Ashford screwed up his last 2 musical revivals, let's see how he screws up this one. His choreography (and more-so direction) can't hold a candle to Tune's imaginative ways.
If they are gonna do it. it should be Reba, and throw in a few other Country Singers for good measure. And a bunch of Hot Auggies.
I can't believe that anyone would invest the dollars to bring this back to Broadway in 2015. I will be shocked if this is a hit. Maybe they are doing it for potential road revenue. I have to admit that I did not like this much the first time around, so maybe I am just being short sighted...but I don't see it.
Perhaps not on stage, but Dolly Parton's associated with it via the movie - and although 9to5 flopped, she was well-received (who doesn't Love Dolly??) Maybe a new song or two?
I love the original cast album and liked the movie, but I've never actually seen the show. The stage score is very solid though, probably some of my favorite "country-flavored" Broadway music. I do wonder how a show about a whorehouse sells to the tourist trade in NYC though. Was the subject matter a problem last time around?
Why would Matthew Morrison want to do Whorehouse...as written, the primary thing I remember about the role -- besides its being played by a 60 year old man originally -- was the comedy, not the singing. Also, it is NOT a big role. If they need a name, and Kelsey Grammer wants to come back to Broadway, how about him...or Vince Vaughan, if he wants to try B'way.
Love the idea of Mary Stuart Masterson. It's crazy she doesn't do more Broadway musicals, especially since she stayed with NINE throughout its entire run. And though I never saw the original production, I do think it has one of the best Broadway cast recordings of all time. It's like no other cast recording I've ever heard, but there's something so unique and wonderful about it. Would love to see a revival.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw for 4-6 months; McGraw goes back on the road and lesser C&W stars and B'way actors take over. Do a flashy Branson-styled version, and stand to wipe up. The title sells. The original ran for years and was a big ol hit. It's a show with great chorus numbers, lots of flesh on display for everybody, and it's a genuine good time. As a commercial prospect it's as good as anything I've read lately. And it doesn't suffer from revival fatigue. We haven't seen a WHOREHOUSE since the original.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
Carlin Glynn may have been 38 when the original opened, but she definitely read more mature than that. Which really gave the ending, when she and Ed Earl part (without that ridiculous Disney happy ending of the movie), a great deal more poignance than it would with two more youthful actors.
"We haven't seen a WHOREHOUSE since the original."
Actually we have. The laughably bad sequel "Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public"
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Her singing was just so bad in 9 to 5, I can't see her in another musical. And she is sucj a great actress, I really wanted to like her. If only they would revive Aunite Mame, Janney would be perfect.
"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg."
-- Thomas Jefferson
This is unexpected but marvelous news. It's one of my favorite scores - Good Old Girl, Doatsy Mae, The Bus From Amarillo are my favorites. I can't wait to see this live. I'm not particularly partial to anyone as Miss Mona but I am very interested to see who'll play the relatively thankless role of Doatsy. Could go the way of Andrea Martin in Pippin if they do it right.
I think Toni Collette would also be a good choice.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
I'm sure Janney's performance as a southern matriarch in THE HELP comes to mind. But as wonderful as she always is, she's not the earthy self-made sophisticate required for Mona.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
The almost single-minded focus on casting Mona and Ed Earl also shows that people seem to think that, like the movie, the stage version is The Saga of Miss Mona and Ed Earl, although it's an ensemble piece, and Melvin P. Thorpe, Angel, Jewel, the Governor, Doatsy Mae, etc., are all equally important in the book and score. (In fact, "The Bus from Amarillo," easily one of the best character-defining songs in the show, was originally Angel's number, until Carlin Glynn, the director's wife, demanded it, causing the original actress playing Angel to quit.)
I agree this is a horrible idea. Why take up space with a cheesy, very dated revival when there could be room for a beautiful new original musical? If we are going to keep American Musical Theater alive, we need to see more than revivals being brought to Broadway in 2015. I'l admit that I do not like Sassy Madame characters in any show. So, maybe I am biased. I suspect this press release is a tactic to raise money from investors and the project will go away like Rebecca or Pump Boys on Broadway.