If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???- Page 2
If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Thesbijean
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/9/04
#25re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/18/06 at 7:34pmHow was I tacky and/or hypocritical in my post?
#26re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/18/06 at 7:36pm
Because I am sure you wouldn't have appreciated being told to get over it in a Les Miz thread prior to this revival.
Because a discussion over a play or musical past or present is valid. Get over it implies that discussions/interests are only valid for current productions on Broadway or the road. Which is bogus.
Thesbijean
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/9/04
#27re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/18/06 at 7:41pm
I asked how I was tacky and/or hypocritical, and you still have not explained it to me.
Your Les Mis analogy is fine, but I never said anything about it to that affect whatsoever, though I am excited it is coming back (which Caroline most certainly isn't), so, there goes the hypocritical part of your critique of my post.
And tacky? Tacky is calling someone tacky for no apparent reason
#28re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/18/06 at 7:44pm
Clearly, you have to have picture books in order to understand something.
I was referring to how you would have felt 2 years after Les Miz closed if someone had told you in a Les Miz thread to "Get Over It!" for discussing Les Miz. I used Les Miz because of your name.
And, it's tacky because you are disrespecting their views instead of just discussing the matter at hand--that you could have chosen not to read about, nor post about.
Updated On: 2/18/06 at 07:44 PM
#29re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/18/06 at 7:45pmI think "Caroline or Change" will go down in musical theater books as an important, well written flop. And I'll add that Showboat, Pal Joey, Chicago, Gypsy, and Porgy and Bess were flops or at least somewhat disappointments in their original runs.
#30re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/18/06 at 7:47pmVery good point, mygf. And a revival of this musical may do even better than it's OBC just like Chicago.
Thesbijean
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/9/04
#31re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/18/06 at 7:48pm
It is one thing to be discussing Les Mis or Caroline 2 years after it closed, but it is another to be talking about whether or not the show would have been a success if Oprah had put in $500,000 and was billed as a Producer. Those are two very different things.
And from your name, do you think Urban Cowboy would still be running if Oprah had produced it?
#32re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/18/06 at 7:52pm
Well, my name is not in regards to Jason Robert Brown. We simply share the same initials.
And, clearly you miss the essence of this discussion--does Oprah's name really carry that much box office clout on Broadway that it could have saved a show that closed too soon. Will The Color Purple's run be any longer because her name is attached or will it last as long as it does of its own merits?
It's a valid discussion. Even a discussion of why did COC close so soon is a valid discussion.
And if you don't like any of that--I have 3 words for you. I bet you can guess what they are. 
Updated On: 2/18/06 at 07:52 PM
#33re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/18/06 at 8:24pmCaroline was absolutely tuneless and lyrically insipid. Tonya Pinkins gave a very good performance as did all of the actors, but the content was weird and I don't like to use the word...stupid.
#34re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/18/06 at 8:27pmEvery so often a review comes along that truly speaks for itself.
Thesbijean
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/9/04
#35re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/18/06 at 8:32pm
And every so often a poster comes along that is at useless as a revival of Caroline or Change...
Haha, well, guess what!
My name is just as connected to les mis as your's is to Jason Robert Brown.
And I have three words for you too, but I am going to be extremely immature and not say them
Updated On: 2/18/06 at 08:32 PM
#36re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/18/06 at 8:36pmWell, my bad. I guess you got me. The points, however, still stand.
#37re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/18/06 at 9:03pmAll I know is there is no better album to do your laundry to.
Thesbijean
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/9/04
#38re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/18/06 at 9:33pm
Have you ever tried doing laundry to City of Angels? It is by far my favorite, not quite sure why, but it is 
#39re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/18/06 at 10:38pm
Sorry if I'm being considered an ass hole but this whole topic is so trivial and pointless. The show is gone. Done. It got mixed reviews and poor attendance. It was sad when it left and then it toured and then that finished. Done. Move on.
As for being an ass hole, people shold get used to it on these boards. There are like packs of them around. People on these boards get away with way more with what I'm quibbling about.
ETA: Okay, let's expand. Would the 1995 revival of COMPANY have lasted if Oprah produced it?
Updated On: 2/18/06 at 10:38 PM
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#40re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/18/06 at 10:58pmBest. First. Page. Of. A. Thread. Ever.
#41re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/18/06 at 11:21pm
Kevinoes--you are new here. So while I welcome you to this board--don't decide for the rest of us what the tone shall be. This board has always been less nasty than the other board and many of us would like to keep it that way. Is it often a losing battle when newbies like you come in and decide to shift the tone? Sure. It can be. But please respect what some of us still strive for: a place where people can intelligently and respectfully discuss theatre and off topics. Where possible. That's all that is asked for.
Various people have decided this is a worthy topic on both sides of opinions of COC. Thank you for your opinion that it is trivial. It has been noted for the record, and we thank you most graciously for it.
Updated On: 2/18/06 at 11:21 PM
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#42re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/18/06 at 11:38pmGet her.
Corine2
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/14/03
#43re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/19/06 at 1:01am
Wish Dessa Rose was still playing.
Updated On: 2/19/06 at 01:01 AM
#44re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/19/06 at 11:35am
I would tend to think no, for a few reasons. Caroline was always a much tougher sell than The Color Purple was. TCP had the benefit of being based on a popular novel that everyone reads in high school, which in turn was made into a well known film. There is name recognition there. Additionally, TCP feels much more like a "musical" that people would be willing to spend $110 on. It's got a large cast, production numbers, and it feels like a big, splashy, musical. The score is also more memorable (not better, just more memorable). Caroline didn't have any of that.
Leaving aside the quality of the two shows (because it's not relevant to this discussion), TCP is a much easier show to sell to people, Oprah or not.
popcultureboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/23/03
#45re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/19/06 at 11:43am
Wish Dessa Rose was still playing.
Perhaps if Oprah had produced it, it would be.
BSoBW3
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/06
#46re: If Oprah had produced Caroline...would it still be playing???
Posted: 2/19/06 at 2:13pm
I agree with the first thing that Thes said - people are familiar with the name THE COLOR PURPLE.
It was an easier sell for Oprah. PLUS The Color Purple is much more commercialized than Caroline, or Change.
C,oC is an absolutely amazing score. But not for the masses.
TCP - I love it, y'all know I do. But it is much easier to handle.
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