A Load of Musical Revivals for the Coming Season

[esparza 333]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 2:54pm

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.

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

[BwayTday]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 3:01pm

which one do you think is going to be ignored? With the info we already have as a base

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 3:21pm

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.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 3:24pm

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.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 3:30pm

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

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 3:31pm

If anything, my money is on RAGTIME being ignored. If nobody wanted to see it in the 90s...

FINIAN has the same recognition as SOUTH PACIFIC. Nostalgia.
BIRDIE is a show for the kiddies, though most people who aren't Roundabout members, will decide to skip it because why pay $140 to see something they saw for $5 when their kids were in elementary school.

LA CAGE has the London appeal that all transfers have. And the same "you must see this star performance" that warranted, say, the transfer of Mary Stuart.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 3:31pm

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

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 3:31pm

What a change from this season when we only had four! I'm really excited for most of these.

[esparza 333]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 3:33pm

"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.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 3:34pm

Joe, I remember it receiving nice reviews and possibly getting extended. I think Errico eventually had to leave the production to start rehearsals for Dracula!

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 3:34pm

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?)

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 3:35pm

If Birdie gets positive reviews, I bet it will extend until Tony time.

I just cannot see Finian's Rainbow having enough of an audience to last until the Tonys.

And I bet Night Music will be like this years South Pacific.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 3:46pm

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.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 3:58pm

2004 Irish Rep- thank you all I should have googled. I guess it is lesser known- do any of you nay-sayers know the plot? It lures people in because they think it's an Irish love story and hits them with some political satire and a fantasia on racism. It's a show people talk about. I think a solid production with good reviews could do very well.

But then again, I am one of those people who dread reincarnation if it means that I have to sit through Bye Bye Birdie again.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 4:00pm

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.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 4:00pm

Cheyenne Jackson also has a certain... appeal to consumers. (Is he transferring with the show?)

I'm sure he was asked, along with most of the City Center cast, but there has been no announcement.

[madlibrarian]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 4:08pm

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

[BroadwayAbridged]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:10pm

"I think the pricing Finian has will be a factor. I'm sorry, but those low Wednesday evening prices certainly appeal to me"

Wait low Wednesday evening prices? Where? Are these onsale yet?

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:14pm

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

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:14pm

DANCIN' is dead, I believe.

I bet LA CAGE will take the Tony for Revival. And if it does, it will have won AGAIN just five years after the last revival won and it will also be the first show to win two Best Revival Tonys. And based on what I've heard, expect Douglas Hodge to be a shoo-in for a Best Actor win.

But we'll see...

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:16pm

Is Merrily happening?

[BroadwayAbridged]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:17pm

Thanks frogs_fan85!

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:21pm

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

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:24pm

>>"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."<<

Oh, good God! Are "die hard theater fans" only 12 years old nowadays? FINIAN'S RAINBOW has a rich score and a wonderful reputation. There were excellent productions of it at City Center, Jones Beach and the Music Fair circuit. Just because it doesn't star Gavin Creel or the "amazing" Sutton Foster doesn't mean it'll have box office problems.

Please remember, Cheyenne Jackson was in XANADU and both he and the show had and have their followers.

Besides, it's June. Why are we talking about potential Tony Award nominees at this point?

[BroadwayAbridged]

Posted: 6/18/09 at 5:26pm

"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.