Blankenbuehler-helmed KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN in the works?- Page 3

[Ke3]

Posted: 5/23/23 at 4:08pm

ljay889 said: "I don’t foresee DeBose having any issues with the music. It’s not a strenuous singing role and there’s literally two sets of keys to choose from, or they can even meet in between the Chita and Vanessa keys. I prefer the eerier Chita keys, but I’m assuming DeBose’s voice would be more appropriate closer to the Vanessa keys."

Broadway is allergic to true altos so we'll never hear the Chita keys again

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 5/23/23 at 8:36pm

aliceripleyofficial said: "... I cringe at the thought of having to hear her sing that score."

Thankfully your attendance is not mandatory.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 5/23/23 at 8:49pm

aliceripleyofficial said: "She completely lacks the charisma and sex appeal that Aurora requires... Not to mention that I cringe at the thought of having to hear her sing that score."

You have a point about sex appeal, but charisma? What!?!?!

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 5/23/23 at 8:53pm

we can disagree over her charisma, but im surprised by the surprise. She often comes up incredibly insincere. Talented, dont get me wrong, but not someone I would think could carry a show based on personality/charisma. 

[Valentina3]

Posted: 5/23/23 at 10:12pm

Y'all are genuinely nasty on here sometimes. So deeply personal comments about another human being whom you don't even know.

[aliceripleyofficial]

Posted: 5/24/23 at 9:08pm

Valentina3 said: "Y'all are genuinely nasty on here sometimes. So deeply personal comments about another human being whom you don't even know."

Having opinions about an artist’s work as an artist is not nasty❤️

 

 

Updated On: 5/24/23 at 09:08 PM

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 5/24/23 at 9:20pm

Valentina3 said: "Y'all are genuinely nasty on here sometimes. So deeply personal comments about another human being whom you don't even know."

this comment would make sense if anyone was attacking her personally (which plenty could...). i sure wasn't. 

[Ke3]

Posted: 5/24/23 at 10:48pm

With the news today of Tina Turner's passing, I couldn't help but think how amazing she would've been in this show.

[Voter]

Posted: 7/3/23 at 3:34pm

Cody Renard Richard posted a photo of the rehearsal room on his insta just now... so this is happening!

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 7/3/23 at 4:05pm

wasnt that just a workshop

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/3/23 at 4:10pm

Voter said: "Cody Renard Richard posted a photo of the rehearsal room on his insta just now... so this is happening!"

There was a 2-week "tier 3" workshop that concluded June 2 with a presentation for investor types.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 7/3/23 at 4:30pm

I don't understand why this would come to broadway.  It sounds like a flop

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/3/23 at 4:33pm

Broadway Flash said: "I don't understand why this would come to broadway. It sounds like a flop"

It is aiming for Broadway because it is being produced by Terrence McNally's widow, it stars a recent Oscar winner in her return to the stage, and it's helmed by HAMILTON's choreographer.

None of the above automatically makes it a hit, obviously, and I have similar fears about its financial prospects + DeBose's box office power. But that's why it's coming.

Updated On: 7/3/23 at 04:33 PM

[BETTY22]

Posted: 7/3/23 at 5:59pm

This sounds AMAZING.

Please let this happen..........

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 7/4/23 at 12:35pm

Would like to see see Blankebeuhler's choreography for this - but not direction.    The Terrence McNally script and physical production deserve a Director. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 7/4/23 at 4:31pm

Spider Woman and Chess are both vying for the Imerial

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/4/23 at 10:24pm

Robbie2 said: "Spider Woman and Chess are both vying for the Imerial"

Imperial feels too big for SPIDER WOMAN with Ariana DeBose as the only ticketselling name (it played the Broadhurst originally). I might be fine for CHESS with Lea Michele as long as the producers aren't superstitious (the short-lived original production played there).

[broadwayboy222]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 12:31am

Personally I’d love to see both Chess and Spiderwoman play their original houses, the Imperial and Broadhurst as a fun nod to their histories! Obviously the Imperial is fair game, however, with zero Tony love and tickets seemingly pretty easy to come by for Beautiful Noise, I can’t imagine it running much longer, thus leaving the Broadhurst open for Spiderwoman to make its return to its original home as well 😄

[inception]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 8:01am

Is something else already lined up for the Jacobs after Parade?  That seems a better fit.  

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 8:21am

I think the Jacobs would be too small for a production of Spider Woman. 

[BJR]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 9:20am

CoffeeBreak said: "Would like to see see Blankebeuhler's choreography for this - but not direction. The Terrence McNally script and physical production deserve a Director."

Agreed. This is not an easy show and thus far, I've yet to see Andy deliver on the level it deserves.

[Nicticorax]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 3:23pm

I'm genuinely confused about the intense skepticism towards Blankenbuehler. Is the issue just that he's primarily a choreographer so people are questioning his directing ability, or did he direct something awful that I'm unaware of? For me, Spider Woman is such a dance-heavy show that it makes sense to have a director/choreographer. Obviously I'd like it to be well directed, but I also feel like the book is strong enough that it will shine through with a good cast.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 3:36pm

Nicticorax said: "I'm genuinely confused about the intense skepticism towards Blankenbuehler. Is the issue just that he's primarily a choreographer so people are questioning his directing ability, or did he direct something awful that I'm unaware of? For me, Spider Woman is such a dance-heavy show that it makes sense to have a director/choreographer. Obviously I'd like it to be well directed, but I also feel like the book is strong enough that it will shine through with a good cast."

I think a lot of people had issues with his direction of ONLY GOLD at MCC and BANDSTAND. And some people have issues with his break-neck choreography style too. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt because this is better material than those other two shows, but this certainly isn't director-proof.

As for DeBose, the Tonys actually endeared her to me more (she did great work in a tough situation), though I'm still skeptical of how much of a box office draw she'll be in this show. It'll need PARADE-level reviews.

[Nicticorax]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 3:42pm

Yeah, that makes sense. My impression is that the vast majority of critics had objections towards Bandstand's book, and I don't think even the best director could have made it a good show. Now, if there was a case where he took proven good material and ruined it, that would be different.

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/5/23 at 3:56pm

Nicticorax said: "I'm genuinely confused about the intense skepticism towards Blankenbuehler. Is the issue just that he's primarily a choreographer so people are questioning his directing ability, or did he direct something awful that I'm unaware of? For me, Spider Woman is such a dance-heavy show that it makes sense to have a director/choreographer. Obviously I'd like it to be well directed, but I also feel like the book is strong enough that it will shine through with a good cast."

I don't know if this was the last musical directed by the great Hal Prince, but it certainly was his last "successful" show.  And he did some marvelous things with it, at times it was top notch musical comedy fare, sometimes campy melodrama, sometimes Felliniesque; these daring and differing tones mixed and matched perfectly.  I'm guessing we worry that without a visionary director this might just be a lesser version of a difficult piece.