
Wow, this does seem as wrong-headed as all reports say. Never found photos before.

Man Overboard, judging from the audio, was kinda catchy however...

John Rubinstein

Rubinstein and Kevin Gray

Lauren Mitchell
where did this happen?
Can you maybe link to the Tripod site you're getting these from, so we can see the pictures?
Ha, sorry. The first ones are from my FB, did they work? The tripod ones are from here: http://theatre_chick.tripod.com/kiss-pix-purchase.html
Muscle, the backstory about the disastrous original production of Kiss of the SpiderWoman for the New Musicals project (which then quickly folded) and the drama about critics reviewing, and panning it, when asked not to is pretty well documented. I couldn't find much online but here's Rich's review (of course I believe he didn't like the final version either...) Livent and Garth Drabinsky in one of their earliest moves rescued the project which is why it premiered in Toronto and then London before New York. The show was completely overhauled, the concept changed, about half the score replaced, etc.
http://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/01/theater/review-theater-in-a-prison-cell-2-men-and-a-movie-musical.html?n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fT%2fTheater
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
Interesting, according to morocco's link the SUNY production was filmed for TOFT. I wonder if it is actually available for viewing or if it's one of the more heavily restricted tapes.
I would love to see it...
My audio has the song Hey Sailor for the cruiseship movie fantasy--I wonder if Man Overboard was a different song entirely...
One does wonder though if Frank Rich's review led to the casting of Chita:
"Though Mr. Kander and Mr. Ebb have written some typically amusing parodies for their movie musical, even their better numbers are defeated by the routine choreography of Susan Stroman and by the performance of Lauren Mitchell as the star of Molina's celluloid visions. What is needed in this role is not, perhaps, a mysterious reincarnation of Rita Hayworth (which is what Sonia Braga brought to the film version) but a dazzling musical-comedy presence of the Chita Rivera sort who has always ignited the flashiest Kander-Ebb songs."
BTW these pics led me to a long (90 mins) panel interview done when Kiss was up and running for the American Theatre Wing with McNally, Kander and Ebb, Prince, Rivera and Garth Drabinsky. I actually found it quite fascinating (was the show actually initially selling as well as they claimed or was that just good press? I mean I knew it was a hit, but Prince claims it's the only show selling at capacity.) For as much as he's an ass hole, and really messed with a lot of people, it was interesting to hear how hugely involved Drabinsky was with the show and how much he invested in it (they talk a lot about budgets, weekly costs, etc.) Isabelle Stevenson, the host, seems quite annoyed when Prince says they're giving better opportunities in Canada right now than the US. I think it is true, sadly, now with what Prince says then in that what is lacking are *creative* producers who are willing to take a chance something that Drabinsky was, at least, willing to do with material.
I thought I'd share this great rendition of the title song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oQq-8VyK24
Where You Are: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4K8raGmdKI
Wow, she really is great in the part. Did the show do well there?
It was a huge hit, Harold Prince went to Buenos Aires to direct it himself, it was a multi million dollar investment.
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