Anything new on the rumored Groban-lead Sweeney?- Page 7

[OhHiii]

Posted: 8/24/22 at 10:47am

I don't have any issue with Groban as Sweeney, he'll sing it beautifully and could bring an innocence to Sweeney that hasn't really been explored before. To me, the real evil lies in Mrs. Lovett. She knows the entire time who/where Lucy is and that she isn't dead and goads Sweeney into the entire idea of continuing to murder after he kills Pirelli. Otherwise, Sweeney's actions are mostly rooted in grief. Only with Lovett's encouragement does it become about retribution on the upper class as a whole. All of her actions are to keep Sweeney close. In my directing days, I always wanted to set up the show with Lovett putting Turpin up to what he does to Lucy in Poor Thing. 

[Owen22]

Posted: 8/24/22 at 10:49am

Chris Peterson over on his blog and social messaging is taking on the Twitterers complaining that there is not a BIPOC lead in a show that has not even been announced yet.

Updated On: 8/24/22 at 10:49 AM

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 8/24/22 at 11:16am

Owen22 said: "Chris Peterson over on his blog and social messaging is taking on the Twitterers complaining that there is not a BIPOC lead in a show that has not even been announced yet."

That blog is absurd. Pay no attention to it.

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 8/24/22 at 11:31am

I dont think there is a single aspect of Broadway that he doesn't find a problem with. We can now include productions yet-to-be officially cast, or even officially announced, to that list. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 8/24/22 at 11:35am

Dylan Smith4 said: "I would like to know what they are waiting for when it comes to OFFICIALLY announcing this production!"

Again, why can't people read (and process) the source material before asking questions like this?

As that source material makes clear, they are in the process of capitalizing the show, the sine qua non of making anything "official." When that is completed, they will officially announce. Besides, one of the dumbest things a production can do is announce something before Labor Day when just about no one is paying attention.

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 8/24/22 at 12:41pm

Is Chris...okay? He's always been pretty obnoxious when it comes to his takes, but that thread is borderline unhinged, particularly with the way he calls out another person, who was actually really nice to him in the thread.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 8/24/22 at 12:54pm

what a bore of a production already...also we just had an immersive intimate production that ran quiet awhile Off-Broadway and this just screams "Cash grab after Sondheim died" 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/24/22 at 1:13pm

Honestly, forgot that off-Broadway version happened. And I saw it and enjoyed it. 

I hope we get a lavish revival that actually tells the story. 

I saw the Doyle version and the Off-Broadway version and am always confused by the plot. 

[Georgeanddot2]

Posted: 8/24/22 at 1:28pm

This really should've been the musical to bring Hugh Jackman back to Broadway and not The Music Meh.

[rkade21]

Posted: 8/24/22 at 1:47pm

BroadwayRox3588 said: "Is Chris...okay? He's always been pretty obnoxious when it comes to his takes, but that thread is borderline unhinged, particularly with the way he calls out another person, who was actually really nice to him in the thread."

I’ve considered trying to engage with him in comments and ask him bluntly whether he acknowledges the **considerable** change in terms of diversity in casting and productions brought to Broadway and other major venues nationally - which to me is rather significant and impossible to deny, if not still plenty ways to go. But from comments in this thread maybe it’s not worth it.

 

the type of change he seems to expect can’t happen overnight and also would be an unfortunately complete detachment from the reality of Broadway as a commercial business - especially productions as expensive as Music Man or Sweeney will be, two shows he seems to single out for non-diverse cast top billing while ignoring the other 99.9% of shows that are showing clear progress… not sure he’d propose as Sweeney as an alternative 

[Kad]

Posted: 8/24/22 at 1:52pm

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "what a bore of a production already...also we just had an immersive intimate production that ran quiet awhile Off-Broadway and this just screams "Cash grab after Sondheim died""

But this isn’t an intimate production, and we haven’t had a Broadway revival since the Doyle production. Also the off-Bway Sweeney closed four years ago. It ran a while because it had very few seats. 
 

for what it’s worth, I’ve heard rumblings about this Sweeney revival for quite a while, since the early months of this year. It’s been in the works. 

[Kad]

Posted: 8/24/22 at 2:08pm

Also a reminder that Onstage Blog is basically just a soapbox for a person who has no clout, little industry experience or access, and surprisingly little understanding of the business. It’s basically pitched squarely at the terminally outraged kids on Twitter and not a legit theater news site. 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 8/24/22 at 3:00pm

Kad said: "Also a reminder that Onstage Blog is basically just a soapbox for a person who has no clout, little industry experience or access, and surprisingly little understanding of the business. It’s basically pitched squarely at the terminally outraged kids on Twitter and not a legit theater news site."

It just screams being run by someone who's tried and failed many times over at getting into the industry professionally. Are there many issues with Broadway that need to be addressed? Yes, but the outrage machine begins and ends on Twitter. 

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/24/22 at 3:39pm

OhHiii said: "Kad said: "Also a reminder that Onstage Blog is basically just a soapbox for a person who has no clout, little industry experience or access, and surprisingly little understanding of the business. It’s basically pitched squarely at the terminally outraged kids on Twitter and not a legit theater news site."

It just screams being run by someone who's tried and failed many times over at getting into the industry professionally. Are there many issues with Broadway that need to be addressed? Yes, but the outrage machine begins and ends on Twitter."

More than the inclusivity aspect, I'd complain that he is not a great actor and her shtick got tired a decade ago.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 8/24/22 at 4:09pm

blaxx said: "OhHiii said: "Kad said: "Also a reminder that Onstage Blog is basically just a soapbox for a person who has no clout, little industry experience or access, and surprisingly little understanding of the business. It’s basically pitched squarely at the terminally outraged kids on Twitter and not a legit theater news site."

It just screams being run by someone who's tried and failed many times over at getting into the industry professionally. Are there many issues with Broadway that need to be addressed? Yes, but the outrage machine begins and ends on Twitter."

More than the inclusivity aspect, I'd complain that he is not a great actor and her shtick got tired a decade ago."

Agree with all of this, of course.

So then why can BWW post a "news" article saying it's a rumor, without even citing a source...but if someone makes a thread about Sweaty Oracle and his blind items/theater rumors on TikTok, it gets deleted. I don't get the double-standard. I miss the old days of this board.

 

Updated On: 8/24/22 at 04:09 PM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/24/22 at 4:26pm

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "what a bore of a production already...also we just had an immersive intimate production that ran quiet awhile Off-Broadway and this just screams "Cash grab after Sondheim died""

Cool. Don't go.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 8/24/22 at 5:04pm

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "So then why can BWW post a "news" article saying it's a rumor, without even citing a source...but if someone makes a thread about Sweaty Oracle and his blind items/theater rumors on TikTok, it gets deleted. I don't get the double-standard. "

As happens so often on this board, you start with a false premise and thus end up at a false conclusion. 

The report to which you refer is of a fact, that Jeffrey Seller is in the process of capitalizing the show, as set forth in the offering papers. As rehearsed above, that does not mean that the production is "official" but Mr. Boroff never suggested that it was. What he did report is what has been filed with the state.

[Ke3]

Posted: 8/24/22 at 7:21pm

singer234 said: "I believe Renee Rapp was part of the reading, but I doubt she’ll do the Broadway production with her tv/music career where it is at the moment."

Assuming this reading happened within the last six-ish months I can't imagine what would stop her from doing this. Her only current filming obligation is SLOCG. They've already filmed S2. With the changes over at HBO Max a third season seems iffy. As for her music, she's an independent artist. It's not like she has a label breathing down her neck about the time doing a Broadway run would take.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 8/25/22 at 12:08am

I just want to know dates. 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/25/22 at 1:42am

Kad said: "Also a reminder that Onstage Blog is basically just a soapbox for a person who has no clout, little industry experience or access, and surprisingly little understanding of the business. It’s basically pitched squarely at the terminally outraged kids on Twitter and not a legit theater news site."


It’s his brand. This has become a full-time hobby for a lot of people: sucking the joy out of theater by focusing almost exclusively on “how we can do better” when it comes to diversity and inclusion.

Things are in an upward trajectory of improvement, and theatre is currently one of the most progressive fields in the country. Enough already.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/25/22 at 9:11am

Georgeanddot2 said: "This really should've been the musical to bring Hugh Jackman back to Broadway and not The Music Meh."

 

There's absolutely no way Jackman could sing that almost operatic role. I also have doubts that Groben can handle it.

 

 

Updated On: 8/25/22 at 09:11 AM

[OhHiii]

Posted: 8/25/22 at 11:54am

blaxx said: "OhHiii said: "Kad said: "More than the inclusivity aspect, I'd complain that he is not a great actor and her shtick got tired a decade ago."

Cool, that has zero to do with what the person on On Stage Blog is complaining about. Incessantly. 

And...don't see the show then? 

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 8/25/22 at 12:16pm

I see he’s been tweeting about me and portraying me as some privileged white boy who doesn’t get it and doesn’t care about diversity. 

I do get it. And I do care. But ONLY TWO MEMBERS OF A CAST HAVE BEEN UNOFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED. Can’t we actually wait to have outrage when there’s something to be outraged about?

 

Our industry loves to eat itself, and it’s pathetic.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/25/22 at 5:20pm

If the entire principal cast is white, then I will agree with his sentiment. But it’s being directed by THOMAS KAIL. The Hamilton guy. And no Broadway director or producer would be stupid enough in 2022 to not make sure the cast is diverse. Heck, Groban and Ashford may very well end up being practically the only white people in the whole show.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/25/22 at 5:32pm

What's his twitter? I need to read this. How can you be outraged by something that hasn't been announced? Wild.