>Hugh Jackman Eyed for 'Gone With the Wind' Broadway Role Thursday, February 22, 2007 By Roger Friedman
'Gone With the Wind' Remake; 'Dreamgirls' Lawsuit Avoided; Pre-Oscar Partying; Hollywood Swinging
'Gone With the Wind' Musical Coming
Get ready: A musical based on Margaret Mitchell’s novel “Gone with the Wind” is being prepared for Broadway.
I’m told that a group of producers have secured the rights from the Mitchell estate and are proceeding toward a 2008 production. The big desired star to play Rhett Butler: Hugh Jackman.
I’m also told that producers are interested in Jill Pace, an American actress who co-starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Woman in White,” to play Scarlett O’Hara. Pace, a popular up-and-comer, is said to resemble Vivien Leigh. The show would have its birth in London’s West End.
As it’s planned now, this version of “Gone with the Wind” will adhere to the novel more than the well-known film, still considered the all-time box office champ based on adjusted figures from 1939.
That means that this “GWTW” will be a little darker than remembered, with the story told through the eyes of the slaves at Tara.
“If you remember, Scarlett is really left with the slaves, and they become her family,” a production insider says. “That will be more of the emphasis of the story, with Rhett more of a darker, more complicated character.”
“Gone with the Wind” has somehow avoided being turned into a musical all these many years. There have been parodies — think Carol Burnett — and recently a play about the casting of the movie, but until now the Mitchell estate has never allowed this prized possession to be set to music.<<<
"but until now the Mitchell estate has never allowed this prized possession to be set to music."
I think the Harold Rome estate will beg to differ.
Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)
There have been two musical versions of it, and a ballet. I wish they'd bring back the tacky 70s musical version of it. I want to hear Lilias White sing "Bonnie Gone!"
"Told through the eyes of the slaves.." - I just read that part. Honey, that is not the way the book is. Who wrote this article? Must be drunk or a yankee...
That was funny about the Rome estate begging to differ.
Are there really 2 prior musical versions? Or did the poster who said that think that Scarlett and London's GWTW were different? (No offense meant if there really are 2 prior musicals)
Wouldn't it be funny if the people they hired now, went away for a few months and then turned in the Harold Rome musical? (Book by Horton Foote?) You could only do that for a while though...
..."told through the eyes of the slaves" is wrong on so many levels..unless they are doing a musical of the novella THE WIND DONE GONE by Alice Randall...thats a different matter!
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart; and you'll never walk alone.
There is the Harold Rome version from the 70s and a few years ago a horrifying French pop opera version with all the women wearing inappropriate off the shoulder period dresses.
The Harold Rome version is a guilty pleasure of mine. About a thousand years ago I worked at the Music Center. The archivists knew I was obsessed with GWTW, so they gave me an old press kit.
In the program Pernell Roberts used his bio space to have a poem about world peace printed.
In Lesley Ann Warren's bio she was STILL complaining about her parents not letting her go on the first national tour of BYE BYE BIRDIE.
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart; and you'll never walk alone.
In addition to Harold Rome's version and the French opera, Leroy Anderson attempted to musicalize it, in 1961, only getting as far as setting 3 numbers.
Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)
We were unlucky to have a muical version of GWTW here in Paris about three years ago. It was just painful to watch even if some musics were great. In here we call it "Autant en emporte le vent". The guy who wrote it is well known over here for having written Romeo & Juliette and letting his daughter play the part of Scarlett.
In my heart, I found the answered dream,
and in my soul I found the song, and in my friends
I found the magic, the love,
the moon up above- they were mine, all mine, all along..!
"Autant en emporte le vent" has to be seen to be believed - and you know which site I'm talking about. You never know they could work a disco ball and breakdancing into Margaret Mitchell's story, but leave it to the French...
the songs by the slaves are great but what is left is just painful to hear. And once again in those productions we had no orchestra but a recording that was so loud I could not understand what they were singing.
In my heart, I found the answered dream,
and in my soul I found the song, and in my friends
I found the magic, the love,
the moon up above- they were mine, all mine, all along..!
YOu have the original cast album? How did you get it and where can I find it? I know Robert Nichols who I beleiver was on a version, don't know which one!
"Now the best way to learn the theater, always, is to be a stage manager"
-Stephen Sondheim
This is such a case of the horse leading the cart. They already have a general production date and yet it appears they haven't chosen writers yet. It reminds of that line from Song and Dance: "Careers are being hyped before the scripts are typed". With this kind of a start the camp value ought to be through the roof!