Is Francesca Zambello's SHOW BOAT Broadway Bound?

[DEClarke]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 12:29pm

Buzz at Houston Grand Opera's opening night os SHOW BOAT, directed by Francesca Zambello, seemed to indicate that this production has its eyes set on Broadway. The show played Chicago and has confirmed stops in San Francisco and Washington D.C. Have anyone else heard anything to indicate that it may be on the Great White Way soon?

My review is linked below...
BWW Reviews: Houston Grand Opera's Entertaining SHOW BOAT Dazzles and Delights

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 12:50pm

Sounds awesome. But that's fairly risky for Broadway.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 1:42pm

Meh. I guess we're due, but I don't have much faith in her after The Little Mermaid debacle. Maybe we'll get to see Laura Benanti as Julie.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 2:04pm

I doubt we will ever see a Julie as white as Missy B ever again on B'Way.

[whatever2]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 2:12pm

i saw this @ Lyric Opera in chicago last season. it was lovely -- and quite well done (no "little mermaid" nonsense here) -- but i cannot imagine it doing well on broadway.

the current version is a co-production between chicago, houston, sf, and dc ... arguably, it couldn't come to nyc until after the final two companies have their turn.

[AC126748]

Posted: 1/20/13 at 2:49pm

I saw it in Chicago last year and it's an exquisite production. Nathan Gunn sang Ravenal and Ashley Brown sang Magnolia, and both were perfect. I highly doubt Gunn would ever do a long run of a musical on Broadway, but he certainly crosses the opera/musical theatre divide with great ease.

As to the question of casting Julie: whoever plays her needs to be able to convincingly pass as a white woman (and a white woman in 1890s Mississippi, where any outward sign on non-whitness would be noticed). I think Benanti would be an excellent choice. I really don't think this is a role that--even by today's standards--needs to be cast with an African-American actress exclusively, and it often still isn't. However, I believe the singer who portrayed Julie in Zambello's production (at least in Chicago) was an African-American opera singer.

[DEClarke]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 9:57am

whatever2, I wasn't implying that it would jump from Houston to Broadway and neither was anyone that was talking about it possibly getting onto Broadway. It has two scheduled engagements already, but buzz seems to indicate that there are ambitions for it to find a Broadway home after San Francisco and D.C.

I'd be curious to see it go to Broadway and see who they would cast. The cast in Houston is completely different than the cast in Chicago. It will be a different cast in San Fran, and a different cast in D.C.

If it were to open in NYC, would it be possible that people from the four cities may be asked to reprise their roles (i.e. a "dream" cast composed of the best of the best from each stop)? Or would they completely recast again?

[AC126748]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 11:12am

I don't know who's been in the other casts at other houses, but I'd love to see Ashley Brown play Magnolia again. She was really wonderful and it would probably be a change for people who only know her as Mary Poppins. Getting Nathan Gunn to do a musical on Broadway would be a coup for anyone but I highly doubt he'd do it. He has a pretty hectic opera/recital schedule, and I believe he's reluctant to spend time away from his family who are based in Illinois. (His wife is a professor at U of I, and I believe they have 4 or 5 kids) Also, I imagine an opera singer in his prime is always going to think long and hard before committing to an eight performance a week schedule on Broadway.

[whatever2]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 1:34pm

DEClarke: my point was that the other two opera companies have to mount the production *first* -- SF isn't scheduled until June of 2014, not sure about WNO. Which is to say: unless the "remaining" two co-producers consent to a simultaneous Broadway run, the earliest this production could come to Broadway is the Fall of 2014.

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 3:33pm

I certainly hope this production comes to NY. I've only heard wonderful things. But it's such an expensive show...

[DEClarke]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 4:51pm

Well, whatever2, we're saying the same thing. Buzz at HGO implied that it would probably be the 2014-15 season... assuming it makes it to NYC.

What it really comes down to is, I was wondering if the buzz about it possibly opening in NYC was just wishful thinking or if any one knew of actual intensions.

The was this is directed, it could play NYC easily. It's a large and flashy production that would be worth the price of Broadway admission. I mean Houston audiences are paying between $33 and $325 a seat to see the production.

B-Roll footage of Morris Robinson as Joe signing "Ol' Man River" was posted today. See link below...
Morris Robinson as Joe signing "Ol' Man River"

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 5:52pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-First-Look-at-Sasha-Cooke-Morris-Robinson-and-More-in-Houston-Grand-Operas-SHOW-BOAT-20130121

Looks pretty good, except for Ravenal looking ridiculously like Rhett Butler. :)

[Joviedamian]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 8:56pm

I live in SF and I have not heard any word on SHOW BOAT coming here.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 9:10pm

Well, it's on the San Francisco Opera website as part of their 2013-2014 season.

http://sfopera.com/Season-Tickets/2013-14-Season/Show-Boat.aspx

I managed to catch this last spring in Chicago and definitely recommend seeing it if you can. If you only judge Francesca Zembello's work based on The Little Mermaid you are missing out on some great productions she has mounted in the opera world, including this one.

[whatever2]

Posted: 1/21/13 at 9:13pm

presumably, if you live in SF you've heard of google?

http://www.google.com/cse?q=sf%20opera%20showboat&sa=Search&cx=011444277870222434136:sj9mvdxmv2s

:)

[jon5202]

Posted: 1/22/13 at 1:52am

Here are two videos referencing the Lyric Opera of Chicago production seen last season which is the same physical production as now being shown in Houston. Also, the original Chicago cast is indicated in the final item posted here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orIuBWSDMcI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Giz-bvjLOR0

http://www.lyricopera.org/tickets/productiondetail.aspx?id=12033

I assume the physical production and staging would remain the same for any potential Broadway production but, of course, the cast would be subject to availability and change.

[DEClarke]

Posted: 1/22/13 at 6:33am

The Houston Grand Opera has released more B-Roll Footage. BroadwayWorld has collected the five clips and posted them here...
5 Clips of SHOW BOAT at HGO

[DEClarke]

Posted: 1/22/13 at 6:37am

As a side note, the three-story Cotton Blossom set is made of steel painted to look like wood. It is manually pushed (with a cast full of people on it) to create the illusion of the Cotton Blossom docking. WOW!