BWW TV On The Spot: XANADU!- Page 3

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 11:06am

I understand where you are coming from, jrb, but I don't think its realistic to compare ELO's popularity (particularly with international audiences) to ABBA, jrb....

Actorsociety - I'm saying I don't believe the majority of the market that supports Broadway theatre (i.e. tourists) are going to pay 110 for a silly, small scale ten person musical based on a cult film.

And while a lot of that gay campy humour reflected in the video clip ("I'm going to wear leg warmers and be Austrailian!") will make a lot of the people on this board squeal with laughter - I don't think tourists are going to get it. At all.

I think the show will run no more than a month. I don't say that with malice, just my analysis of the market.

[caitlinette]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 3:19pm

Does anyone know what's happening during the Evil Woman number? What characters are the women playing and what are they talking about? It looks really cool.

[Craig]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 3:26pm

Mary explains it in the video - they are two muses who put a curse on Kira to make her fall in love with Sonny because that's forbidden.

MB: Leg warmers and an Australian accent "gay campy humor"?

Leg warmers is VERY 80s - gay or straight. Women wore leg warmers everywhere...

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 3:30pm

I am looking forward to this.

Kerry is adorable.
Curtis is hot.
Can't wait!

[Unmasked05]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 3:40pm

I actually want to see this !!!!

[Andergoat]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 3:46pm

I got my tickets--this looks like it'll be a blast!

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 7:42pm

I have to admit that I was among the skeptics at first, but I actually enjoyed the clip. I can't believe I'm saying it, but I'd actually go see this show.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 7:53pm

That video took me from "this is the worst idea I have ever heard!" to "this could just work".

[Trish2]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 8:54pm

Its obviously one of the bleakest seasons on Broadway to you posters to be speaking about this show like this. I think many have you have just lost perspective on what Broadway (should) stand for. Excellence. Let's face - It's been a lackluster year with few exceptions.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 8:59pm

Wow Trish, can you PLEASE send me one of these bootlegs you keep talking about? I had no idea that it was giving special previews that are restricted to posters here who have no taste in Broadway.

Updated On: 5/10/07 at 08:59 PM

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 9:01pm

UM...where is my boy Marty Thomas?

[Trish2]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 9:06pm

Fine. When i get the free ticket(s) i'll arrange to somehow get it to you so you may have your fun. Happy now?

[C is for Company]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 9:08pm

Yes!

[BroomstickBoy]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 3:19am

I so want to take Curtis Holbrook home and make him tap dance just for me. DAMN he's cute.

and BOY can he dance!

[RainbowHigh2]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 8:58am

"And while a lot of that gay campy humour reflected in the video clip ("I'm going to wear leg warmers and be Austrailian!") will make a lot of the people on this board squeal with laughter - I don't think tourists are going to get it. At all."

I got it and it made me not want to see the show. At first I thought, are we in for Starlight Express-lite? and thought about getting a ticket, but after that line I decided to hold off. And now Perez Hilton is being quoted on a Broadway marquee?!!! Oy vey - please Rosie, produce a new show - Broadway needs you!!!

[acrocksyo]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 9:09am

I am excited to see Kerry Butler on stage again. I love her, and don't think she was miscast.

And I second the Marty Thomas question, is he even in the show anymore? Or is he a swing or something?

[OtherDaryl]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 9:16am

Despite my personal affection for leg warmers - and I wore them everywhere for a couple of years (all based solely on seeing this really hunky guy at a performance of Bent in them)- I just really can't imagine this working. Of course, I never thought a show about singing cats would amount to much, either.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 9:30am

The thing about XANADU, the movie, is that its NOT 1980's it's 1980. Biiiig difference. There was a tremendous optimism as to what the eighties were going to be. People were sick to death of the seventies and looking forward to what the new decade could bring...little did they know. XANADU, the movie (and I really resent that moron in the clip talking about how it's "drek"...drek doesn't have a shelf life of nearly thirty years)had one message and one message only: Perk up kids! The 80's are going to be fantabulous!! (CLOSE ENCOUNTERS also had this googly-eyed vibe a bit, subtextually). I hope the show adresses this. Nothing in the clip seemed to indicate that the show compliments the viewers intelligence (leg warmer jokes??), but we'll see, we'll see. I'm not 1979-optimistic, but we'll see.

Updated On: 5/11/07 at 09:30 AM

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 10:23am

So is there something written in some contract somewhere that says top ticket price for a musical opening on Broadway has to be $110? Seems a lot of people aren't giving this show much of a chance at succeeding? So wouldn't it make sense if they tried to cultivate a following with a lower ticket price for a couple of months? Xanadu has a $49 ticket discount so why don't they make that top price for a couple of months? Is there a rule preventing them from doing that?

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 10:27am

YES!!!!
Kerry gets to skate and scat!!!

I looked and it looks like she has been PRACTICING!! I am so proud of her. And I really hope I get to see it while (or if) it lasts. And as if that wasn't enough, my friend Eric Stern is doing all the arrangements!

[Craig]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 10:35am

The book, from what I saw definitely doesn't pander to the lowest common denominator. It's a very smary book in fact... which some might even find shocking...

[folkyboy]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 11:03am

i'm actually kind of more optimistic about it than some of you. i know it won't last but i don't see it closing within a month, either. i told my friend last night it'll close at the end of the summer. i say September.

there's NO WAY it's gonna survive the summer slumps and they'll "keep it hangin' on" until some other show wants to boot it out.

i have to laugh about that theatre though. one day i went to go see "Bridge & Tunnel" and a producer was outside of the theatre on his cellphone smoking a cigarette. he started cussing at the guy on the phone talking about how hard the Helen Hayes was selling. "we're gettin' some drag queen duo in here for a coupla weeks and then some one man thingy. this theatre can't sell sh*t!"

i can only laugh how he must react to Xanadu.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 11:30am

Watched the clip. It doesn't look very good (I'm being kind). I already have my ticket for the first preview on May 23rd. Should be interesting.

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 12:18am

The clip was too upbeat for me to make my eyes away, but I feel the same way about Kerry. I third the question of where Marty Thomas is? I hope that Kenita understudies Mary Testa because it'll be amazing to hear her wail out that song. Also, when the cast was announced, a lot of people made comments that they couldn't believe how small it was. Was I the only one who felt that it was extremely evident in the few clips shown? What ever happened to the involvement of other people, such as Jen Cody?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/13/07 at 3:19am

Jackie Hoffman & Mary Testa look like an absolute scream!