Nikki Snelson with Wildhorn?

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 8:31pm

I know people get hyped up over nothing on peoples facebook status's but does anyone know if Frank Wildhorn is planning for a new show? I know he was doing Cyrano but isn't that in Spain?

I saw Nikki Snelson saying she was exhausting because Frank Wildhorn wrote such a diddy.. and I was wondering if she was colaborating with him on anything?
Thanks!!

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 8:33pm

LOL, facebook statuses.

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 8:36pm

my bad! ok its not Cyrano... that's someone else... but he is apparently working on these shows

Carmen (200 - In process.
The Count of Monte-Cristo(2009) - lyrics by: Jack Murphy
Wonderland (2009) - In process. Based on the story of Alice in Wonderland. Workshopped at the Broadway Theater Project.
Havana (2010) - lyrics by: Jack Murphy

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 8:47pm

I wish he'd just focus on one project instead of like 5. Maybe then his shows would be better.

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 8:52pm

i agree.. and its weird because Carmen is open in Prague.. and Count of Monte Cristo is opening in another foreign country.. :/
I really enjoyed the Scarlet Pimpernel (the music is REALLY GOOD!)
I wish he would concentrate and make a phenomenal score for one of these.. because they have the potential to be really REALLY good

[LiTtLeDaNcEr729]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 8:55pm

Havana also workshopped at Broadway Theatre Project this past summer.

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 9:00pm

has anyone seen the workshops of any of these?
are they good?

[philly03]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 9:58pm

No, .. Cyrano de Bergerac The Musical with lyrics & book by Leslie Briscusse (among others who brought us the lovely Jekyll & HYDE) will debut in Spain in 2009, reportedly to star Raphael, a singer who originated the roles of Jekyll/Hdye in Spain.

Cyrano has some absolutely beautiful music in it, it's just a shame it didn't happen 2 years ago with Douglas Sills. Hopefully Marta Ribera, the Lucy from that same Spanish production, will star as well, because I question how many people over there can be a Linda!

Counte just workshopped in NYC (I believe it was private) starring Brandi Burkhardt & James Barbour, with a complete concept album slated to be released "Winter '08," but I'm guessing we're moving into early 2009 or it'll become the next "upcoming release." Either way, I'm curious! Barbour described it as "BIG," and it's one of the few Frank shows I have heard NOTHING from.

As a big Wildhorn fan, I'm actually going to agree with what Adamgreer said: "I wish he'd just focus on one project instead of like 5. Maybe then his shows would be better. "

It's the truth. He manages to write show(s) with about 5-10ish good songs and then another 10-15 that are decent/no where near the quality you'd expect from it. Such is Camille and Cyrano. Some of the best music I've heard, and some of the most uninspiring. If he could only manage to merge all the good songs into one show ...!

And Pianolin717, he now is almost forced to take his shows over to Europe, where they legitimately appreciate and love him (perhaps because of Hasselhoff, perhaps because of his being an American composer..it's up to you!), but also because there's not many producers out there that would jump to bring a Wildhorn show to NYC. With 4 shows, he has never gotten anything near mixed-positive overall reviews, and most of his best reviews came from The Scarlet Pimpernel versions 2 through 3, which most people could care less about because they were not eligible for Tony Awards, or people had figured it was a failure. Wildhorn in 3 years managed to lose $20 MIL with 3 productions,...I don't even know how much he lost with Dracula, but I'm sure it was a lot as well.

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 10:26pm

yeah, i think i heard that even with Jekyl and Hyde he LOST money, even though it ran for 4 or so years... funny. you think it might MAKE money
But yeah, i get what you mean about the European thing, I just wish that one of them is big enough for American's to take seriously again, but question... the shows in Europe.. are they still in English?
And are the cast albums being made for them?

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 11/19/08 at 11:24pm

I find it amusing that Wildhorn's shows have been such financial disasters on Broadway that he can now only get his work produced in Europe. I do like Jekyll and Hyde though...

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 6:40pm

ok, sorry to bump, but have there been any casting suggestions for Wildhorns Wonderland at all?

I am pretty sure somehow Nikki Snelson is involved. 1) the whole thing about her writing about how Wildhorn can write a diddy
well now, she has posted several updates saying she is having fun in Wonderland and such... and I know to take facebook status' with a grain of salt, but, yeah, any speculation to casting?
If she is involved, as much as people hate Wildhorn, I would love it!

[philly03]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 6:55pm

Is she perhaps the woman who is singing "Finding Wonderland" on the website? (I thought at first Kate Shindle - but the ending is NOTHING like her?) Or if anyone knows (not to thread jack..)

It'd be a logical assumption to think she's atleast a part of it. Brandi Burkhardt (& Frank) are no longer together(not to gossip!), so it would make sense there'd be another blonde woman in the title role, should Brandi be disengaged from the project. And that sounds extremely logical - she wasn't in Bonnie & Clyde reading(s) that had Laura Osnes recently, and I'm sure she's busy enough with Mamma Mia! for another good 6 months.

No casting has been announced though. I'm not familiar with Nikki's facebook, so who knows!?

My guess would have been Brandi Burkhardt or Kate Shindle, as the latter has worked with Wildhorn a lot in the past and is still relatively young. O

Nikki would seem to fit in well -- and the time you posted before, she was more than likely somehow connected to the Mad Hatter.

Rumor or not, thanks for bringing up this point!

Updated On: 9/6/14 at 06:55 PM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 7:37pm

Snelson is attached to WONDERLAND, although I don't know in what capacity.

Brandi Burkhardt is doing quite fine since her split with Wildhorn. In fact, she's been dating Derek Keeling (of "Grease: You're The One That I Want" fame) for quite some time now.

Updated On: 3/17/09 at 07:37 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 8:06pm

"I find it amusing that Wildhorn's shows have been such financial disasters on Broadway that he can only get his work produced in Europe"?????

Hello! they have money in Europe and they also do some great theatre and they were around long before Broadway.
Wildhorn's shows may have flopped on Broadway but he has made a lot of money off them in regional and tours and International productions
Like him or not, he has a Huge career as a songwriter.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 8:19pm

I know the man has his fans but man, he puts more eggs into one basket than the Easter Bunny.

[i_love_megan]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 8:38pm

There is a website for "Wonderland" which doesnt post casting but is previewing in Florida the end of this year. Google it...

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 8:41pm

oh, I've seen the website, but like you said, it doesn't have any casting at all... so.. yeah, but I do like the bunny logo

[philly03]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 9:40pm

"Brandi Burkhardt is doing quite fine since her split with Wildhorn. In fact, she's been dating Derek Keeling (of "Grease: You're The One That I Want" fame) for quite some time now."

Broadway.com video? Hahah Anyway, I do know she's fine (and will be - she's an excellent actress and singer) and she always will -- but I'm not going to hold my breathe for her to be in Wonderland/any Wildhorn projects anymore. Who knows though?!

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 9:42pm

"Broadway.com video?"

Yes! LOL I love the one of her at Valentines, totally b*tch slap in Franks face lol
but I am really excited about Nikki, after seeing her in ACL, I have fallen in love with her

[philly03]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 10:03pm

I still wish it's going to be Brandi, but just the logical thinking... she's so charming on stage. Ah, oh well.

And yes -- it almost seems like .. I don't know I don't feel like I should start anything? Tale ended, Frank ended -- Derek Keeling? Haha I like the picture he gave her or whatever...I want a copy of it HAHA (The two Tale pictures merged together!).

Frank must have some charm too :) Two beautiful, funny, kind women he has had!

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 10:04pm

I believe Lauren Kennedy may be involved with WONDERLAND as well.

She is the one who sings "Finding Wonderland" on the show's website, not Kate Shindle or Brandi Burkhardt.

It sounds like Nikki Snelson singing "The Mad Hatter's Song," so that may be the role she is playing in the workshop.

Updated On: 3/17/09 at 10:04 PM

[philly03]

Posted: 3/17/09 at 10:16pm

"I believe Lauren Kennedy may be involved with WONDERLAND as well.

She is the one who sings "Finding Wonderland" on the show's website, not Kate Shindle or Brandi Burkhardt.

It sounds like Nikki Snelson singing "The Mad Hatter's Song," so that may be the role she is playing in the workshop."

I thought it'd possibly be Kennedy too -- she did lots of work on DRACULA, the musical and of course the little known "Waiting for the Moon." But I honestly don't know -- is Kennedy too old for the role? I'm not even so sure what the role is supposed to fully be, child or mother. None-the-less would be interesting to see her in it :) and really liking that song!

"The Mad Hatter's Song," & "Through the Looking Glass" are undoubtably Brandi Burkhardt.


EDIT: Actually, that probably is Nikki's role (regardless if Brandi is in it?) if that is a role in itself?!
Updated On: 3/17/09 at 10:16 PM

[elphaba.scares.me]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 1:25am

Updated On: 3/19/09 at 01:25 AM

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 1:27am

I don't think that is Nikki for the Mad Hatter Song... I don't think she is on any of the demos imo

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/18/09 at 1:33am

Brandi Burkhardt recorded "The Mad Hatter's Song" for the demo (which is where the clip featured on the website is from,) but Nikki Snelson is playing that role/ singing that song in the workshop.

Updated On: 3/18/09 at 01:33 AM