He has just directed Lucia de Lammermoor for Scottish Opera and it got amazing reviews. A production of Peter Grimes is coming to the met and Merrily we Roll Along to the Watermill Theatre (Berkshire, UK)
Does anyone know what happened to Barnum? and if plans to direct a different piece in San Diego or anywhere else
He's signed to do another Sondheim in Detroit. A CAPPELLA ASSASSINS.
He is doing another project in San Diego around August, and he'll be there around till mid-october doing it
I forgot the name of this, but I know it because the assistant director of it told me
Let me try and find out the name of it from him, but its looking to come to Broadway soon enough
Yeah!
But BARNUM just didnt work out, thats all I know
MERRILY should be interesting. Hopefully it can have another chance on Broadway.
He's also directing Harvey Fierstein's A CATTERED AFFAIR on Broadway next season starring Fierstein and Faith Prince...sans instruments.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/8/04
Having seen both "Sweeney" and "Company," I look forward to seeing him direct a show where the actors don't play instruments (though I thoroughly enjoyed both shows).
I'm so excited to see his work outside of the actor-musician thing, and I wish I could realistically see Merrily. After my experiences with Sweeney and Company, I would follow him anywhere.
The show he's directing at the Globe is the pre-Broadway "A Catered Affair" by/with Harvey F. Dates are Sept. 20th - Oct. 28th (with room to extend).
Can't wait for his PETER GRIMES (he's perfect for it), and I'm really looking forward to his MERRILY.
So he's basically doing every upcoming theatre project?
Not EVERY project. I mean, I have a directing gig coming up in July. But then again, I've yet to sign a contract, so he may be taking that one too!
I hear he is doing WEST SIDE STORY, where the orchestra plays all the roles, the technicians dance the show, and the audience are the actors. The real actors, all AEA, are paid to WATCH this. Very very groundbreaking and interesting concept. Can't wait.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
How are the audience the actors if the orchestra is playing the roles?
YOU DON'T QUESTION JOHN DOYLE!!!!
BARNUM's casting call notice was one of the mos flat out hysterical pieces I've read in a long time. If everyone who could actually meet the requirements showed up, he would have gotten maybe 15.
You had to be able to sing, dance, act, play a musical instrument, *and* be able to perform some kind of specific circus act, like juggling, high wire walking, trapeze, and so on.
I heard he is doing a musical version of "Not About Nightengales"
Imagine getting a tuba & piano in amongst all those pipes & in a cell
I really like the whole actors playing instruments thing. I really have new found respect for all actors who do this, these people are taking their musicianship to a whole new level. I say, keep them coming!
As much I'd like to see him do something new, I'd be very interested to see Doyle use the actor-musician concept with INTO THE WOODS, which I think he may have done already. For some reason, I see INTO THE WOODS lending itself very well to the concept.
The problem with John Doyle's actor/musician gimmick is that people spend so long focusing on it that they miss the greater picture. I never got to see 'Sweeney Todd', but I read the reviews and the audience feedback and it seems like it was pretty popular. I did see 'Company', and I absolutely adored it. Probably the best example of an ensemble cast I've ever seen. Whatever else John Doyle may do, he gets consistently good performances out of his cast and directs shows that regularly get excellent feedback. But most people get distracted by "omg, that guy's playing a trumpet! How silly!" or whatever.
Are you serious morosco?
He did do an acotr musican Into theWoods about 8 years ago. I hear it was really but alas I never go to see it
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