Never Gonna Dance

[children&art]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 9:52am

why did this flop?

i didnt see the show, but it seems like it had some really no-fail sure-fire elements:
- based on a classic movie, "Swing Time"
- used a wonderful set of Jerome Kern songs
- choreography by Jerry Mitchell
- costumes by William Ivey Long
- great supporting cast including Karen Ziemba, David Pittu

[Katecab99]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 10:06am

saw it...liked it, but didn't LOVE it, and i can't even remember why!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 10:21am

NGD started out as a really good show - really fantastic choreography, cute book, and of course a great score. During rehearsals they even added a big song and dance number for Ziemba, as if all of a sudden they realized she was there and they'd better make the most of her.

Noah Racey, while not a great singer, is one of - if not the - greatest male musical theater dancers we have. The huge dance number that took place in Grand Central rivals any ensemble dance number you've ever seen. His co-star, Nancy Lemenager, is also a truly beautiful dancer. However, she is not a singer. This was a huge obstacle that could not be overcome.

This show had many producers - the term "too many cooks" was made to describe what happened to NGD. After every preview, they would all get together and share their "notes." Not all of these producers had Broadway experience, by the way. Some did, some did not. The director allowed this to go on and implemented their ideas.

Every preview new changes were made - most should never have left the piece of paper on which they were written. It went from the giddy, fun show of the first preview to the plodding bore it ended up to be by the time it opened.

How do I know all this? I worked for one of the producers - a man with very strong opinions who had not one theater credit.

Updated On: 2/8/06 at 10:21 AM

[twogaab2]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 10:24am

Good sold dancing. The two leads were simply not strong enough to carry the show. Some dreadful singing from the chorus.

Just my opinion, I may be wrong.

[children&art]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 10:56am

hmm.

i got the promotional cd from ebay, it has 3 songs on it and noah and nancy sound fairly good but the orchestrations are what i really thought were swell.

i am remembering, vaguely, the performance on the macys parade, wasn't it fairly entertaining?

im sure it was a kick-ass dance show, its just sad that there aren't more "traditional" musical comedies on bway to balance out the newer stuff...

[Jon]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 1:45pm

More reasons it flopped:

It was too similar to CRAZY FOR YOU - another 1930's musical using songs from the era by a particular composer, with some similar looking costumes and sets - but NGD had nothing particularly "fresh" about it.

There were already two nostalgic tap dancing musicals - 42ND STREET and THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE - running successfully at the time.

And Ziemba was so strong, she made the two leads look weak - like it was a college production and they brought in one experienced professional as a guest artist. Whenever she took center stage, it was like, "Stand back, kids, and let me show you how it's done!"

[Hank]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 2:10pm

I saw the show in previews, and I loved it, but I agree there were lots of glitches. Noah and Nancy, great dancers, so-so singers. The sampler CD sounded much better, but it was someone else on it. Also, the orchestrations just did not sound right.
What I liked about the show was the storyline (book), the costumes were briliant (Nancy looked magnificent in that dress), and some great tunes. Oh yes, and that Grand Central scene!
I was really hoping this would be a hit, and I'm sorry it didn't work out.

[children&art]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 2:16pm

so i'm assuming that this is available to license through samuel french or mti for smaller regional theatres? i would love to get my hands on it and do it down here in dallas.

[Hank]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 2:38pm

I would love to see another company have a go at this.
I'm just like that "man in the chair" from The Drowsy Chaperone, obsessed with 1920's (or 1930's) musicals.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 2:41pm

I am so bitter about this show. My parents didn't let me see it after they promised i could.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 2:43pm

There were two reasons to see it - the Grand Central number and Karen's Act II opener.

Other than that, you missed nothing.

Updated On: 2/8/06 at 02:43 PM

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 2:45pm

See i am a sucker for the cheesy 1930s movie musicals so i think i would have loved this show.

[Doogie]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 3:05pm

Children&Art-

The promo CD does NOT feature either Noah or Nancy.

The singers on the promo CD are Will Chase and Amy Spanger.

Both far more capable singers, right, Rath?

[children&art]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 3:08pm

oh, okay - well that makes sense why their names arent listed and i thought that amy spanger sounded SO familar. well shucks.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 3:11pm

It's been a long time since I listened to the promo CD, but wasn't Andrea Martin also featured in the Ziemba role?

[children&art]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 3:18pm

the promo CD only has 3 songs on it, all of them Lucky and Penny duets - i think.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 3:19pm

c&a is correct.

Andrea Martin was seen for the role of Mabel - that's the closest she got to the production.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/8/06 at 3:22pm

That's what I was thinking of. Thanks, darling.

There's a production of NGD opening next week in Long Beach, CA, with Harriet Harris as Mabel.
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/97618.html