Mary Zimmerman's "Candide" Coming to Broadway

[bmwpjager]

Mary Zimmerman's "Candide" Coming to Broadway#1

Posted: 11/8/11 at 1:31am

Our college had their rights to perform "Candide" this spring very recently revoked with the explanation being that a commercial producer has optioned Mary Zimmerman's recent revival to come to Broadway.

Having seen the final performance of the production in Boston, I can say with full confidence this is a more than worthy replacement for "Funny Girl" (and from what I'm hearing "Porgy & Bess" as well) this season. VERY excited should this materialize.

Anyone else have details?

[luvtheEmcee]

Mary Zimmerman's #2

Posted: 11/8/11 at 1:35am

This would be wonderful news if it happens. I had never really cared much for Candide, but I saw this when it was in Chicago and thought it was lovely.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Mary Zimmerman's #2

Posted: 11/8/11 at 1:37am

If they can find a theatre.

"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards

[bmwpjager]

Mary Zimmerman's #3

Posted: 11/8/11 at 1:38am

A Theatre like the Belasco or the Schoenfeld would be perfect :)

[alliez92092]

Mary Zimmerman's #4

Posted: 11/8/11 at 1:39am

I hope this happens, and I hope it's with the majority of the cast from the Huntington. I'd love for some of my Boston people to get to hit the Broadway stage :)

[bwayphreak234]

Mary Zimmerman's #5

Posted: 11/8/11 at 1:44am

A Theatre like the Belasco or the Schoenfeld would be perfect :)

Bonnie and Clyde has played TWO previews (two pretty damn decent previews based on what has been posted on here). I for one am not going to write it off so early on. The Belasco... I am all for that. Just get something in that beautiful newly renovated theatre. I cannot believe it has not had a Broadway show since Women on the Verge closed!!! It's a shame.

"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Mary Zimmerman's #6

Posted: 11/8/11 at 8:51am

Getting the rights to a Broadway transfer. Getting investors, as Funny Girl proved, is another. But it's about time for one, and the Chicago version's Jeff win last night might give it some traction.

[Jordan Catalano]

Mary Zimmerman's #7

Posted: 11/8/11 at 8:53am

The Belasco is already booked next year.

[Michael Bennett]

Mary Zimmerman's #8

Posted: 11/8/11 at 9:20am

Probably zero audience for this unless it was brought in by a company like the Rounadabout

[gvendo2005]

Mary Zimmerman's #9

Posted: 11/8/11 at 9:32am

Zimmerman seems to be re-treading ground that John Caird already amply covered. I don't see the point.

"There is no problem so big that it cannot be run away from." ~ Charles M. Schulz

[AC126748]

Mary Zimmerman's #10

Posted: 11/8/11 at 9:32am

If Godspell doesn't last, how about Circle in the Square? I haven't seen the production--could it work in the round or thrust? It seems like an intimate production that would benefit from a small-ish theatre.

I have to agree, though--what's the point of a commercial revival? The last one did terribly, and it wasn't that long ago.

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

Updated On: 11/8/11 at 09:32 AM

[Mister Matt]

Mary Zimmerman's #11

Posted: 11/8/11 at 9:44am

But it's about time for one, and the Chicago version's Jeff win last night might give it some traction.

Jeff wins might be respected by some insiders in the industry, mostly in Chicago only, but I doubt it's something producers or investors would base a decision on for Broadway. Look at Chinglish.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

[SondheimFan5]

Mary Zimmerman's #12

Posted: 11/8/11 at 9:54am

It would, I think, actually be a good one for Roundabout. Though I think they'd need a fairly large theatre for it. There were also 20 or so in the orchestra for the previous productions.

[AC126748]

Mary Zimmerman's #13

Posted: 11/8/11 at 10:04am

Doesn't this production use a chamber orchestra?

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

[FindingNamo]

Mary Zimmerman's #14

Posted: 11/8/11 at 10:19am

I know there were some posters from Chicago who are over Zimmerman's bag of tricks, but I haven't stopped thinking about Candide since I saw it in Boston. One of the smart reviewers in Boston was puzzled by the mixed word from the Chicago run and hazarded a guess that it just kept evolving and getting stronger in subsequent performance.

I thought it was terrific, one of the very best things I've seen all year. I think it could do quite well in NYC if it gets over this early review baggage.

Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none

[mattrob]

Mary Zimmerman's #15

Posted: 11/8/11 at 11:19am

I for one would be thrilled if this came to NYC. It's been nearly 15 years since the last revival, ample time in my opinion, especially if this production offers a new perspective (I realize it may be similar to Caird's revision but that production, to my knowledge, has not been presented in NYC).

[RippedMan]

Mary Zimmerman's #16

Posted: 11/8/11 at 12:20pm

I saw this in DC and I really loved it. It was wonderfully staged, and each scene brought a new surprise. Not to mention the music is beautiful. I'm not a huge fan of the story, but that's not her problem.

I think this could work at Studio 54. It's a big enough theater, and a small enough theater. I'm just not sure Roundabout could handle some of it's technical difficulties. They use a couple elevator lifts in the show, and I don't think Roundabout has every used that, so I don't know if that tours with the show, but seems out of their realm of things.

[hockeynut2]

Mary Zimmerman's #17

Posted: 11/8/11 at 12:33pm

I loved the production in DC at Shakespeare Theatre Company and I hope it makes it to Broadway, and pray that Hollis Resnik plays Old Woman again. She was the ultimate scene-stealer.

[dreaming]

Mary Zimmerman's #18

Posted: 11/8/11 at 12:38pm

I want Hollis Resnik to make her Broadway debut (I think this would be it). I've enjoyed listening to her voice for a few years now and would love to see her live.

[FindingNamo]

Mary Zimmerman's #19

Posted: 11/8/11 at 1:06pm

Geoff Packard's Candide was sung beautifully and never cloying in his acting.

It's a thousand million jillion times better than Diane Paulus's The Gershhwin's Porgy & Bess Directed by Diane Paulus.

Twitter @NamoInExile Instagram none

[somethingwicked]

Mary Zimmerman's #20

Posted: 11/8/11 at 1:09pm

This production would fit well with Roundabout's artistic aesthetic, but they'd never do it without substantial re-casting, which I'm assuming Zimmerman would be opposed to given how consistently the same actors have been involved throughout its various incarnations.

Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 11/8/11 at 01:09 PM

[bmwpjager]

Mary Zimmerman's #21

Posted: 11/8/11 at 4:51pm

^This could definately fit at Studio 54 OR at the American Airlines... Nevertheless, I'm excited :)

[EricMontreal22]

Mary Zimmerman's #22

Posted: 11/9/11 at 3:33am

Didn't the NYTimes give it quite a harsh review? (not that that should matter). Zimmerman's production had her own newly revised book, right? As someone who has said numerous times how much I liek Caird's book best, I'm wondering how she has changed it.

[PortalGamer]

Mary Zimmerman's #23

Posted: 11/9/11 at 3:55am

why not the revived one in boston with cheno in 2004 ?

[Jordan Catalano]

Mary Zimmerman's #24

Posted: 11/9/11 at 4:24am

Because it closed in 2004.