LENNON CD UPDATE

[My Name in Lights]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 4:40pm

As you may or may not know already, LENNON no longer has Sunday matinees. Instead there is a Monday night show. Personally, I think that was not the best move...Sunday audiences were very responsive, and with Broadway on Broadway coming up this Sunday as the big promotional push for Broadway shows in general...probably not the best time to switch to Mondays. Hopefully, the producers are right and I am wrong about this.

Anyway, after speaking with a couple of the cast members, although there was talk of a CD, that has really been pushed aside as of now. However, when we mentioned that there has been talk on Broadwayworld among fans that it would be a big disappointment, the suggestion of a petition came up, sort of as a joke. However, I'm thinking if there were a way to do this that any of you can give some feedback about, I'm willing to sign or even donate a small amount of money to ensure that the producers know that we fans are serious. (I don't know, maybe flood the theatre with letters, emails, whatever.)

It's sad enough that it can close...whenever...and the cast members will be off in different directions and on to new projects. But at each performance, the more I hear the music, the more I appreciate all of the cast's terrific voices coming together and realize that once this show closes, that sound will be gone forever.

If there is one thing that most people agree about regarding this show, it is that the cast is phenomenal.

Any ideas on getting the message to the people in charge?

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 4:46pm

i dont have any ideas as of now. but i think making a recording would be an amazing plan. the difficulties come in with the money issues. but i agree that the cast is amazing, and the sounds that they make together should be forever captured. i also think people would buy the cd even if they didn't like the show itself or haven't even seen it. people always love to hear new versions of old songs, and some of the songs in the show have never been recorded before.
if they could find a away to put money into a cast recording and publicizing it...that would be awesome.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 4:52pm

cathywellerstein, no disrespect at all, but audiences weren't really thrilled to hear bway covers of old songs....it didn't go over with Good Vibrations, All Shook Up, and the other jukebox flops. The only successful ones were Movin Out and Mamma Mia, that retained the original arrangements. Boy From Oz also was a success, but the only reason for that was Hugh Jackman. Had he not been there, it would have closed right away. Mamma Mia only had a London record, as there was no way to get anything as perfect as the original.

That aside, I'd love a Lennon cd, just for Julia's Beautiful Boy.
Updated On: 9/14/05 at 04:52 PM

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 5:01pm

i know people don't always like to hear new versions of songs...but a lot of people in general would be curious..even if they weren't into broadway.

[ElphabaRose]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 5:04pm

My Name in Lights, I disagree about the the change to monday evening shows. This could bring in a lot of business that the show wouldn't ordinarily get. If people are looking for a show to see on a Monday night, there are so few shows playing that there is a much greater chance that people will pick Lennon.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 5:05pm

it's too bad it probably won't happen....too many good casts go unrecorded.

[Marguerite Chauvelin]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 5:27pm

Well, if someone would make a petition I'd sign it. You all know I adore the Lennon cast.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 5:29pm

Petitions are pathetic and generally ineffective. If there were some other way to get this to work, I'd be behind it.

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 5:30pm

i agree.
i doubt a petition would work. but i'd like to do something.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 5:31pm

a petition would only work if u donated money along with your signature.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 5:35pm

Except ASU actually has great arrangements and most people who see it, enjoy it.

Lennon should have a Cast Recording, and I think people who hear it will be very pleased with what they hear.

I know, from speaking with people, the problem with the show is that the reviews killed it.

[MissNY]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 5:39pm

Monday nights are a good idea since it will be one of the few Broadway shows to have performances, but they shouldve kept Sunday as well and did away with Thursday performances. Losing a weekend show doesn't seem like a good idea.

The proposed recording was supposed to be a dual sided disc, with the cast recording on one side and John Lennon singing the songs on the other. This wouldve been such a great idea, and i really think it would've helped bring in audiences. Unfortunately a petition probably won't do any good. We need some very wealthy person who is such a fan of the show that they will personally put up the money for a recording. Maybe if we all write to Oprah asking her to grant our wish...

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 5:43pm

...like Yoko?

[nodaybut2day2007]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 6:39pm

Lets write to Oprah, if my dad would've liked the show I would have asked him but alas he did not.

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 9/14/05 at 6:41pm

i second writing to oprah. that woman's got power beyond all reason.

[JRTO]

Posted: 9/15/05 at 2:53pm

the trouble with cast recordings is that they are expensive and you have to sell between 300,000 and 400,000 copies to recoup. The show isn't even covering weekly running costs- so putting up money to record an album (and it's a lot- think of all those unionized musicians and singers you have to pay on top of their weekly salaries- a lot on top) isn't an option. Especially when you have to sell so many to make your money back- they can't even sell that many tickets, how are they suppose to sell that many discs?

[MissNY]

Posted: 9/15/05 at 3:13pm

I would imagine a cast recording would sell better than the show is selling. It would appeal to not only fans of the show, but John Lennon fans as well. Aside from that, people are more likely to spend $13.99 on a CD than $50 to see a show.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/15/05 at 3:24pm

I saw "Lennon" for the fourth time about two weeks ago. During intermission I checked out the tchotchke at the concession stand. In the few minutes I was there several people asked for the CD. They were told there is no CD.

I asked the young lady at the concession stand how many CDs she could sell if there was a CD. She said probably enough to keep the show open on those sales alone. Everyone who sees "Lennon" wants the Broadway cast recording. It stands to reason that if people heard the CD they would want to see the show as well.

Where is the CD?

A cast recording on a major label can be done for a couple hundred thousand dollars. A pittance in comparison to the reported $7 million it cost to produce "Lennon". There really is no excuse for not recording this cast.

The CD should have been available on opening night.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/15/05 at 5:02pm

I agree. I think shows should have recordings the week they open. Maybe people can't really grasp the entire score of a show or whatnot upon the first sitting. I for one, who will never seen Lennon unless it tours, would die to have a recording of the show. I would love to hear all the songs and the wonderful performances I've been hearing about. Alas, I guess i'll keep my fingers crossed.

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/15/05 at 5:28pm

Now that it is closing on the 24th, do you think they will still record it?

[bryan]

Posted: 9/15/05 at 5:34pm

we need to have a cast cd of lennon and all new and old shows we need to save cast cd's today. i do not want to see anymore shows fade into the sunsut forever we need this show for people who can not get to see shows on broadway or in new york so save cast cd's old and new flops and hits.

[Avigdor]

Posted: 9/16/05 at 12:40pm

i was told by the lady at the concession stand that the cd had already been recorded and is due out in december