It just seems so pointless to move it to Broadway. I mean, isn't the whole point that it's OUTSIDE with real nature and life around it? What's the point of doing ANOTHER revival of it? Just because the narrator is a kid this time? I mean, please.
The St. James and Al Hirschfeld Theatre are indeed great shows for the musical to play at. Also, it would be a homecoming for the show to play at the Hirschfeld, where the original production played when it was called the Maritn Beck Theatre. I'm hoping Amy Adams will have time on her schedule to play the baker's Wife on Broadway.
"What's the point of doing ANOTHER revival of it?"
'Gypsy' and 'La Cage Aux Folles' were revived much sooner.
Updated On: 5/11/12 at 11:59 PM
La Cage was revived/transferred because of the scaled-down production.
This show was applauded because it was outside in the actual woods. So......what's the point of bringing into a traditional proscenium Broadway house? It loses all of its charm.
Hopefully who ever plays The Baker is more on par with Chip Zien and less like Mark Hadfield who played the role in the recent Regent's Park revival. He was just terrible- couldn't act, couldn't sing, and completely uncharismatic- a real triple threat. It's easy to forgive an actor who is limited vocally- as long as he/she can really act that part out. He just seemed so detached from the rest of the cast. I'm just going off of the recording from Digital Theatre. Maybe he was having an off night? I certainly hope so. If not, I don't know how he was cast.
I find it difficult to already say the show's only "gimmick" is that it's outside when rehearsals aren't anywhere near beginning and a major role is left to be cast.
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
Honestly, I have to agree with him about the Non-profit thing....
It has been something that has frustrated me about all the non-profits, not just the Public.
If they are paying crappy wages (comparatively), getting grants, and have non-profit status, they should not be allowed to produce things like ANYTHING GOES and BYE BYE BIRDIE (Roundabout), INTO THE WOODS and HAIR (The Public).... Lincoln Center is a mixed bag for me, but they do better, with shows like PIAZZA that come along and change the game and make it all worth it.
The Public in the park in the summer should be a really unique, special NY experience... There is NOTHING about INTO THE WOODS that suggests that... it's Sondheim's most mediocre show (in my opinion) and is done everywhere, and it isn't even really that relevant to our lives... yes, you can try to take some lessons and morals from it... but what importance does it carry, and why should a production be funded by grants and a non-profit company?
jdrye222 have you seen the production from Regents Park? This production almost reinvents the entire concept of the show.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
I think that if the concept is clever enough (or I suppose more to the point: if the creative team is clever enough), they'd be able to make it work just as well in a theatre indoors as in the park. And, to echo what others have said, people thought HAIR would lose its appeal when staged indoors, but as soon as it opened at the Hirschfeld, few people even brought that up. I'm be excited to see this production, whether indoors or out.
"Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos."-Stephen Sondheim
"The Public in the park in the summer should be a really unique, special NY experience... There is NOTHING about INTO THE WOODS that suggests that... it's Sondheim's most mediocre show (in my opinion) and is done everywhere, and it isn't even really that relevant to our lives... yes, you can try to take some lessons and morals from it... but what importance does it carry, and why should a production be funded by grants and a non-profit company?"
In that case, why do anything by Shakespeare at all?
God knows we don't need another production of... well, basically any of his plays, which are done at every theatre across the nation at all levels. Except for, like, Timon of Athens... with good reason.
Into the Woods, despite your dislike of it, is a beloved work of theatre that moves audience members worldwide. It is, for many, among the first experiences in a theatre- as an audience member, as a performer, as whatever.
As for this particular production, I was particularly moved by it a great deal. And I watched it from the comfort of my living room, on my computer. I can only imagine the experience would be magnified seeing it live, indoor or outdoor.
As for Michael Riedel, once again I think his attacking of the Public is ridiculous, particularly since Joe Papp had an eye on Broadway, himself.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
My first thought when I read this thread's title was also that the point of THIS "Into the Woods" revival was producing it IN the woods, so to speak. So what's the point of a BW move?
I suppose it comes down to money / marketing. The producers must think that with the players on board and a positive response there's money to be made in a transfer. But this show is done A LOT in regional and community theater. And the last revival ran for 9 months and lost a bucket of money 10 years ago, even after winning the Tony. Unless there is a very unique take that warrants consideration, I don't see this being particularly successful. But it fits in with BW's current revival mania.
I hope it transfers. This is an amazing show and desereves to be on Broadway.
"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES---
"THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS SHOW PEOPLE... WE'RE BORN EVERY NIGHT AT HALF HOUR CALL!"--- CURTAINS
I love this show, it deserves a first rate revival.
Whether or not the Delacorte production is too outdoorsy to successfully transfer to a theater (frankly, that might have been the problem with ON THE TOWN, a delight in the park and a horror show on Broadway) might be a justifiable concern, but at this point it is also a completely speculative one.
Many other Regent's Park productions have transferred to traditional West End theatres with no problem. Crazy For You being the most recent. And it won the Olivier for best revival.