Josh Gad & Andrew Rannells to star in GUTENBERG! THE (BEST) MUSICAL (EVER) On Broadway

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 7/15/21 at 1:32pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Josh-Gad-Andrew-Rannells-Were-Hoping-to-Bring-GUTENBERG-THE-MUSICAL-to-Broadway-20210715?fbclid=IwAR3rcSZR0bMW7roJGyT0mn1iVTbDwZm7UTbeyZhO5T-e68xF9a-rBYO-Iew

In a recent interview with Variety, stage and screen star Josh Gad revealed that he was hoping to return to Broadway in Gutenberg! The Musical! before plans were put on hold because of the pandemic. Gad was workshopping the musical in Los Angeles with his The Book of Mormon co-star Andrew Rannells.

The two have also reportedly considered leading a revival of The Producers.

Gutenberg! The Musical! is a musical written by Scott Brown and Anthony King. Brown and King developed the show at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City, where it ran for over a year. The production was directed by Alex Timbers with music directed by T.O. Sterrett and starred Christopher Fitzgerald and Jeremy Shamos.

Updated On: 6/22/23 at 01:32 PM

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 7/15/21 at 2:56pm

I could see that being a hit!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/15/21 at 2:58pm

Yes to both.

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 7/15/21 at 3:05pm

More interested in a new piece. The Producers has not aged well in my eyes. Besides, I think Gad would be completely miscast

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/15/21 at 3:43pm

Double yes!

[ACL2006]

Posted: 7/15/21 at 3:54pm

I don't see a revival of THE PRODUCERS working regardless of who's in it. I saw a production of this a few months before everything got shutdown, and the jokes just weren't all that funny anymore. Feels like if you've seen this before when on Broadway, on tour or in a regional theater, there's really no need to run out and see another production of this.

On the OBC reunion on "Stars in the House", both Lane & Broderick said they don't think this show would work today. I have to agree unless there's some big changes.

[Kitsune]

Posted: 7/15/21 at 3:56pm

There were many things I hated about the last administration. Among those, I included the fact that The Producers was no longer funny. (And I say this as someone who likes The Producers)

I think Broderick and Lane actually did a sketch to that effect right around the time of the 2016 election (Bialystock and Bloom, Political Consultants)

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 7/16/21 at 12:35am

I have a hard time believing a Gad/Rannells revival of The Producers would ever get greenlit unless all the backers made their checks out to “Cash.”

[JennH]

Posted: 7/16/21 at 9:34am

Kitsune said: "There were many things I hated about the last administration. Among those, I included the fact that The Producers was no longer funny. (And I say this as someone who likes The Producers)

I think Broderick and Lane actually did a sketch to that effect right around the time of the 2016 election (Bialystock and Bloom, Political Consultants)"

Oh I watched that sketch MULTIPLE times back then because it's hysterical because damn, I swear that exactly how it went down... that said, I'm neither nor there on that show itself, but Lane and Broderick are such icons attached to this show that it's difficult for most people to stomach seeing anyone else. Rannells could be good, but while Gad is good with comedy, Max isn't the kind of comedy he's good at. 

[NameGreg]

Posted: 7/16/21 at 12:12pm

I personally don’t see them in The Producers. The problem with that show is after Lane and Broderick people will expect huge names to headline a revival. I could see Norbert or Danny Burstein being an excellent Max, but while both are beloved, neither have Lane’s star power.

[quizking101]

Posted: 7/16/21 at 12:54pm

Gad and Rannells would be such a misfire for THE PRODUCERS - Gad doesn’t have that effortless, dry humor the role requires and Rannells has far too commanding a stage presence to play the meek Bloom.

Even if they reversed the roles, people would basically say it’s shoehorning their BOM roles into another show.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 7/16/21 at 1:43pm

With all due respect to them both, neither of them would be able to make either show a hit. They lucked out with BOM, and Andrew was great in Hedwig, but all their attempts to be a big star on TV and film have flamed out, and they'd have to be out of their mind to think their names (and Gad's seemingly incessant prescience on the talk show circuit) could open Gutenberg.

[JayElle]

Posted: 7/16/21 at 8:52pm

Replacing Lane in Producers is like replacing Bogart in Casablanca.  

Watched the anniversary cast w/Lane, Mel, and other cast during the spring.  Lane said they were surprised how well it went in Chicago.  But without any explanation, Lane said he couldn't see the show coming back today.  Whatever that means.  

[greensgreens]

Posted: 7/16/21 at 11:27pm

C'mon folks! They're both incredibly talented. And frankly it would be fun to see them both play against type - the direct opposite of their BOM roles. Of course, it could end in tragedy.

Although the show may not be PC, Mel's stuff never was. He may enjoy the cash, but I don't know if he'd allow anyone to tinker too much. I mean, what's it gonna be, "Springtime for people in Germany, light jacket weather in Poland and France!"

[bjh2114]

Posted: 7/17/21 at 10:18pm

I saw the original run of Gutenberg off-Broadway, and boy was it a blast. I still laugh thinking about it 14 years later. I think Rannells and Gad would actually be a good fit for the material, and if it meant this silly little show would get to have more exposure, I'd be down.

As for The Producers, it's an absolute no.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 5/26/23 at 2:39pm

https://twitter.com/joshgad/status/1662152199991066625?s=46&t=7saXIZjJ_7gAb2-aEKbHkQ

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/26/23 at 3:36pm

jacobsnchz14 said: "https://twitter.com/joshgad/status/1662152199991066625?s=46&t=7saXIZjJ_7gAb2-aEKbHkQ"

Watch this all be a mean tease and they’re just getting into the celebrity podcasting business.

[Anthony Sunday]

Posted: 5/26/23 at 3:47pm

I think audiences would be thrilled by a politically incorrect musical coming back to Broadway. My only concern is that if the production fails in any which way, the industry will blame it squarely on its irreverence (and not its performances, direction, etc.)

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/26/23 at 4:48pm

I could see both doing very well. It’s not their names alone but the combination of the two that is interesting. And there’s no real background to say they wouldn’t be a draw together. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/26/23 at 4:59pm

Would a revival of The Producers do well these days regardless of who is in it? Feels a bit outdated.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/26/23 at 5:11pm

ACL2006 said: "Would a revival of The Producers do well these days regardless of who is in it? Feels a bit outdated."

I'm of the belief that you kinda can't touch THE PRODUCERS unless someone were to do a drastically different take than Nathan. The material was greatly elevated by Stroman's staging and that cast. Even with the replacement casting of the OBC, despite a few swerves (such as Lewis Stadlen doing his Groucho Marx thing), it was "let's cast someone who can do a Nathan Lane impression (John Treacy Egan) or Zero Mostel impression (Brad Oscar)." Especially with Nathan still actively working (and could conceivably still play the part), it just begs for comparison.

Think the show would need an equivalent of LA CAGE or COLOR PURPLE being reinvented at the Chocolate Factory before coming to Bway.

But isn't GUTTENBERG the more recent rumor? Or am I misremembering?

[darquegk]

Posted: 5/26/23 at 5:33pm

I'll have to look for clips of Stadlen. I can immediately picture Groucho's reading of some lines in the show… and oddly it makes me want them to cast Eugene Levy.

[TicketBoy]

Posted: 5/26/23 at 6:25pm

More likely it's a Proshot of Book of Mormon. Might they perform on the Tonys to announce it?

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/26/23 at 6:55pm

BroadwayNYC2 said: "More interested in a new piece. The Producers has not aged well in my eyes. Besides, I think Gad would be completely miscast "

I think both would be miscast.  I genuinely can’t even figure out for sure which role either would play.

I also think The Producers needs another decade before being seriously considered for a revival.  The memory of Nathan Lane’s performance is still too fresh.

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 5/26/23 at 11:14pm

The Australian production I felt was let down by the 2 leads. The Production Company did a version that was completely insane and blew the roof off with laughter. All talent relatively unknown but everything worked. Casting is everything.