Any news about the 'Tales of the City Musical'?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/7/06 at 11:58pm

I know I read about the 'Tales of the City' musical a while back and I was wondering if anyone had heard anything about it? IS Armistead Maupin still attached?
Updated On: 8/8/06 at 11:58 PM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 12:10am

As far as I know, it's in "theater purgatory." But PM son_of_a_gunn_25--he kept track of what was going on with the show pretty thoroughly.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 12:12am

Any news about an original musical that's not based on previously written material?

Interesting concept, I know.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 12:34am

At one time it was being developed at the Goodman, but I don't think it's happening anytime soon. Maupin did mention a new Tales for television, though. But he's not too optimistic it will happen soon, either.

[Kringas]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 12:37am

That was kind of like a drive-by, Foster.

What does that have to do with anything? What should it matter what the source material is? Plenty of orignal musicals are crap, too.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 12:44am

In My Life, anyone?

[Kringas]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 12:48am

Is Spelling Bee considered an orignal musical?

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 12:50am

Sorry, I didn't mean to drop that upon you guys. I was just having a moment. No harm intended.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:55am

Spelling Bee was based on the play "C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E".

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 2:07am

Well, actually, I think the authors of "C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E" adapted their play into "Spelling Bee."

[Kringas]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 2:10am

What about Flahooley?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 2:12am

Nothing is really original nowadays. I don't see anything wrong with it, as long as it's good. I'd take Tale of Two Cities over Brooklyn any day. I just wish they'd actually pick good movies to base things off of instead of crap like "Get Shorty" "Elf" and "First Wives Club."

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 11:22am

Broadway was never all that original to begin with. Oklahoma, Hello, Dolly, and Carousel are based on plays.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 11:29am

Why do certain posters (Kringas, Wanna be a Foster, CatsNYRevivial, The Distinctive Baritone) feel the need to hijack threads with their non-topic discussions? Create you own STINKING thread if you want to talk about 'original' concepts or start your own whiney little group about the state of theatre today!

I'm interested in news on the topic I started a thread about...Not your inane discussion about what's original and what's not...

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 11:35am

I have't heard about Tales of the City in ages. I would love to see that get produced. Perfect story for a musical.

Wanna Be A Foster - Seriously, this has been discussed to death. Probably 90% of musical theatre books are unoriginal. What's your point?

[temms]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 12:48pm

I've pondered the TOtC musical, myself. I think the first book would work really well - it's pretty self-contained; starts with Mary Ann moving to SF and finding Barbary Lane, ends with the Christmas party where Mrs. Madrigal realizes that Edgar won't be coming, but that the Barbary Lane family is strong and solid.

Who would you cast? Some of my picks: Linda Lavin for Mrs. Madrigal. John Tartaglia or Neil Patrick Harris for Mouse. John Collum as Edgar. Kelli O'Hara for Mary Ann. Someone studly for Brian, someone kind of slimily attractive for Beauchamp, etc. A poppy, '70s-esque score, characters you really care about - I honestly think it could work really well with the right team.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 12:58pm

BroadwayfromMIA2ATL--

First off, I didn't start the "original musical" topic. Second of all, don't be a bitch. Thanks.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:02pm

I am still mad that they canceled the try-out at the Chicago Theatre. I was really looking forward to it.

[Mirth]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 1:47pm

What about a male lead as Mrs. Madrigal?

[Kringas]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 2:47pm

Is Pissy Pants considered an original musical?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 3:41pm

This is funny. Not only has the topic skewed (which I'm quite content with now), but some people are talking about a Tales of the City musical and others the Tale of Two Cities musical... ha.

[Kringas]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 3:48pm

Rentboy changed the subject from Tales of the City to a Tale of Two Cities because there are no gays in the Dickens novel.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 3:54pm

well, it seems A TALE OF TWO CITIES is sort of in limbo in a way- the Hilton and the Palace (the 2 theatres that could house it) are taken, so we will have to wait...
and about the original musical topic, i started a thread about that when i was a newbie here, and even the so-called "original" musicals have some source material. Like "Oklahoma" was based on a book or something, and "Guys and Dolls" was, too

but hey, please dont bash me on this comment, thats just what ive heard, and its my opinion
:P

[Calvin]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 4:00pm

Kringas, are you saying that Miss Pross wasn't a lesbian?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/8/06 at 4:06pm

Temms---I couldn't agree with you more. The first book would make a great show as long as the creators don't try to pull a 'Lestat' and bog it down by combining the sequels. I would love the music to be in the era as well...

My Dreamcast for this would defintely include:

Mrs. Madrigal - Christine Eversole / Victoria Clark
Mary Ann - Kelli O'Hara
Mona - Amy Spanger
Michael (Mouse)- Manoel Felciano
Brian - Patrick Wilson
Beauchamp - Hugh Panaro
Jon - Billy Campbell (He was JUST SOO good in the orignal!)
DeDe - Marissa Jarett Winokur
Edgar - Marc Jacoby (Though he's not that old...)
Fran - Ellen Greene

Here's Hoping!!