Moulin Rouge

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 10/19/03 at 11:07pm

I had heard a while back about Baz thinking of doing Moulin Rouge on Broadway. I love the movie and think it would be amazing. Has anyone heard any recent news?

Posted: 10/19/03 at 11:09pm

I would love to see a version of this on stage but it would have to be done brilliant as the movie was or else it will just end up another Urban Cowboy.

[Kev]

Posted: 10/19/03 at 11:17pm

I remember hearing that Moulin Rouge, presuming it is brought to the stage, would be a custom-built production for a Las Vegas venue.

(However, if it WAS brought to Broadway, would love to see Idina M. as Satine.)

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/19/03 at 11:39pm

I think he is still licking his wounds from La Boehm

Posted: 10/19/03 at 11:42pm

La Boheme I felt was somewhat of a success in his eyes.

[FosterChild]

Posted: 10/19/03 at 11:47pm

Here we go again, but even thought it was a critical success, it lost everything, financially. I know all of the posters on here don't like talking finances, but it's the truth.

Posted: 10/19/03 at 11:50pm

What do you mean here we go again.. I am just saying that he stated it in an interview if I recall correctly that even thought it did not make the bazillions of dollars (that for some reason Little Orphan Foster seems to crave with the passion of a vampire and blood) he felt it was a success.

[FosterChild]

Posted: 10/19/03 at 11:52pm

Well of course it's a personal success, but producers may be hesitant to throw money at him next time out. By "here we go again," i meant, "Here, I go, bringing up business smarts on a fan site where I'm bound to be attacked because nobody will want to look at the real situation."

Posted: 10/19/03 at 11:56pm

No one minds when someone birngs up information such as yours... however if you have no back up or anything supporting your claims then it is like the child who cries wolf. The attendance numbers may show somehting but we do not know the actual ticket sales or cancellations unless we are part of the show or on the take from the show. And basically no one will admit it as they want to remain annonymous.

(of course, if i was in one of these shows I would totally be telling EVERYONE!)

[FosterChild]

Posted: 10/20/03 at 12:02am

Are you now doubting that La Boheme lost all of its investment? If so, you simply do not keep up on theater. It has been widely reported. The show tanked.

[Scooter]

Posted: 10/20/03 at 12:07am

The real situation FosterChild is that whatever Baz wants to do on Bway, producers will find money for. Why? Because no matter what the financials on boheme may have been, the directorial skills of Baz were never doubted or challenged. The producers knew Boheme was a huge risk for very obvious reasons. Take also into account the current environment of Bway (a completely different topic), as well as all the events that took place to hurt all of B'way during Boheme's run and you have a show that closed for a lot of reasons, none being any of Baz's fault. Not to mention they (producers) went to Baz and asked him to do Boheme on Bway. SO- I think if Baz ever wants to return to Bway, even if it's to revive Dance of the Vampires, there will be many producers opening their checkbooks.

A far as the show "tanking", I think not. Also, it didn't lose it's entire investment. Updated On: 10/20/03 at 12:07 AM

Posted: 10/20/03 at 12:09am

Little Orphan Foster... Where or where did I say that it lost its investment? And also-- who are you to tell me I do not follow theater. I do more so than many. And maybe you do more but unless you know me.. don't knock my knowledge or even lack there of.

[FosterChild]

Posted: 10/20/03 at 12:20am

I admit error. According to Variety:

"When it leaves Broadway, "Boheme" will have played 29 weeks, 12 previews and 228 regular perfs. It is expected to return $2.5 million on its $8.5 million capitalization."

So, it lost $6 million. Still enough to give Broadway producers pause although, as scooter pointed out, I'm not saying he won't find money for his upcoming projects.

[alterego]

Posted: 10/20/03 at 12:44am

But who would want to work with Baz Luhman again? Not the easiest of men to work with. I was told that at the time of the Tony's the producers wanted him to work with the actors for a couple of days with the shows presentation on the awards. In return they were willing to pour more money into promotion to keep the show going and hopefully recoup some money. He refused, even though he was in the country at the time. When they didn't recieve any awards, and with the apparent disinterest of Luhman the producers washed their hands of the project and put up the closing notice.

[Scooter]

Posted: 10/20/03 at 12:55am

actually, boheme did win awards. and so far as baz being difficult... hardly. he was not in town at the time but preparing for alexander the great. at that point, there was not a lot he could have done to help the show as far as sales. the die had been cast and things were being put in place.

and the reason producers WILL still work with him in the future. His work is exciting and WILL make them money. I would venture that no future project of his will be as risky as Boheme was. His other works are much more marketable to a mainstream audience. Updated On: 10/20/03 at 12:55 AM

[Scooter]

Posted: 10/20/03 at 12:55am

Updated On: 10/20/03 at 12:55 AM

[newyorkuniq]

Posted: 10/20/03 at 1:01am

I was sad to see Boheme go. I saw it the first time on my 19th birthday and got to meet John Ritter who was a few rows behind me. The last time I saw it was right before it closed and it was such a magical, gorgeous show.

[alterego]

Posted: 10/20/03 at 8:56am

In regard to Baz Luhman, I think we have seen all his tricks. Keep in all very busy and don't focus on any one thing for too long. Thank god for Catherine (his wife), the real brains in the team. She is the one that keeps all his projects from looking the total mess they very nearly are.

As for Alexander the Great, it will never be made. The other one is already in front of the cameras, and is there really that much interest in the subject to warrant two films with budgets in the hundreds of millions? They still can't decide on where they are going to film it.

Posted: 10/20/03 at 7:26pm

Even though Boheme "tanked", I think there is some merit in aspiring to stage such a production on Broadway in the first place. Sure, the content isn't mainstream, but in the end, it does enlighten some people to the finer arts, and over time, may just improve theater. I know it comes down to dollars and cents. Maybe I'm an idealist. But what's next? "Laverne & Shirley - the Musical"?

[King Stevos]

Posted: 10/20/03 at 7:30pm

The only problem with Moulin as a broadway musical is that it is a Lawyer's nightmare.

sTEVOS

[Scooter]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 1:28am

OK alterego, let me respond to your trashing of Baz. To this point, Baz's movies have been highly stylized and for a reason. His "Red Curtain Trilogy" is supposed to be a heightened form of cinematic storytelling. From the beginning, Baz aknowledges that this form requires the audience member to buy into that style. He also realizes that that may exclude some audience members (such as you!!) I think it is not only unfair, but uninformed to think and state that this is the only style of direction Baz is capable of. IF you had seen Boheme or even read any reviews you would know that his direction of the opera was very simple and direct. The only bustling in the production was in Act 2, where it is appropriate and was still directed with more clarity and focus than most productions of Boheme around the world.

And as far as Alexander goes, Baz's production has much more money behind it than Oliver's and tho' anything can happen, it's a pretty sure thing it's going to be filmed.

As long as we are talking about Baz and CM, let's congratulate them on the birth of their 1st child (a girl), on Oct. 10!!

[alterego]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 8:10am

Scooter will anyone want to 'another' Alexander the Great movie after the first one comes out? I doubt that there is that much interest globally in the subject.

I just think he (Luhman) is a bit of a wanker. A true believer of his own publicity. Updated On: 10/21/03 at 08:10 AM

Posted: 10/21/03 at 8:59am

... a wanker... now there is a word one does not hear often

Well I adore Baz's Strictly Ballroom and Moulin Rougue.

Posted: 10/21/03 at 9:04am

Yuck. Period. Especially if they insisted on casting Nicole Kidman as Satine on stage. Blech.

[Scooter]

Posted: 10/21/03 at 11:13am

alter, it's too early to tell what movie will come out first. And yes, I think it would be interesting to see the 2 different takes on Alexander's life. After all, as 1 of the truly great historic figures of all time, it has taken this long for even 1 movie to be made. People should know about him!

as far as Baz being a wanker, I think you misinterpret his passion for what he does as egotism. Yes, he loves to talk about what he does and why he does it but listen to him carefully, and not just sound bites, and you begin to realize he just loves to work and create. It's truly an infectious enthusiasm I believe. To call him a wanker is a pretty childish remark if I may say so. And as far as him being a "true believer in his own publicity", would you rather him not believe in his work but still try to trick us into believing he does? I don't understand what your comment meant but believe you have adopted what you may have read about him as your own feelings. Updated On: 10/21/03 at 11:13 AM