Inferior Revivals

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Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/25/12 at 11:09pm

Can anybody think of notable instances where a poorly received Broadway revival (arguably or not) prevented a different regional/West End production from making it to broadway? The recent ones I thought of first were the Domnar Guys and Dolls revival vs. the Lauren Graham/Oliver Platt Broadway revival and the Blanchett Streetcar vs. the most recent broadway one (though I'll admit I don't know the logistics of whether Blanchett even could've taken the show to Broadway).

Yes, but sometimes people have a third deeper layer thats the same as the first. Like pie. Dr. Horrible

Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/25/12 at 11:36pm

I don't think they were able to extend the Blanchett/Ullmann Streetcar, at least not with that cast. I feel like there probably are a number of examples of inferior revivals that made producers lose any interest in bringing in other productions--but am blanking.

Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/26/12 at 1:18pm

The Des McAnuff JCS certainly bumped the Louis St. Louis "gospel" JCS for sure, as I'd heard plans of a tour and CD at least for that back in 2010, and then suddenly nothing.

Formerly gvendo2005
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joined: 5/1/05

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Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/26/12 at 1:30pm

The "Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL" asit was billed played in Atlanta, and was great. ALW killed it moving on for the thing that showed up this past season. A shame, it would have brought a new audience to the show.

"Through The Sacrifice You Made, We Can't Believe The Price You Paid..For Love!"

Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/26/12 at 1:43pm

Into the Woods- w/v williams

Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/26/12 at 2:53pm

I'm going to have to rely on some of the other posters here who have longer memories than me.

I want to say that the 2001 Follies prohibited the far superior Papermill Follies from coming to Broadway.

If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/26/12 at 3:13pm

bryan2 - what other ITW was there at the time?

Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/26/12 at 4:06pm

I was goin to ask the same thing.

While the Papermill Follies did have some rumours about a Broadway transfer (and while far from perfect, it was miles better than Roundabout's), that was in 1998. Roundabout's was in 2001--if anything I wonder if Roundabout decided to do their version based on the relative success of Papermill's.

Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/26/12 at 4:18pm

Wasn't it the Widda Goldman who kept the PMP Follies from transferring?

#10

Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/26/12 at 4:19pm

I would have preferred a JCS Gospel version to the recent angry and angular production.

#11

Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/26/12 at 4:38pm

It was my understanding that Roundabout already had the broadway rights for a Follies revival even back in 1998. The Papermill was actively looking to transfer, but Roundabout (and yes, Widda Goldman) stopped them.

And with the Blanchett/Ulman Streetcar, the financing was 100% secured and a theatre was in negotiations for a quick 10 week run (or so) but Blanchett was INSISTENT that the entire Australian cast transfer and apparently some of them just didn't want to after already being away from home/families for more than a year. It's a damn shame, because she was quite possibly the best thing I've ever seen.

#12

Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/26/12 at 4:50pm

That Guys and Dolls revival was one of the worst things I've ever seen - in fact, I had a similar thought to a certain scandalized Broadway actress - how do you f*ck up Guys and Dolls? Cast Lauren 'Wooden as SH*T' Graham and Oliver 'Boring as Dishwater' Platt and make Damon Runyon a character.

"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.

Updated On: 7/26/12 at 04:50 PM

#13

Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/26/12 at 5:22pm

Oh that woman... Actually, I seem to remember, at least on the Sondheim listserv, talk that they were trying to transfer the Papermill production under Roundabout, but that could have just been conjecture. I don't know why they didn't, though--even with a different cast--as I said the staging wasn't perfect but the design and choreography (including recreating--wisely as it can never be topped--Bennett's Who's That Woman) was just miles better.

Clumsy--I'm with you. I actually used to list G&D as one of those shows that was close to impossible to make not work. Yes, some productions worked better than others (and Zaks'; revival still is fondly remembered), but wow, the decisions thye made with that revival.

#14

Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/26/12 at 10:44pm

Eric - Exactly. I mean - cast people who either can't act or sing, have the personality of a dish towel and wrap all up in a Microsoft 95 screensaver and you have that revival. I give major props to Kate Jennings Grant, Craig Bierko, and Steve Rosen for doing good work in a that disaster.

"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.

#15

Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/27/12 at 10:59pm

no no no and no into the woods with ms williams was the best decision of anyone at that time. Benetani was in that and she has a tony.

#16

Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/27/12 at 11:01pm

True, "Benetani" does have a Tony. Not for Into the Woods. But hey, I'm fine with the idea that any show she is in is great because, for a different show, she won a Tony. Wedding Singer, anyone?

#17

Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/27/12 at 11:35pm

she won it for gypsy but was nominated for a tony

#18

Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/28/12 at 3:08am

Oh the London G&D was great. It wasn't too flashy, the cast was fun, it was all around just a well put together production (albiet fairly standard). I would have loved to see that come to Broadway, it's a shame that the one that did make it was so terrible.

#19

Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/28/12 at 3:17am

I love Lauren Graham to pieces, but she wasn't right for Adelaide. At all. She did show that she can sing quite well and I'd love to see her come back to Broadway in a more appropriate role.

The Papermill Follies should have come to Broadway. The Roundabout revival was simply terrible. The casting, the cheapness of the set, the book changes...yikes. I will admit that I found Judith Ivey to be a very interesting Sally. I honestly didn't even find her vocals to be that bad. Her Losing My Mind was wonderful, IMO.

#20

Inferior Revivals

Posted: 7/28/12 at 3:46am

The Roundabout Follies for sure. Loveland looked absolutely disgusting.

"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "

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