Do shows do brush up rehearsals anymore with original director?

[morosco]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 9:45pm

Does anyone know if any currently long running shows on Broadway get visited on a regular basis by the show's original director? Is there such a thing as brush up rehearsals anymore? An opportunity to whip things into shape? Take out the "improvements"?

[JasonM12480]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 11:23pm

I'm fairly certain Hal Prince is pretty faithful in keeping up with the health of his long-running shows, such as Phantom. He came and directed the new Las Vegas version, and I saw in an interview that he visits the New York production every 6 months to a year to take notes and clean things up. Not sure about anyone else.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 11:24pm

Definitely Hal Prince.

[KQuill]

Posted: 10/9/06 at 11:24pm

he dropped by Phantom on broadway just last Wednesday.

[morosco]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 12:24pm

I forgot about Hal Prince. I remember reading about him doing that. But I wonder about other shows. I wonder why the producers don't spend the money to do it every 3 or 6 months. Sure it's the stage manager's duty to keep the show in shape but even the most talented can only do so much. Seems like it would be a worthwhile investment. (And if I were a director and my name was on a show I'd even consider doing it for free every once and a while.)
Updated On: 10/10/06 at 12:24 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 12:28pm

Michael Bennett also springs to mind, going back and forth from ACL and Dreamgirls. Hell, he was still changing Dreamgirls halfway into its run.

Avenue Q recently implimented changes in their show, based on the Las Vegas and London cuts.

Robert Roth revisited Beauty and the Beast with Donny Osmond and yelled at him for breaking the 4th wall and winking at the audience.
--

I emailed Baayork Lee the other night to compliment her on ACL, which I had seen the evening before. Her response was something to the effect of "Thanks for the kind words. We still have many hours to go back and fix."

[morosco]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 12:32pm

"I emailed Baayork Lee the other night to compliment her on ACL, which I had seen the evening before. Her response was something to the effect of "Thanks for the kind words. We still have many hours to go back and fix." "

That was a recent email? So they are still fine tuning? Glad to hear that they are so dedicated to the production.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 12:37pm

I got that email on Sunday night, after seeing the show Saturday afternoon.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 4:33pm

It really is on a case by case basis. I think in general most directors will come back from time to time to give notes...I don't know about calling actual brush up rehearsals. I think if things are getting really bad the stage manager does it. But almost all directors will come back and give notes on how to tighten things up.

[jv92]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 8:26pm

Ann Reinking and Walter Bobbie shoudld think about checking in on Chicago. Last time I saw it, it was a mess.

[Becky]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 8:39pm

I know Michael Greif used to drop in on RENT (as well as the tours) fairly often. Not sure how much he does anymore - but I remember he used to give a LOT of notes after a visit
Updated On: 10/10/06 at 08:39 PM

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 8:47pm

Prince sees Phantom on NY about every 2-3 months...in London, the US Tour, and probably Vegas, he visits them individually every 6 months.

I know Joe Mantello checks in on Wicked very often, especially when casts have a major change.

[Josephine2]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 8:48pm

It probably is on a case-by-case basis, but I feel like if they are able, directors and choreographers stay invested in their work. I know that Mark Bramble and Randy Skinner would pay visits to "42nd Street" (sometimes unbeknownst to the cast) to watch and maintain the show. I also heard that Casey Nicholaw recently did the same for "Spamalot." I think it especially occurs when a new lead goes into the show or after there has been a significant cast turn-over.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 8:50pm

I think Rent could use some Michael Greif right now.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 8:51pm

yeah, i guess Michael can not check up on RENT as much right now since he is busy with GREY GARDENS...

[winston89]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 8:52pm

I know that Michael Grife the director of RENT used to visit the show every couple of months or so. But, because there has been a lot of cast changes and people are staying for shotrt times now. He would visit on the opening night of the new cast member instead of every few months like he used to.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 9:03pm

BOTH Walter Bobbie and Ann Reinking come back to help direct and choreograph from time to time. I know Brooke Shields was lucky to have a private acting and dancing session with both of them.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 9:06pm

I've seen Casey at Spamalot numerous times. Last I saw him was back in June when the new cast was beginning.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 9:21pm

I believe that Gower Champion had three shows running simultaeously on Broadway. He used to carry index cards in his pocket which featured the playing times of all the numbers in his show. He's drop in on DOLLY to see "Sunday Clothes", then head over to I DO! I DO! to catch "Love Isn't Everything" and then maybe go to SUGAR to see "The Beauty That Drives Me Mad". He would call rehearsals within the next few days for numbers that were becoming sloppy.

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 10/10/06 at 9:25pm

I think Joe Mantello may do it for Wicked because staging changes made on the tour were intergrated into the Broadway production fairly quickly.