If Jerry Springer The Opera had made it to Broadway and if it had been nominated for Best Musical...

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 1:54pm

What the sam heck would they have performed on the Tonys?

Updated On: 10/23/07 at 01:54 PM

[kelzama]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 2:30pm

But I thought it was coming to broadway, or at least to NYC...

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 2:34pm

Probably the number where the whole cast appears as Jerry.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 3:01pm

It will have a limited 3 night run in January at Carnegie Hall, of all places.
Updated On: 10/23/07 at 03:01 PM

[roseaddams]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 4:31pm

If it ever does make it to Broadway, d'you think that the Tony committee would allow it to be nominated for Best Musical, Book, Score, et al.? Would it qualify as part of the "historical or popular repertoire"?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 6:09pm

It would probably qualify. It hasn't been around long enough nor had enough regional productions to be considered "historical or popular repertoire" like Little Shop of Horrors.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 6:18pm

Well it was nominated for everything here in the UK and won, so i would hope that America and the tonys would not be so prudish to snub it if it ever did go to Broadway.After all it's 10 times better than most of the rubbish been made at the mo

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 6:48pm

I think that if the Carnegie Hall concert goes well enough there's a decent chance it will get a full-scale mounting. Off-Broadway would be the ideal location, if there's a theatre big enough for it.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 7:24pm

No producer is stupid enough to ever try mounting it commercially Off-Broadway. Even tiny shows can't make money there anymore (Altar Boyz -- with its cast of 5 and tons of marketing -- STILL hasn't recouped yet after two and half years), let alone a massive show like SPRINGER. There are simply aren't enough seats to sell and you can't charge more than $70 for tickets -- and for that much or less you can see most Broadway shows through TDF, discounts, TKTS or rush. Off-Broadway simply isn't a viable place for a large show to run and have any hope of EVER coming close to recouping anymore.

It's only choice would be Broadway -- with its 1800 seat theaters and $450 premium seats -- but that's also unlikely (according to several sources who've tried and failed to mount it on Broadway in the past few years). Some estimate that it would cost $15-20 million to capitalize and with its controversial subject matter that would drive away the lucrative family market, it's seen by many as too much of a risk to produce here. Also, the picketers -- they had them in the UK which has an evengelical movement 1/100th the size of the one here -- probably wouldn't help much either.

Bottom line, if you want to see this show in any form in NYC, then I suggest making it to Carnegie Hall for one of the staged readings in January.

Updated On: 10/24/07 at 07:24 PM

[jbdc]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 10:39pm

I agree with Margo--it wouldn't sell to the average tourist audience. And it requires so many people, an Off-Broadway house wouldn't bring in enough money to cover expenses. Unless a not-for-profit does it in a limited engagement--MTC, Roundabout, Lincoln Center Theatre, it ain't happening.

Posted: 10/23/07 at 10:55pm

I think ti would do well for awhile, then fall flat on it's face. I think it's best for regional theatre and even colleges. Depending on the area, i think it would do well in certain regions of the country.

[dramarama2]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 4:28am

I JUST WANNA F***ING DANCE!!!!!!!!!!

lol

I for one LOVE "Chick with a Dick", but i'm not sure how well that'd go down with the Tony commitee...

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 7:17am

"Probably the number where the whole cast appears as Jerry."

That's what I thought.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 9:04am

Actually Margo the people stood outside the theatre here in the UK when it was on at the Cambridge got the show so much attention that ticket sales went through the roof, the producers had to admit it was the best publicity they had.

They actually weren't that many either (they got bored after awhile lol).The biggest amount turned out when it was announced it would be aired on BBC2, 1000s turned up outside the BBC studios in London and here in Manchester but again they just gave it more publicity(also we dont have a big religious thing here and we wont be told by a few what we can and cant watch)

On the UK tour about 20 people turned out to protest at each venue (some cases about 2 or 3 like Manchester)

That kind of publicity though can not be bought

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/24/07 at 10:29am

I always thought it would be perfect for Lincoln Center. But the best theatre for the show, obviously, would be Circle in the Square, especially if they opened up the seating to 3/4, more like its original configuration, which would increase its potential earnings per performance. It's too bad that investors aren't willing to go out on a limb for this show, but it could easily be the most controversial musical on Broadway since Jesus Christ Superstar, which could actually work in their favor. The publicity would be HUGE. But the longer they wait, the less relevent the show becomes. More regional productions will be mounted and the show itself will be old news.

[toomeytwopiece]

Posted: 10/27/07 at 8:11am

Chick with a Dick IS a great number, and it is quite difficult actually - it was what I had to learn when I went in for it recently - and it took more work musically than I had expected. The music is not easy to play, or to sing (I speak of THAT song, because it's fast and the ornamental runs - the 'na na's - are difficult).

And no, I was not offered it - so don't get excited.
lol

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 10/27/07 at 8:28am

Theres no reason in the world that the show wouldnt get nominated in all the musical awards unless the Tony committe came up with some obscure new ruleing about something ridiculous! In London it ran for 609 performances (18 months) and won nearly every award going at the time. it won Best Musical from The Laurence Olivier Awrds (UK Tonys), Evening Standard Awards, Critics Circle and WhatsOnStage. -the only musical to ever win all four Best Musical awrds. As SADM2 said, all you need is a few people with a few banners outside the theatre and the show is sealed. Ive always been surprised why, after its enourmous success in the Uk it never got to Broadway straight away. The nervous American maybe?

Updated On: 10/27/07 at 08:28 AM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/27/07 at 11:54am

Yeah Margo, I guess you're right. It should have a pretty decent regional life in the states though. It's no masterpiece, but it has some very good songs and it's overall a very entertaining show. In addition to the recent Chicago production, it's being done by a professional non-Equity theatre in Tennesee, as well as a couple other places too I think.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 10/27/07 at 12:22pm

I found the piece incredibly boreing tho with only handful of moments that were eye catching. Seeing it the second time on DVD didnt help me like it any better. Most people found it terribly overhyped.
Can Harvey Kietel sing? If yes, what has he done?

Updated On: 10/27/07 at 12:22 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/27/07 at 12:28pm

I believe the Jerry Springer role in the opera is a non-singing one which is why Keitel can do it without a problem.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 10/27/07 at 12:29pm

Yea, now looking back yes it is! SEE i told you it bored me senseless! lol

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 10/27/07 at 5:09pm

Right, Jerry is the only character that doesn't sing, which was a wise choice I think.