GREEN ACRES Musical aims for Broadway...- Page 2

[Overkill]

Posted: 7/23/12 at 6:45pm

The Addams Family
The Honeymooners
Gilligan's Island
Green Acres
Pushing Daisies

...someone please tell me why we're watching television on a Broadway stage? I'd rather sit at home and watch TV Land...

[canmark]

Posted: 7/23/12 at 10:17pm

I remember watching Green Acres back in the day. Loved it! Not sure I love the idea of a Green Acres musical, although I wouldn't dismiss it outright. The comedy is key. But I don't know that that particular brand of comedy (as with The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, etc.) would stand up today. And to 'modernize' the comedy of the show may just change the whole essence and ruin it.

Casting would be tricky, too. Who could play Lisa like Eva Gabor? Who could be Mr. Haney? Who could play Arnold the pig? (Is the pig that played Susanne Sugarbaker's pig Noel still around?). Someone like Kelsey Grammer would be good for Oliver, the Eddie Albert role.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 7/23/12 at 10:41pm

I think the puppet from Betty Blues Eyes is going to be getting more work!


That's Some Pig!

Updated On: 7/23/12 at 10:41 PM

[alterego]

Posted: 7/24/12 at 9:31am

The guy that trained Arnold the pig also trained the pig(s) in the BABE movies. That was about 10/12 years ago so maybe he is still around for new duties?

[dreaming]

Posted: 7/24/12 at 10:57am

I really think Green Acres could work. What's harder, as stated above, is who can re-create these characters without merely imitating the originals?

You need two really good comedic actors with excellent chemistry.

Posted: 7/24/12 at 11:09am

The comedic style of Green Acres was totally different than the other "hayseed" shows (Petticoat Junction, Beverly Hillbillies, Et al). There was a surreal aspect to the show- Oliver was our way in to the story- a modern urban logical man who was constantly confronted by totally absurd premises that turned out to be true- The Ziffle's teenage son was literally a pig, the traveling salesman always had exactly what Oliver needed on the back of his truck, etc. And interestingly, Oliver was the one who wanted to move to Hooterville but he apparently hated everything (and everyone) about it. Lisa hated to move to the country but accepted it completely and seemed to love everyone there.

I can see a show starting with Oliver and Lisa in NYC, with Oliver an attorney at a huge Wall Street firm. In the first scene, the firm collapses and Oliver is fired- he takes his severance or IRA and uses it to buy the farm and realize his childhood dreams. Lisa hates the idea and the opening number unfolds....

[SFFrontRow]

Posted: 7/24/12 at 12:38pm

Whizzer -- not familiar with Plain and Fancy but now I will have to check out info on it. I am deep into theater since 1983 - came to the party late - and I am (unfortunately) ignorant to some of the material from before that time.

In general to the group, my point is that any source material can be made into something interesting if it is approached the right way. Some of my most enjoyable evenings in the theater have been little plays or musicals that are well thought rather than slapdash put together to make a buck (but even then, I can find something interesting about it).

[Playbilly]

Posted: 7/24/12 at 2:10pm

I'm still recovering from The Addams Family. "Too Soon!"

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 9:24pm

Why? Broadway Musical Version of Green Acres in the Works

https://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/broadway-musical-version-of-green-acres_85803.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=11jul2018

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 10:37pm

This news is giving me flashbacks to seeing The Beverly Hillbillies musical several years ago here in the Chicago area.  Wow - horrendous.  There was a number called "Stamp It Like A Clampett," seriously. 

Look!
   V 

Enjoy these highlights!

Updated On: 7/11/18 at 10:37 PM

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 10:39pm

^ Wow. They couldn’t pay me enough to sit through that.

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 7/11/18 at 11:15pm

Just pitiful how low Broadway will sink to find material for a new musical. I guess it started down the slippery slope when jukebox musicals and superhero musicals appeared.

There's a musical playing at the Vivian Beaumont right now that has a pretty fair book, lifted from an actual piece of literature. There's more where that came from.

Like Mrs. Warren's Profession and Major Barbara, where, respectively, a former prostitute now brothel madam and the owner of a great munitions factory clash with their disapproving daughters. Seems the daughter is a dedicated member of the Salvation Army and the wealthy arms dealer wants to give them a large donation.

Nah, that would all be a bore compared to Arnold the Pig.

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 7/12/18 at 12:05am

I go--'another one!' when 'The Musical' is added after every damm show that is mentioned these days.

Yes, seems every[of course every] stupid show from a bye-gone TV era is dragged out to become 'A Musical'.

'Starsky and Hutch'--now there's a camp duo waiting for A Musical if ever there was one.

[Demitri2]

Posted: 7/12/18 at 10:08am

It can play in repertoire with that super hit HAZEL. Come on now. What's next? "Leave It To Beaver", "Dennis The Menace", "Hogan's Heroes", "F Troop." Or maybe I'll save up for a premium seat for "Petticoat Junction."

[Lot666]

Posted: 7/12/18 at 10:27am

I want Charlie's Angels: The Musical.

[morosco]

Posted: 7/12/18 at 10:53am

Someone would have to drug me and drag my unconscious body into the theater for me to attend this show. 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 7/12/18 at 10:57am

Demitri2 said: "It can play in repertoire with that super hit HAZEL. Come on now. What's next? "Leave It To Beaver", "Dennis The Menace", "Hogan's Heroes", "F Troop." Or maybe I'll save up for a premium seat for "Petticoat Junction.""

I’d pay good money to see HogansHero in the Hogan’s Heroes musical if only for his snarky 11:00 number where he explains the intricacies of producing a show and analyzing box office receipts. 

[ActorGuyIL]

Posted: 7/12/18 at 11:23am

Patash said: "Will it play in repertory with Gomer Pyle, the Musical?"

Different universes. Gomer Pyle was in the Andy Griffith universe along with The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D.

Green Acres is in the "Hooterville" universe with The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction. 20 years ago, I wanted to write a musical called "Hooterville" with characters from all the shows. That would've been a stretch to find an audience of people who remember it 20 years ago...now...?

[CallMeAl2]

Posted: 7/12/18 at 11:40am

ActorGuyIL said: Green Acres is in the "Hooterville" universe with The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction. 20 years ago, I wanted to write a musical called "Hooterville" with characters from all the shows. That would've been a stretch to find an audience of people who remember it 20 years ago...now...?"

Well, there is a decent idea. You could to it Into the Woods style where somebody comes in and messes up all the different plots and they get crossed over into each other's shows.

With these TV/Movie adaptations I think we have to divide them in to two camps. There are the traditional works where a writer or producer has something new they want to bring to the material by making it a musical. Then there are the intellectual property owners that want to expand their franchise by doing a Broadway musical adaption to wring more value out of the property. The former shows may be good or bad, but the creators are free to create something new. The latter are locked in to what people liked about the original work - they are delivering more of the same. 

Hopefully the Green Acres creatives are going for something new, and not hoping to ride of the coattails of the original show. Because as others have already said, they are exhuming a property that has already been dead for quite a while. 

Updated On: 7/12/18 at 11:40 AM

[ABitOnTheSide]

Posted: 7/12/18 at 12:05pm

What a STUPID idea for a musical. I can't believe people on BWW are actually cheering this! What happened to taste???

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 7/12/18 at 12:55pm

The roster of mega hit Broadway musicals is absolutely littered with what, on paper, are horrendous ideas. A musical about Orphan Annie? A musical about dancing Cats? A musical about an obscure South American dictator's wife? A hip hop musical about Alexander Hamilton and the list goes on and on..

An idea unto itself doesn't mean much. It's what the authors and creatives do with the idea that counts. Anything is possible.

Updated On: 7/12/18 at 12:55 PM

[carnzee]

Posted: 7/12/18 at 12:59pm

QueenAlice said: "The roster of mega hit Broadway musicals is absolutely littered with what, on paper, are horrendous ideas. A musical about Orphan Annie? A musical about dancing Cats? A musical about an obscure South American dictator's wife? A hip hop musical about Alexander Hamilton and the list goes on and on..

An idea unto itself doesn't mean much. It's what the authors and creatives do with the idea that counts. Anything is possible."

I agree it could be a good musical. I just question the wisdom of a producer who thinks the Green Acres brand is relevant enough in 2018 to get people in the doors. A mediocrity like Mean Girls sells tickets because of the brand. 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 7/12/18 at 1:11pm

QueenAlice said: "The roster of mega hit Broadway musicals is absolutely littered with what, on paper, are horrendous ideas. A musical about Orphan Annie? A musical about dancing Cats? A musical about an obscure South American dictator's wife? A hip hop musical about Alexander Hamilton and the list goes on and on..

An idea unto itself doesn't mean much. It's what the authors and creatives do with the idea that counts. Anything is possible."

True, but the fact that this has been in the works for 6 years without much apparent forward momentum doesn’t inspire optimism. Unless this is done very camp, I can’t see this working at all. I know there are no bad ideas; just bad execution. I was an early naysayer of Spongebob, but had a splendid time when I saw it last month. I still predict Green Acres will be a commercial flop if it ever makes it to Broadway. If Spongebob, which had a somewhat built-in demographic as its desired audience, couldn’t succeed, I don’t know who the demographic for this would even be. If it does materialize, I would suggest it might fare better off-Broadway,  but only with if they go in a camp direction. After all, most of the shows you mention had respected source materials: a vibrant comic strip, a book of poems by T.S. Eliot, a lauded tome of non-fiction. And they all had a crackerjack creative team (even Cats which I despise). Obviously, just my opinion. 

Updated On: 7/12/18 at 01:11 PM

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 7/12/18 at 1:33pm

I think in order for this to succeed it has to be what most big hit Broadway musicals are - an evening of good entertainment. I agree the long gestation period on this musical doesn't instill much confidence, and I'm not really defending "this" idea for a musical - merely pointing out that its not usually the 'idea' or even the brand for something which makes for a hit. It's the execution that does that.

[ABitOnTheSide]

Posted: 7/12/18 at 4:47pm

QueenAlice said: "The roster of mega hit Broadway musicals is absolutely littered with what, on paper, are horrendous ideas. A musical about Orphan Annie? A musical about dancing Cats? A musical about an obscure South American dictator's wife? A hip hop musical about Alexander Hamilton and the list goes on and on..

Actually I think all of those are good ideas and were good ideas at the time. Annie, Cats, Evita and Hamilton are all brilliant ideas. Those 4 shows broke the mold and reinvented something. Green Acres? Not a chance.

Please don't compare that with a stupid idea like Green Acres, which has no artistic merit at all but to sell tickets by name recognition alone. You and I know the book, score and production will be garbage.

 

Updated On: 7/12/18 at 04:47 PM