The Last Ship Coming to the Neil Simon in the Fall

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 1:44pm

Sting's new musical, The Last Ship, will start previews September 30th, with opening October 30. Will star Michael Esper and Rachel Tucker

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/stings-musical-finds-broadway-home-22482059

Updated On: 2/12/14 at 01:44 PM

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 2:10pm

I remember Louise Pitre was in some of the final workshops last fall that Riedel reported on. I guess she isn’t doing the full production

[dreaming]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 2:21pm

I find the casting odd in one sense. I was able to attend one of Sting's concerts where he performed the music and he said something about wanting to bring newcomers (particularly from Britain) over. I wonder what happened to that idea. (Equity most likely wouldn't approve it-I guess I'm a little disappointed in that because I was looking forward to some new faces and voices-also, I guess I thought authenticity would be nice. As long as they don't sound like the cast of Matilda.)

[HBP]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 2:22pm

Rachel Tucker is from Britain. She was in Wicked on the West End.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 2:22pm

Esper is going to be great. He's always great.

[dreaming]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 2:25pm

Rachel Tucker and Jimmy Nail were participants in the concerts and Jimmy Nail was confirmed by Sting as a member of the cast. (I really think it's going to be strange to have two people who are British in a cast of Americans trying to sound heavily British-this is northern England-the accent is really marked.)

[Younger Brother]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 2:32pm

Sorry to be that guy but Rachel is Irish.

[ukpuppetboy]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 2:35pm

That doesn't seem to have been an issue for Kinky Boots..

For the record Rachel Tucker is from Belfast so a northern English accent isn't natural for her either, though her Elphaba showed no trace of her Northern Irish roots and was in all respects
pretty impressive.
Updated On: 2/12/14 at 02:35 PM

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 2:36pm

Sally Ann Triplett is British. She was in the original Broadway cast of Carrie, so this will be her return to the Great White Way after a career in the West End.

[sing_dance_love]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 2:38pm

Absolutely stoked. Rachel Tucker is really really wonderful, very excited to be able to see her here in the States.

[NotTheComfyChair]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 8:50pm

I'm surprised they are allowed to bring so many people over. Not only Equity but also US Immigration (ICE). I wouldn't have thought that they would all qualify under the 0-1 visa "extraordinary ability" requirement - at least to ICE. Though they are good...

Re: the accents. The Matilda accents are authentic and, to my British ears, exceptionally good and, yes, clear BUT there was/is a big issue with sound plus the lyrics are very dense, complex and fast. KB, on the other hand, is a big hot mess accent-wise and have the worst accents in a show I've heard in years. And I did see the Menier "Merrily..." HOWEVER, the majority of the audience love the show. So, go figure... They are bringing over Jimmy Nail who has the North Eastern English (Geordie) accent so that will be a big help!

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 10:13pm

Wow, that is an amazing creative team. Wishing it luck!

[BwayLover]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 3:37am

I'm bummed about Louise Pitre as well. I so wanted her back in NYC.

BUT - Rachel Tucker!! She's fantastic. She was discovered in "I'd Do Anything" and I've loved her ever since.

[Matt Rogers]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 8:02pm

Has anyone listened to the concept album? I tried, but couldn't get through it. Maybe the songs work in the context of the show. I hope so.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 9:09pm

Matt, I am a huge Sting fan and bought the cd with the bonus 2nd cd. I am not crazy about the music as performed by him aalone. He also seems to be trying to sing it "in character" or something. I just keep thinking maybe it will be better when orchestrated for the show. I have only listened to it through about 3 times.

Updated On: 2/13/14 at 09:09 PM

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 9:35pm

It's Sting so I'm sure there's lots of humor.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 10:52pm

^HA!

[TheaterBoy7777]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 2:34pm

The Last Ship starts previews Sept 30th and All the Way is set to close June 29th.I wish they could fit a renovation or a quick touch up of the Simon in the 3 month break. They did the Rodgers in less than 4.5 months, The Simon would look amazing with a fresh coat of paint to bring out the detail in the theatre.

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 4:38pm

^
Agreed.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 2/15/14 at 12:01am

My wife is a huge Sting fan so will probably go see it.