Duncan Slams Sorry State of Broadway Musicals -

[Craig]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 11:05am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/l.cfm?id=37920

Worth registering (it's free) to read...

[Matt_G]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 11:08am

Thanks, Craig!
I'll post it here, too -

Duncan slams sorry state of Broadway musicals

BY DOMINIC P. PAPATOLA

Pioneer Press


Sandy Duncan is mad as hell, and she doesn't care who knows it.

The perennially perky star of television and the stage comes to the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts this week headlining a tour of "The King and I." Duncan has a special place in her heart for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical — the show marked her professional debut as a 12-year-old in Dallas.

EDITED FOR COPYRIGHT

Updated On: 7/18/04 at 11:08 AM

[G]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 11:08am

If he thinks Broadway's in a bad state, she should write about the West End! I think more shows are closing by the minute in London than in NY at the moment. Updated On: 7/18/04 at 11:08 AM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 11:12am

Shows are expensive to mount these days. Do you blame a producer for wanting a sure hit? Why doesn't Duncan put her money where her mouth is?

PS: She began her career in King & I as a child? Was she a blonde Siam child?

[CastAlbumFan]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 11:18am

I've always wondered why Sandy Duncan didn't originate more Broadway shows. She's VERY talented and a legitimate triple-threat!

After reading this article, I'm beginning to understand why...

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 11:19am

I agree Gotham - I usually like her, she's a nice lady, but she doesn't sound like she's very educated on this issue.

Updated On: 7/18/04 at 11:19 AM

[sean martin]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 11:58am

Not to debate Ms. Duncan's stand, but has anyone seen this tour of King and I?

I believe the phrase she uses is "drek" and "pale imitation"? Perhaps madam would like to avail the services of this rather large, full-length mirror?

Sorry, there's just a bit of hypocricy at play here.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 12:37pm

WHAT??? No, Sean - not an EQUITY tour. Impossible!!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 12:44pm

I find it interesting that she slams those long running shows that are making money, such as CHICAGO, then they go on to list some of her Broadway credits, such as CHICAGO!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 1:09pm

Perhaps this thread should be combined with the Jessica Simpson thread. Ms. Duncan is seems to be competing with Ms. Simpson and Ms. Spears for Stupidest Performer of 2004.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 3:47pm

Great. This article with her one-sided spin made it into the NY Times - at least online.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 4:20pm

Oh, SANDY Duncan. I thought it was Duncan Nutter!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 4:33pm

She's sounding about as reasonable as Duncan Nutter, so I can understand your confusion.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 4:34pm

Well, I can certainly see NutterButter singing Getting to 'Know' you. But is he EQUITY?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 4:47pm

Only if the usher's union is part of Equity.

[DoReMi]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 5:13pm

Hi..can someone past a link to the NY Times version of this? I can't get into the other one. Thanks

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 6:04pm

Why do stars bother to open their mouths? This reminds me of when Carol Burnett came back to Broadway in "Moon Over Buffalo" in 1995. In an interview, she stated how horrible the theater district had become (porn shops, etc). It was the dumbest statement anyone could make. She had not seen how horrible Times Square had been in the 1970's and '80s. By 1995, that area was experiencing a renaissance and was moving toward cleaning up. As much as I like Carol Burnett, she didn't have any business talking about how bad New York was since she had spent all those years in California.

Updated On: 7/18/04 at 06:04 PM

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 6:26pm

I just came back from seeing THE KING & I in Raleigh, NC. I thought this was the Sandy Duncan tour, but it wasn't. It starred Lou Diamond Phillips as "The King" and Patty Goble as "Anna."

Is Duncan joining this tour, or is it a new touring production?

[MusicMan]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 11:02pm

Though everything she says is common knowledge and a sorry cliche by this point, it's also undeniably true.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 11:28pm

What she says is true. It would be nice if every season there was a fresh offering of new musicals. But that isn't the way that Broadway is working these days. We're still in a soft economy and it's a miracle that the shows currently playing have survived. Broadway patrons are nervous about popping $100 for something that they aren't going to like. And can you blame them? $100 is a lot of money for a show.

Obviously she is looking at retirement and somewhat bitter about her career. In 1969, she did two original musicals on Broadway which didn't last very long. The rest of her Broadway career has been working in revivals. She hasn't originated a role since 1969. It just seems like sour grapes.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 7/18/04 at 11:37pm

I saw the show when it came to Dallas and it was spectacular! Duncan is a gem!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 11:49am

Bump for Albin.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 11:51am

**sighs** sandy sandy sandy.... not wanting to work any more, eh?

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 11:56am

The big problem - she's absolutely right in everything she said.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/19/04 at 12:07pm

So, if she is so horrified why doesn't she put her money where her mouth is and produce something herself? Please,another revival of THE KING AND I ain't gonna shake things up.