What happened to this alleged MAME revival?

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 5:56pm

This year there was a rumor of 'two HBO sisters' (or something similar) - people alluded to Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski (??) - to star in a revival of MAME on Broadway. But nothing since... anyone know anything?? 

Updated On: 11/27/23 at 05:56 PM

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 6:03pm

Baranski's Mame had a "pre-Broadway" run several years ago. It was very poorly recieved, and the pre-Broadway part just became a regional production that fizzled into nothing.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 6:07pm

jimmycurry01 said: "Baranski's Mame had a "pre-Broadway" run several years ago. It was very poorly recieved, and the pre-Broadway part just became a regional production that fizzled into nothing."

I believe that one of the deciding factors of not bringing the show to Broadway (it was planned to move to the Palace Theater) was the running cost. 

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 6:08pm

No, no, no... I'm aware of the Baranski Mame from many years ago. But there was a rumor/cryptic message rumor from one or two years ago where it said that "two HBO sisters" would star in an upcoming Broadway mounting of MAME. I don't know if it was a Rudin-related project which may explain the delay ... but ... anyone know anything??

Updated On: 11/27/23 at 06:08 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 6:10pm

Musicaldudepeter said: "No, no, no... I'm aware of the Baranski Name from many years ago. But there was a rumor/cryptic message rumor from one or two years ago where it said that "two HBO sisters" would star in an upcoming Broadway mounting of MAME. I don't know if it was a Rudin-related project which may explain the delay ... but ... anyone know anything??"

If this rumor was from one or two years ago and nothing has come of it since then I think it is a safe bet that it is D.O.A.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 6:12pm

OH NO

[joevitus]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 6:27pm

jimmycurry01 said: "Baranski's Mame had a "pre-Broadway" run several years ago. It was very poorly recieved, and the pre-Broadway part just became a regional production that fizzled into nothing."

Was the over-all production the issue, or was Baranski specifically found wanting? I'd have thought she'd make a marvelous Mame. 

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 6:30pm

Why hasn't there been a MAME revival on Broadway since the '80s? 

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 6:35pm

Musicaldudepeter said: "Why hasn't there been a MAME revival on Broadway since the '80s?"

I don't know, but I was listening to the title song on my car's music shuffle during my commute home and...it has not aged well. I can't imagine the title song, with lyrics like "The whole plantation's hummin' since you brought Dixie back to Dixieland." would go over well today short of a "Shipoopi" level rewrite - and we all knew what a royal disaster that was.

It's a fun show, but I think the time has long past and this might be better suited to a City Center production.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 6:37pm

oh my word

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 6:38pm

Musicaldudepeter said: "Why hasn't there been a MAME revival on Broadway since the '80s?"

I think it's the same situation Hello Dolly was in - it's not going to happen unless a huge star is interested. The recent Dolly would have never happened without Bette or someone of equal fame.

[joevitus]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 6:40pm

quizking101 said: "Musicaldudepeter said: "Why hasn't there been a MAME revival on Broadway since the '80s?"

I don't know, but I was listening to the title song on my car's music shuffle during my commute home and...it has not aged well. I can't imagine the title song, with lyrics like "The whole plantation's hummin' since you brought Dixie back to Dixieland." would go over well today short of a "Shipoopi" level rewrite - and we all knew what a royal disaster that was.

It's a fun show, but I think the time has long past and this might be better suited to a City Center production."

You're probably right, but I think it's silly and unfortunate. There is absolutely zero about Mame as a character that identifies her as someone who would support racial inequality or any kind of bigotry. In fact, she clearly doesn't care for anyone on Beau's plantation (and never returns to it after having won him has a husband). They are all treated as hicks, vultures and villains. That they salute her with those words doesn't mean much. 

But everything is deadly serious these days, so lyrics like "This time the south will rise again" are treated as if Jerry Herman were endorsing white nationalism. 

 

[inception]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 9:02pm

The rumour of a revival came from an unreliable source who may have just been making something up. 

There was more credibility to the rumour of a new production of Kiss of the Spiderwoman.  That may come in 24/25.  It takes time to put the finances together for big shows, and gets more difficult every time an expensive show flops.  This past year saw at least four expensive flops in Bad Cinderella, NYNY, & Here Lies Love, and Once Upon a One More Time.

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 9:48pm

I definitely the one I had heard of Rudin/Cher is dead in the water.   

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/27/23 at 11:19pm

joevitus said: "jimmycurry01 said: "Baranski's Mame had a "pre-Broadway" run several years ago. It was very poorly recieved, and the pre-Broadway part just became a regional production that fizzled into nothing."

Was the over-all production the issue, or was Baranski specifically found wanting? I'd have thought she'd make a marvelous Mame."

She was awful.  She would have been a great Vera, but not a Mame; she was just miscast.  She couldn’t get Mame’s warmth and she couldn’t dance.  Her singing was fine, but her belt was not as strong as Lansbury’s.  She was also hurt by the bad casting of Harriet Harris, who was just wrong as Vera.  I remember that the audience really didn’t take to her…no laughs!!!

Updated On: 11/28/23 at 11:19 PM

[joevitus]

Posted: 11/28/23 at 4:13am

Thanks Jarethan. Disappointing to learn, but okay. 

[Impeach2017]

Posted: 11/28/23 at 5:22am

I don't see anyone producing that entire Southern sequence today. 

[DurantPlummer41]

Posted: 11/28/23 at 7:06am

I thought rumored scott rudin production was going to star Toni Collette? I assumed it died when his career went underground.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 11/28/23 at 9:46am

To be fair, the sequence set in the south has always seemed like abject parody to me, and I don't really think in the context of the show people would mistake it for glorifying slavery. The one lyric "This time the south will rise again!" is delivered soly by the grotesque Mother Burnside.

That said....

Everything else about MAME is propblematic from a modern producing perspective. The script is dated. Its a huge show- much bigger than DOLLY - that covers decades and requires a jaw dropping costume, wig, and production design budget.  The orchestrations are huge. The show would also need a MAJOR and very specific type of star to work - at least with the script as originally written.  I'm actually remiss to think of anyone who I think is right for the role, could perform it nightly,  and could truly be a massive box office draw. Meryl Streep 30 years ago.

All of this and I don't think there is really an audience for MAME. It's not a beloved ltitle like THE SOUND OF MUSIC or THE MUSIC MAN and I doubt the show would be of majo ticket buying interest to many people under 50.

Whoever suggested this for Encores -- yes, that is the way to go for this show in this day and age.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/28/23 at 10:28am

I think Mame is a mid-tier show as written but had the great fortune of having an absolutely legendary original production in which everything aligned perfectly, not the least of which was Lansbury. For it to work again on Broadway, it would really need another alignment of stars just like that. And that seems very difficult to make happen. 

[inception]

Posted: 11/28/23 at 11:00am

QueenAlice said: "
Everything else about MAME is propblematic from a modern producing perspective. The script is dated. Its a huge show- much bigger than DOLLY - that covers decades and requires a jaw dropping costume, wig, and production design budget. The orchestrations are huge. The show would also need a MAJOR and very specific type of star to work - 
 

If RuPaul could handle the singing 8 times a week they'd be perfect for today's market.

 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/28/23 at 11:20am

QueenAlice said: "To be fair, the sequence set in the south has always seemed like abject parody to me, and I don't really think in the context of the show people would mistake it for glorifying slavery. The one lyric "This time the south will rise again!" is delivered soly by the grotesque Mother Burnside.

That said....

Everything else about MAME is propblematic from a modern producing perspective. The script is dated. Its a huge show- much bigger than DOLLY - that covers decades and requires a jaw dropping costume, wig, and production design budget. The orchestrations are huge. The show would also need a MAJOR and very specific type of star to work - at least with the script as originally written. I'm actually remiss to think of anyone who I think is right for the role, could perform it nightly, and could truly be a massive box office draw. Meryl Streep 30 years ago.

All of this and I don't think there is really an audience for MAME. It's not a beloved ltitle like THE SOUND OF MUSIC or THE MUSIC MAN and I doubt the show would be of majo ticket buying interest to many people under 50.

Whoever suggested this for Encores -- yes, that is the way to go for this show in this day and age."

I disagree.  With the right lead — how about Hannah Waddingham — it would work again.  It is a period piece.  The Southern scene is not going to be a problem with most audiences.  If necessary, tweak a few lines of dialogue or lyrics.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 11/28/23 at 12:10pm

My argument isn't that the show couldn't 'work,' its that it is commercially unviable because of the massive costs and major star name required to produce it.  Maybe if Jamie Lloyd wants to do a stripped down, no sets and costumes version someone like Hannah Waddingham could star - but a production of MAME given similar treatment to the Bette Midler DOLLY would easily cost $25M+ to produce today on Broadway. It doesn't make sense to do it.

[Tom5]

Posted: 11/28/23 at 12:11pm

It hurts my head remembering how Gigi - The Musical - was 'revised' a few years back for 'modern' audiences. Better Mame be left alone and untouched at least for the present. 

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 11/28/23 at 12:52pm

inception said: "The rumour of a revival came from an unreliable source who may have just been making something up.

There was more credibility to the rumour of a new production of Kiss of the Spiderwoman. That may come in 24/25. It takes time to put the finances together for big shows, and gets more difficult every time an expensive show flops. This past year saw at least four expensive flops in Bad Cinderella, NYNY, & Here Lies Love, and Once Upon a One More Time."

I can absolutely confirm that Kiss of the Spiderwoman was gearing up for spring on Broadway. They did an extensive workshop at New 42 with Ariana DeBose, Javier Munoz, and Robin de Jesus. However, they wanted it to be the big stary revival event of the spring (it will have a hefty capitalization and running cost). And producers realized that they would have major competition from the extended Merrily and soon-to-bow Cabaret. DeBose will theoretically also have an even bigger box office draw if they wait, with films like Kraven, and Argylle releasing ahead of her return to Broadway. They believe next season will position them better and be a less crowded marketplace.

 

Anyway, back to your previously scheduled Mame convo! (Which, I agree with other posters, will not return at this point without a Midler-level star).