Mcanuff on "Zhivago" reading in New York

[Hawker]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 2:29pm

"Zhivago" is a very important step. Doing the Page to Stage workshop musical was a very big step last year, entering into the unknown because musicals are larger and more complex than most plays, so that was a bit scary, and we worked very quickly. But this show does show tremendous promise, we did a reading of "Zhivago," incorporating the changes we made after the workshop in New York and crusty, seasoned cynical New York members of the intelligencia actually stood up (and applauded) and I've never had people stand up at a reading that I can remember. So I just hope I don't mess it up.

[sanda]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 5:20pm

I am little confused. When did this workshop happen in NY? I remeber it is on this season of La Jolla's schedule.

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 6:27pm

Hawker, not to rain on your parade, but they stood and applauded for the reading of SEUSSICAL, too!

Anyway, I can just see the marketing for ZHIVAGO now:

JOIN YOUR COMRADES AT THE FIRST SAMIZDAT MUSICAL!


Lara Antipova
The Ice Palace (beyond the Urals)

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 6:46pm

Source?

[Doogie]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 7:58pm

Enchanted, to be fair....

SEUSSICAL was apparently a different (and much better) show in workshop/ reading incarnations.

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 8:11pm

Aren't they always?



Emma Bovary
Rouen, France

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/22/06 at 8:16pm

I actually think Dr. Zhivago's love story is a good basis for a musical. I'm just wondering how they manage all that snow...

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/23/06 at 10:31am

If the Brits did the Civil War in GWTW I guess they can do this

Bring in the group behind Slava's Snow Show for the snow effects. Wonder what the score sounds like ?

[QMAN03]

Posted: 4/23/06 at 12:38pm

I'm a member of the La Jolla Playhouse and the other night we got a special sneak preview of ZHIVAGO. And from what I saw and heard, it looks very promising.

[lite2shine]

Posted: 4/23/06 at 1:07pm

QMAN30, I hope it'll be more than "promising," as I'm flying down on my dime to see this show! I'm so excited.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 4/23/06 at 1:09pm

Billy Elliot has lots of snow apparently

[Hawker]

Posted: 4/23/06 at 1:30pm

I suppose it would logically follow, then, that Des Mcanuff was not at the reading of "SEUSSICAL".

I suppose to moderate this statement even further we could suggest he is not present at the overwhelming number of readings and therefore standing ovations could be quite common--a fact that is lost to him

On the other hand, to draw a reasonable analogy, let's say someone like Jules Styne heard Linda Eder sing and said "I haven't been as excited by a voice since hearing Streisand audition for "Funny Girl". That might carry more weight than Rob Marshall fawning over Janine Lamanna.

The "Page to Stage" program has knocked out "I Am My Own Wife", "700 Sundays", and "Jersey Boys" since its inception a few years ago. Mcanuff may just be on to something about creating good shows.


Updated On: 4/23/06 at 01:30 PM

[Hawker]

Posted: 4/23/06 at 1:43pm

RE: source.

Man, this place is tougher than the Court of Appeals when it comes to citation.

http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=euLTJbMUKvH&b=468669&ct=2222371

[Anna_Elizabeth]

Posted: 4/23/06 at 4:01pm

I'm looking forward in coming down to see this production. Unfortunately, I missed the reading, but heard it was great.

[Hawker]

Posted: 4/23/06 at 6:53pm

It's really a bold move, don't you think--if for no other reason than the ultimate comparisons to Maurice Jarre's timeless score?

Steppenwolf demonstrated that accomplished performers CAN hold their own with screen legends with their production of "The Grapes of Wrath" but trying to trump David Lean, Maurice Jarre, Rod Steiger, Robert Bolt, and Alec Guiness--not to mention Omar Sharif and the rest of an A-list cast is a tall order. Should be interesting.

[mlsheehan]

Posted: 4/23/06 at 9:22pm

Gee, I hope it's improved RADICALLY since the Page to Stage production I saw last year, because it was a big turkey. Some of the worst lyrics I've ever heard.

Miracles do happen, so I'll be interested to see the reactions of the staging during La Jolla's next season. The critics can review this one. Of course, the San Diego critics are pretty softball in my opinion.