Manhattan Concert Productions 2016: The Secret Garden

[gstrus2]

Posted: 2/16/15 at 7:56pm

In the playbill for Parade tonight, there was a slip saying The Secret Garden would be next years production.

[MaddieBB12]

Posted: 2/16/15 at 8:24pm

I'm so excited! Can we get John Cameron Mitchell in here somehow?! And one of the OBC Matildas (Milly Shapiro in particular)as Mary? This is SUPER exciting!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/16/15 at 8:25pm

LOVE the idea of Milly Shapiro as Mary.

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 12:11am

I'll get my wish list in early:

Archie - Raul Esparza
Neville - Will Chase
Dickon - Andrew Kenan-Bolger
Martha - Celia Keenan-Bolger
Lily - Kelli O'Hara
Rose - Kate Baldwin
Mrs. Medlock - Nancy Opal
Ben Weatherstaff - John Cameron Mitchell

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 2/17/15 at 8:01am

Have never heard the cast album before, and optioned not to see a major production that was brought to Toronto in 2010 (not sure where it started...I want to say London?) However, I have heard that many people have strong feelings about the show and score in particular. Am I missing out on something? I'm assuming there is an audience for this show at Lincoln Centre.

[someone.else's.story2]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 1:43am

It's a really beautiful show. And the original production design... Just amazing. Happy to see them doing it next year!

[Marway44]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 6:24am

Perfect casting for Lily, Broadway Bob! I'm still partial to Mandy for Archie if he can still sing it. I wonder if Mandy ever auditioned for "The Phantom". Does anyone know?

[After Eight]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 6:51am

"Am I missing out on something?"

Not really. It was a dull, inert, muddled show. The score was equally dull.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 9:24am

I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 9:48am

"Am I missing out on something? I'm assuming there is an audience for this show at Lincoln Centre."

I guess it depends on what you like. I enjoy the score very much. It has some beautiful music. Why wouldn't you at least listen to some of the score?

[mamaleh]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 9:50am

Steven Pasquale and Will Chase were perfection as the male leads in the World AIDS Day concert of the show several years back. Would love to see them reprise those roles.

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 9:56am

Marway - I seem to remember hearing somewhere that the role of the Phantom was offered to Mandy since Colm Wilkinson (who it was written for) turned it down for Les Miz and they decided the rocker guy, Steve something, I forget his name, couldn't do it. I don't know why but Mandy turned down, and that's when they got Michael Crawford. I don't remember where I heard that and don't know if it's true.

And I definitely agree that getting Mandy for this concert would be amazing if he would do it. In fact an original cast reunion would be the most amazing thing ever!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 10:12am

Mandy probably turned it down because the role is so small. The Phantom has one big solo "Music of the Night" that comes in the middle of Act 1 and that's basically it. Everything else is duet or trio music. No interesting Phantom music in Act 2. Why go through all that mask wearing and makeup just to sit around?

[bpr515]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 11:47am

Steve Harley was the "rocker guy" that did the POTO videos before the show premiered in London.

As far as Patinkin in Phantom, this is from a People magazine article in 1989 (which, sadly, I remembered and then snagged off the google):

"When invited to take the lead in the original London production of Phantom of the Opera, Patinkin turned it down because he didn't want to move his family."

[musikman]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 12:15pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHJLfRZsI7w

I have a hard time believing that someone would call this dull.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JryHMQCLB3Y

and that someone wouldn't call this beautiful.



To each his own, I suppose.

[Marway44]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 1:50pm

I never knew that Bob and find it fascinating to learn this. As mentioned their is not much stage time, but look at how Crawford and Wilkinson became so big from such a small role.

Updated On: 2/19/15 at 01:50 PM

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 1:59pm

The Secret Garden was the first Broadway show I saw, and it's one of my absolute favorites. I can't wait for this!

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 3:50pm

I think Milly would be too old to play Mary...and so if we are thinking of some of the Matilda's, I think some of the newer younger ones would be better choices.

Daisy was 11 when she won the Tony so she was 10-11 during the show. By next spring, Milly would be close to 14.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 5:07pm

I wonder if they could get Lilla Crawford for Mary. I think since this is a concert version, they can go a bit older with Mary.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 2/18/15 at 5:38pm

I am sure they could do with whatever age they want but she is written to be 11 in the book and I think it would lose some of the charm to age the character. It's usually especially effective to have someone young make such positive changes in people's lives.

Of course, these girls are so talented..I am sure they would be amazing. Lilla was actually in their production of Ragtime last year. But if I were the casting director, I would keep the lead characters on the younger side...if possible. With the shorter rehearsal time, it might not be possible but I would like to see it.

[LarryD2]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 9:20am

My ideal cast would include Jeremy Jordan as Archibald, Laura Michelle Kelly as Lily, Andy Mientus as Dickon, Colin Donnell as Neville, Gayle Rankin as Martha. How about Sydney Lucas for Mary?

[Falling]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 10:20am

How about Ramin Karimloo as Archibald? I just think he might be interesting in the part. (I'd love Brian D'Arcy James...that would be incredible. I don't know what they want age-wise-Karimloo is more the age Patinkin was when he played the part.) I think Sydney Lucas as Mary is brilliant casting. I also think whoever mentioned Gayle Rankin as Martha was on to something (another idea I had...was to have Daisy Egan come back and play that part for the concert). Andrew Keenan-Bolger as Dickon could be pretty good. I also think someone like Will Chase as Neville would be ideal casting. For Lily, the Laura Michelle Kelly suggestion is good, or Alexandra Silber (she's got a gorgeous voice).