Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
No. Just, ugh. Eww. What is Broadway coming to?
Another 'save the theater' plot... with a cartoon.
Well, we'll have to wait and see, I suppose. But it's off to a bad start.
...I'd rather a musical based on one of the most influential, beloved, and recognizable cartoon characters of all time than on another ****ing B-grade movie from the 90s or overwrought popera based on a novel from the 1800s.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/25/08
Ever since Legally Blonde I have learned to keep an open mind. We'll see...
Stand-by Joined: 5/11/08
As disturbed as I am by this, I could somehow, just somehow see Jane Krakowski doing an awesome job with the character. Would I hope her to take it? Not really, but she was the first one that came to mind.
I smell a TONY for whoever lands the pivotal role of KoKO the Clown.
I loved it when he climbed out of the ink bottle.
>Ummm.... ew.<
Wasn't that the same reaction Charles Strouse had when he was first pitched the idea of doing a stage musical based on Little Orphan Annie? You never know how these things will turn out.
This has got to be for Kristin Chenoweth, right???
https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?thread=983759&dt=8&boardid=1
Updated On: 11/6/08 at 05:06 PM
I think it will be cute.
Jennifer Cody, please!
David Foster?
Oy. Let's hope he composes something better than the usual pop-drivel he's come up with for Josh Groban, Celine, Il Divo, yadda yadda. Do we really need elevator music on the boards?
I do like the songs he did with Madonna way back when though, but his recent stuff is nothing extraordinary.
I'd be more excited if Lippa was still attached.
Kad, I totally agree.
I usually tend to keep an open mind when it comes to new musicals. But I don't know how much more I can take of shows like this...we were all pleasantly surprised by Xanadu, and many were happy with Legally Blonde, but I'm ready for another completely authentic, original musical. Was The Drowsy Chaperone the last one?
[title of show]
Passing Strange
In The Heights
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
I think it sounds great! Chenoweth as Betty and Orfeh as Bimbo.
Not a David Foster fan and I don't think the world is crying out for Betty Boop, but I think Kristin Chenoweth or Jane Krakowski could kill in something like this.
I think its a really cute idea! Like anything it could be really bad or really great but its not like Betty Boop is everywhere. She's iconic yes but its not a property that has had a resurgence in popularity in a while. Also it allows the creative team to be, well, creative in plot ideas since they're not committed to one storyline but can draw on a lot of material from her shorts.
I don't know why people are complaining, Broadway is 90% of the time not original in its selection of material. This has gone on since the beginning. Besides no idea is truly original anymore, it always will draw from something in the past its just how its executed that makes it fresh or unique.
It's a cute, iconic image to turn into a musical. But I have to echo the sentiments that it seems more and more of Broadway is turning into the graveyard of fiction past.
Jen Cody is sublime casting, Foster.
And wasn't Jason Robert Brown attached to this at one time? Or was it Lippa?
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/08
I heard a while ago in a New York Times magazine article about Andrew Lippa about this.
Andrew Lippa was indeed writing it at one point as a vehicle for Kristin Chenoweth.
I'm in the Jane Krakowski bandwagon, she would be perfection.
Very interesting.
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