Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

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Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/17/10 at 8:15pm

The Menier Chocolate Factory is to present Stephen Sondheims musical 'Road Show' as its summer production 2011.

The chamber musical about the eccentric American Mizner brothers, featuring a book by John Weidman, debuted at the Public Theater in 2008.

Updated On: 10/17/10 at 08:15 PM

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/17/10 at 9:08pm

I was really happy until I read that John Doyle is going to direct. I dislike his concept of actors playing instruments aswell. Still if he sticks with it, at least the Menier can save money for another musical.

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/17/10 at 9:17pm

Doyle didn't do the actor/musician shtick in this one...I'm just really glad this is being done.

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 2:00am

Probably the only way/place to do this musical and get an audience. Not good.

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 2:45am

That is brilliant!!!

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 3:19am

Just to be clear JOak, John Doyle directed the off-broadway production without his actor/musician 'concept'.

Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.

Updated On: 10/18/10 at 03:19 AM

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 5:06am

I saw Roadshow at the Public Theatre in New York in October 2008. It was brilliant. John Doyle had certainly worked wonders with it - and some of the songs are amongst Sondheim's very best IMO. I'll be very interested to find out about the casting for the Choc Factory production. Michael Cerveris was absolutely fantastic at the Public Theatre. But whoever they cast I am really looking forward to this!

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Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 5:42am

AUGH. Well, guess I'd better start putting my pennies aside. Can't often afford the Chocolate Factory these days, but don't want to miss this one.

Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 5:47am

I've never been to the chocolate factory - what are the average prices?

#10

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 5:58am

Choc Factory tickets are usually about £28. Not sure why Weez thinks they're expensive - that's about half what I normally have to pay for any West End production and just a few pounds more than other Off-West End shows. And the quality of productions at the Choc Factory has generally been better than all recent West End shows I've seen!

#11

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 6:13am

They certainly haven't hit 30 yet, no matter what they've presented.

#12

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 7:41am

The Menier IS expensive when your average ticket price is around £10 a ticket. There are no cheaper options as there are with most West End theatre's, and for a fringe show over a West End show the price should reflect that.

I'm sure Sweet Charity had tickets more than £30.

#13

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 7:41am

Weez pays an average of £9.50 per theatre ticket and, thanks to various economic factors, needs to plan in advance for purchases greater than, say, £20. Do bear in mind that sometimes people have different financial circumstances from each other, won't you?

Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter

Updated On: 10/18/10 at 07:41 AM

#14

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 10:11am

Sorry, Weez - I'm appreciative that many people have financial restrictions on their theatre spending. It's just that I've never found tickets anywhere for just £10 lol - the Choc Factory is similar in price to almost every other fringe theatre I go to (even somewhere like the Landor is charging £20). I might need to tap your brain to find out where I can get theatre for £10 or less!

Also, maybe I'm basing my judgement on the relativity of ticket prices on my having paid £60 for Love Never Dies, which wasn't worth 60 pence - lol. So I'm happy to pay £28 at the Choc Factory for what I know will be far superior quality.

#15

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 11:39am

What amazing news! I heard this floating around for a while, but this is such an amazing show and I am so happy this'll be in the UK. Seriously, willing to pay any price. Menier is ok pricing wise, considering you can see anywhere basically. Love the venue, love the show, can't wait!

Also, totally looking forwrad to the artwork! :P

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#16

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 11:44am

Yeah, £28 is a bloody awesome top price. :) My "trick" is to never get the top price. XD £5 standing at the Globe, £10 Travelex, dayseat, or other at the National, £10/15 restricted at the Old Vic, £15 dayseat at the Donmar, and so on. I aim for the cheapest damn ticket in the house, or get a special offer if I can. :3

Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter

#17

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 12:00pm

Or judging from the places you've listed, you don't actually go and see West-End shows xD

#18

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 12:02pm

Oh, I do, but those are £15 in the balcony or £10 from LastMinute.com jobbies. Or maybe I've only put £10 of my own money in and paid the rest with theatre tokens, or maybe it's one of the shows that does cheap dayseats. :)

Notes from the Earlham Street Gutter

#19

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 5:59pm

I look forward to seeing this show

#20

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 6:30pm

I do not know this musical, but will go and see it, just out of curiosity.

However doing a bit of digging on the net, this show has had not much interest and has been a massive flop and has not really been aired publicly.

http://www.sondheimguide.com/bounce.html

I guess people are drawn because of Sondheim name attached than quality of this show.

#21

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 7:15pm

POL, although the earlier incarnations of the show (Wise Guys, Bounce) did not fare well, this latest rewrite was certainly not a "massive flop" during its run at the Public Theatre. The night I was there it was sold out and it fared pretty well throughout its run. It also won Sondheim an "Obie" (Off-Broadway Theatre Award) for Best Music & Lyrics. So there's no question about its quality. In fact, I think some of the songs are amongst Sondheim's best
("The Best Thing That Ever Has Happened", "You", "Talent", "Get Out/Go" - all pretty stunning songs.) It was one of the best shows I saw during 2008 and the CD has been played almost until it's worn out lol - it's THAT good.

#22

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 9:45pm

Its down there amongst my least favorite Sondheim shows. I've followed its recordings through its different names, rewrites etc and I am shocked the Menier have chosen it!

#23

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/18/10 at 11:48pm

I would guess it's as much to do with it being the UK premiere.and over the last year or so and onwards (oh happy day!) there aren't many Sondheims which aren't being done...although I could do with seeing a professional Assassins

#24

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/19/10 at 3:34am

Mama - did you see it at the Public Theatre? Apart from the score, Doyle's direction made it a really stunning piece of theatre from start to finish. It's the kind of show I could sit through over and over again - and there are only a handful of shows currently playing in London that I could say that of.

#25

Menier Goes On The 'Road' With Next Musical

Posted: 10/19/10 at 7:48am

"Or judging from the places you've listed, you don't actually go and see West-End shows xD"

They may not be West End theatres, but Weez certainly has taste. And most of what plays those venues is better than half of the s***t currently playing on the West End. Grease, Dirty Dancing, Thriller, need I continue?

Anyway, even though Road Show is quite a weak show in comparison to a lot of Sondheim's shows I really do like the score. It's very simple which does make it a little elss superior to other Sondheim's but I really do like it and am very excited. How psyched would I be if Alexander Gemignani was in the production? Or Michael Cerveris. *GASP*

Also, abitoftap, I too NEED a new Assassins production in the West End! Seriously!

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