Annie officially takes the Palace- Page 3

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/23/12 at 1:21am

Reba as Hannigan.

[madlibrarian]

Posted: 5/23/12 at 2:16pm

Why does such a time-tested, popular musical need over a month of previews? Really, I'd like to know.

[DAME]

Posted: 5/23/12 at 2:22pm

Hopefully because it is a new concept and creation.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/23/12 at 8:54pm

Why does such a time-tested, popular musical need over a month of previews? Really, I'd like to know.

Hopefully because it will have a huge and beautiful set that will need some tinkering...

[defyinggravity2]

Posted: 5/23/12 at 8:57pm

I think P.J. Benjamin would make a good Mr. Warbucks, but of course, he currently plays the Wizard in WICKED, so unless he's out by like tommorrow, that's not gonna happen. But he still makes a good Wizard. An excellent one, actually.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/23/12 at 9:00pm

P.J. Benjamin is quite possibly the most boring performer that I've ever seen.

[averagebwaynut]

Posted: 5/24/12 at 12:30am

Clearly in the minority here, but having only been revived once before on Broadway -- in a dreadful production that ran barely 6 months on Broadway 15 years ago -- I think there is a generation of young people that could very easily fall in love with this show all over again. And there is a generation of moms (and grandparents) out there with extremely fond memories of the original who would love nothing more than to watch their kids do so.

The show's challenge will be to reach beyond its built-in demographic and appeal to something more than just families and moms and their daughters. And yes, one way to do that is with stars. The trouble there is that once cast with a legit star, the show will never again sell without one and getting name-brand stars to replace for any length of time these days is next to impossible.

I expect to see them go with a Hannigan and Warbucks that give them real artistic credibility and some measure of proven pedigree without being bona fide box office stars. If the production really is able to be a freshly-conceived, re-energized version of "Annie", and if it's in fact good and reviewed well, the show itself can be the star. That's not necessarily true of every revival title. But one as beloved as this, and one which the majority of general public (not us snarky insiders) are predisposed to enjoy should still be able to make it on the basis of satifying (if not star) casting, good reviews and word-of-mouth.

[Corine2]

Posted: 5/24/12 at 1:14am

Damn. I love Priscilla. Why me. Sucks.