREAMCOAT, and last year we had LES MIS, non-equity MISS SAIGON, KING AND I, non-equity OKLAHOMA... So with the dearth of First National Co. touring shows, we are stuck with retreads of old shows, non-equity shows and the like. This should be appaling to any theatre-lover that the new original stuff is not makin...

Oh and how would people feel if Hollywood just showed movies in Los Angeles? If you really wanted to see it, would you spend money to come see it? NO, you would probably wait for it to come to DVD... so that's all I am asking for, and to me, a "Spamalot" tour stop is the DVD I am asking for...

Orange - there is a slight difference. Broadway is historical the place shows start. Naturally, they want people to come see the shows there in the city, for it is what drives the economic engine, and you don't want to cannabalize your own market. Shows eventually do tour, even to places as close as one hour to NYC (New Haven and Philadelphia). This is slightly different, as Vegas is trying to carve out "exclusives" that aren't trying to protect the property, they are simply trying to make it...