"Okay, less aggression. That's my point. The Broadway production doesn't have to use those designs. I'd put down money that part of getting Carousel financed in an out-of-town at the Lyric was Rob Ashford agreeing to go to Houston and direct. I mean, why would he go to direct a co-production between two opera companies? I'm sure he has a lot of love for Carousel, but brother doesn't exactly need to pad his resume.
And if it comes to that - maybe they will buy out Houston. I dunno. I can't speak for them. There are just too many things happening for me to believe that this is just a regional thing."
This was not planned as an out-of-town tryout. This is the Lyric's third annual Rodgers & Hammerstein production in a series of many. He was hired to direct this just as last year he directed Nathan Gunn in The Barber of Seville and Marc Bruni (director of Beautiful) was hired to direct The Sound of Music starring Billy Zane and Jenn Gambatese. It's not beneath Rob Ashford to direct at the Lyric Opera.
I've seen enough shows with rumored possibilities of Broadway transfers that I'll only believe it when I see it. I'm kind of sick of the "if people of this repute are in it then it must be aimed at Broadway" mentality. There are so many high-profile performers and directors who can feel satisfied doing a short and successful run outside of New York--there's more than just location.
That said, The Iceman Cometh moved after an almost three-year gap, so anything is possible.
