"Billy Elliot" to open at the Imperial in 2008.."Young Frankenstein" workshop- Page 2

[Anastasia_Beaverhausen]

Posted: 9/6/06 at 4:41pm

Kristin and Marc dated around the time of Epic Proportions. But now Marc is gay. :)
Updated On: 9/6/06 at 04:41 PM

[JamesMacon]

Posted: 9/6/06 at 4:43pm

Yeah, I feel a little bad for High Fidelity too. It just gives the show and its future such a negative connotation. However, I am so excited that Billy Elliot will be coming to Broadway! I loved it in London with Liam Mower.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 9/6/06 at 4:49pm

I almost feel bad for High Fidelity - doesn't sound like many people are putting much stock in this show.

The producers of HIGH FIDELITY knew what they were getting into when they booked the theatre. It had been rumored for quite some time that BILLY ELLIOT had already booked the theatre.

HIGH FIDELITY needed a theatre and had to choose from what was available. Maybe it will be succesful enough where it will have to move.

[leefowler]

Posted: 9/6/06 at 5:04pm

Worrel,

Although everybody is repoting that Kristin is set to play Inga...Everybody is wrong. She's set to play Elizabeth in the reading. It's been interesting to watch all these websites repeating what Riedel reported incorrectly.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 9/6/06 at 6:02pm

Kristin and Marc used to be engaged.
But hey, if they can work through that, more power to them.

[Holly2]

Posted: 9/6/06 at 9:21pm

I love the movie Young Frankenstein and hope the musical does well. Any thoughts on who should play the Gene Wilder role? I usually like Mathew Broderick but I can't see him in this role. Who else would be able to handle it? Norbert Leo Butz or Brian D'Arcy James both seem to handle physical comedy well.

Any other ideas?

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 9/6/06 at 9:25pm

The news of Billy Elliot making the transfer to Broadway in '08 has me REALLY excited. I listen to the OLC a lot and really enjoy the show. Not to mention I absolutely LOVE the music that it's based on. I agree that it's a bit sad that they aren't putting much stock into High Fidelity, but as others have said, the producers knew what they were getting themselves into when they booked the Imperial.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 9:50pm

Does anybody think that the "Lestat" flop will affect "Billy" any?

Regarding "Young Frankenstein", do we really need another musical on Broadway that doesn't really have music in it?

Anastasia, is that true about Marc?!?!?!?!?

KEWL!!!!! (So much for credibility...)

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 10:03pm

Regarding "Young Frankenstein", do we really need another musical on Broadway that doesn't really have music in it?

What the hell are you talking about?

[mrkringas]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 12:18am

Three simple words

"The History Boys"

No changes made to the text to make it more "accessible" to American audiences and look what happened to that. Oh but wait if its a musical well thats another matter entirely!

As for the Marc thing..I seem to recall his Chatterbox interview making me think "Ohhhhhhhhhhh!" but no idea nor do I care.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 12:29am

But the British-ness of THE HISTORY BOYS is totally different. They don't talk about things that most people don't already know about.

Changing up some of the British political references, or at least explaining them better, is a necessary alteration, I feel.

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 12:31am

The thing about Billy Elliot was that wasn't it mildly successful as a movie? I don't see them really changing too much of the show other than maybe clearing up some of the lines so the American audiences can understand a bit better and taking some time to explain the miners strike and Margaret Thatcher.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 12:33am

And no, I don't think LESTAT's failure will affect BILLY ELLIOT's US success at all.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 12:51am

Speaking as a Scot who grew up a "child of Thatcher" I think Billy Elliot and The History Boys cover very similar themes of class. Perhaps I see them through my own background and then cannot imagine how others could possibly not be aware but I still think you can watch the stage version of Billy Elliot and *not* require a comprehensive history of Scargill vs Thatcher. Why? Because all you need to switch into is the idea of "us and them".

I think the musical scene "Solidarity" sets this up rather well. Or in the differences between the Elliot and Wilkinson household sets. What more does the audience need than knowing that Billy's family are on strike to "save" their mine in face of closure?

Lets not forget that the primary tale is of Billy and his desire to dance. The politics of it all and the tale of a community being destroyed is secondary and a more fulfilling subtext for those that can join simple dots.

[leefowler]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 6:37am

All Billy Elliott really needs to do to succeed in the U.S. is ease up on the accents, change a word here and there, and maybe get rid of the second act opening, which is one of the weakest parts of the show. I don't think this qualifies as "dumbing down".

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 6:40am

For those who were curious about whether Kristin originally wanted Inga or Elizabeth,

This is a news clipping from a few months ago:

THE WEST WING star KRISTIN CHENOWETH has set her sights on TERI GARR's role in the upcoming Broadway, New York City, musical version of cult comedy YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. Just days after movie maker MEL BROOKS confirmed his plans to turn the film into a stage show, the actress is vying for a leading role. The Tony-nominated WICKED star says, "There's nothing better than having that audience and creating something new or reviving something that's been done and putting your own spin on it and touching people in a live way."

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 6:47am

Wow, lots being discussed in this thread!
Okay, well i cant wait for BILLY to transfer...yeah
I don't think they are giving HIGH FIDELITY much of a chance as others have said...I think they're just saying "We can move theatres" to sound positive...i dont know
And it would be interesting for THE PRODUCERS to close New Year's Eve... where did M.B. recieve that info?

[leefowler]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 7:28am

I feel obligated to mention...again...that Kristen will playing ELIZABETH (NOT Inga...) in the READING (not WORKSHOP) of Young Frankenstein. Which begs the question : who will play Inga, the Teri Garr part? I know, but I'm not going to say...

Any guesses? (She's a Tony winner...)

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 11:16am

Idina? :p

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 11:24am

Cady Huffman?
Sara Ramirez?

[mejusthavingfun]

Posted: 9/8/06 at 2:05pm

LOL! Is true about Cheno and that Marc guy? When will theatre girls ever learn? I wont even date guys in theatre, and Im gay!

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 9/18/06 at 7:28pm

" 'Regarding "Young Frankenstein", do we really need another musical on Broadway that doesn't really have music in it?'

What the hell are you talking about?"

I mean shows like "The Producers" and "Spamalot." With songs that you forget while you're hearing them.

Not every show has to be Sondheim, but those two make Jerry Herman look like John Michael LaChiusa.

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 9/19/06 at 5:54am

Elton John was on a UK chat show this weekend and confirmed that a slightly altered version of Billy Elliot would be workshopped soon with a 2008 Broadway opening in mind. He also hinted that the original production may be opening in Australia next year.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/28/07 at 12:53am

oh god i cant wait for billy to come to broadway. they started casting already, i hear. i saw it in london 2 years ago and it surpassed almost every broadway show ive seen. i hope theres not too many alterations, i loved the show the way it was.