AIN'T SUPPOSED TO DIE musical to be revived

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 3/23/21 at 10:39am

Melvin Van Peebles' musical 'Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death' is set to be revived on Broadway next year.

Producer Lia Vollack is working on the revival in collaboration with the creator's son, Mario Van Peebles, and under the direction of Kenny Leon.

Featuring a book and score by Melvin Van Peebles, Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death blends early hip hop and spoken word, jazz and blues, humor and pain to offer a raucous celebration of - and clear-eyed look at - America.

The original Broadway production opened on October 20, 1971 and played through July 30, 1972, starring Bill Duke and Garrett Morris with Phylicia Rashad as a standby.

Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death went on to earn seven 1972 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score. Given an unprecedented (and unrepeated) more-than nine-minute performance slot on that year's Tony Awards telecast. Its now-iconic score, steeped in funk, soul, jazz, and blues, is widely considered to have been a groundbreaking precursor to rap and hip-hop.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/AINT-SUPPOSED-TO-DIE-A-NATURAL-DEATH-Will-Be-Revived-Broadway-Next-Year-20210323

[JBroadway]

Posted: 3/23/21 at 11:02am

Wow, I've never even heard of this show! I mean, I guess I must have seen its title at some point when looking at the list of Best Musical nominees through history, but I've never heard of it in any other context. Anyway, looking forward to checking it out! 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/23/21 at 11:15am

jacobsnchz14 said: "Melvin Van Peebles' musical 'Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death' is set to be revived on Broadway next year.

Producer Lia Vollack is working on the revival in collaboration with the creator's son, Mario Van Peebles, and under the direction of Kenny Leon.

Featuring a book and score by Melvin Van Peebles, Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death blends early hip hop and spoken word, jazz and blues, humor and pain to offer a raucous celebration of - and clear-eyed look at - America.

The original Broadway production opened on October 20, 1971 and played through July 30, 1972, starring Bill Duke and Garrett Morris with Phylicia Rashad as a standby.

Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death went on to earn seven 1972 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score. Given an unprecedented (and unrepeated) more-than nine-minute performance slot on that year's Tony Awards telecast. Its now-iconic score, steeped in funk, soul, jazz, and blues, is widely considered to have been a groundbreaking precursor to rap and hip-hop.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/AINT-SUPPOSED-TO-DIE-A-NATURAL-DEATH-Will-Be-Revived-Broadway-Next-Year-20210323"

How exciting to have another new show announced! That being said, I have never really been a fan of Kenny Leon's direction, so I do have some reservations there.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/23/21 at 11:57am

I knew about this musical as a kid. I want to say that they possibly performed on one of the variety shows that were on back then. I always wanted to see it. Really looking forward to this.

I am not a big fan of Leon's direction either, but I did enjoy his work on A Soldier's Play" and actually chatted with him about it after a preview performance.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 3/23/21 at 12:01pm

I agree - "A Soldier's Play" is the best work I've seen from Leon to date. I agree his batting average in recent years has not been good at all. But having seen Soldier's Play, at least I feel confident that he's capable of doing good work when the stars align. I didn't see his Raisin in the Sun or his Fences, but I seem to recall that both were well-received. 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 3/23/21 at 3:10pm

Always exciting to see a set of fresh eyes on a “forgotten” production. This is exciting!

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/23/21 at 5:11pm

Sorry if it isn't clickable. (The link button didn't pop up)

A link to the original cast performance at the 1972 Tony Awards.




https://youtu.be/7gCK7hV6f-k

Updated On: 3/23/21 at 05:11 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/23/21 at 7:06pm

I saw this show about 15 years or so ago. It was....interesting. It’s definitely a product of it’s time (you can see that in the clip posted above) and I don’t know how well that would work today. I’m curious if they’re going to be doing some major revisions to it or just trying to stage it as a totally retro production. Either way, this is the type of show that’s going to need major star power behind it for it to be successful.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/23/21 at 7:40pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I saw this show about 15 years or so ago. It was....interesting. It’s definitely a product of it’s time (you can see that in the clip posted above) and I don’t know how well that would work today. I’m curious if they’re going to be doing some major revisions to it or just trying to stage it as a totally retro production. Either way, this is the type of show that’s going to need major star power behind it for it to be successful."

I was thinking the same. I am wondering if they are going to update it. I see Mario is attached so I am sure he knows the show. It will be interesting to see what they do with the score.

[daredevil]

Posted: 3/25/21 at 2:40pm

I saw it twice when it first opened, and then when it was done in Harlem in the early two's. It is very much an indictment of racism. An all black cast, about 21 characters, each has a monologue, sometimes a dialogue with one other person. Original cast had great performances by Arthur French, Beatrice Winde, Garett Morris, Minnie Gentry and a host of others. It was produced at a time when Broadway was very slow; it ran mostly with half houses but could be kept going. When I saw the revival I realized how beautiful some of the language is, but the mood is so dark, it was hard to pick that up originally, I am glad it is getting its due; it will be interesting to see how it received this time.

[leefowler]

Posted: 3/25/21 at 2:57pm

The clip from the Tony Awards is pretty dire.