Encores at City Center

#1

Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 1:30pm

They have announced two of their three shows for next season. Kismet and 70 Girls 70 are on the list.

Can Brian Stokes Mitchell play Hajj?

PS: I'm not saying BSM was cast. That was meant to be a plea as in "please can we have BSM as Hajj".

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If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

Updated On: 9/7/05 at 01:30 PM

#2

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 1:33pm

Can Brian Stokes Mitchell play Hajj?

You bet your sweet life he can!

#3

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 1:38pm

He certainly does like his Alfred Drake/Howard Keel roles doesn't he.

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"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds." ~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns

#4

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 1:38pm

Any cast for 70 yet?

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Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson

#5

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 1:39pm

Oh SH!T!!! I didn't even see that 70 GIRLS 70 was official yet!!! I gotta call the EMS!

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"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds." ~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns

#6

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 1:40pm

The third show hasn't been announced, but once again they continue to ignore Sondheim.

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If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

Updated On: 9/7/05 at 01:40 PM

#7

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 2:12pm

Kismet
Kelsey Grammer as Haji
Tim Curry (wazir), Eden Espinoza, Kristin Chenoweth at Lalume would be great.

70 Girls 70
Cloris Leachman
Tony Roberts
Hal Linden
Dixie Carter

#8

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 2:16pm

Gothampc, which of Sondheim's musicals would you have them perform?

Updated On: 9/7/05 at 02:16 PM

#9

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 2:20pm

They are seriously considering ANYONE CAN WHISTLE.

#10

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 2:26pm

"Gothampc, which of Sondheim's musicals would you have them perform?"

Anyone Can Whistle
Merrily We Roll Along
Pacific Overtures (before Roundabout did it)
Do I Hear A Waltz
Assassins (before Roundabout did it)
The Frogs (before LCT did it)

The purpose of Encores is to re-listen to shows that aren't regularly produced. Any of the above would have fit the bill.

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If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

Updated On: 9/7/05 at 02:26 PM

#11

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 2:33pm

Encores is more complicated then that Goth. One of the reasons that the shows you list were never done by Encores, is that companies like the Roundabout and LCT had already expressed interest in mounting full productions of them.

Two of those shows, however -- THE FROGS and ASSASSINS wouldn't have qualified for consideration, because Encores only stages shows that have already been seen on Broadway before.

What is chosen by Encores is very political, of course, but the reality is, a lot of writers/producers hold out on Encores, because they have (realistic or not) "bigger" plans for their properties.

Updated On: 9/7/05 at 02:33 PM

#12

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 2:39pm

Marin Mazzie as Lalume........please, please, please!

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"Did you know that if you take the first two vowels in Olive and rearrange them it spells I-Love?"-Spelling Bee "It's night like this that hotel bars were specifically made." Light In The Piazza

#13

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 2:43pm

"What is chosen by Encores is very political, of course, but the reality is, a lot of writers/producers hold out on Encores, because they have (realistic or not) "bigger" plans for their properties."

While I understand that, I believe Sondheim would have let them tackle "Anyone Can Whistle" or "Merrily We Roll Along" in their first few seasons (they started in 1994). Sondheim knows no Broadway producer is banging down the door for those two.

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If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

Updated On: 9/7/05 at 02:43 PM

#14

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 2:52pm

Well MERRILY had a big revival Off Broadway in about 1993, so it probably wasn't high up on the list for early Encores seasons.

And Arthur Laurents probably has had more to do with the reasons WHISTLE hasn't been done than Sondheim...

Updated On: 9/7/05 at 02:52 PM

#15

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 2:54pm

You're probably right. Sondheim has been generous with his work. "Follies" and "Company" were both done in NYC in concert format.

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If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#16

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 2:59pm

As were MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG and SWEENEY TODD.

#17

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 3:03pm

"As were MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG and SWEENEY TODD."

We can also add Candide and Passion to the list.

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If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

Updated On: 9/7/05 at 03:03 PM

#18

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 3:04pm

That's why I asked Goth, like Michael Bennett said most of the titles you listed were already being circled by some companies, and Merrily had just come off the York revival when Encores started. Of your list the only titles I think are worthy in the sense of what Encores says they are aiming to do are Do I Hear A Waltz? and Anyone Can Whistle.(and Whistle I think is even somewhat more high profile than shows that Encores has done or needs to do) I would say that even when Encores started that those are the only titles I would deem worthy.(but then again, who am I? so who cares what I 'deem worthy'?)

#19

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 3:12pm

"Merrily" was done in 1994. I believe that Encores could have done it from 2004 forward. (There was only a 10 year difference in the Sweeneys).

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If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#20

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 3:18pm

Goth -- they did an OBC reunion concert just a couple of years ago, that was supposedly an extraordinary, incredibly moving event. There is no way Encores is going to compete with the memory of that anytime soon...

I bet we'll get a Roundabout revival before we see it at Encores.

#21

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 4:04pm

The lovely lady in mine and Rath's avatars would be perfect in 70 GIRLS 70.

#22

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 4:06pm

She's also in Garland Grrrl's av, and yes she would!! Oh my, would that be a treat.

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Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson

#23

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 4:35pm

Angelina Jolie in 70 Girls 70?

#24

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/7/05 at 4:46pm

She's changed her av, darling. It's not Angelina at the mo.

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Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson

#25

re: Encores at City Center

Posted: 9/8/05 at 11:29am

I would also think that in restoring old scores there must be a a significant cost involved. I cant believe it is all political there must be financial considerations as well as star power considerations. I dont think it is as cut and dried as you make it out to be.