Dracula CD Delayed Again- Page 2

[Cages or Wings]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 11:06pm

I am by no means calling you a liar, but I do think that ghostlight may be on to something. I would be very interested to hear your response to the claims that he/she is making regarding what the cast was told, the reasons they were not used, etc, etc. I am not "in" on what happened, and though I am excited for this recording (especially Norm), I do think ghostlight raises some interesting questions.

Thanks,

Jack Moore

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 5:32am

Bump this thread. I want to see Jeremy's reply.
Finally a chance to see a Broadway version of Jerry Springer

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 7:49am

A reply from Jeremy isn't really necessary.

If anyone read the original Kelli O'Hara interview with Playbill.com a few months back, the gist of what ghostlight2 wrote was basically confirmed. Unfortunately, Kelli must have has second thoughts and that interview article was altered later in the day.

Maybe someone saved that interview?

[Jeremy Roberts]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 10:29am

No "Jerry Springer" because I'm using my real name and only speaking about actual, factual events.

Ghostlight2: I challenge you to post the facts, not rumor or innuendo, using your real name.

You can't, as you don't know them.

Frank and his collaborators were working around the clock trying to get them an OBC -- but every effort failed.

Every effort was made -- every record company refused, without underwriting by the producers. The producers refused to participate financially (use marketing budget to pay for cast recording).

Here are some facts:

1. While in previews, Frank started re-writing with his collaborators, Don Black and Christopher Hampton. These new songs were never put in.

2. On Sept. 13, Frank came over to my studio and we started demo-ing the new songs that he wrote for the show, We did about 8 days of work on the new songs (on and off). He took these demos to the producers and director... unfortunately, they refused to put the new songs in the show.

3. About this same time period, Frank asked me to submit a budget for the OBC -- as he was trying to get a record company to release it, and he was lobbying the producers to fund it.

4. When it was very clear that the producers would have nothing to do with funding the OBC, the AUTHORS had to consider their options... they had the rights to record the music, without the production.... the European producer, Stage Holding, agreed to buy the first 10,000 copies of a concept recording, to give away, thinking it would help the show and get it through the winter...

If Frank is guilty of anything, it is being an optimist... for those of you who know him, he is one of the most optimistic people you will ever meet. He fully expects things to work. He expects people to follow through. He doesn't know the word "can't" and he is always supportive of his team... if he implied to a cast member that there would be an OBC, it was because he really thought he could pull it off. When the money simply wasn't there, and NOT A SINGLE RECORD COMPANY was interested in the product, he did what any author would do -- along with his collaborators, they found a way to get their work recorded.

Was the cast upset? Yeah... I would be too... but the "blame" cannot be directed at the authors -- they're doing what they have to do. The authors have every right to record what they want and how they want it, and to use the recording to keep the health of their copyright going.

The producers and director walked away from this show... but the authors did not. The new production in Switzerland last year was an overwhelming success (no flying, addition of the new songs, etc...) - and there are new productions slated for Asia and Europe.

Our recording really has little to do with Broadway -- and more to do with Frank's vision of the score... without the constraints of the physical production - and with the new songs the author's wrote...

Ghostlight2: if you are going to call me a liar in public, you better have your facts straight. I was in the middle of this, and I'm putting my reputation on the line. If you were in the middle of this, then speak up -- who are you? If you weren't in the middle of this, what gives you the right to fabricate a story?
www.globalvisionrecords.com

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 10:49am

NOt to start another big drama, but looks like Frank is blaming everyone except himself...There has to be a reason his shows continue to tank, and he can't keep blaming everyone else forever.

[Jeremy Roberts]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 10:54am

Frank isn't blaming anyone for anything...

Quite the opposite...

The reason we founded GVR is because others told us we can't...

So, instead of making excuses, we made a record.
www.globalvisionrecords.com

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 11:00am

No, but you are, and right now, you're speaking for him.

Maybe the "others" were right. If you did an OBC of Dracula it woudln't have made a profit. WHy should they give you money if they're getting nothing in return except a marketing tool for a show they knew at that point was tanking?

Perhaps more time should be spent of searching for better source material instead of dusting off classic novels nobody wants to see on stage. The British Pop Musical genre is OVER. I don't know why he can't get it into his head.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 11:28am

"The British Pop Musical genre is OVER."

Not as long as Phantom keeps running (and Les Miz in London), Lloyd Webber keeps writing (flops or not, his CDs do sell even if his shows do not). And Boublil and Schoenberg have another show on the way.

"WHy should they give you money if they're getting nothing in return except a marketing tool for a show they knew at that point was tanking?"

Producers invest in a cast recording of a flop show when they have faith in their product. Clearly, the producers lost faith in their own show and threw in the towel. Not sure how Wildhorn can be blamed for that when the producers were willing to put up the money for the show in the first place and then clearly ignore him later.

"Perhaps more time should be spent of searching for better source material instead of dusting off classic novels nobody wants to see on stage."

Perhaps it is because he is writing what he wants to write and not to please you. A more original story does not make a more successful musical. Look at In My Life, Bounce, Follies (not one profitable Broadway or West End production, no matter how many theatre queens drool over the show), Caroline or Change, etc. Speak for yourself, not for others, please. And I guess you've forgotten about Waiting For the Moon, which actually got very good notices for the score and did not retell a classic novel.

Personally, I LOVED the original pre-Broadway production of J&H and the first Broadway version of Scarlet Pimpernel. I remember when Wildhorn was considering Zorro. I wish he had returned to that.

Updated On: 2/28/06 at 11:28 AM

[phantom8019]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 11:33am

Jeremy, thank you for taking the time to respond on here, but it's really not necessary. People are obviously just using this as another way to get out their hatred of Frank Wildhorn.

Thanks for making the CD. I will be buying it.

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 11:37am

The fact is, we will never know what happened.
I'm not sure anyone knows what other people were thinking.

There is a reason the cast was never told right off the bat - and the "why" will always be hidden.

I am glad this CD is Frank's "Vision" but I wish this were a recording of all the music - not just some selected songs.

[Jeremy Roberts]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 1:54pm

My apologies to the community for getting sucked into the negativity.

I was invited to the BWW boards because a friend thought that I may enjoy discussing the creative side of my work with the members. Unfortunately, not everyone here wants to discuss the creative process --

Yes, business is the bigger of the two words in "show business" -- they don't call it "show art" -- and yes, this is my job, but I am also a creative professional, and the creator of lots of the music many of you seem to enjoy.

To hash out business issues in a public forum is simply not the right way - and I will refrain from commenting on all further discussion about the business... BUT I will be here to talk art and to talk creative choices and the process.

I'm also willing to buy the first round with any group of you that wish to meet me in person and discuss the business issues. I'm in NYC. I just won't sling it around in public.

I will also ask the forum admin to pull any business related discussion regarding my projects that is not factual -- if you put your real name on it, it may be considered opinion... If not, it's most likely fiction (and slanderous), and your post will be evidence for possible litigation. Yes, you are hurting me, my family, my business, when you post lies.

Ok, so much for that...

I am always ready to discuss the creative parts of recording.

All the best,

Jeremy
www.globalvisionrecords.com

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 3:19pm

But there ARE those of us who did. And who still do. And by the choices made in creating this CD, it is obvious those people were not important.

Amen!!!

but, regardless, I still adore the material well enough to want to buy this CD...
Updated On: 2/28/06 at 03:19 PM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 4:48pm

"...if you put your real name on it, it may be considered opinion... If not, it's most likely fiction (and slanderous), and your post will be evidence for possible litigation. Yes, you are hurting me, my family, my business, when you post lies. "

Well, threatening me with a lawsuit is possibly not the best way to get me to post my real name, Mr Roberts. I have every right to remain anonymous, in any case. This is a public forum, and every word I have said is the truth. As another poster mentioned Kelli O'Hara has talked about this very subject, as did Chuck Wagner, and in both cases those posts/interviews were edited out shortly after they appeared. Were they, too, threatened with the law?

I have nothing personal against Wildhorn, in fact I think in general, he's a pretty nice guy. He was in the theatre almost every day and was very hands-on. I can't see how you can claim that he didn't get what he wanted from the Broadway production, when he was there all the time and had a good working relationship with director Des MacAnuff. And he clearly is a very optomistic man, and again, in general, I wish him the best.

However. The entire cast (not a cast member) most definately was led to believe that they would be doing the recording and were stunned when the actor (not going to reveal the actor's name, either) that had been approached to do the "concept" album told them about it. I have no reason to lie about this, and certainly, given your threat, have no inclination to divulge my name.

If I have remiss in any way, it will have been saying that you knew about this, when I don't know that for a fact. And if you truly didn't, then I apologise for that. Everything else? Absolutely true.

edited to add that I, too, am done with this discussion, because I don't care for flame-wars, and I'm tired of your threats. All I wanted was for the truth to be told.




Updated On: 2/28/06 at 04:48 PM

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 7:07pm

gl2 - Where did you ever hear the cast was prepared to make a CD? I am pretty sure the cast new, as I understand it (from a certain cast member), I don't think the cast was led to believe they would be recorded.

You make it sound like plans were made and one day Frank et al turned around and said, "Oh, not you. It's too expensive."

I think the major problem was that they all knew the show wasn't doing well financially (nevermind critically) and a CD wasn't made.

I think the cast would have liked Frank and crew to sit down and discuss this - instead of saying "Well, we can't use the main cast, let's find other people" in secret.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 7:12pm

We can all agree he could have handled it better but I do not think it was done maliciously

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 8:33pm

i hate to get off the topic of this discussion, but when you look for it on amazon.com, do you just type in "dracula"?

sorry, and thanks!

:)

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 8:47pm

And what in the end what is so pathethic about all of this?

It is that after p*ssing off the cast and their friends, the CD is just now coming out 16 months - 16 months! after the show closed on Broadway!

So much for the excuse of wanting to get the CD out as soon as possible so they "needed" to record it with a studio cast.

If they were going to wait this long, they might as well have recorded with the original Broadway cast.

Updated On: 2/28/06 at 08:47 PM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 8:47pm

Back to answer BSoBW3's questions.

"gl2 - Where did you ever hear the cast was prepared to make a CD? I am pretty sure the cast knew, as I understand it (from a certain cast member)..." From the cast. From memos.

"I don't think the cast was led to believe they would be recorded."

But they were.

"I think the cast would have liked Frank and crew to sit down and discuss this - instead of saying "Well, we can't use the main cast, let's find other people" in secret."

And yet that is almost exactly what happened. Discussions were had, the cast WAS led to believe that FW was still working on them doing it, and all the while, plans were laid for the concept album. Without the actors' knowlege. It would have been one thing to say, "Hey, this is not going to work out, and this is what I'm going to do instead", but what occurred was "Hey, we're still working on an OBC" when the concept album was already underway. It is possible that Mr Roberts did not know about this, but if he's a collaborator of FW's, it seemed extremely unlikely to me. If he truly did not know about this, I owe him and have tendered an apology, but this was common knowlege in the theater.

That information would have come from the entire cast, not just one cast member, BSoBW3. These people were stunned and felt betrayed when they found out about the concept album. This is not rumour, innuendo, or speculation.

I will absolutely agree with Roxy that the whole situation was mishandled, and also agree that there was no malice intended. But FW should have been upfront with the cast about it. He's a very thick-skinned individual, and possibly he thought they were better off not knowing until the last minute. Maybe it was easier for him this way. I can't speak to his intentions.

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 8:54pm

This type of telling the underlings one thing while something else is being planned unfortunately happens all the time in the corporate.

as just one example:
manager - "no plans to move to Ft. Worth"
a month later, a meeting is called and employees told the group is moving to Ft. Worth

the upper management NEVER tell you what they are doing; NEVER

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 9:03pm

And on that note, musicalsfan, a portion of an interview with Chuck Wagner, about a year ago...and it seems to be from this board. Regarding the concept album....

"There may be some legal issues to deal with, and I think that Frank wasn’t as upfront about this as he could have been. When the cast found out what was going on, Frank had to acknowledge what his plan was and that it was a shortcoming on his part. This created a bit of drama, where prior notification would have defused the problem."

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 2/28/06 at 10:34pm

Ah, I had forgotten that Chuck Wagner also made some public statements.

And this was not the only time he had been disappointed in his dealings with Frank Wildhorn. Apparently, there had been some sort of "understanding" but no written contract that CW would take over the lead role of J&H on Broadway which never happened because after Rob Evan left, the powers-that-be decided to start stunt casting with Jack Wagner, Sebastian Bach, and David Hasselhoff.

Gotta love show business.

[hot_brdwy_diva]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 2:43am

Yay for Wildhorn! I love his music and can't wait to add Dracula to my Wildhorn collection.

[WildhornFanatic]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 9:40am

At least someone besides me is excited!!

[umgeoboy]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 12:21pm

I am very excited as well! I cant wait to order this and jekyll and hyde! Very excited for April.