It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#0It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 1:13amI think this show should get its own revival. I think it would work wonderful as an ode to the 50s. It could be designed like a very graphic novel / comic style. I think it be a great campy evening of theater. With a the new Superman movie coming out, I think it could work great. I think the score's actually great. I found the Cast Recording at Barnes & Noble today for $12, so I had to pick it up, and it has some really good songs on it. Did the writers write any other musicals? Why did this musical flop? I say bring it back!
#1re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 1:22amIt is a great score but very dated, It would fit great into the Encores series though.
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#2re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 1:31amYeah, Bobby, I was thinking it was dated also, but I don't see why it couldn't be revamped. I swear when i get older, I want to direct this so bad. And even though it is dated, i think setting it in a 50s era type art-deco look would make since with the music. Anyone have a picture of this Marquee, wish I coulda seen it.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#3re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 5:48am
"I swear when i get older, I want to direct this so bad"
I would imagine that someone would want to direct the show "well". I find it odd to think that a person would deliberately set out to direct a prodution "badly"--unless he's Joe Brooks.
Smaxie
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/26/05
#4re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 6:10am
You mean '50s retro, I think. Art Deco is more representative of the 1920s.
I've seen ...SUPERMAN twice. Once a local production, and then a slightly revised production at Goodspeed (where they changed the politically incorrect Flying Lings to a group of extremist acrobats from a fictional Arab country(!))
The score is indeed fun and entertaining, and the show has its moments, but I have to say that it's never quite as funny as you hope it's going to be. And the subplot with Gotham's City Hall being blown up at the end of Act One is what made Encores! postpone their production of it post 9/11.
#5re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 6:41amGotham City? That's Batman. Superman lives in metropolis (sp?)
#6re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 7:11am
You mean you haven't heard about the revival?
Now she has grown up some and won't be playing Peter Pan anymore- Cathy Rigby is Superman.
Updated On: 1/18/06 at 07:11 AM
Smaxie
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/26/05
#7re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 7:39amGotham City, Metropolis. Whatever.
#8re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 11:16am
omg, when we saw that cd at Barnes and Nobles, and and my best friend started cracking up because we saw "in association with Harold Prince" on the back. She started talking about what would happen if Triumph the Comic Insult Dog interviewed him....
"Hey Harold I am a very big fan of your work! Especially SUPERMAN THE MUSICAL!!!! HEY! CARE TO COMMENT HAROLD!?"
jasobres
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/9/05
#9re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 11:18amSuperman as a revival? Not in a million years.
#10re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 11:31amSuperman came to Broadway after the Batman TV show had become a big fad and was done in the same campy style. The popular theory of why it closed was that it ran in the middle of a lengthy newspaper strike. The bookwriters were first-timers David Newman and Robert Benton, who had been writing feature articles for The New Yorker. I don't think either were ever involved in another musical. The score was by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams, who also wrote Bye Bye Birdie, Golden Boy, Applause and All-American.
#11re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 2:12pm
This show needs to be revived. The score is wonderful and funny...
However, there is still that unfortunate stereotype in some circles that Superheroes are just for stupid kids. That's probably why that Tim Burton-directed Batman musical was canned.
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#12re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 4:11pmI've never read the script, so not sure how witty/funny it is, but I think with a good director it could be done. If they played it campy, but not too campy. And Dollypop "bad" is just an expression, I don't want to direct it "bad." Its just something I really would like to do. It's also so weird to me that Jack Cassidy's name is so big and bolded, and he's not even the star of the show. I think Mark Kudish (sp?) could play the "bad guy" in the show perfectly.
perfectliar
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/1/04
#13re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 5:00pmSmaxie: Where did you see a local production? Are the rights available to do them? I'd love to get interest up to possibly produce it around here if they are.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#14re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 5:53pmI thought Tams Witmark held the rights.
BroadwayDoc
Stand-by Joined: 9/17/05
#15re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 5:59pmAm I crazy or didn't Paper Mill do a production of this?
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#16re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 6:15pm
Goodspeed did a revival a few years back
I saw the show multiple times & loved it. Some changes would have to be made as it has some un PC moments . It is a fun show but some would get their knickers in a twist over some things. How far we have come ( or regressed)
1. Part of the plot involves a group of Chinese Acrobats who do robberies. To make it PC, make every member of the acrobatic gang a different nationality. This way everyone can feel agrieved
2. At the end of the 1 st act, while Supe is holding up a platform with dignataries on it, city hall behind him is blown up by a mad scientist. This would be a no no after 9-11 so make it disappear (to reappear at the end)
3. The finale takes place in a abandoned power house & involves the acrobats & Superman in an all out fight - repeat solution in # 1
Who would play Supe ? Therein lies the problem. He must be muscular. Chenowith could play the Linda Lavin part . Nathan Lane could play the Jack cassidy part
Problem is flops ( even one with greart reviews ) do not get revived. What a pity for such an entertaining show
Flahooley
Leading Actor Joined: 11/17/05
#17re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 6:20pmYOU'VE GOT POSSIBILITIES was on Sondheim's list of songs he wished he had written. Of course, that doesn't mean the entire piece is good or worth reviving, but it is an interesting piece of trivia.
#18re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 6:28pmWhere exactly does one find that list?
"Shut up! It's been 29 years!!!" --the incomparable Patti LuPone in her MUCH DESERVED Tony acceptance speech for Gypsy.
Kitzy's Avatar du Jour: Kitzy as Little Red Ridinghood in her college's production of "Into the Woods"
Flahooley
Leading Actor Joined: 11/17/05
#19re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 6:45pm
Frank Rich's interview with Sondheim in the New York Times Sunday Magazine on March 12, 2000
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#20re: It's A Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman (Revival)?
Posted: 1/18/06 at 8:01pmYeah, I think it could be done. Reworked of course, but done. Personally, I dont think blowing up city hall would be that offensive, but then again, I'm not normally offended by anything. And I sort of get the whole Chinese acrobats thing, because usually the bad guys are "forgein." For Supe, I'm thinking...Hm...Cheynne (sp?) Jackson? Maybe? He's got the build for it, but I dunno. I think Sutton would make a great Lois Lane part. I dunno why but I could see her decked out in 50s gear and looking amazing.
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