Bonnie and Clyde

[chosetoforget]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 1:29pm

I know there's been a lot of speculation, especially with Wonderland flopping, but has there been any word on whether or not Bonnie and Clyde will hit Broadway, and when? I've heard both August and September tossed around.

[philly03]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 2:50pm

WONDERLAND is Wildhorn's biggest flop to date at $13 MIL (as well as the shortest run), but that team was made up mostly with Wildhorn "favourites." Bonnie & Clyde has Don Black (eh say what you will) and Ivan Menchell with lyrics and book, respectfully.

Producers aim for beginning performances in August, but I wouldn't question if a few investors pulled out with Wonderland's closing. No doubt that Wildhorn having two shows running simultaneously would've helped the marketing of each other (as it did with the other 3 before).

Still, look on Amazon: WONDERLAND is in the Top 10 Best Selling Broadway/Vocalist album, for example. It's a testament to Wildhorn's music, which regardless of the shows is increasingly popular.

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 3:19pm

The difference with "Bonnie & Clyde" is, it's actually a good show. Not an expensive or elaborate production set-wise, either.

Is it the next "Book of Mormon"? Absolutely not. But I think at the very least it will get good reviews and last for a while.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 3:37pm

I hope Bonnie & Clyde makes it to Broadway, but I don't see it as a commercially viable subject for musicalization for the tourists to keep afloat. It would need FANTASTIC reviews to really have a shot at some staying power.

[roadmixer]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 4:29pm

There is absolutely no chance that Bonnie & Clyde will open this August... not likely this year actually. Great show though. Hopefully it can remain un-tainted by some questionable efforts in the past by Wildhorn.

[ReggieonBway]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 4:35pm

I wouldn't agree with that at all. The main difference between Bonnie & Clyde and Wonderland is that Bonnie & Clyde is a quality show. Laura Osnes was brilliant when I saw it in Sarasota.

[goldenboy]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 6:00pm

Bonnie and Clyde deserves a Broadway Run. Enjoyed in immensely in Sarasota.

I am not a fan of Wonderland and generally not a Wildhorn lover
but this show is excellent, intelligent, well staged, well thought out. has a great score and is entertaining.

Think it will surprise a lot of people and the give Wildhorn accolades for a fine score.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 6:03pm

Wildhorn will get good reviews when:

Obama becomes a Republican
Bloomberg stops being NY'S Mary Poppins
The Mets become a good team
The cast album of Lestat is released & goes to # 1
There is middle east peace
Dolly disses Channing

Meaning never

A shame but the truth.

Posted: 5/26/11 at 6:30pm

Is Wildhorn the only link between Bonnie and Wonderland? Will the failure of Wonderland make that big a difference? (I do have no doubt that if Wonderland miraculously had been a big hit, it would have upped the chances of Bonnie).

The general consensus on here is that Bonnie and Clyde is actually a good show. I don't wanna offend anyone by saying this but... Are there people who have never liked a Wildhorn musical before, who feel that way?

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 6:36pm

Or maybe he'll get good reviews when he writes good music.

[ReggieonBway]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 7:24pm

I've never liked a Wildhorn show before Bonnie & Clyde. It's usually nothing to do with the music - though the music tends to be unmemorable - he just manages to team up with writers who don't mesh with his composition style. I genuinely enjoyed B & C though.

Posted: 5/26/11 at 7:47pm

Intriguing--since on the surface it seems like one of the least likely shows for him

[Actor2]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 8:08pm

Unrelated but:

Bonnie and Clyde & Jekyll and Hyde.

Ha.

[philly03]

Posted: 5/26/11 at 8:23pm

"Is Wildhorn the only link between Bonnie and Wonderland? Will the failure of Wonderland make that big a difference? (I do have no doubt that if Wonderland miraculously had been a big hit, it would have upped the chances of Bonnie). "

Wildhorn's track record is horrendous... his first three efforts (Jekyll & HYDE, The Scarlet Pimpernel (3 times in 2 years), and The Civil War) together lost $20 MIL, including about $1.5 MIL lost from the long-running J&H. DRACULA, the musical lost about $10 Mil I believe was the budget, and Wonderland just lost $10 MIL.

The real money in Wildhorn shows is who will get the international rights, recording rights and US amateur rights. That's why usually things get rushed - ie: Dracula became a big hit in Europe after vast re-writes that Frank claims the producers wouldn't allow (such as perhaps the show's most famous songs "Please Don't Make Me Love You" (recently released on Linda Eder's new Wildhorn album "Now") and the James Barbour favourite "Loving You Keeps Me Alive").

His records sell, regardless of what people say, very very good for Broadway cast recordings (there are 4 cast recordings available of J&H alone available in English for sale still), including one of his most recent "the Count of Monte Cristo" which went Platinum yet never played a performance in America (it's in English).

Ironically WONDERLAND and Bonnie & Clyde were written/premiered at the same time - November '09 for B&C, December '09 for Wonderland (across the country!).

[sorano916]

Posted: 5/27/11 at 12:52am

I wonder which version of Bonnie & Clyde would be brought to Broadway. I've heard the La Jolla's version & saw Sarasota's. I liked Sarasota's songs more. But it might be a mixed of both... I just hope that Laura & Jeremy continue with it. Along with the actress who played sister-in-law, whose name I'm blanking on.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/27/11 at 7:40pm

Wrong Erik

[dented146]

Posted: 5/27/11 at 8:28pm

I saw Bonnie and Clyde two seasons ago in La Jolla. It was not a very good show overall. The first act was a jumble. But about half of the second act was fabulous. The reviews were not good.

So I was wondering if anyone knows what changes were made for Sarasota and why most people there seem to like it a lot.

[sorano916]

Posted: 5/27/11 at 8:38pm

So I was wondering if anyone knows what changes were made for Sarasota and why most people there seem to like it a lot.

Here's my write-up of the Asolo Rep production:
http://tinyurl.com/3ka4ddn

[philly03]

Posted: 5/27/11 at 8:56pm

I think the story is more clarified and pointed, as the plot now opens with the obvious ending and the additional of a young Bonnie & young Clyde.

To be fair I remember the La Jolla views being mixed, and were especially positive for Laura Osnes. I believe one review went as far to say that the score was "undeniably impressive" or something along those lines.

Thanks for posting your review sorano - The show does drag a bit, the second act is long!

[Wicked Fanatic]

Posted: 5/31/11 at 3:00pm

Bump...
There's a reading in Manhattan in NYC with Laura Osnes and Jeremy Jordan from the Sarasota production scheduled for June 9-10 with a planned Fall 2011 Broadway opening.
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/151343-EXCLUSIVE-Laura-Osnes-and-Jeremy-Jordan-Are-Outlaws-Bonnie-and-Clyde-in-NYC-Reading-of-Musical-in-June

[broadwaybabytn]

Posted: 5/31/11 at 3:31pm

On another note, didn't Hunter Foster write a Bonnie and Clyde piece as well?

[Eris0303]

Posted: 5/31/11 at 4:00pm

I have to think Laura Osnes getting a few nominations for her current role could help. No Tony nomination and no wins but it shows she has respect in the community. And then there's the fact that Jeremy is in the upcoming Queen Latifah movie "Joyful Noise" which could either be a hit or a Sister Act wannabe.

These factors certainly couldn't hurt the chances of bringing the show to Broadway.

[philly03]

Posted: 5/31/11 at 5:21pm

Jeff Calhoun did an interview today. Looks like it's basically going to happen (pending a reading in June), with a hopeful opening November-December.

Apparently they have a theatre in mind as well (It's a small show set-wise).

He is also in talks to be the director of the upcoming revival of Jekyll & HYDE in '12-'13 (approx). Updated On: 5/31/11 at 05:21 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/31/11 at 7:56pm

Hopefully they will do the cast album before it opens like they did with Wonderland. Once the critics finish with it the closing notice will be posted.

[philly03]

Posted: 5/31/11 at 8:00pm

Calhoun seems very very serious about making this a big hit. I'll try to find the interview, but he basically said he'd love this one to be his hit that has a long life, something he thought he would've got with Brooklyn.

One of my complaints was Act II was too long - they have cut the song (for now) "Too Late to Turn Back Now," the song after Clyde's first killing.