The recent record of televised musicals on network tv is not great. Was the last one "Once Upon A Mattress"? We had the deadly dull Music Man (2003) with Tony winner Matthew Broderick (and Kristin Chenowith). South Pacific (2001)with Glenn Close and Harry Connick Jr. Jason Alexander in Bye Bye Birdie
Then there were two "originals" neither of which I saw:
"Gepetto" (2000) with songs by Stephen Schwartz
And Xmas Carol (2004) with songs by Mencken/Ahrens and Kelsey Grammer (Scrooge), Jason Alexander (Marley), Jennifer Love Hewitt (Emily), Ruthie Henshall (Scrooge’s Mother), Jane Krakowski (Christmas Past), Jesse L. Martin (Christmas Present), Geraldine Chaplin (Christmas Future
So, no high hopes for Sound of Music, just based on what has transpired.
Thanks for the update, Sooner2. I'll do my best to keep an open mind.
Ouch, ggersten, that's a depressing list, isn't it? It makes the KISMETs and DAMN YANKEES of the early 1970s seem sublime!
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I for one don't understand the fuss over "live" TV. That it is live is only interesting if something goes horribly wrong.
Thanks for the info.re sopranos and the role--I suppose all I can hear is Julie Andrews when I hear those songs.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
">> I think once people tune in and realize that [our version] is not a remake, they won't compare it to the movie.
Be afraid.
Be very afraid...."
"Carrie's comment about how there won't be any comparisons because it's not a remake? Is she really that naive?"
There are some differences in the stage show. For one thing Rolf doesn't reveal to the Nazis where the Von Trapps are hiding. He keeps it a secret because he still has some feelings for Liesl. Before that she introduces Maria to him at the mansion before he upsets her. Maria also apparently leaves the family after having a conversation with Brigitta rather than the Baroness. Some lines are also different. One example would be when Maria explains to the Captain what he does not know about the children, Marta is the one she does not know much about rather than Louisa. She says that Louisa wants to have fun and the Captain has just got to let her fun. I think when they did the movie, they either thought the audiences would not know a lot about Louisa either or they thought it would've been bad for Maria to say she knew nothing about a 7 year old.
Updated On: 7/4/13 at 11:30 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/8/12
In the original Broadway production (which I assume will be live televised version) Maria sings MY FAVORITE THINGS in the Mother Abbess's office, just before she sends Maria to serve Captain von Trapp's family as governess to his seven children. THE LONELY GOATHERD is sung in the children's bedroom to comfort them during the storm. DO RE MI is sung in the living room of Captain von Trapp's house, shortly after Maria introduces herself to the children. The party is held in the first act and the children sing SO LONG FAREWELL. CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN is sung at the end of the first act.
That's the original Broadway, but several revivals since have changed elements- some inspired by the criticisms that claimed the film was structurally stronger than the original stage show's script, others for other reasons.
I would imagine what we get on NBC will be as much influenced by later revivals as by the original staging and licensed script.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
In some versions of the musical, "The Lonely Goatherd" is sung at the music festival. But in most recent revivals it is sung in the garden right after the Captain asks Maria to stay.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
The date for when the program will air has been announced.
Carrie Underwood-Led SOUND OF MUSIC to Premiere on NBC 12/5
This article says it will be a live holiday broadcast. It's a film. What does that mean? Will they have a person or people introducing it live? Where will they be?
Confused at how a film gets broadcast live.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
Who said it was a film?
It's not a film. It WILL be filmed as they are performing it LIVE.
CarlosAlberto, I had the same thought as you wrote. But then I saw this sentence in the article:
"The network announced today that the film, executive produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, will premiere on Thursday, December 5, 2013."
Oh yes, you need to understand that BWW articles are riddled with goofs and misinformation. No one proofreads them. There is a whole tumblr feed dedicated to the best ones.
So I could see how that would be confusing.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
Here is Playbill's version. They say it will still be a three hour live broadcast.
The Sound of Music, with "American Idol" Winner Carrie Underwood, Will Air in December
Would love a link to that tumblr Carlos.
LOL I love today's "article" about that "new" image for Frozen. That images has been floating around the web for weeks.
Personally, I think this has the possibility for being a huge hit for NBC. Carrie has a very strong and loyal fan base on top of the fact that people will watch it for the fact that the show itself is a classic.
Can somebody tell Miss Underwood that "The Lonely Goatherd" is not a song about bestiality in Appalachia?
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
Though Perez Hilton is an egotistical jerk and an annoying media freak, this idea for who should play Captain von Trapp is not bad at all.
"Hmm, we wonder who will play the dashing Mr. Von Trapp…
Oh man, we would LOVE it if Hugh Jackman got in on the action!
Hey, if he can do the character of Jean Valjean justice, he'd be an X-ellent choice for Sound of Music's leading man!"
http://perezhilton.com/2013-05-13-carrie-underwood-the-sound-of-music-nbc-live-production-december-5#.UdTtPUGgXQ4
I re-watched 'Les Miserables' today and I remember reading this on Perez Hilton's website one day when the news of the musical's broadcast was announced. I happened to stumble upon the website and the article because it was one of the articles on Google news. If Hugh does not have a busy schedule this December he would make an excellent Captain Von Trapp. Plus he said that he's always wanted to do more musicals.
ETA: Though Jackman is probably on the top of people's minds for the role, it sucks that Hilton thought of this idea before I did.
Updated On: 7/4/13 at 11:39 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/11
I can't imagine Jackman being interested in playing a character who doesn't have even one solo in the whole show. I think he's too big at this point to play second fiddle to Underwood.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/07
^ He sings most of "Edelweiss" on his own.
I don't see Jackson in this. He could do it, but I don't think he'd want to.
It will have to be someone willing to do live TV, so look for someone with a theatre or "live singing" background, like another country star or pop star (older).
They also have to be old enough (or look and act old enough) to have 7 kids. Granted, Christopher Plummer was only 34 when he did the film (with grayed temples and a very mature demeanor).
^Reads like you're describing Tim McGraw.
Stand-by Joined: 11/10/10
How about Paulo Szot?
I can't believe Plummer was only 34! That's so young and he's so clearly great in that role, I imagined he was older, that's so interesting. Obviously Jackman will not be involved with this, and clearly with the Underwood casting it seems like they are going with some really out of the box choices, so it's very unpredictable who it will be.
I think Underwood is famous enough that they could go with someone lesser known as the Captain. I love the Paul Szot suggestion, only the role wouldn't give him the best opportunity to utilize his glorious voice to its full potential.
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