Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
Thanks! I *love* the Tony clip, and I've seen some live recordings which are fairly unwatchable, so it's nice to have some more pro-shot material.
I saw the show when I was 12 or 13 and it toured to Vancouver. I had already started to get into Sondheim, but otherwise, aside from the megamusicals, and the classic classics like Rodgers and Hammerstein, I was still learning a lot about musicals. My much missed grandma, who had always had a huge love for musicals (when she was in the airforce on leave in New York she got to see the original productions of Oklahoma! and On The Town and would regularly go afterwards), was visiting us and I don't think even knew much about the show, but worshipped Chita Rivera, who again I barely knew except from the West Side Story recording. She took me as a treat, and I remember being slightly shocked and embarassed when I realized what the show was about, but we both loved it, and I'm pretty grateful to have been able to see Chita on stage, and in that role (I believe Jeff Hyslop was Molina).
I know the musical has its critics, and I get some of the criticisms, but it made such ahuge impression on me, as well as being just such an absolutely thrilling production, and I think Kander and Ebb's best post Chicago score. It was Hal Prince's last big original musical hit (Show Boat came soon after), and I still think he should have won the Tony for direction, though everyone was pretty excited by Des McAnuff's Tommy direction I guess.
I saw the Kiss of the Spiderwoman when I was about 17, or 18. I loved it instantly! I still remember it fondly! When I saw it Chita was still in the show, but the men were gone already. Instead, it was Brian Stokes Mitchell and Jeff Hyslop from the kids show "Today's Special!"
Today's Special was everywhere here--since it's Canadian (Jeff Hyslop actually now lives not too far from me). I remember as a 10 year old being apalled by the idea that he was playing the Phantom in the Canadian tour--but he actually wasn't bad, and he was very good as Molina from what I remember.
One thing I've always been curious about is Vincent Patterson's role as co-choreographer. Susan Stroman choreographed the vastly different, more campy, disastrous original workshops. Then Rob Marshall was given sole credit as choreographer for the Toronto and London runs of Kiss, but the Broadway and subsequent tour list Patterson as co-choreographer. The only credit I know for Patterson is choreographing large chunks of Madonna's Blond Ambition and Girlie Show tours.
Had no idea that stroman was part of that earlier production. I had a recording ( audio) of that at some point.
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
Had no idea that stroman was part of that earlier production. I had a recording ( audio) of that at some point.
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
Wow I would love to hear it. I just know it's always used as an example of the potential that critics have to kill a show in out of town tryouts--in this case it does seem crass since the program it was a part of was set up exclusively to create new musicals, and it was pretty much killed by Kiss' critics. Not that Drabinsky deserves any sympathy, but thank God he took the project on as his first original musical for Livent.
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
I've only seen this show with a tiny 3-4piece band and little set (I think rosscoe you might have also caught this, at the Darlinghurst). It was one of my favourite theatre experiences
I once posted this about it: "The walls of the theatre around the stage were grey so it felt like you were in a prison cell. The Molina was old, pale and thin. It felt like he was there for a long time. Valentin was young, tanned and attractive. It was really interesting seeing them together.
"
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
I sadly missed that production in Sydney. I think that's the only time the show has been done in Australia.
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
Eric, have the composers demo if you would like to hear, just drop me a PM
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
Eric, I heard this a few years ago from a family friend who did press for the show so I may be distorting the information slightly from what he said a while back, but I believe that Patterson was the original choreographer for the production, but his dances weren't gelling with Prince's vision, so Marshall was brought on. Perhaps there was some legal dispute over credits during the Toronto and London runs and by the time the show came to Broadway, Patterson was given co-credit for choreography. The majority of the dances were Marshall's (most famously "Where You Are"), but there were pieces of Patterson's work in the show. I think the only full number (or majority of a number) that consisted of his choreography that stayed was "Gimme Love."
"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.
Eric, in Abu Dhabi till Thursday I'll send you a copy ( link ) when I get home
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian