Musicals with major changes through their run
Musicals with major changes through their run
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#0Musicals with major changes through their run
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?)
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#1re: Musicals with major changes through their run
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/12/04
#2re: Musicals with major changes through their run
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/26/05
#3re: Musicals with major changes through their run
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.
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
philcrosby
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/17/04
#4re: Musicals with major changes through their run
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.
#5re: Musicals with major changes through their run
Posted: 4/8/06 at 10:14amLestat has, not that they have helped much...
"Are you sorry for civilization? I am sorry for it too." ~Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck
peggyandvelma
Broadway Star Joined: 9/4/05
#6re: Musicals with major changes through their run
Posted: 4/8/06 at 10:25amDidn't Jekyll go through a billion changes before it really came out in 1997??
No one is alone.
Broadway Star Joined: 12/31/69
#7re: Musicals with major changes through their run
Posted: 4/8/06 at 10:33amDreamgirls! The act 2 opener changed several times. The "revival" in 1987 was the tour . the light tours were pushed by hand.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#8re: Musicals with major changes through their run
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"
Poster Emeritus
Updated On: 4/8/06 at 10:53 AM
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#9re: Musicals with major changes through their run
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.
#10re: Musicals with major changes through their run
Posted: 4/8/06 at 1:20pmSeussical went through several changes from when it opened all the way to closing.
"I believe that art does not exist only to entertain, but also to challenge one to think, to provoke, even to disturb, to engage in a constant search for the truth."
- Barbra Streisand
#11re: Musicals with major changes through their run
Posted: 4/8/06 at 2:12pm
DRS keeps tweaking itself...
And BatB of course had a Change in Me added
So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life.~Office Space
#12re: Musicals with major changes through their run
Posted: 4/8/06 at 3:40pmJEKYLL & HYDE??
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
peggyandvelma
Broadway Star Joined: 9/4/05
#13re: Musicals with major changes through their run
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.
No one is alone.
Updated On: 4/8/06 at 03:51 PM
#14re: Musicals with major changes through their run
Posted: 4/8/06 at 4:04pmThese 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
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/29/04
#15re: Musicals with major changes through their run
Posted: 4/8/06 at 4:39pm
This little show called WICKED adding this ridiculously stupid hat on this character named Boq.
Ridiculous. :)
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#16re: Musicals with major changes through their run
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.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#17re: Musicals with major changes through their run
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.
"There is no problem so big that it cannot be run away from."
~ Charles M. Schulz
Updated On: 4/8/06 at 05:19 PM
jimnysf
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/10/05
#18re: Musicals with major changes through their run
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.
"I've lost everything! Luis, Marty, my baby with Chris, Chris himself, James. All I ever wanted was love." --Sheridan Crane "Passions"
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"Housework is like bad sex. Every time I do it, I swear I'll never do it again til the next time company comes."--"Lulu"
from "Can't Stop The Music"
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"When the right doors didn't open for him, he went through the wrong ones" - "Sweet Bird of Youth"
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"Passions" is uncancelled! See NBC.com for more info.
#19re: Musicals with major changes through their run
Posted: 4/8/06 at 7:06pmStarlight 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.
#20re: Musicals with major changes through their run
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.
#21re: Musicals with major changes through their run
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."
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
COOOOLkid
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/15/05
#22re: Musicals with major changes through their run
Posted: 4/11/06 at 12:06amWhat were some of the endings that Miss Saigon have had?
"Hey, you! You're the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber!"
-Family Guy
#23re: Musicals with major changes through their run
Posted: 4/11/06 at 12:10amSomeone mentioned earlier that they changed and reblocked parts of Sweeney in the past week or so.
Whatever happened to class?
#24re: Musicals with major changes through their run
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
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
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