Manhattan Concert Productions to do "Scarlet Pimpernell" next year! — Page 2

Douglas Sills was tremendous in this role, and his (thrilling) singing of this score is still one of my all-time favorite male vocal performances on Broadway. I used to listen to this recording ad nauseam in high school, so I have a pretty soft spot for this score. Can’t wait for this!

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Is this the homophobic one? Someone (I think SomeoneInATree, although forgive me if I'm mistaken) turned me off on listening to the cast recording (It's Wildhorn though, so it wasn't high on my list).

On the subject of Broadway's least favorite composer, there was a rather interesting thread about a year ago regarding the past and furture of musical theatre song writing where I wrote at length about my opinions on Mr. Wildhorn's (and his many lyrisists) work and why I don't feel they are particularly compelling in the medium of story-driven theatre. I think it was in a thread on Follies, for some reason I can't recall.

Putting all that aside, I will confess that "In His Eyes" is a guilty pleasure of mine - I would go so far as to say I love it, or at least really like it. I wish I could say the same for the rest of his work.

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I remember watching a video a few years back in which Mr Wildhorn is being interviewed about songwriting. He talks himself up and rolls his eyes and scoffs when talking about theatre directors. I can’t remember exactly what he says but it’s along the lines of ‘I write great songs and sometimes say stuff about how I need to make changes to serve the drana’ scoff, scoff, eyeroll.

I remember thinking ‘where therein lies your problem, you have such little respect for the actual art of making a musical or anybody else’s contribution’

That being said, I agree that ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’ is one of his better scores. The book is slight (at least in the current licensed version) but it’s better than you would imagine, if you have never seen it and are judging based on his past collaborations. There is better character music in this show, than any of his others which balances out the power ballads.

Mister Matt said: "But you didn't even listen to Scarlet Pimpernel because someone else told you the show was somehow homophobic? That's very...odd."

They were probably referring to the way Percy and the men put on a fop persona to deflect suspicion by Chauvelin. I don’t see that as homophobic.

It is NOT homophobic BUT I could understand people considering it insensitive as there is a plot point and song number that plays gay stereotypes for laughs.

The heroes want to appear as the LEAST likely men that could be saving the French people from so they all act INSANELY foppish when in public. If you were to picture 12 Jack's from the TV show Will and Grace doing a song and dance number in outrageously designed period clothing..... that's basically what "The Creation of Men" is. Again, played for laughs but definitely would not call it "homophobic" by any stretch of the imagination.

Fan123 said: "Some casting has been announced, but they're deliberately leaving one question open: Who is the Scarlet Pimpernel? Clues will be provided via social media and you can submit guesses via email; correct guesses will be included in a ticket raffle. I love that they're having some fun with this; I'd kind of hoped that they would. (Although, how can we nerds now speculate about the casting of Percy, if it might lengthen the odds of winning for some of us?!)

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Laura-Osnes-Corey-Cott-and-More-Will-Lead-MCPs-THE-SCARLET-PIMPERNEL-20181121

Laura Osnes - Marguerite
Norm Lewis - Chauvelin
Corey Cott - Armand
Dana Costello - Marie
Drew Gehling - Prince of Wales / Robespierre"

I find this both fun and excruciating, especially as I consider whether I want to fly out to NYC for this!

Seriously, I'm curious what other people are guessing? I have my pipe dream, but I'm scared to even write it down

With Laura Osnes and Norm Lewis I'm going to be even more bummed if this doesn't get recorded. But with such a large chorus I'm sure it would be very costly.

Sondheimite said: "I've heard two names from people who might no, which means that no one really knows

One is Raul Esparza. The other is a movie star.

We'll see.

I don't like the score but I'd but a ticket if it was Raul."

It's funny, I was just thinking earlier that Raul would be excellent. Fingers crossed.

Looking at tickets and never been in this venue before so anyone got any tips or opinions on where is the best spots to sit in this space? Currently looking at either first or second tiers boxes but feedback would be appreciated if anyone has some.

I'd like to see them perhaps perform a mash up version of the show. Take the best from all the versions. Being that it won't be a fully staged show, focusing more on the music even if the songs don't necessarily gel if they were being performed in a full staging, it could work. I mean I really loved some of the songs from version 1 that were cut but version 2 was a more cohesive line up. I just..... You Are My Home going from the sibling song to the love song I will never get over. So I would love to see a version that puts "Believe" back in as the love song so that Corey could get the full Home for a number.

I bought my tickets based on the cast that’s already been announced. Those are some of my favorites. As for the role of Percy, I would think it would be someone with some stature. They wouldn’t be playing games if it wasn’t someone of significance. Can Jeremy Jordan play Percy? Maybe he can have a Bonnie & Clyde reunion with Laura Osnes and Frank Wildhorn?

Raul Esparza is going directly from Arturo Uri in NYC to Hamlet in Chicago. They may have offered it to him but I doubt he’s doing it.

It will probably a semi-recognizable TV/film actor who also does musical theatre. Jeremy Jordan, Eric McCormick...keep in mind though it’s a legit tenor role that requires a real singer.

I too have fond memories of the original production. I didn’t understand why the critics hated it so much (then again, I also loved Jekyll and Hyde).