Joey McIntyre is The Fonz in Happy Days Musical for Los Angeles Debut - playbill.com

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 8:20pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/l.cfm?id=99750

mmmh..I'm sure about the commercial prospects for this musical. It did have an earlier incarnation in 1999 in the UK. It went on tour in the UK and never made it to the West End. It is my understanding that the score is not very Rock-n'-Roll but is very reminiscent of Paul Williams' style (who wrote some well known hits for Barbra Streisand). And yes, the Happy Days song is supposedly done at the end.

The plot of the show (in its 1999 UK incarnation) is that Arnold's diner is going to be knocked down by some big developer to make way for a new Mall. Big Al has refused to sell the diner, so the developers and Miss Frost, (the girl who jilted the Fonz) who is now head of planning in City Hall, sends in her brother Frank's biker gang to cause lots of trouble so the diner will be forced to close down. Throw in a bit of love interest between Richie and Frank's girlfriend Laura...

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 8:21pm

The photo above is from the 1999 UK production...

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 8:21pm

N/M Updated On: 1/18/06 at 08:21 PM

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 8:25pm

I thought Pinky Tuscadero (sp?) jilted the Fonz?

[emo_geek]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 8:28pm

when is this going to start shows?

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 8:57pm

Per the playbill article linked above from BWW, show will start February 15th.

The pic is of Craig Urbani who played Fonz in the UK. I am wondering whether Joey will buff up for this scene or if it will be changed to let him keep his shirt on.

Before the hate mail begins, allow me to say that I DON'T think this show has a future on Broadway....but it may end up being a good commercial vehicle for regional theatres.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 9:00pm

"but it may end up being a good commercial vehicle for regional theatres."

I agree.

I don't know how well it would do if it made it to Broadway...not sure if Joey McIntyre would even sell tickets.

[Jenny1284]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 9:17pm

I wasn't going to ask, but I'm curious: Do you have any idea what's going on in the scene during which that picture was taken?

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 9:30pm

I believe Fonzie ends up somehow in the girls' locker room and he ends up showering with them....VERY CHEESY!

[ShuQ]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 9:51pm

May be cheesy, but sounds liuke McIntyre is perfect for the part. I'm glad he's getting himself out there in the theatre scene..and no doubt he would sell tickets!

[emo_geek]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 9:59pm

Ya i saw him in wicked and depending on the music he could be good.

[Tirso de Molina]

Posted: 1/18/06 at 11:59pm

looks/sounds putrid beyond belief.

*shudder*

[emo_geek]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 12:04am

Ya....but it does have a pretty good cast.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 3:11am

Um, yeah, I don't see much in the future for this show. People are going in expecting to see the Fonzi we all know, so there's no room for creating your own character, that sorta sucks.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 7:59pm

interesting...


:)

gotta go!

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 8:00pm

interesting...


:)

gotta go!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 8:05pm

God help us.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 9:09pm

I would very much doubt that this will make it to Broadway...It could, however, have life in regional theatre.

As for Joey, I remember reading somewhere that Joey's (Joey is straight and married) best friend is supposedly Mario Cantone. That is one unusual friendship.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 11:01pm

Okay guys, I'm stocking cans for the winter. Let's take bets on how many people will saddle up to defend this show. Someone's always gonna be a fan.

Have you ever heard a more sitcom-ish plot for a musical?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 1/19/06 at 11:06pm

Gilligan's Island: The Musical...

I think it could turn out cool if done right...

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 1/20/06 at 12:33am

Only if they pick an audience member every night to be stranded, and then at the end of the show you get to vote somebody off the island.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 1/20/06 at 12:35am

I meant Happy Days.

GI has already been done as a musical.

I wanted to see it...but I wasn't on the right side of the country (Stupid NY)

[Feathah]

Posted: 1/20/06 at 7:55am

Joey McIntyre is definitely still a draw. But this sounds like a very bizarre production! Weird concept. It's not a satire?

[Jon]

Posted: 1/20/06 at 8:18am

Ernie Sabella as Arnold?

Obviously, they hope we will forget that "Arnold" was Japanese, and the chubby guy who later took over as propriotor of the drive-in was named "Al".