Musicals with major changes through their run

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 1:50am

Reading about The Scarlet Pimpernel tonight, I noticed that by the time it closed the show was already on its third version (or so?) and quite different in structure than when it opened.

What are other examples of productions that kept changing well after they opened on Broadway? (and why? I mean, do they review them everytime they make changes even if it officially opened? Does this affect Tony nominations / wins?)

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 1:54am

THE SECRET GARDEN never stopped changing until it closed on tour. And than it was totally revamped again for London.

DROOD had a couple of major rewrites throughout it's run.

A large sequence called "The Butterfly" was cut from HELLO DOLLY! after opening.

The ending of MISS SAIGON changed about 67 times over the years.

LES MIZ had 15 minutes cut out of it ten years into its run

SWEET CHARITY and REDHEAD both dropped numbers for Gwen Verdon later in their runs.

Lots of examples. But no, changes don't affect Tony eligibility. SCARLET PIMPERNEL wasn't suddenly a "new" musical two years after it opened - it was just revamped. Updated On: 4/8/06 at 01:54 AM

[Sant]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 9:46am

In London, MARTIN GUERRE had several changes throughout its run.

CATS had some (minor) changes during its run, both in London and on Broadway: the ending of "Memory" was heard both with and without the famous last bars (the ones used as the base for the Overture), "Mungojerrie & Rumpleteazer" got a new melody (the original was recorded on OLCR), "Magical Mr Mistofelees" was changed back to Tugger's solo number instead of having Mistofelees sing some of the lines, "The Ballad Of Billy McCaw" was cut...

[Smaxie]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 9:49am

Wish You Were Here famously went through some changes post-opening that managed to turn the show into a modest hit.

The Gay Life dropped the show's framing device after opening, and I believe the wonderful "Why Go Anywhere At All?" was dropped as a result.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 9:57am

CAMELOT dropped a couple of numbers that exist on the cast album, as well as about 20 minutes of running after opening ... director Moss Hart had been sidelined with a heart attack prior to the opening and the authors didn't want to make changes without his input.

Then they were lucky enough to get an hour on the "Ed Sullivan Show" and CAMELOT went from struggling to a sell-out hit.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 10:14am

Lestat has, not that they have helped much...

[peggyandvelma]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 10:25am

Didn't Jekyll go through a billion changes before it really came out in 1997??

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 10:33am

Dreamgirls! The act 2 opener changed several times. The "revival" in 1987 was the tour . the light tours were pushed by hand.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 10:53am

In Golden Rainbow, Edie Gorme dropped a song she did with Scott Jacoby .I believe it was called " Taking Care of You"

Updated On: 4/8/06 at 10:53 AM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 12:56pm

I think there is like 2-3 different endings to CHESS, most approved by Tim Rice. It's either end with the tragic love story or the hopeful, "hey, your father is really alive" one.

[bwayboi4life42]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 1:20pm

Seussical went through several changes from when it opened all the way to closing.

[BluCat500]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 2:12pm

DRS keeps tweaking itself...

And BatB of course had a Change in Me added

[CapnHook]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 3:40pm

JEKYLL & HYDE??

[peggyandvelma]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 3:51pm

Well, not changes during the run perhaps, but it took seven years to actually make it to Broadway, and a lot of things were changed from its original conception.

Updated On: 4/8/06 at 03:51 PM

[willact4food]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 4:04pm

These aren't any major changes, but I know Hairspray has added a few different things. Some new dance steps, a little bit of new dialogue, most which is unnoticeable . . . unless you are a freak like me, I suppose.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 4:39pm

This little show called WICKED adding this ridiculously stupid hat on this character named Boq.

Ridiculous. :)

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 5:07pm

Well, Lestat hasn't opened so that doesn't count.
I'm surprised by The Secret Garden, I always thought it was good as it was.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 5:19pm

I'm surprised that no one has brought up DOTV yet. I think that might be because it would start another argument. It went through massive changes. From Day 1 of rehearsals onward, the script was continually changed (mostly by Michael Crawford, who totally screwed it up) until only the bare bones of the storyline remained by opening night.

And let's not even go into how much it had changed from Tanz.

Updated On: 4/8/06 at 05:19 PM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 6:59pm

"Saturday Night Fever". They took out some of the so-called "offensive" language to make it more family friendly. Then during the first national tour, they eventually eliminated Tony's father and gave his lines during the dinner argument to the sister. By the time I saw the third national tour, the owner of the store was gone along with the father and the whole dinner argument scene was changed to Tony's bedroom and the lines were given to the mother who looked five years younger than her son, Tony.

"Victor, Victoria" dropped the second act opening number sometime after opening night (It is on the DVD version of the Broadway show). The song "Living in the Shadows" was dropped when Raquel Welch played the role.

[Jade]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 7:06pm

Starlight Express in London went through a massive change in, I think, the early 90s. The plot was simplified, a couple of major characters were removed and at least one of the big numbers was replaced. After the changes were made it was called "The New Starlight Express" and a new cast recording was made.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 7:11pm

CHICAGO was changed a bit when Liza played Roxie.

Fosse changed some choreography for her. She sang "My Own Best Friend" as a solo, and some songs became more showstopping, with key changes - repeats etc for Liza.

And as stated earlier Gwen Verdon and Fosse cut "Charity's Soliloquy" completely during the run. It wasn't seen in a professional production until the Applegate Revival. And I don't believe Verdon cut WHERE AM I GOING? and YOU SHOULD SEE YOURSELF for good. I think she just cut them on days she knew her voice couldn't handle them.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/8/06 at 7:15pm

"DROOD had a couple of major rewrites throughout it's run."

...not to mention a title change almost a year into the Broadway run.

It went from "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" to simply "Drood."

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 12:06am

What were some of the endings that Miss Saigon have had?

[ElphabaRose]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 12:10am

Someone mentioned earlier that they changed and reblocked parts of Sweeney in the past week or so.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 12:21am

What were some of the endings that Miss Saigon have had?

1) London: I'd Give My Life for You reprise

2) (Written for Broadway opening) Little God of My Heart

3) (Premiered sometime in mid 1995) This is the Hour reprise