A Load of Musical Revivals for the Coming Season

We have
A Little Night Music
La Cage Aux Folles
Ragtime
Bye Bye Birdie
Finian's Rainbow
While some of these are not yet confirmed they probably will be confirmed soon. We had 6 musical revivals coming in last year but in the end only 3 actually came in and Hair (the ultimate revival champion of the past season). Brigadoon canceled, Godspell "postponed" and Dancin was moved to the next season (anybody know what happened to that). Do you think all of these will actually come in or survive. Roundabout's Birdie is anyway a limited run so even if it is a horrendous it will probably finish it's engagement and could extend with Stamos attached. I bet Finian's will have the toughest time selling. It is a very unknown musical that even die hard theatre fans have never heard of. An cast with no commercial appeal doesn't help either. It will need quite the reviews. In the end if these all come in one will be ignored automatically at the Tonys.

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Updated On: 6/18/09 at 02:54 PM

I'd guess BIRDIE, since the show itself is rather fluffy and Roundabout's reputation tends to get it less notice from the Tonys than other productions, especially when there are a lot of great revivals to choose from.

Either that or LA CAGE since we just had one a few years ago. I don't know anything about this production, though.

FINIAN'S is only unknown to younger theatergoers. It was a huge hit once and nearly sold out the massive barn known as City Center. Most older theater fans I know love it. Encores! scheduled in as the last show of the season, in their "Crap, we need a hit to make up for the money we lost from Juno!" slot. I don't know if it will be a hit this time around, but you should give the material more credit.

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The Off-Broadway Finian was at Irish Rep about five years ago, with Melissa Errico, Malcolm Gets, Jonathan Freeman and Max Von Essen.

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Thanks, Smaxie. Do you remember how it did with audiences?

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"Wasn't there an off-Broadway Finian's that did exceptionally well 10 years ago or so? I think you might be underestimating the appeal of this show."

I myself like the show quite a bit but there have beeen a few people on this board who thought it was an original musical. Even if it has had successful incarnations it is not well known as the other revivals. If it stared a name there would be a better chance. I wanted to succeed with all my heart but I am not sure it will. I could be totally wrong and I hope I am.

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An cast with no commercial appeal doesn't help either.

Cheyenne Jackson also has a certain... appeal to consumers. He's been in a few TV spots now that might make him quasi-recognizable, and I know lots of Broadway fans will see the show based on the fact that he's in it. (Is he transferring with the show?)

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I think it's wrong to say that Finian's Rainbow is a show that nobody knows anymore. Granted, the original was done in 1947, but it was a summer stock favorite throughout the 50's. Then there was a full-fledged City Center revival in 1960 or thereabouts with Howard Morris, Sally Ann Howes and Bobby Howes that was transferred to Broadway and generated a commercial recording. The movie came out around 1968 (granted, it wasn't very good) with Fred Astaire and Tommy Steele. And, of course, there was the revival at the Irish Rep, which also generated a recording. While realizing that the show is not very well known to the "younger" generation, I wouldn't call it a totally unknown property. Also, around the late 1960's, part of the problem was the perception that the book was politically incorrect, a perception I believe has lessened.

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I think the pricing Finian has will be a factor. I'm sorry, but those low Wednesday evening prices certainly appeal to me (although I'm admittedly a huge fan of the show). I don't think it'll be a massive hit, but I think it'll do quite well for itself. I really hope Kate Baldwin sticks with the show, because I'd like for her to hit with something on Broadway.

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There is also a Rosie O'Donnell production of Babes In Arms threatened, er, rumored for next season.

Tickets aren't on sale yet but,
http://www.telecharge.com/BehindTheCurtain.aspx?prodid=7428&mode=gettingTickets

Is Merrily happening?

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Merrily fell through a while ago. Roundabout will most likely be doing iSondheim instead.

"Merrily fell through a while ago. Roundabout will most likely be doing iSondheim instead."

They're not calling it iSondheim anymore. I forget the working title I heard, but I remember liking it.

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