Isn't It Time For A GRAND HOTEL Revival?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 9:42pm

Dontcha think?

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 9:42pm

Jordan, this time around, I agree with you wholeheartedly!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 9:43pm

Yes! And if we get one, I hope this woman is still around to see it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wcf64hp_54

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 9:52pm

OH. MY. GOD.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 10:39pm

What actor made of rubber could play Otto Kringelein?

(And I'm heavily influenced by how great she was as Luisa in Nine, but I'd love to see Mary Stuart Masterson take on another Karen Akers role and play Raffaela.)

[ARTc]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 10:41pm

Recently, as an experiment, I typed into a google search field, "the best musical ever". What it came up with, and ultimately linked to, was a sort of March Madness Brackets of Broadway Musicals. The goal was to fill out the form and find out what you believed was the best musical of all times. I was very surprised to not see, Grand Hotel included amount the many musicals competing for the title.

I want the original production back. I want David Carroll and Michael Jeters (both no longer with us) and those who are still among us. NO. I want a time machine to take me back to the night I first saw, Grand Hotel. What an amazing evening that was.

[After Eight]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 10:42pm

No.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 10:46pm

We'll wait a few weeks until your funeral, then.

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 10:46pm

Yes yes yes yes PLEASE. Love this show.

Updated On: 4/11/13 at 10:46 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 10:53pm

Yes, please, and with the Tommy Tune staging, please.

PLEASE!!!

[Playbilly]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 10:57pm

Yes, yes! Please with Tune's staging. And, maybe find a place for Martin Short in it. Jeter's role?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 11:05pm

Sorry guys, Afterbirth said no so I guess it won't happen.

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 11:10pm

http://choreographerjasonsparks.com/Reel.html

Here is a link with some footage of 'Grand Hotel' at Penn State University last year. This production was choreographed by Jason Sparks and directed by Nathan Brewer; the same team that mounted the NYC Theater at St Clements production last November.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 1:09am

I think it would need the perfect cast, and yes -- the Tommy Tune staging. The Donmar Warehouse revival a few years back was disappointing (save Julian Ovendon as the Baron).

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 1:30am

I have been wanting a revival for a long time. I picture Hugh Panaro as The Baron and Leigh Ann Larkin as Flemmchen

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 1:38am

I don't think the original cast (and it's replacements -- Cyd Charisse, Brett Barrett, Chip Zien) could be topped, could it?

Who would be cast if it were revived today on B'way? (with an elastic budget and Tune's staging)

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 2:20am

Charlotte D'Amboise would be the seemingly obvious choice for Elizaveta Grushinskaya with other likely choices today being along the lines of Aaron Tveit as the Baron (the character is supposed to be fairly young). Stephanie Pope as Rafaela. David Hyde Pierce as Otto Kringelein, etc.

[tazber]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 6:47am

I love the show but do have a few issues with it:

Yeston was perhaps the best choice to flesh out the score, but it still doesn't sound cohesive to me. Wright and Forrest were going for a conceptual score with each song in a different style (Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Charleston, etc.).
Yeston's contributions are beautiful and add some much needed drama, but it still sounds like a score of two halves.

I also think the character of Raffaela needs one good solo, not the two (incredibly boring) songs she has. Not sure if they beefed up the part for Karen Akers, but for a show with no intermission the role could be trimmed.

And lastly, please god get rid of those those abrasive silverware crates that the scullery workers shake. It takes you out of the moment completely. Perhaps I was too young to when I saw it, but I remember actually getting nervous and tensing up everytime they came onstage for fear of the assault on my ears.

Despite those minor quibbles the show is wonderful with a lot of amazing moments. Of course "Let's Take A Drink Together" remains on of the best showstoppers ever (I'm not even being hyperbolic, it's an amazing number of exuberant joy and friendship).

But also some of the smaller numbers are equally affecting. "At The Grand Hotel/Table With A View", "I Want To Go To Hollywood", and "As It Should Be" are beautifully crafted character songs with depth.

And then there is the shadow of Jeter's performance. It was perfect. One of the most moving and technically amazing performances I've ever had to fortune to see. He left an indelible impression on my young musical loving heart that has yet to be matched.

So yes, let's get a revival sooner rather than later. I'd love to check in for a visit.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 12:37pm

I hated this show, except for Jeter.
But, y'all have fun!

[Kad]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 12:41pm

I feel like it's best suited to an Encores production.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 12:51pm

I think so too, Kad. I'd love to see the Tommy Tune staging, and at Encores! they could actually get all those great actors who might not take smaller roles in a full blown production. I've never seen this live, "I Want to Go to Hollywood," "Who Wouldn't Dance with You?" and "We'll Take a Glass Together" are some of my favorite showtunes. Bebe Neuwirth is someone else I was thinking for Elizabeta (though I only know the film and the cast recording, not too familiar with the book of the show), and I'm with MichaelBennett that David Hyde Pierce seems like the most obvious choice for Mr. Kringelein or even Norbert Leo Butz would be good too.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 1:12pm

If Encores brings back their Summer Series this really would be a great choice for them.

[newintown]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 3:37pm

I adored this show, but feel that it was easily as much due to the work of Tune and the original cast as it was to the material. Saw it three times.

I'd truly hate to see a Roundabout/John Stamos version. I'd weep.

Updated On: 4/12/13 at 03:37 PM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 6:44pm

Yes..I thing GRAND HOTEL is long overdue for a re-examination. So much of the success of the original was due to Tommy Tune's brilliant staging, that it would be hard to see the show without that. It's Probably one reason the show hasn't had much of a life in regional/community theatres since the National tour ended.

Also the scipt sent out by Samuel French does not accurately chronical how the show played on stage.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 9:55pm

As much as I would love to see it. That first cast was perfection.