DANCIN' To Receive First Broadway Revival — Page 2

I didn't know. A look through his IBDB page, and you see a lot of Scott Rudin productions, or "event shows", so I assumed that was a safe bet. Thanks for the insight.

Oh okay cool yeah doesn’t sound like something I’d be into.

The wonderful Dylis Croman is involved in this production.

Updated On: 3/17/22 at 08:53 AM

The pre-Broadway engagement at The Old Globe begins tonight and runs through May 29.

theoldglobe.org/bobfossesdancin

Watered down Bob Fosse like FOSSE was. Even the dancers who workshopped FOSSE and performed it on Broadway knew it could have been so much better. I feel this DANCIN’ revival will be the same. Like one overdone Steps on Broadway choreographer showcase just with progressional dancers. Oy!

Sure looks like it's getting a progressive update to me! That's male dancer Kolton Krouse.

Here's the program from the Old Globe. No list of numbers, but based on the included interview with Wayne Cilento it's clear that it's not the same show that played in '78, but more a blend with Fosse and other works. "I think people who know Dancin’ the way it was will either be very excited about what they’re going to see, or they’ll hate it. We’ve recreated some pieces from other parts of his career: Sweet Charity, Pippin, The Little Prince, My Sister Eileen. It’s kind of like telling his journey as a choreographer." Run time is listed as 2:20 with one intermission.

https://www.theoldglobe.org/globalassets/pdfs/programs/2022/bobfossesdancin-2022-final.pdf?id=45978

We see this with a group of friends in early May here in San Diego, our hometown. Very excited! We don't pay attention to the negativity of self-appointed Fosse "authorities". This is exactly the JOY needed to help pull us away from the dreadful pandemic. Let's dance!

Updated On: 4/23/22 at 02:50 PM

I recall the original production had some really brilliant moments but there were many dull stretches in it. I guess the term "uneven" applies.

Whenever this comes to Broadway (Spring '23?), it should be for a limited run. Don't see this with much appeal nor much of a general audience.

I saw the Sunday performance and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I will preface by stating that I'm not familiar with the original Dancin or Fosse aside from their Tony telecasts.

Based on the song list, it does seem to have a lot in common with the original Broadway production in the late 70s. It starts with Crunchy Granola Suite - and the cast is incredible! It moves to Mr. Bojangles, Percussion (parts 1-4, including ionization), and Big Noise from Winnetka (with trippy projections).



Then, I'm guessing the show diverges slightly from the original production by paying homage to Fosse's shows with a loose storyline of a boy visiting a big city. Here, however, the music is arranged such that the tunes are in barely recognizable form. I recognized tunes from Sweet Charity (Hey Big Spender) , Pippin (Glory/Manson Trio, Magic to Do), Cabaret (Mein Herr), Gypsy (Let me Entertain You).



Act 1 ends with I Wanna be a Dancin Man. Act 2 opens with Sing Sing Sing. Impressive. Notably, the Trumpet solo part was performed by Kolton Krouse.



That is followed by a comedy scene (while they do a scene change?) that addresses feminism which simply did not work in my opinion. Next, there's a scene that is listed as "Romantic Fantasy" but I don't remember much. Next was "If it Feels Good Let It Ride" This leads to the America? sequence. They took the approach of critiquing the meaning of America heavy-handedly. (e.g. the cast lining up to say a line of quote from historical figures that critiques America one by one, projections of Amanda Gorman speech, etc.) Watching it in 2022, it felt a bit predictable and the direction felt stale and I'm not sure if the message is as powerful as it was intended to be. (I found some clips from the 70s cast performing the songs in patriotic TV appearance, which was quite the departure.)



Lastly, the show ends with The Big Deal sequence. Khori Michelle Petinaud belts out Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries, some of the dancers have fun in Ain't We Got Fun, and then Tony d'Alelio and Nando Morland leads the cast in the exhilarating number Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar (the number that was performed by Wayne Cilento in the original Broadway production of Fosse's flop The Big Deal in 1986).



There was some Epilogue scene and then the curtain call. Overall, I loved the production as a whole. Would love to see it Opening or Closing night on Broadway with an enthusiastic audience.

troynow said: "Here is the big problem. All of the fall theatres are currently booked with backups."

As we know from other out-of-town tryouts, if a show hits big out of town, a theatre can magically become available (especially if Dessie Moynihan of Shubert gives it her blessing). I don't expect they want a massive house for this –– a playhouse would suffice. But there's no guarantee it will hit big at the Old Globe.

There's also the money-raising factor.