Broadway Failure Beofre The Show Opens

I would LOVE to see this show jump up and prove everyone wrong. =)

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i think TABOO may be suffering in the media and with the whisper talk from Rosie's personality. She was so powerful and helpful to broadway when she had her show and I think the community really appreciated her. When she left the show she still had a lot of love from the bway folk...then... she misunderstood people's affection for her... i think she over played her hand by creating an vibe that people owed her. Maybe they did but she probably should have come back to collect her bway debt with more humility and self deprecation. People tend to want to repay you with love and support if you don't present yourself like a debt collector. Taboo should be the star and not rosie. Her pushing and shoving personality is getting in the way of the show and I get the impression that the media and the tastemakers want to put her in her place. Remember the Paul Simon musical CAPEMAN. His arrogance and professional suicide was certianly worse and no matter how good the show was, the tastemakers wanted blood. Rosie's offences are not as major but she needs to do some behind the scenes smoothing of the crooked places!

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David Merrick came back time and time again

Updated On: 10/26/03 at 02:13 AM

What disturbs me are the people who either wish this production ill will, or support boycotting it. When all is said and done about Rosie's personal style, the backlash against her management/marketing techniques, and even the speculation about her wanting payback ... isn't the bottom line her investment in the very medium this web site adores? From Zigfeld through David Merrick, the theater has always had bigger-than-life personalities as producers -- some bulls in some china shops, to be sure -- and just maybe Rose is following in those footsteps. Ultimately, it comes down to putting money where one's mouth is, and this she has done, with ten million. This show employs hundreds, stands to entertain thousands... Before you say, "yeah, but--" this post isn't a pie-eyed apologia about this woman's personalty, it's just a reality check about a fragile biz. Broadway always needs people to invest, to nurture new works. Nurturing means spending money. My feeling is, let's cheer her and support this endeavor. If she fails, the NEXT person with ten million might not come forward. And we need those millions! (NB, People argued the same thing a decade ago when Disney got involved -- like, "Disney, go home!" My dear friend just came back from 18 months on the road with B&B, was able to pay off his mortgage, so thank you very much, Disney theatricals.)

Yes, all of us here can pick and choose what we spend our money on. I love opening the Times and seeing a record number of shows to PICK from. We'll only have a varied array of things to choose from if people like Rosie continue to produce. When she was tirelessly supporting TITANTIC, SIDE SHOW, and raising the Tony ratings, people blessed her; so she's gone and tried her hand, taking great risks. I hope just one thing:that TABOO is packin' em in come June. Putting smiles on audience faces and money in the bank for a lot of artists. Then, will her strategy, behavior, or personal quirks mean a damned thing?

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Updated On: 10/26/03 at 10:16 AM

There will always be criticism about the Broadway theater scene. Even the greatest musical on earth, A Chorus Line, had many people criticizing it. They said nobody wanted to see a musical about dancers without any scenery. They were mad that it didn't have an intermission. They said "What I Did For Love" was saccharine. People will always criticize the workings of the theater. It's just the nature of the beast.

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I think Auggie and I were more referring to the rumors and cattiness--not genuine lack of interest which is totally one's right. =)

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I hope it stays open at least until 12/7 so I can see it and give you my humble opinion.

Auggie27, very well said, thank you:)

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