margo, are you working with him? now you're actually starting to make a good deal out of what's happened... that totally sounds like a musical that all theatre teenagers everywhere would love.
I may have to go down to Odessa and get the rights from him ......
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Of course. Just submit your headshot and resume to the proper people and we'll get back to you
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
So wait, Little Shop was suppose to happen, then scrapped, then Gypsy or Sweeny, I dont know which, was suppose to replace Little Shop, but then those two got scrapped, then they brought in Anything Goes, which is a sucky musical. Ouch for Texas.
Guess Georges has a show opening in a few days. We'll see how it goes. If it goes well, maybe he'll be ok. I think it all sounds he's going to be fine. Anyone who can get into this kind if trouble at such a young age has to have some talent. Maybe he's not really 20.
It boggles my mind that this guy is my age. Amazing. Anyway, despite this fiasco, anyone who can talk as fast as he evidently can has a bright future ahead of him.
Wow, all the attention all over the net for this lovely fiasco. Links popping up everywhere...
First off, Midland and Odessa are not starving theatre communities. Far from it in fact. There are 4 community theatre groups in the area, one of which, Midland Community Theatre is highly regarded as one of the top 5 community theatres in the nation, and is even hosting the International Theatre Festival. So we're not "starved" for good theatre out here, and the towns aren't that desolate. More like suburbs of Dallas, without the big city hassles. :)
As far as Tony's situation goes, he has quite a long history of rubbing people in the theatre community here the wrong way due to less than ethical means of acheiving his ends. Yes he's only 20, but he has "directed" (I use that term loosely) since he was 15. A bright future? Maybe, as he is very ambitious and talks a good game, but he needs to learn how to ethically manage a situation, and take responsibility for things if they go wrong, not place blame on others. Once he learns that, then yes, he probably does have a bright future as a producer...if he comes out of this season's mishaps unscathed.
FYI, I thought it was quite humerous that Margo mentioned Michael Arden as portraying Tony. Michael Arden is from Midland, and both Michael and Tony were involved in the same youth theatre production group at roughly the same time, and know each other.
Actually, Tex, he'll do much better in professional theater if he DOESN'T learn how to take responsibility. At least that's how it is here in New York.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
LOL Rathnait..maybe he should go to NY then. I guess passing the buck doesn't go very far with people down here. You know, the "good old boy, a handshake is good enough, but you better be honest or we'll shoot ya" mentality of Texas.
We've all seen producers with twenty times experience have smaller and bigger deals fall through and be ripped up by the press. I think this will all be over, and he'll go on and do very well. I don't think the other theatre in his area are very supportive of his endeavors. That's just what I gather from reading things online. We can always use another Cameron Mackintosh.
The community theatres are not supportive not because he is attempting to produce "professional" shows. Quite the contrary. The community theatres would be more than willing to support a professional theatre if it were run in an ethical manner. Mr. Georges has burned bridges at the local theatres due to some of this actions, and that is the reason they are not supportive. If someone other than Mr. Georges were to run the theatre, and do it in an honest way, they would receive an outpouring of support from the local community theatres.
Also, the local theatres and not threatened or confused by Equity. Both MCT and The Globe of the Great Southwest have employed Equity actors in various productions for years. The questions in regards to Equity's practices come from volunteers who are concerned about what is going on and are trying to understand the situation.
If you want to know how he got them to commit, he promised them UNREAL amounts of money-tens of thousands of dollars to come do a 3 week run in a show. Airfare, apartments, unlimited plane tickets for friends to come see them in the shows...
And then couldn't deliver. He apparently tried to bully everyone in town to donate in support of the company, but apparently he didn't have the money in the bank when he made the offers he did...I hear HARMONY is looking for new producers...Tony?
This kid should have started smaller with B list actors. I'm sure Joyce Dewitt, Sally Struthers and Debby Boone would have performed there.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Just to add to this story, Daisy Eagan is developing a reputation for backing out of shows at the last minute. Last summer she was heavily advertised to star in CABARET at the Gateway Theater on Long Island. She backed out at the very last minute (I don't know whether rehearsals had started) claiming she had a "family emergency".
daisy eagan all grown up. sigh. it seems like yesterday that i had to kick her out of a restaurant ladies room for smoking. she must have been about 12 at the time. as a former juvenile delinquent myself, i knew she'd turn out ok.
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