Information about Titanic the musical- Page 4

[CockeyedOptimist2]

Posted: 8/4/10 at 9:03am

Thanks for all of the info on this show, everyone! I was at the drama bookshop this week after having read this thread (and not knowing anything about the show aside from this), and they had the book of the musical on sale for $12. It's a beautiful hardcover with many color photos and the entire libretto. I can't wait to look at it and listen to the cd to learn more about this show!

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 12:04am

A Google search this evening lead me to this thread, a thread I forgot I had started!

I am a HUGE Titanic geek (my love for the ship and its history is what lead me to seeing the musical on its tour back in 2000, thus sparking my interest in musical theatre), and the discovery that a new Titanic computer game is in the works has put me in 'Titanic mode' for the past few days. Today I gave the glorious score a listen as I googled away to find information and images from the musical that might have slipped my mind.

Bumping this thread because the information you all shared is so wonderful, but also to share this link (I apologize that I am still uncertain of how to correctly post a link in these threads.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb91dVfIRaQ&feature=related

This is the first part of the 2006 Australian production of Titanic. (The entire production is up on YouTube.) I urge those of you who are interested/fans of the musical to take a look at this.

The set, though possibly even more bare bones than the Broadway production was, is very effective. The different levels of the bridge that spans the stage and the various scrim pieces that fly in and out create lovely and seamless transitions.

What strikes me the most from this video, and the entire production, is the genius staging for the opening through Godspeed, Titanic. The general activity taking place during the number; luggage being placed on Dolly's, cargo being flown in to take inventory, the crowds bursting through the sliders in excitement to give their tickets and board the ship; exactly captures what would be occurring before the ship's launch. Much more interesting and effective staging when compared to the OBC, in which I remember a lot of people entering the stage, looking out into the audience, and singing towards the mezzanine, doing little else.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 12:31am

^I liked the set better for the Broadway production, and it was definitely a little more elaborate at times, but the Australian production is still a nice document of the show. There are some elements that out do the Broadway staging like the lowering of the lifeboat which is genius and wasn't even attempted on Broadway, as well as the final sinking in which I think both productions had their strong points there. I do miss the Broadway act one finale effect, but a lot of people say the boat looked silly so maybe they like this version better? From where I was sitting the "toy" ship effect was breathtaking.

Some of the Australian actors seem to have a bit of difficulty with their British accents, but they cope well, I think. I listen to this Australian soundboard recording more often than I listen to the OBC because it's the complete show.

Updated On: 8/21/12 at 12:31 AM

[RENT's_Awakening]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 2:57am

http://youtu.be/WGpAgffGC8Q

This is a production I was part of on the hundredth anniversary of her sinking. We used one stationary set, the 'ghost ship', and the entire show was played as though the characters were living out their stories one last time. I remains one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxiwhiAjHeM&feature=share&list=PL6135620262CD32C2

[RENT's_Awakening]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 2:58am

Updated On: 8/21/12 at 02:58 AM

[Urban]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 6:10am

The Australian production unfortunately closed way to early, not because of reviews or lack of ticket says (both where actually pretty good), but the sheer cost of the production IIRC totally outweighed any potential revenue earner.

It was annoying to me, because I was planning to fly up to see the show at some point (in fact i remember seeing a large advertisement for it on the side of the QPAC building in Brisbane).

Thanks for the Youtube link though!

[ChiChi]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 11:08am

I saw it on Broadway and on tour. I have to say I am more partial to the Sydney production.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 1:32pm

The sets and staging for the Dutch tour were much better than the snoozefest US tour
Titanic

[ChiChi]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 2:14pm

I thought the US tour was lame. Not only visually, but the people in it weren't very good. And the 30 year old female playing the little boy (and not very convincingly) was distracting.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 2:16pm

There were clips a year or so ago I saw on YouTube from a European opera company's stage version of Titanic, but I can't find them now.

The set and staging for the Dutch production looked great.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 2:36pm

Wow...such nasty remarks on such an innocuous thread!

I was very pleasantly surprised to like Titanic so much. After being so disappointed in "The Life", which I was excited to see and it did very little for me, save for a few numbers, White and Cooper.

I adored the score and often sing parts to myself. It was definitely not forgettable to me. Vicky Clarke was a clear highlight and did deserve a Tony nomination, and I also distinctly remember hearing D'Arcy James for the first time. My favorite moment was the breaking of the glass at the end of "Still". I did choke up then.

Yes, we laughed at the tiny ship. It just seemed so unnecessary! We also had seen (maybe after, cant remember) the very fun staged "Valley of the Dolls" and they staged the opening the same way, with a tiny train and the one chorus member dropping snow on it during the theme song. Anyway, we laughed both times.

Audiences just didnt get it much of the time. Many around us walked out after intermission from the orchestra very early in the run, while those who stayed seemed to adore it. The out of towners next to us looked at the curtain before the show (which was drawings of the ship alongside the much smaller Statue of Liberty on it's side to show the massive scale Titanic) and she wondered how she never knew that Titanic ran into the Statue of Liberty! They didnt come back after intermission.

[ChiChi]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 3:22pm

Broadway, stylistically was a much better production than the tour. Doodle, have you seen the Sydney production?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 3:29pm

The Dutch production looks awesome except for the act one finale. Kudos to them for getting Barrett shirtless.

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 4:16pm

ChiChi, I'm curious; could you elaborate more on what you mean when you say the Bway production was stylistically better than the tour?

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 4:28pm

I have not seen the Sydney production.