Into the Woods DVD question- Page 2

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/3/10 at 11:04am

CapnHook-
NO. Bernadette opened and played the role for 6 months. Phylicia was brought in after that.

[Marquise]

Posted: 2/3/10 at 11:08am

Bernadette Peters originated the role of The Witch in the Original Broadway production of INTO THE WOODS. Phylicia Rashad was a replacement.

You can look up the information at the Internet Broadway Database.

Internet Broadway Database - INTO THE WOODS Updated On: 2/3/10 at 11:08 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/3/10 at 11:16am

"We need a Broadway show DVD that sells a million units the way OKLAHOMA! sold over million copies (as an actual album of 6 records) to establish the trend."

Lots of luck with that.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/3/10 at 12:12pm

Frontrow, sadly it sounds like you got a bad copy of that Merman GYPSY. It's a pretty incredible recording (at least the one I have and I don't CARE if we can't talk about these here lol)

As for the sales figures I would love to see a company try what Warner Brothers is doing for a lot of their older catalog titles. They know that a lot of their movies will never be able to make money back with packaging, advertising, distribution etc so they have an entire "on demand" section of titles that are made to order for 19.99.

Again, I completely understand people not liking to watch an audience recording. But I also understand that they are the only way a lot of people ever get to visit the theater and the only way to end (or drastically cut down on them) is for the shows to do this themselves.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 2/3/10 at 1:58pm

Also, Ellen Foley was the FIRST Witch, in the Old Globe tryout production out-of-town. The role then was much different, a studded leather wearing biker dyke with a predilection for lasciviously licking her lips. Very bizarre. Foley did eventually end up playing the role on Broadway (in the Bernadette mold, not the biker chick), and I believe she was the final Witch.

Great discussion (an exclusion or two notwithstanding)!

P

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/3/10 at 2:03pm

^ Actually, Betty Buckley was the first Witch. She did the first round of workshops. Foley did the Old Globe, but was still on Night Court (I think) so she couldn't come to New York for a November opening, they scrambled around to find someone, and Bernadette did it as a favor to Sondheim.

And, I'm with Jordan, the recording of Merman I have is really good quality.

And, I also like Jordan's idea of an on-demand video, that would be nice.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 2/3/10 at 2:28pm

Ok, Foley was the first Witch to play before a paying audience. Plus, there was no "Boom Crunch" or "Last Midnight" when Buckley did it, so the role was essentially just the rap and Rapunzel duet and most of the second act hadn't even been written. Usually the person to play the role in a workshop is not considered the first by most.

Or, of course, have it your way.

P

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/3/10 at 2:39pm

^Normally, I don't either, but it's Buckley...so I make an exception.

[Producer2]

Posted: 2/3/10 at 4:33pm

and patti said no to do anything goes- and lost the tony award to joanna gleason

[jv92]

Posted: 2/7/10 at 3:03pm

I thought Lapine and Sondheim said "No" to Patti, not the other way around?

[morosco]

Posted: 2/8/10 at 2:35pm

I thought Phylicia Rashad was the original Witch?

What might add to the confusion is that Rashad performed the role of the Witch on the Tony Awards broadcast that year. Peters had already left the show by then.