Idea: FX limited series of “Shuffle Along” adapted by Wolfe

I started rewatching Fosse/Verdon today and while watching, and seeing additional Juneteenth and Antonyo Awards posts from yesterday, it got me thinking about an idea. I was at the first preview of Shuffle Along in 2016 (the performance that was around three hours, but didnt even feel like it!) and was so intrigued by the history of the show and the writers/actors/singers/dancers who paved the way for diversity on Broadway. I would love to see a collaboration of FX, George C. Wolfe, and Savion Glover adapting the show in a limited series format. Rather than dig up old threads from people who saw Shuffle Along when it was running, I want to know if those same people have new thoughts on the show through the lens of our world and what has happened in the few years since.

Updated On: 6/20/20 at 01:41 PM

I'd love to see what a limited series could do to fix the "tell, not show" of Act 2, and it would be so great to see that original cast back together again. And just imagine the costume and production design recreating that era! And I would love to see it directed by black television directors. There are some out there doing great work from episodic sci-fi to primetime dramas and comedies, I would love to see their vision on individual episodes.

jacobsnchz14 said: "everythingtaboo said: "And I would love to see it directed by black television directors."

I literally thought the same. I can imagine George C. Wolfe directing maybe the first, middle, and/or final episodes, Kenny Leon, Liesl Tommy, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, maybe Bill T. Jones...! Maybe even one of the actors directing an episode."

Am I the only person who remembers Oz Scott? He'd be great for this.

I agree that this could make a great mini-series - I imagine it sort of in the style of the recent Netflix show Hollywood, but hopefully better. As Jordan said, keep Ryan Murphy away.

Why FX though? Just because they did Fosse/Verdon? I figure, as long the artists have the freedom to do it how they want, and as long as it ends up on a streaming platform eventually, then it doesn't really matter who produces/distributes it.

As others have said, I think the "all that followed" portion of the show has the potential to work better when it's stretched out into several episodes, or even a full season. They can even put in some of the material that they cut during previews. I was also at that long first preview, and though the show was a bit of a mess, there was some cool material that later got cut. They even cut the character of Josephine Baker entirely, and had to lay off Felicia Boswell as a result. If they brought her back for a miniseries, that would be quite the full-circle restitution.