A Christmas Story goes LIVE... - Page 5
A Christmas Story goes LIVE...
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/13
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #100
Posted: 12/18/17 at 11:19am
TheQuibbler said: "IdinaBellFoster said: "I can't imagine being bothered by a racially diverse cast. Disgusting."
Agreed. I think it's strange that people use "politically correct" as a critique, as if removing racially insensitive jokes and casting an array of people who actually represent what America looks like is politically motivated and not, simply, the right thing to do."
Really? So, if the Bumpus family (stupid hillbillies, so low-down on the evolutionary chain that Charles Darwin would have described them as, 'your guess is as good as mine' were visible onstage, how would you have cast them? What would have been "the right thing to do"?
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #101
Posted: 12/18/17 at 11:50am
Looks like most people did not tune in:
http://www.playbill.com/article/a-christmas-story-live-ratings-up-against-football-fox-faces-numbers-dip-compared-to-grease
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #102
Posted: 12/18/17 at 11:55am
John Adams said: "TheQuibbler said: "IdinaBellFoster said: "I can't imagine being bothered by a racially diverse cast. Disgusting."
Agreed. I think it's strange that people use "politically correct" as a critique, as if removing racially insensitive jokes and casting an array of people who actually represent what America looks like is politically motivated and not, simply, the right thing to do."
Really? So, if the Bumpus family (stupid hillbillies, so low-down on the evolutionary chain that Charles Darwin would have described them as, 'your guess is as good as mine' were visible onstage, how would you have cast them? What would have been "the right thing to do"?"
Personally, I would have costumed them in red baseball caps.
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #103
Posted: 12/18/17 at 12:04pmThis thread differs from every other in the sense that people are offended by everything. Oh, wait. Sorry that’s still every thread.
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #104
Posted: 12/18/17 at 12:18pm
John Adams said: "Really? So, if the Bumpus family (stupid hillbillies, so low-down on the evolutionary chain that Charles Darwin would have described them as, 'your guess is as good as mine' were visible onstage, how would you have cast them? What would have been "the right thing to do"?"
I'm not really sure those two things are related. Not making fun of an entire region's accent and casting actors and children of varying ethnicities doesn't have much to do with characters that are written to be crass and unintelligent. They could have cast anyone they wanted to.
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #105
Posted: 12/18/17 at 12:23pm
Of course, Playbill only focuses on the positives:
http://www.playbill.com/article/9-things-a-christmas-story-live-got-totally-right
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #106
Posted: 12/18/17 at 1:14pm
Love Jane Krakowski and the kids homage to "Love Is Good for Anything That Ails You" from Herbert Ross' 1981 film PENNIES FROM HEAVEN which featured a 33 year old Bernadette Peters choreographed by the legendary Danny Daniels. The costumes are by Bob Mackie.
Take a look. The film used existing recordings so the entire cast lip-syncs to these - no one sang in their own voices. Bernadette is lip-syncing to Phyllis Robins' vocals:
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TSdVilaBkg
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/03
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #107
Posted: 12/18/17 at 1:28pm
A minority opinion: I thought Broderick added enormously. The show digresses and sputters into fantasy with erratic points of view. Sometimes we don't know whose ideas are being musicalized or dreamed about. But Broderick preserved a sense of the defining Shepard voice, and enough of the original narration to hold it together when nothing unified the action. In the second half, it paid off. And the mitten/glove moment: just a lovely ending.
Had they used Broderick as the cold open, instead of the Gap-styled commercial number that had zero to do with the material (it even looked like the 90s), its era, or its reputation, he and the conceit would;ve benefited enormously. The film begins with that narrator. How insulting to stick a pop star in front of it -- think of doing the same thing in front of the Stage Manager for "Our Town." If Broderick had missteps, and a few phoned in moments, he was an emotional glue. Again, that ending. Unattainable otherwise. Had they trusted more moments thus I would've been happier.
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #108
Posted: 12/18/17 at 1:32pmWas the mitten scene in the Broadway production or did they add that moment for this version? I agree it was lovely.
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #109
Posted: 12/18/17 at 1:33pm
I definitely agree about that opening. They should have used the overture or an abbreviated one and opened with Broderick and saved that awful pop tune for the curtain call.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/13/16
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #110
Posted: 12/18/17 at 1:53pmI thought it was atrocious and the only glimmer of hope was from Jane Krakowski. I've always wondered, with the amount of time and energy (and money) they spend on these things, why not mount a 8-9 week Broadway run through November and December of a classic show every year and film and stream the production live? I would think that would come out better and wouldn't feel so low energy since the musical would be presented with an audience, in the way it was originally intended to be performed. It would also be up for Tonys and Emmys.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #111
Posted: 12/18/17 at 2:08pm
I would guess for two reasons:
1. harder to get "hollywood" types to commit to both that long a rehearsal schedule AND a run
2. I don't know ticket sales would support it: why buy 150 dollar tickets if I can see it for free on my tv?
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #112
Posted: 12/18/17 at 2:25pm
Miles2Go2 said: "Of course, Playbill only focuses on the positives:
http://www.playbill.com/article/9-things-a-christmas-story-live-got-totally-right"
It's weird how in an article about what they got right, they discuss what they got right.
And in an article about the low ratings, they discuss its low ratings: http://www.playbill.com/article/a-christmas-story-live-ratings-up-against-football-fox-faces-numbers-dip-compared-to-grease
It's almost like they have an ability to focus.
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #113
Posted: 12/18/17 at 2:36pm
Miles2Go2 said: "Looks like most people did not tune in:
http://www.playbill.com/article/a-christmas-story-live-ratings-up-against-football-fox-faces-numbers-dip-compared-to-grease"
Also, ABC was playing The Sound of Music at the same time and the 90 Day Fiancee finale started at 8pm last night on TLC (for my fellow garbage reality show lovers). It just seemed like an off night. Maybe it would have done better just after Thanksgiving? Plus, it was loooooooooooong.
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #114
Posted: 12/18/17 at 3:01pmThe 3 hour run time can only hurt a “family” program like that. They need to find a way to do these with “limited commercial” interruptions and knock it down an hour, otherwise the rating are only going to continue to decline.
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #115
Posted: 12/18/17 at 3:06pm
I know the soundtrack was released digitally today, but does anyone know if there are plans for a physical CD? I can't find any info on a release date.
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #116
Posted: 12/18/17 at 3:09pm
Jordan Catalano said: "The 3 hour run time can only hurt a “family” program like that. They need to find a way to do these with “limited commercial” interruptions and knock it down an hour, otherwise the rating are only going to continue to decline."
Jordan is right. I love musicals just as much as everyone else on the board. But when there is a 3 hour long musical, with constant commercials, even I get bored! I agree that the timing wasn't the best. I always didn't mind the early December date (per NBC). They always rebroadcast the show with NBC. Probably don't have time to redo a broadcast.
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #117
Posted: 12/18/17 at 3:09pm
gleek4114 said: "I know the soundtrack was released digitally today, but does anyone know if there are plans for a physical CD? I can't find any info on a release date."
I don't think they released physical CDs for Grease or Rocky Horror...
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/18/17
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #118
Posted: 12/18/17 at 3:10pmI actually really liked the show last night. Sound and style of humor was out of sync most of the time. But the music creativity of sequences and star power were forgiving. Pacing went nice and steady too
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #119
Posted: 12/18/17 at 3:13pm
I liked it too. I didn't have any sound issues, though I did notice the sometimes dizzying camera movement and some missed cues here and there.
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #120
Posted: 12/18/17 at 3:13pm
I had fallen asleep watching it, but thankfully woke up in time to catch the tap number with Jane. That was the best number of the entire evening (IMO). I'm sorry I didn't see it when it was on Broadway.
I know I saw the movie, but I really don't remember much about it.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/18/17
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #121
Posted: 12/18/17 at 3:20pm
Camera movements were more noticeable in Hairspray Live
Now here's my live musicals list liked most to least liked
Grease
Hairspray
The Sound of Music
The Wiz
A Christmas Story
Peter Pan
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/19/05
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #122
Posted: 12/18/17 at 3:26pm
Well the ratings were a big fat FAIL. Is the end of these musicals near??
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #123
Posted: 12/18/17 at 3:26pm
Scott Ellis: Mistake
Doing A Christmas Story the live musical: Mistake - no one knows the show, and I guarantee you it was chosen to capitalize on the writers (lyricists only) of La La Land. But when the producer is the father of the star of the other Pasek and Paul musical, well... The people who know and love the movie were not needing to see a musical version that they've never heard of.
A sixty-seven percent drop from Grease's ratings is not minor, no matter what the spin. It's a disaster.
Glad someone pointed out the Love Is Good for Anything that Ails you comparison.
A Christmas Story goes LIVE... #124
Posted: 12/18/17 at 3:32pm
I don't think an end is near, quite yet. I mean, Jesus Christ Superstar is coming in April. And there are the swirling of a few other titles for down the road (Bye Bye Birdie, Rent, A Few Good Men). I've always been curious why ABC hasn't tried to bring back the Wonderful World of Disney and their tv musicals (Cinderella, Geppetto, Once Upon A Mattress, The Music Man, Annie). Even if you didn't like those, they were leaps and bounds over a lot of the recent offerings.
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