Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?

[Actor 7]

Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#1

Posted: 2/2/09 at 1:54am

Have there been any first class revivals by regional theatre companies of GRAND HOTEL, the musical since its' original Broadway run? This one would be a very good one for Roundabout Theatre to try to revive.

[TheCharleston]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#2

Posted: 2/2/09 at 1:55am

Uhhhhhhh

[Smaxie]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#2

Posted: 2/2/09 at 2:55am

As fine as some of the Grand Hotel songs are, I'm not sure it should be attempted without Tommy Tune's staging, which is what made that show memorable.

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

Updated On: 2/2/09 at 02:55 AM

[mallardo]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#3

Posted: 2/2/09 at 3:07am

The Donmar Warehouse staged a production in London a couple of years ago that was very well received. I didn't see it but I did see a production in LA that was somewhat cut down - a couple of secondary songs were dropped and the proletariat scenes axed - but which worked extremeley well. Why couldn't it be revived? It has a strong score and is dramatically solid.

Faced with these Loreleis, what man can moralize!

[Smaxie]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#4

Posted: 2/2/09 at 3:28am

That show, for me, was great to watch but hard to love. There were songs that seemed to exist just so some characters would have songs, and I remember not feeling that moved or involved by it. But the staging and the design I still remember. I'm relieved if it works as a show without Tune's work, or without his great design team, but I'm not certain that it's a great piece of writing in and of itself.

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

[once a month]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#5

Posted: 2/2/09 at 9:51am

I agree wholehearteldy, Smaxie! i enjoyed it, but felt rather detached throughout. The dancing and staging were sublime. Earlier that day, I also saw City of Angels. As witty as that show was, I also walked away malnourished. I came to the conclusion that together, Grand Hotel and City of Angels had everything I could hope for in a theatrical experience.

[Smaxie]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#6

Posted: 2/2/09 at 10:22am

City of Angels and Grand Hotel had opposite problems, I think. City of Angels was brilliantly written, designed and directed, but the numbers had more musical staging than choreography and didn't excite the way a thrilling musical number can. Grand Hotel was brilliantly designed, directed and choreographed, but some of the writing was less effective.

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

[Ed_Mottershead]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#7

Posted: 2/2/09 at 10:49am

I loved Grand Hotel and saw it multiple times, but I sense that I would not have felt the same without Tommy Tune's staging. And it did have David Caroll and Michael Jeter giving great performances. In this case, I think I'm safer living with the memories.

BroadwayEd

[Dollypop]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#8

Posted: 2/2/09 at 11:01am

If GRAND HOTEL was presented in the 60's or 70's, it would be considered on of those "Grade B" musicals like SKYSCRAPER or HOW NOW, DOW JONES. It really wasn't that great a show and wouldn't have run had it not been for Tune's staging.

I saw the show with Cyd Charrise and John Scneider. It was mediocre.

"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

[morosco]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#9

Posted: 2/2/09 at 11:10am

All style and no substance. But I have to say that Tommy Tune's staging was brilliant. Went back to see it 3 times in New York.

[frontrowcentre2]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#10

Posted: 2/2/09 at 11:48am

I first saw the show near the end of its second year. It was a case of seeing a show I knew was very good but giving given a lackluster performance. People who had seen the original cast told me that they were a tight group and as the various cast members changed the show lost some of that spark. Indeed when the tour came to Toronto with Brent Barrett and Lillian Montevecchi it was tight, sharp and extremely well played. That was the performances that lived up to its promise.

So I am not at all surprised as Smaxie's reaction to the 3rd (or 4th) replacement cast near the end of the run.

Copying the original staging would probably seem like a pale imitation now, but a creative new director might be able to bring out different values


EDIT: Sorry I got it mixed up. It was DOlly who saw it late in the run, not Smamxie.

Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

Updated On: 2/2/09 at 11:48 AM

[Theatreboy49]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#11

Posted: 2/2/09 at 12:10pm

I think if the right creative staff were to work on the show adding a fresh and just as innovative design as the original it could work. Now add Hugh Panaro as the Baron and Leigh Ann Larkin as Flammechen and we're talking brilliant! If revived those two must be a part of it.

<------ Me and my friends with patti Lupone at my friends afterparty for her concert with audra mcdonald during the summer of 2007.
"I am sorry but it is an unjust world and virtue is only triumphant in theatricle performances" The Mikado

[morosco]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#12

Posted: 2/2/09 at 12:13pm

Michael Jeter was absolutely wonderful in the show. As soon as he made his entrance you knew you were witnessing something very special.

[Smaxie]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#13

Posted: 2/2/09 at 12:25pm

>So I am not at all surprised as Smaxie's reaction to the 3rd (or 4th) replacement cast near the end of the run.<

Actually, I caught the original company. It was a terrific cast. For those who saw it later in its run, I imagine too that the show was less effective in the cavernous Gershwin Theatre than it was at the Martin Beck.

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

Updated On: 2/2/09 at 12:25 PM

[doodlenyc]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#14

Posted: 2/2/09 at 12:36pm

I saw the original cast, and had a dreadful time. Besides Jeter, I cant think of a thing I liked about it. I actually didnt like Tune's direction. I found it gimmicky more than anything else. Krakowski tried way too hard and was cloying instead. Akers was almost as annoying.

Blakemore deserved the tony for directing the far superior "City of Angels".

"Carson has combined his passion for helping children with his love for one of Cincinnati's favorite past times - cornhole - to create a unique and exciting event perfect for a corporate outing, entertaining clients or family fun."

"In Oz, the verb is douchifizzation." PRS

[South Fl Marc]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#15

Posted: 2/2/09 at 1:59pm

What I remember most about Grand Hotel is the duet between Michael Jeter and David Carroll. The character Jeter was playing was dieing but in real life it was David who was so close to death. I actually felt sick watching the scene because of this.

David had so much talent ... one of many who died way before their time.
Updated On: 2/2/09 at 01:59 PM

[Mister Matt]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#16

Posted: 2/2/09 at 3:15pm

I love We'll Take a Glass Together, but other than that, I enjoy listening to the CD more than I do seeing the show on stage.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

[Actor 7]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#17

Posted: 2/2/09 at 5:54pm

At what point did Brent Barrett take over David Carroll's role? I understand David passed away early in the run and I was sad to hear that but I also understand Brent did an equally good job for the role and was highly praised for his performance. What major roles has Brent done after GRAND HOTEL? I know he has done several in which he was well received. By the way, I thought the set design for the Broadway production was excellent on every level.

[Mr Roxy]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#18

Posted: 2/2/09 at 5:59pm

It was very good but to soon for a revival - especially in this economy.

Poster Emeritus

[bob8rich]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#19

Posted: 2/2/09 at 6:35pm

Michael Grandage's Olivier Award winning production at the intimate space of London's Donmar Warehouse in 2004/5 was fantastic - different but equally enjoyable to Tommy Tune's original. It also had some outstanding performances, notably Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Elizaveta, the golden voiced Julian Ovendon as the Baron and the always brilliant Daniel Evans as Otto.

THEATRE 2020: CURTAINS**** LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE GIRLS***** WICKED***** KEITH RAMSAY TAKING NOTES WITH EDWARD SECKERSON***** KAYLEIGH MCKNIGHT CONCERT***** RAGS***** ON MCQUILLAN'S HILL** DEAR EVAN HANSEN***** THE JURY***

[frontrowcentre2]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#20

Posted: 2/2/09 at 6:48pm

Bent Barrett replaced David Carroll May 8, 1990. (This is why Barrett is seen on that year's Tony Awards) Best Plays says that Rex Smith took over the role May 29 (a week before the Tony telecast.)

David Carroll died in March 1992 just prior to recording the cast album. The recording had been delayed and was done just before the production closed on Broadway. While I am grateful that a recording was done, it is a flawed album with many wrong notes, an awkward fade on "I Waltz Alone" and some needless abridgements in some sections.

I wish Thomas Sheppard had produced the CD. Like he did with SECRET GARDEN and the revival of DAMN YANKEES he could have telescoped the whole show down to one 80 minute CD.

Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com

[givesmevoice]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#21

Posted: 2/2/09 at 9:10pm

I've fallen in love with the show only through the cast recording, and I would love to see some professional production of it. I think it's a bit new for an Encores treatment, and I don't really know what the chances of a full scale revival are. I'm keeping my hopes up, though.

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

[Actor 7]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#22

Posted: 2/2/09 at 9:28pm

Thank you to the post from Frontrowcentretwo. I had no idea the album was recorded that late in the original production's run. I have enjoyed the album a great deal and I have always enjoyed that Tony Award segment of the show with Michael Jeeter and Brent Barrett. Unfortunately, I missed the US Tour of the show. Did it play many cities and was it a touring set or the original Broadway set? I have always thought the orchestrations for this show were beautiful. This is one show I wish they would do again as a first class production. I have always heard there were problems with the book of this show and I believe those problems could be solved. I understand part of the score was written many years before it actually opened on Broadway but I never quite got the whole story. The original cast must have been amazing. Thank you for your very informative posting.

[tourboi]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#23

Posted: 2/2/09 at 9:30pm

The Drury Lane in Chicago produced a revival a few years ago that was VERY well received. I wish someone would revive the show.

[frontrowcentre2]

re: Grand Hotel, the musical, revival?#24

Posted: 2/2/09 at 10:06pm

The touring set was an exact replica - it is after all a unit set piece with 2 dozen chairs. For the tour, however, the orchestra was in the pit. When I saw the show at the Martin Beck it was on the 2nd level of the set. (I had a tour of the theatre and stage after the performance and believe me that 2nd level was not all THAT secure!!) I have heard that when the moved to the Gershwin, the orchestra was also moved to the pit.

The tour started in Florida in November 1990 and was on the road about a year and half before going to London, where it got good reviews but no audience because the economy at the time was bad. (Sound familiar?)

The orchestrations were by Peter Matz but Wally Harper was the musical supervisor. The summer before GRAND HOTEL opened, Harper was in Toronto (with Barbara Cook) and met with my then program director, Michael, who was a great fan of recordings of the 1930s and gave Harper dubs of many of his recordings to help inspire the sound. When the tour opened here Michael went and was very pleased to hear how ell the show captured that period sound, notably in the scoring for "Who Couldn't Dance with You?"

I posted the story of GRAND HOTEL'S recording while ago. Basically Wright and Forrest were not happy with Yeston's interpolations and some of his reworking of their material. You will note that their songs in their original versions were published in one volume, while the Yeston songs were published separately.

The record labels were not exactly breaking down the door to record the show, and as months passed it began to look as if the show would not be recorded until it opened in London.

Finally after the move to the Gershwin (by this time the show had run nearly 1,000 performances and recouped) the recording was made. RCA released it but I do not believe that they paid for it. Peter Matz produced it and they planned to bring an ailing David Carroll in to the studio early to record. Sadly he died before that could happen, which is why his appearance is as a bonus track from live tape of his Cabaret evening.

The clip from the Tony awards (and Michael Jeeter’s emotional speech) was well played by me because that was al we had of the score until June 1992 when the Cd was released. Unfortunately the show had closed at the end of April that year. A lot of potential sales were missed by not having that CD in the stores throughout the run of the show.

Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!

I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com