Little Mary Sunshine targeted for Broadway?

[morosco]

Posted: 11/11/04 at 12:49pm

Is this stale information?
Little Mary Sunshine Updated On: 11/11/04 at 12:49 PM

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 11/11/04 at 12:56pm

I did this show in 7th grade---and that's where it belongs.



In a Jr High.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 11/11/04 at 12:58pm

This site is years old. Sara Rice, ST original Johnann is heading it. But it's not going anywhere.

[morosco]

Posted: 11/11/04 at 1:13pm

In the right hands, this spoofy show can be a fun and campy.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/11/04 at 4:00pm

I have nothing but bad memories of Sarah Rice. I saw her several times in SWEENEY TODD and felt she was the dead spot in the show. She had no stage presence and mushy diction. The lyrics to "Green Finch" and "Kiss Me" were incomprehensible when she was singing the part. It wasn't until Betsy Joslyn replaced her that I could understand what the character was singing. It was when Miss Joslyn took over the role that the character finally came to life--and started getting laughs.

[B.B. Wolf]

Posted: 11/11/04 at 4:11pm

Horrible show. Terrible script. Maybe they CAN make it into something truly campy and funny, but as is, the script is simply to lukewarm and half-assed for me. Two cents, tossed.

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 11/11/04 at 4:16pm

It could never run on Broadway. It's a spoof of a vanished art form, operetta. No one today even knows what operetta is, and you can't effectively spoof something that audiences are completely unfamiliar with.

(BTW, Dollypop, completely with you on the Sarah Rice thing.)

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/11/04 at 6:25pm

Wow! Somebody actually agrees with me! How refreshing!

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 11/11/04 at 8:21pm

I didn't see Sara Rice as Johanna, but I'm in love with Betsy Joslyn--well, Betsy Joslyn from twenty-five years ago...

[MusicMan]

Posted: 11/11/04 at 10:02pm

Betsy's a big girl now.

[Booming Baritone]

Posted: 11/13/04 at 4:47am

I dunno what performances you saw, but on the OBCR of ST Sarah sounds pretty fekkin good to me. I preferred her performance to Ms. Joclyn's, but that is my opinion. The role wasn't meant to be slapstick funny as directed by Mr. Prince, I assume, or it would have been originally cast that way. I found Ms. Joclyn to be at times way too broad, shrill and ott, especially on the video.

I had the lucky opportunity to hear Ms. Rice in concert at Merkin Hall in NYC last Sept. with Cris Groenendaal and Marni Nixon -- Sarah sounded spectacular and had plenty of stage presence. She flawlessly pulled off a jaw-dropping, showstopping, coloratura show-piece that brought down the house-- far more difficult singing than "Glitter and Be Gay".

From the program notes at Merkin Hall, it looks like Little Mary is still active. So, maybe you don't really know the answer, do you? I wish them luck with the show. In the right hands, it is a wonderfully fun show and they seem to have a dynomite cast. Mike Daisey is brilliant and I adore Alison Fraser. Marni Nixon is an affecting and very funny actress. She can really pull at the heart strings. Updated On: 11/20/04 at 04:47 AM

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 11/13/04 at 3:09pm

Oh yes Baritone..you must be right and know the answer.

Since that website hasn't changed for the last FOUR years, I'm sure it's still active and update an any other current project would be.

So, maybe you don't really know the answer, do you?

Oh..and thanks for joining just to share your correct answer with us.

Updated On: 11/13/04 at 03:09 PM

[Booming Baritone]

Posted: 11/14/04 at 4:13am

All I know is what I read in a recently printed program. So I assume if something is stated in a recent publication from the source of that information, that they must know more what is going on than you do.

I just went to the LMS site and the copyright date on the site is 2002. So that makes 2 years --not four unless you do some funky math. It also looks like the site was last updated on 9/03, like, a year ago. A little detective work sort of negates your sour pronouncements, doesn't it dude? Just asking.

Hey, a guy has to begin posting to a chatroom somewhere, doesn't he? Been lurking for a while. ;>) This is the first one I felt compelled to answer, since I had seen some real information on the subject recently.

And I hate to see really talented people trashed when it isn't warrented.

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 11/14/04 at 5:30am

Hey Baritone,

Although you have a differing opinion about Ms. Rice than I do, I'm glad you raised your voice in her defense. Judgment of talent is a very subjective thing, and as you pointed out, neither Prince nor Sondheim seemed to object to her performance in ST.

I didn't care for it, and happened to enjoy Ms. Josyln more. But I don't think either Dollypop or I were "trashing" Ms. Rice, we were offering up an opinion (and one that wasn't particularly harsh, at that).

My personal opinion about Ms. Rice's talent notwithstanding, I stand by my theory that reviving LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE is a terrible idea. As much as I would like to see Alison Fraser tackle that role, a revival of the show would not work.

I'm not arguing the merits of LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE. (I happen to think that it's a terrific little musical.) But the fact remains that it is a spoof of an art form that contemporary audiences are wholly unfamiliar with.

To an extent, LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE works on its own merits. But the reason it had such a successful run originally was due to the fact that audiences recognized what it was gently spoofing. When you take away the tongue-in-cheek quotient, you have to accept it as a work of art on its own terms, and by comparison to successful operettas (i.e., THE NEW MOON, THE STUDENT PRINCE) it pales.

A revival of either THE NEW MOON or THE STUDENT PRINCE would be unthinkable today. Carrying this reasoning through, you have to agree that a revival of a show whose overriding purpose is to spoof operetta is an insane idea. Updated On: 11/14/04 at 05:30 AM

[Booming Baritone]

Posted: 11/15/04 at 1:20am

Yo Veuve,

You raise some interesting points. I have no clue as to whether somehing will succeed or fail. I was just passing on information I had seen.

Sometimes something that one thinks is an insane idea ends up being really wonderful and innovative, or not-- and vice versa.

I remember reading an interview with Jonathan Tunick where he says the year he was doing Ballroom he thought for sure Ballroom was going to be the hit of the season and that a musical about people being made into meat pies was a sure fire bomb. (I think they were the same year). So I guess it really depends on how someting is presented , the point of view of the production and if they can come up with something fresh that will mysteriously catch on with the public or not. That is the thrill and heartbreak of ShowBiz, I guess. I personally can never tell what will be a hit or miss with the public. I can tell you which performances have inspired or moved me and those were not always the big hits with the public.

I thought Hugh Jackman in Boy From Oz was pretty phenominal. And that was a TERRIBLE SHOW. Ditto, Cherry Jones in The Heiress, a musty little melodrama.

Whether you preferred Sarah or Betsy's performance is a matter of personal taste. I happen to admire and love both ladies' talents.

I love being happily surprised in the theatre.

[DoReMi]

Posted: 11/15/04 at 1:43am

Oh gawd..this site is still around? I saw it years ago and it still hasn't changed.

I have read nothing about this coming back or even happening. If they don't have the time or interest to keep up their site, then it's not happening.

[Character Tenor]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 1:54am

Wrong you are, Do...here's the scoop on LMS, y'all...

After initial backer readings two years ago, MadjaLook Productions (Sarah's company) had to temporarily relinquish the rights to the show to other potential production companies. Roundabout picked it up with the hope of putting Kristin Chenoweth and Craig Bierko in the lead roles. Roundabout decided that they couldn't or wouldn't make it fly.

I know...so far, old news...but this accounts for a big chunk of the time lapse over the last two years.

The latest buzz (on good authority) is that MadjaLook has picked the show back up, and will be having another reading in the VERY near future. Sarah's "Little Mary" definitely isn't dead yet.

Let's leave it up to the backers and audience to decide if it should run or not. I agree with Baritone...Sarah's singing as wonderfully as ever...and Marni is still one of the great ones. (I saw their Merkin Concert, too.) Hey, there's nothing like LMS out there...it just might work!

[elphieandglindabffl]

Posted: 6/1/06 at 2:41pm

I LOVE this show!!!! I just played it in April and I played Cora. I love this show so much! I know it is a spoff, but it could work. I would do anything to play my role again! I know I am only going into 9th grade and all, but I know what I am talking about! This could work... ya never know untill you try it!

[tophertilson]

Posted: 6/1/06 at 2:51pm

So funny - after I saw DROWSY CHAPERONE, I turned to my companion and said, "Wow, that was great. Sort of like LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE only good, and with a purpose."

TT

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 11/23/06 at 2:26am

Hey, does anyone know any new info on this show coming to Broadway maybe? I absolutely love it! it's a very fun musical. Not the biggest masterpiece, but can be a fun time in the theatre. The songs are quite catchy in my opinion. I would love to hear what's happening, if maybe it has been scrapped or still coming someday or what?

[Chitty]

Posted: 11/23/06 at 1:00pm

Who would bring a thread back from 2 years ago?

People connected withn the dead show..that's who!

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 11/23/06 at 2:19pm

Well, actually I happened upon the website and got excited, then I started looking at dates, and I wondered if anyone on this board had any new information, and since the general comments from people are to search before posting, I did! Maybe on retrospect I should have just started a new thread...

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 11/23/06 at 10:40pm

bump

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 4:16pm

I just ran across this website. How long are they going to continue this charade???

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 4/24/08 at 4:29pm

Ahh! more LMS thread bumps.

make it stop. make it stop.