BWW TV On The Spot: XANADU!- Page 2

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 1:12am

I think it looks like it's going to be absolutely terrific. But, it can be hard to judge based on video of a rehearsal room performance. If the elements come together the way I am guessing they will, it's be gonna be a huge hit. Kerry sounds sublime singing those songs.

"Evil Woman" is an Electric Light Orchestra song that is not in Xanadu, so it seems they are both adapting the songs from the movie and adding stuff from the ELO/Jeff Lynne catalog. However, it's always possible that Lynne is writing new songs for the musical. I can't wait to hear more about this.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 1:16am

does anyone else feel like kerry butler is miscast?

and that they hsould have pushed harder for krakowski? why couldn't she do it again?

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 1:17am

It looks fun (though I've never seen the movie, so...). Love Testa and Hoffman!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 1:20am

Krakowski is on some TV show.

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 1:25am

Krakowski said she couldn't do it because of her filming schedule for "30 Rock", the TV show she is on.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 1:28am

ahh ok.

well, i think the clips look ok...

i mean, intentional camp is tough to pull off. We'll see. The clips are funny, but im trying to figure out if they're funny for the right reasons...

is there an ensemble? Updated On: 5/10/07 at 01:28 AM

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 1:30am

I wasn't excited about this at all. I'm still not all "OMIGOD!" about it, but Tony Roberts, Mary Testa, and Jackie Hoffman look AMAZING in the show!!!

I laughed out loud at Jackie Hoffman the whole time. She'll steal the show.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 1:30am

I'm kind of glad Cheyenne's not playing that part anymore. I kind of would have passed out at the sight of Cheyenne...tap dancing.

[Craig]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 1:33am

Sonny's not tap dancing - that's Curtis Holbrook playing a young Tony Roberts in that scene

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 1:33am

I routinely pass out at the sight of cheyenne.

you're not alone.

[FutureAladdinOnB'Way]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 1:34am

I agree with uncageg in waiting for some actual production clips to make a more clear opinion on it...overall though, it looks pretty good, I'm excited to see what this show turns into; it could be a surprising success being that they have re-written the whole script so that it isn't like the movie..

[theactorsociety]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 1:34am

It might be horrible, but I'm totally excited! I think that it is going to be hysterical! Hahaha! The best movie musical translation? Maybe? Though I do love me some Hairspray!!!

[antonijan]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 1:58am

I wanna see it already!!!!

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 2:28am

"The best movie musical translation? Maybe?"

I doubt that. Hardly anything can beat The Full Monty or The Producers in the movie turned musical category.

[mateo]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 3:32am

I am such an ELO fan.

I am looking forward to seeing more from Xanadu.

[Dirty_Rotten_Guy]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 5:43am

im, on the most part, very excited for this.
hey, some of the choegraphy might be a bit...basic (mostly ensemble stuff), and i dont care much for that "I'm Alive" song, but everything else looks great. The roller-skating looks very cool, and i think Kerry looks marvelous
ill definitely be seeing this show

[Trish2]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 6:32am

Ms Butler suffers the same fate as Ms Bundy in Legally Bland. She doesnt have the star quality to pull it off. Remember Little Shop? She was great as a supporting character ( Hairspray) but you'd need a Krakowski to even attempt pulling off what looks like a mess. Both her and Cheyenne Jackson saw the writing on the pages so to speak.

[Craig]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 8:52am

NathanLaneStalker.

I might be in the minority - but while I found The Producers to be entertaining, it pales to the original film.

I'm not saying The Producers was bad - but I wouldn't call it the epitome of translating a film to the stage.

And Trish - regardless of any biases I might have for Kerry (and Laura) - they basically just started rehearsals not too long ago. I wouldn't judge the entire show nor any of the performances on those brief clips. But to each their own.

I do think that this show will benefit from being seen ON stage with costumes, sets and lighting. And the book IS very smart. You only saw a brief example of that...

But again - to each their own.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 9:03am

I hope it works. From these clips, it looks like a fun Off-Broadway cult show... not a major Broadway hit in the making.

So the big finale with "everyone" skating around to the title tune... will actually be like 10 people?

Campy? Yes. Broadway extravaganza? No.

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 9:32am

Are they really quoting Perez Hilton on the marquee? He posted a picture on his site with his quote on the marquee.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 10:21am

It could go either way....an entire evening of "wink wink" is really tiresome. But we'll see.

[Carl Magnum]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 10:36am

I honestly think it looks like alot of fun for some reason. Maybe it's just because I want Kerry Butler. Oh and NLS honestly the best screen to stage musical, at least in recent memory, imho was DRS.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 10:44am

Best12 - you hit the nail on the head. This should have been the sort of fun campy show that could have gone to Dodger Stages. Its really sad that Off Broadway is so far gone, this little show - and Im sure it is harmless - is being forced to try to compete on Broadway - where it just won't succeed.

Even the positive posters in this thread don't seem to realize this is a musical with a 110 dollar top ticket price...

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 10:51am

If it comes off as a Mamma Mia! (granted, ABBA is well more famous than ELO), it could be a huge hit even at those prices. It all just depends. But as usual, let's wait for it to open--to finish its creative process before damning it all to hell.

I see the potential for a solid show.

[theactorsociety]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 10:59am

Michael Bennett, I'm confused, Are you saying $110 is too much to pay for it or that it doesn't seem like a lot to pay for the show. I would totally pay $110 to see it.