Any word on Doyle's Company?- Page 2

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 1:38pm

ljay, Sunday had a production at the Kennedy Center only three and a half years ago. Not Broadway, but it's definitely had a more recent professional production (and the possibility of a Broadway transfer) than many other Sondheim shows.

Updated On: 2/4/06 at 01:38 PM

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 1:51pm

They did many Sondheim shows at Kennedy Center in 2002 (SITPWG, MWRA, ALNM, PASSION, SWEENEY TODD and COMPANY), none were likely to transfer.

Broadway revivals of Sondheim shows in the last ten years:
COMPANY 1995, FORUM 1996, FOlLIES 2001, INTO THE WOODS 2002, ASSASSINS 2004, PACIFIC OVERTURES 2004, SWEENEY TODD 2005

Also the 2003 GYPSY and 2004 FROGS.

So ALNM, SITPWG, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, and ANYONE CAN WHISTLE are the only "solo" Sondheim shows that have not been revived on Broadway in that period. (Along with PASSION which was originally produced just one year before our range.)

Updated On: 2/4/06 at 01:51 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 2:06pm

Yes. Great points, Penguin!

I just think it is absurd that some want this to transfer (most likely just for Raul) over Sondheim shows that haven't been revived or had a revival in a long time, which really deserve it.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 2:11pm

smartpenguin, I just meant that from what we know right now, this production of Company is no more likely to transfer to Broadway than any other professional regional production of Sondheim shows in recent years.

Anyway, so no one else makes any assumptions about my opinion on this, I posted this earlier on the OT board:

That would be awesome if [a Broadway transfer] did happen. But do you think they would want to have 2 Sondheim shows with very distinct, very similar direction be running at the same time- or at least so closely together? I would never expect for it to be a financial hit (it IS Sondheim) but I think in terms of critical success, it'll just be seen as trying to "copy" Sweeney and people will write it off because of that.

Who knows; I'm just thinking outloud. None of us have seen Company (yet!) so we don't know just HOW similar John Doyle will make them.

Updated On: 2/4/06 at 02:11 PM

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 2:15pm

I trust Doyle to make it different, but I don't trust the majority of audiences and critics to be able to tell the difference. Exactly as you stated OS, I am afraid people will dismiss it, since it is so soon and uses similar elements.

I want COMPANY to transfer though, because of the very fact I am fascinated by the concept. I don't think it will hurt future attempts to bring the big shows I mentioned that have yet to be revived.

Updated On: 2/4/06 at 02:15 PM

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 5:57pm

Sondheim is very excited for this one so I trust it!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 6:00pm

Ugh, ignore me. You guys all made my points, but when I read the thread, like four of the above posts got caught in limbo and I didn't see them.

Updated On: 2/4/06 at 06:00 PM

[Cages or Wings]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 6:44pm

I don't think it is "absurd" to want this to transfer. I agree that SITPWG and ALNM would be great, but it's not just the show that has to deserve to transfer, it's the PRODUCTION. If this production ends up being as good as I think it will be, then I see no reason why people shouldn't want it to transfer. That said this is all very early speculation.

p.s. I am most definitely going to be there to see the wonderful Raul.

[ShuQ]

Posted: 2/4/06 at 7:17pm

I think there's definitely a possibility for a transfer. Ten years is long enough to have a revival...plus, people seem to be loving Doyle's concept!

I've got my ticket! March 31st!! Can't wait!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 2:28pm

They've posted some new stuff (including the full cast list) on the Cincinnati Playhouse webpage.

My sense of humor's personal favorite is the advisory page.

http://www.cincyplay.com/shows/season/m4/advisory.php

Ugh, I'm so excited.

Updated On: 2/6/06 at 02:28 PM

[Marguerite Chauvelin]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 3:07pm

To answer RentBoy86's question, Cincinnati likely got the show because Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park won for Best Regional Theatre in the 2004 Tony's.
My tickets are for March 19 (the day after I see Julia in the Wicked National Tour). Good weekend that is. :)

[CJWesselman]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 5:00pm

I've got an extra opening night ticket if some stranger wants to come with me. :-P just kidding...I've already got someone to take.

Haven't noticed any real mention of Sondheim (except that it's his show, of course), especially since I was under the impression he was supposed to come in and work on the show during rehearsals or something? Tinker around with a couple things? I dunno, maybe I misheard something.

[Chicago74]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 5:22pm

REVIVE MERRILY!

It desperately needs a new book, but the music and the story is fantastic!!

Instead or re-orchestrating shows, fine-tune the book!

[RuprechtJr.]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 5:30pm

As much as I would LOVE to have a "Sunday..." revival, I can't immagine it any other way than the Original Off-/then Broadway version. I mean, they can't change the costumes because then you'd have to change the painting.

[Switz78]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 6:12pm

an interesting thing to note with this staging is that they hired the actors and then are doing the arrangements based on what people can play, not like with sweeney where it was Joanna plays this, Lovett plays this, etc. and they changed that a bit. so i think this will definitely be a more interesting show musically and the perforers will be a bit stronger on their parts

[morosco]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 8:40pm

Still no dissatisfaction from those who prefer a real orchestra? Or will we just wait for the next production to employ this "artistic" choice??

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 8:50pm

There have been countless productions of Company over the years and they have all had "real" orchestras. This is the ONE exception. Would you prefer canned music?

Updated On: 2/6/06 at 08:50 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 11:02pm

an interesting thing to note with this staging is that they hired the actors and then are doing the arrangements based on what people can play

Is that definitely true? I'd think that they at least cast it knowing people could play SOMETHING.

[Switz78]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 11:42pm

that's what I said. they are doing the arrangements based on what the actors they hired could play. they of course took this into account when casting but none of the arrangements were done

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 11:45pm

I know that's what you said; I can read. I copied it directly from your post. I was asking if it was definitely true -- a very different question.

Interesting, nonetheless. That's quite a chance to take!

Updated On: 2/6/06 at 11:45 PM

[Switz78]

Posted: 2/6/06 at 11:54pm

oh sorry yes as far as I know from Mary-Mitchell Campbell who is doing the arrangements and is the md for the show it is in fact true

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 2/7/06 at 12:00am

Well, I can't wait to find out what they've decided to do.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 9:10pm

Some updates....

http://cincyplay.com/shows/season/m4/behindscenes.php

And Raúl has a brand-spankin' new headshot!

Hopefully production photos will be released sometime soon.

Updated On: 3/12/06 at 09:10 PM

[Pasty]

Posted: 3/12/06 at 9:32pm

Now here's a reason why i love living in dayton. Will definately be seeing this next week.

[JO125]

Posted: 3/13/06 at 12:15am

Series of new articles about Company in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Sorry I don't know how to link more than one at a time here.

The first:

Company's Coming