Posted: 2/20/20 at 8:36pm
Posted: 2/21/20 at 1:30pm
It's a very "safe" season but Paul Garman, the long-time head of the organization, is a great businessman who knows how to keep his theatre in the black. No new sets will have to be built and it show already has its built-in audience.
Trying to build new audiences by staging "hip" shows has not proven to be a sound strategy for regional CLO's. MTW staged "In the Heights" and did well in bringing in young demographics. Those young audience members, however, don't come back to see traditional musicals.
Posted: 2/21/20 at 2:28pm
BroadwayBaby6 said: "It's a very "safe" season but Paul Garman, the long-time head of the organization, is a great businessman who knows how to keep his theatre in the black. No new sets will have to be built and it show already has its built-in audience.
Trying to build new audiences by staging "hip" shows has not proven to be a sound strategy for regional CLO's. MTW staged "In the Heights" and did well in bringing in young demographics. Those young audience members, however, don't come back to see traditional musicals.
Yes to your points above. In The Heights was surprisingly a massive hit and was hard to get tickets because it sold so well early on, but it didn't retain a new base. And that crowd didn't translate to success for last season's Bright Star, and I think its lack of success is probably indicative of why they're doing such a money-grab season.
Posted: 2/21/20 at 3:52pm
Posted: 2/21/20 at 4:19pm
Moonlight is pretty high quality, saw a few productions there when I lived there. And knowing friends who've worked with them, it all checks out to being really solid. I wouldn't say the productions are necessarily the most interesting or original, but the talent is excellent.
Posted: 2/21/20 at 4:26pm
Moonlight does pretty good stuff. As far as regional theatres go, the pool of musical theatre talent in Southern California is exceptionally deep.
Posted: 2/22/20 at 2:36am
Posted: 2/22/20 at 10:53am
I'm very excited about "Mame" was well. MTW did it last in 2002 with Carol Lawrence & Sally Struthers, and I was in the production. It was a fantastic experience and show. Jerry Herman came to one of our rehearsals and opening night as well. I've been in quite a few of their productions over the decades!
Their upcoming season looks great.
Posted: 2/22/20 at 5:51pm
nealb1 said: "I'm very excited about "Mame" was well. MTW did it last in 2002 with Carol Lawrence & Sally Struthers, and I was in the production. It was a fantastic experience and show. Jerry Herman came to one of our rehearsals and opening night as well. I've been in quite a few of their productions over the decades!
Their upcoming season looks great."
I really loved that 2002 production. Ruth Williamson memorably played Vera. The fabulous Lee Martino was the choregrapher. I also remember that they were selling Carol Lawrence's cookbook "I Remember Pasta" in the lobby.
Posted: 2/22/20 at 7:09pm
nealb1 said: "I'm very excited about "Mame" was well. MTW did it last in 2002 with Carol Lawrence & Sally Struthers, and I was in the production. It was a fantastic experience and show. Jerry Herman came to one of our rehearsals and opening night as well. I've been in quite a few of their productions over the decades!
Their upcoming season looks great."
Mame couldn’t be more timely with the passing of Jerry Herman. I will have now seen the Holy Trinity of his big hits. First La Cage Aux Folles with George Hamilton and Christopher Sieber and Hello Dolly with Betty Buckley.
