I'm just happy to be getting another musical revival this season.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
Its "critical darling" status, short preview period, and limited engagement (thru Labor Day for now) should help in the beginning, but I'm curious how the Broadway word-of-mouth will be, especially with more traditional theatergoers. It's not your Grandma's OKLAHOMA, but they still need your Grandma's money and chatter.
Regardless of sales, I think it will bag a bunch of nominations, and right now it's a frontrunner to win Best Revival of a Musical, Best Director, and Orchestrations.
I have never in my life gotten to see a production of Oklahoma but I feel I should at some point. For those familiar with the show, is this a good production for a first time viewing? I can't say Im excited for this show but it is a classic so I must give it a chance.
i'm just happy there's another musical revival this season.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
Even if it is difficult for people to understand this production, I think this is likely to win most of the revival awards this season which could make it really successful in the long run. I wonder if many people will buy tickets thinking they are seeing a classic production of the show..
Not only am I glad for more than one musical revival but I think it will be interesting to see how a more old-school revival of one classic musical will do against a more experimental and modernized revival of another classic musical at the Tonys
Mike Barrett said: "I have never in my life gotten to see a production of Oklahoma but I feel I should at some point. For those familiar with the show, is this a good production for a first time viewing? I can't say Im excited for this show but it is a classic so I must give it a chance."
Personally I wouldn't recommend it. I never saw the movie nor seen any Oklahoma! production before watching this one at St. Ann's and I left the theater being flat out confused. I also couldn't hear them that well when they didn't face towards where I was sitting at (poor sound design I guess but then again it was an off off off bway space.)
I went with someone who have seen several productions of Oklahoma and she loved this revival though she agreed that I should have watched the UK National Theatre production (with Hugh Jackman) online or the classic 1955 movie first before watching this one. I watched the one with Hugh Jackman afterwards and understood the story a lot more (plus I enjoyed hearing a full orchestra.)
I saw one of the first performances at St. Ann's and while I usually love this kind of thing, I don't know that I could really recommend this either. At least not to most of the people I know who would be buying tickets at Broadway prices. That said, I suppose there is a possibility some further changes will be made for Broadway. I wonder if they will take the entire cast with them. Audra as Laurey, anyone?
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
How marvelous that we went from such a weak year for Revivals, to now getting this magnificent production. This is the best musical revival I think I've ever seen, save for Cabaret. This would win Best Musical Revival no question, so I'm just wondering if there's an upcoming play revival that Tony voters could decide to take to. I do think this is the clear frontrunner for Best Musical & Best Direction, and really hoping for nominations for Mary Testa, Ali Stroker, and Rebecca Naomi Jones.
As someone for whom this was their first genuine exposure to Oklahoma!, I highly recommend it. I don’t know that I would’ve loved the material otherwise. Still haven’t been able to listen to the OBCR without wishing it were this revival instead.
Thought this was spectacular at St. Ann’s and can’t wait to revisit it on Broadway.
I saw the promo clips on YouTube just now and I think it looks unintentionally hilarious. Mary Testa posing all hip and cool LOL. However, looking at the google images lends me to believe the actual production looked nothing like the black & white promo.
Mike Barrett said: "I have never in my life gotten to see a production of Oklahoma but I feel I should at some point. For those familiar with the show, is this a good production for a first time viewing? I can't say Im excited for this show but it is a classic so I must give it a chance."
This was my first experience with Oklahoma, and I thought it was STUNNING. I confess to having been very confused by the ending and needing to look up how the original ended to understand what it had been and what they were going for. It feels like a botched moment to me because it was the only thing that didn't totally stand on its own for me, having not seen it before. It's DARK. And Jones, Dauno, Testa, and Stoker are giving stellar performances. I think it's going to be tough to recreate some of the visceral thrills they achieved by containing it and the audience all within one literal box together, but I will absolutely see it again and highly recommend it to any daring theater-goer. Traditionalists need not purchase tickets--and I don't mean that as a judgment. I think that people who love bold directorial choices will be thrilled by it but folks who want their classics to feel classic will find it pretentious.
The 2002 Broadway revival with Patrick Wilson was among my first Broadway experiences - I remember we went as a music program field trip. Am I officially old now?
(Seriously, I'm glad to see there will be another revival this season.)
Even if this doesn't last, I've got my fingers crossed for a cast recording. The new arrangements and orchestrations were far and away the best thing about an already amazing production. I'm sad I can't listen right now!