A Tale of Two Cities will play Al Hirschfeld Theater- Page 7

[commasplice]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 8:50pm

Eris, I suggest you search for posts made by Dollypop containing the words "Loretta Swit" and take it with a grain of salt until it's officially announced.

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 8:57pm

commasplice...that's what I thought.
Besides, someone already also suggested that Brandi Burkhardt (Siren in Passions) had the part (of Lucie). Is "this" true?
Again, that is why I shun from speculation...
Updated On: 6/24/08 at 08:57 PM

[Eris0303]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 8:58pm

Someone said that Brandi Burkhardt is Lucie.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 9:58pm

Kevin Earley is also in the show. Doesn't say what role, though.

http://www.kevinearley.net/

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 10:05pm

Cool, Lizzie!
I guess that makes "two" Les Miserables cast members who have jumped ship (and Coasts)

[philly03]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 11:10pm

"If I'm not mistaken it's a rarity for a show to be recast this much between an out of town tryout and a Broadway opening. Especially since so many members of the cast performed their roles beautifully. "

Yes but if the show is very different from what it was from the out of town try-out, it makes it an all-around smoother process to just start from scratch, unfortunately. That seems to be the feeling of the cast of Jekyll & HYDE. Why both the almost year-long tour of a different show from what they all did for 2-4 years on Broadway?

And Brandi Burkhardt?! I'd love to see her in something, but she's Frank Wildhorn's new "muse" and I believe fiance if I heard correctly (ummmmmmmmmmm.....?!). But who knows about that Frank's been in Europe since like last November.

And I'm sorry but when you look/hear the video clip of the show on the website (Sights & Sounds), it sounds like a big mix of Sweeney Todd and The Scarlet Pimpernel, with a huge touch of lyrics sounding like Les Miserables. And the "big" set thing comes apart and comes together...come on like that hasn't been seen before by another French Revolution-esque musical. Some of the costumes even look similar and the choreography to that of Woman in White and The Scarlet Pimpernel too!

Oh and a big whole company number entitled "Tomorrow" does not sound familiar at all.--Oh wait LES MISERABLES agian: One Day More. The only good news is that NONE of the musicals that it looks like it copied of are currently playing.

If Natalie Toro, Aaron Lazar and/or Brandi are in though I will defantely make an effort!

However, the score sounds as I said very Frank Wildhorn like and I think I might like it. Who knows how long it will last, we won't know until it opens. I'm kind of excited! But the Scarlet Pimpernel, Les Mis, and Woman in White (do you really even want to count that) are my 3 favourite books ever (actually in that reverse order?) and I have never finished Tale of Two Cities so hopefully the musical won't disappoint too much!

[Eris0303]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 11:20pm

I don't know how much of the show has changed since November. I can't imagine that it's TOO much because it's only been about eight months. Plenty of time to do some rewrites but not a total rewrite. It should be interesting to see what makes it to Broadway and what stays in Florida. What I saw in Florida was a quality production and only needed a little screw tightening and not a complete overhaul. Sometimes when a complete overhaul is done where it's not needed you're left with a less than stellar production. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

[philly03]

Posted: 6/24/08 at 11:26pm

"Sometimes when a complete overhaul is done where it's not needed you're left with a less than stellar production. If it ain't broke don't fix it."

That's what happened with Jekyll. It pushed back the expected opening date (although they never really set one) until another 6 months (still 96-97 season), and they did some crucial/HUGE changes. Added songs, deleted songs, re-arranged songs, changed sets, changed costumes, changed directors, changed lyrics, changed orchestrations. SO many things changed within that year before it came to Broadway, a lot for the better, a lot for the worse. Well I happened to have atleast enjoyed the Broadway production (not saying it's the best out there), while many loathed it.

The good news for Tale of Two Cities: There is no HUGE fan gathering yet or people who will be "dissapointed" by whatever should happen within the past 10 months.

[Poppy]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 12:51am

Last I heard which was a week ago, Natalie Toro was still in the cast. Alex Santoriello, Jill's brother,has a business in Barbatos which requires that he stay in the area, therefore, unfortunately, he has had to opt out of the production.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 1:06am

Yeah, I've heard many people say that Jekyll and Hyde was actually BETTER before it came to Broadway. Comparing the OBC with the Warlow recording, I would have to say that in the very least the orchestrations were better in the pre-Broadway version.

[Sheri]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 3:37am

Kevin Earley is also in the show. Doesn't say what role, though.

Thanks for posting this Lizzie! I was going to come here and do the same! :)

Updated On: 6/25/08 at 03:37 AM

[philly03]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 11:31am

"Comparing the OBC with the Warlow recording, I would have to say that in the very least the orchestrations were better in the pre-Broadway version."

Really? You'd be in the minority for the most part. I actual prefer the more "classical" sounding orchestrations rather than that early '90s/'80s stuff! Most people complained about "Bring on the Men" being taken out (and "I Need to Know", but I never liked that song haha), No One Knows Who I Am was moved around and tested out a lot in different tempos/parts all in previews of the show, wasted money such as a dog...so many things happened in previews for that show. How could we forget that Emily Skinner sang backstage for Linda onstage! Now that's something!

[Eagleman]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 3:50pm

Hugo v. Dumas:

Neither could carry Knut Hamsun's pen.

When the laughter stops check out a copy of "Hunger" and "Victoria".

Skim the first until you get to Hamsun's description of the approach of fall and the latter until he asks "What is love?."

[Eagleman]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 3:53pm

Re: anti-Dickens rant:

It kind of makes you wonder why the RSC did "Nicholas Nickleby" and why Thackery
declared "A Christmas Carol" to be the only work in literature he wished he had written.

[philly03]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 3:55pm

Wilkie Collins?

[Eagleman]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 4:06pm

Re: A Tale of Two Cities:

I've got a question that may offend some people but that's not my intention. I'm really
curious: what's going on with the marketing people with this show?

Why are they basically giving away what appears to be the entire score on the website?

I don't think I've ever seen that done.If i were a backer, I'd find that very troubling.
You're rolling the dice. You may make some converts but you stand to lose as much as you win.

Why would these people not give a few excerpts from the best of the score to arouse the sufficient interest in theatergoers to purchase a ticket?

These people are either incredibly confident and know something or they are taking a huge risk.

Either way, I've never seen this before.






Updated On: 6/26/08 at 04:06 PM

[philly03]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 4:59pm

"Why are they basically giving away what appears to be the entire score on the website?"

"Why would these people not give a few excerpts from the best of the score to arouse the sufficient interest in theatergoers to purchase a ticket? "

It seems like you are contradicting yourself?

Well you can download 2 songs for free, or you can buy the Concept Album for I believe $18.50. There's also a video preview of one of the songs you can download for free and another one.

Well the website/music on it is what got me interested just a few days ago. Eitherwise I would have completely overlooked it.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 6:05pm

"Why are they basically giving away what appears to be the entire score on the website?"

Also, that's the concept album. It's not the same as what was performed on stage in Florida.

Songs as listed on website:

Act 1
The Way It Ought to Be
The Shadows of the Night
It Won't Be Long
Up In the Garret
Who Are You
You'll Never Be Alone
No Honest Way
The Trial
Reflection
The Promise
All In My Mind
Round and Round
Resurrection Man
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
If Dreams Came True
Until Tomorrow

Act 2
The Tale
Little One
No One Else
The Bluff
Without a Word
Let Her Be a Child
Finale [Part 1]
Finale / I Can't Recall [Part 2]

Songs as listed in Asolo Program:

Act I
Shadows of the Night
It Won't Be Long
You'll Never Be Alone
Argument
Dover
The Way It Ought to Be
No Honest Way
The Trial
Reflection
Letter From Uncle
The Promise
Round and Round
I Can't Recall
Resurrection Man
Now at Last
If Dreams Came True
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
I Always Knew
Little One
Until Tomorrow

Act II
Everything Stays the Same
No Honest Way (reprise)
The Tale
If Dreams Came True (Reprise)
The Bluff
Without a Word
Let Her Be a Child
The Letter
Goodbye
Finale - I Can't Recall

[philly03]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 6:59pm

I still cannot believe how unoriginal the song "Until Tomorrow". That IS a synonym for "ONE DAY MORE". They're asking for it there. It's a big ensemble number at the end of Act 1...!So many song title similarities..I haven't heard it all so I'm not saying it's a carbon copy but by the song titles, the critics will love:
If Dreams Came True -- I Dreamed a Dream (Les Mis)
Who Are You -- Who Am I?
You'll Never Be Alone -- You Are My Home/Lullaby (SP)

and Out of Sight, Out of Mind sounds like a female-solo version of "The Riddle" with a touch of "Into the Fire" to me for some reason, from no other than Scarlet Pimpernel.

Now I really HAVE NO IDEA of the characters besides the Madame in the story or the story its self besides that fact that's its a French Revolution story/London-esque. Maybe I'll read up on it before I see it, which to be honest I'm looking forward to! But they are almost asking for the comparisons to be made.

Is there any song completely "honoring" the guillotine? I wouldn't be suprised.

[sanda]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 9:31pm

Kevin Earley in this show? Oh man, this is fantastic.

Let me guess, he will be Sydney Carton u/s?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 9:32pm

"Is there any song completely "honoring" the guillotine? I wouldn't be suprised."

"Everything Stays the Same"

I wouldn't say that it honors the guillotine but rather is a celebration of what they're doing. If you watch the "Sarasota Preview" video on the site you can see a short clip of the number where they are holding a mini guillotine.

The guillotine at the end is quite chilling I must say. You never get to actually see it but it's done quite well.


Sarasota preview

[philly03]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 9:48pm

No beheadings in this revolutionary tale?! I loved what SP did they should have got who ever did their effect with the guillotine!

It sounds like it's the SP version of "Madame Guillotine". "Sing, swing
Savour the sting
As she severs you, Madame Guillotine
Slice, come paradise
You'll be smitten with Madame Guillotine
....
Flash, slash! Glisten and gash!
She will ravash you, Madame Guillotine
Split, Madame just bit
Give her more to bite, she's a hungry queen
Sing, savour the sting
As she severs you, Madame Guillotine
Slice, come paradise
Hail her Majesty!
Madame Guillotine!"

For the record, Nan did a fantastic job with some of those lyrics!

[Eris0303]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 9:51pm

The beheadings but they're there. I don't want to give anything away to people who don't want to know yet but the effect was quite chilling.

[Eagleman]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 12:00am

Re: Until Tomorrow:

For that song to just not sink the show, Act II has to really come out on fire.
Better still, forget about t and start over. It's not merely the text and subtext of the song, ATOTC closes out the first act with a clone of the arc of the story: We're 24 hours away from changing the world.

This reminds me so much of "Cyrano". It opens with a drop-dead gorgeous palette
that is the high point of the show. The sad thing was, audiences responded in such an ovationary manner during previews, you'd have thought they had just attended opening night of "West side Story".

Like ATAOTC, Act I, if I recall ended with the banners flying in plumes of smoke
and the ensemble approaching the footlights amid cannon fire to take on the bad guys.

We'll see, I guess, but Until tomorrow could be the point in the show where the creative staff jumps the shark.

[Eagleman]

Posted: 6/26/08 at 12:00am

Re: Until Tomorrow:

For that song to just not sink the show, Act II has to really come out on fire.
Better still, forget about t and start over. It's not merely the text and subtext of the song, ATOTC closes out the first act with a clone of the arc of the story: We're 24 hours away from changing the world.

This reminds me so much of "Cyrano". It opens with a drop-dead gorgeous palette
that is the high point of the show. The sad thing was, audiences responded in such an ovationary manner during previews, you'd have thought they had just attended opening night of "West side Story".

Like ATAOTC, Act I, if I recall ended with the banners flying in plumes of smoke
and the ensemble approaching the footlights amid cannon fire to take on the bad guys.

We'll see, I guess, but Until tomorrow could be the point in the show where the creative staff jumps the shark.