Little Dancer — Page 2

The title “Little Dancer” was the least of the D.C. production’s problems although I agree I kept calling it Tiny Dancer. The new title is not an improvement though. From what I recall, the songs were okay if unmemorable, the book was weakest piece and the highlight was the dancing and the “reveal” at the end. It wasn’t Broadway-ready then and I am glad they’re taking their time with revising it, but I do fear that if they think that the new title is an improvement, the other revisions may not be improvements either. I am glad I saw it, mainly because it was the only time I’ve been to the Kennedy Center.

Updated On: 2/18/19 at 03:02 PM

I was quite bitter about the name change when I first saw it as just "Marie", but then saw it was "Marie: Dancing Still', which I think really fits, having listened to Dancing Still + know the context of the show & song. I agree that Little Dancer would've been a better name, but ...

sparepart973 said: "Has anyone seen this?

I just saw a song list and the songs "Ballerina" and "Dancing Still" (from the Nice Fighting You recording)don't seem to be included. Were they cut or just renamed? Odd considering that the new show title is Dancing Still."

I've seen it three times, and have plans to go back a couple more times before closing. Ballerina and Dancing Still are both removed, and In Between has been renamed to Marie but is pretty similar to the old song from DC. I spoke to Ahrens & Flaherty last night about replacing Dancing Still with a heartbreaking song - Between Us, that is a "duet" between Christian and Marie (Christian sings ~ 85% of it, Marie sings maybe a total of eight lines in that song), and they said it was pretty much because they wanted a duet, and there wasn't room for that in Dancing Still. Between Us works better within the context of the show, but I personally enjoyed Dancing Still more.

The only time the words "Dancing Still" are mentioned now is at the end of the show, which is a nice touch.

I'm surprised that this looks to be the same physical production as it was in DC.

We’re getting at least 4 totally original musicals this season- including another one about a famous artist- plus a slew of adaptations with original scores.

I would’ve taken this at LCT over Flying Over Sunset any day.

Did anybody see the concert?

I did and even without sets, the concert had the sold-out London audience fully in love and on its feet. Full disclosure I've been a coproducer on the show since before Seattle but objectively I always thought that London is the perfect place for Little Dancer to make its mark on the stage. Tiler Peck and the rest of this cast including Julian Ovenden as Degas and Laura Pitt-Pulford as Older Marie had several show-stopping moments. Once audiences see the full production with sets by Beowulf Boritt, lighting by Ken Billington and costumes by William Ivey Long, they will see Degas' paintings come to life on the stage with a score by Ahrens & Flaherty that easily equals that of Ragtime. Not shilling - just sharing why I've always believed in this gorgeous musical Stro has nurtured with love.

Absolutely!

Crusty Bagel said: "Is this another Sonia Friedman produced thing? Let’s hope this works out better than that dreadful New York, New York"

No. Anita Waxman and Tegan Summer are the lead producers. Not exactly people with a great track record for lead-producing successful productions of big new musicals in contemporary times, but maybe if it opens in London first that could help? Those 11 years of development expenses must be rising by the day.

It reminds me of Alan Menken’s Beauty and the Beast. Listen at 10:42 to the sitzprobe. Not only the melodies, but also definitely the orchestrations.