B-way PUTTING IT TOGETHER

Am I the only one who liked the Broadway production of PUTTING IT TOGETHER? I must say, that I liked it better than the Manhattan Theatre Club version and all the little bits and pieces ad-libbed by the performers were just great. The revisions are perfect. The inclusion of "More", "The Ladies Who Lunch", "There's Always A Woman" and "Unworthy of Your Love" are top notch. It's definitely a sophisticated evening of theatre. Granted because it really is a revuesical it's only for hard-core Sondheim fans, but I liked it! Anybody else like it? Why did they not record a CD? It would have been the quintessential Sondheim collection. It makes me mad. The DVD is great and all, but sometimes I'm in the car and I want to listen to it, and I can't! It's a travesty....

Updated On: 4/5/04 at 12:32 AM

jcr, unless your director adds it, you won't get to sing "Unworthy of Your Love" (with the darling, darling revisions, instead of Jodi, Jodi...) because it wasn't in the MTC version which is the version currently being licensed by MTI.

Meanwhile, back at the cocktail party, this brings up another question that I have. Is MTI gonna release the rights for the Broadway version or are directors gonna have to get the sheet music and put the others songs in the show, and make the changes themselves? Yes, I know it's illegal, but c'mon people it still happens....

Updated On: 4/5/04 at 02:45 AM

I didn't see the B'way production because I didn't want to spoil my memories of the Manhattan Theatre club version - I just didnt' want to see Carol Burnett (who I dearly love) in the role that Julie Andrews was so good in. I'm sure it was a great production though.

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Message from MTI...


Greetings:



Thank you for your email.



The absence of a particular song, lyric, arrangement, etc. or placement/order of such material in the work is often different from recording to recording and from London to Broadway to National Touring Company production. Simply put, the author(s) provide MTI with the materials the way they wish the title to be performed in the professional/stock/amateur realm. It is not left up to the whim of the creative-types here at MTI.



If there is a major revival with changes from the original production – for example the recent revival of DAMN YANKEES with Jerry Lewis or the touring company of JOSEPH... with the famous ‘megamix,’ which you remember from attending a performance or hear reflected in a ‘new’ cast recording -- and those changes are not reflected in the MTI materials, it is because the author (for whatever reason) has chosen NOT to make those materials available to subsequent productions. The same is true for cast recordings which may have strings or brass (not synthesized) on the recording yet no MTI orchestrations for those instruments exist. MTI does not have separate materials sitting around in our library which we keep from organizations unless they ask for them!



The author’s wishes are paramount. It is the author’s work to make (or not make) available. Such is the case of your example PUTTING IT TOGETHER. No, it the revival version has not been made available by the authors nor or there currents plans (to our knowledge) to do so.



You are reminded that the Production Contract/License specifically prohibits any and all changes, additions, deletions, etc. to the material. The title must be performed as the author intended, or you risk termination of the License.



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Regards,

Michael McDonough

Music Theatre International

I saw both the MTC and Broadway versions of PUTTING IT TOGETHER. I also preferred the Broadway version though I think Julie Andrews fit the material better than Burnett. The DVD version is very enjoyable. Here in DC, Signature did the show and did the Broadway script but perhaps that was because Eric Schaeffer directed both productions.

This was after the Broadway production. Sadly, they did not use the Broadway set or even a suggestion of it. The set was very uninspired at Signature.

Only saw P.I.T. on Broadway and saw it the night after Minnelli on Minnelli so I thought it was brilliant.
DVD is good.
Do wish I had seen Andrews though.

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Chemistry was incredible the night I saw it.

While they were all standing facing upstage singing solos, Barrowman sneezed (and tried to keep it together.) When it was Ruthie's turn to face him and sing, she started with a sneeze which cracked the rest of the cast up. They never really got it back together after that. Carol almost fell to the floor laughing. FUN!

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I saw it on Broadway twice and loved every minute of it both times.

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I just recently got to view the MTC production with Julie Andrews from the Lincoln Center Archives, and it was amazing... The songs fit Julie's voice way better than Carols... ( I love Carol, and i'm not bashing her) Carol put her own spin on the role and I each enjoyed watching both of their performances... I only wish they had videotaped Julie's version to be released on DVD...