Passing Strange Will Arrive on Broadway in 2008- Page 2

[LostLeander]

Posted: 12/28/07 at 9:42pm

Well, this is a very different kind of musical. It's 3/5 narrative, 2/5 rock/pop/funk/experimental/r&b/soul/anyotherkindofmusic concert.

The show is dominated by Stu, who wrote this autobiographical show, and sings most of the music as he narrates the story of his life.

The show was performed in three-quarter thrust, with the band in little secluded pits that would rise and fall when necessary. The show is SO intimate, I hope they choose a small enough house. Intimate off-broadway shows always find a way to make it work when they get to bigger Broadway houses.

I hope this does well, it's one of the best things I've ever seen.

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 12/29/07 at 1:51am

And once it hits Broadway, it will be known as PASSING THROUGH.









Updated On: 4/29/08 at 01:51 AM

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 12/29/07 at 2:41am

One of the major reasons why Spring Awakening, another avant garde show, succeeded and this won't is that Spring Awakening was targeting a specific demographic. SA knew that their show would appeal mainly to appeal to teens and young adults and they made sure to target them. They also had a major hook - the entire cast (with the exception of the adults) are all under the age of 21. Passing Strange doesn't have a hook like SA nor do they have a specific demographic that their show will appeal to.

[Bobby Maler]

Posted: 12/29/07 at 3:10am

Neddy, I don't know if I agree with you. The young adults paying student rush tickets were not the ones who made Spring Awakening a financial success. Spring Awakening became a success first because of the traditional theatre going crowd who came because of the reviews and the strong word of mouth, and then the tourists came because of the Tonys.

Also, I do think that Passing Strange has a hook. It's too bad Stu is not a bigger rock star, but there hasn't been a musical yet where the composer/musician also acts in the piece, narrating his life story. It would be like Duncan Sheik performing in Spring Awakening.

I havn't seen Passing Strange yet, and would love a clearer picture of why people don't think it will work. Is it just because it's an intimate show in a large Broadway house? Is the story/music not satisfying? Is it because an all- African American cast requires more targeted outreach? From what I've heard on their website, the music is the type that won't alienate a Broadway audience, and the story of a quest to find oneself is as universal as Kerouac's "On The Road" or the Wizard of Oz. Can someone clarify?




One of the major reasons why Spring Awakening, another avant garde show, succeeded and this won't is that Spring Awakening was targeting a specific demographic. SA knew that their show would appeal mainly to appeal to teens and young adults and they made sure to target them. They also had a major hook - the entire cast (with the exception of the adults) are all under the age of 21. Passing Strange doesn't have a hook like SA nor do they have a specific demographic that their show will appeal to.

Updated On: 12/29/07 at 03:10 AM

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 12/29/07 at 3:18am

I think that if you took a census of who was in that theater every night, you would find that a large majority of the people in that audience fell in their targeted audience and/or was reccomended to see the show by somebody in that demographic. Look at ALL their advertising, it's geared toward the newer, younger generation.

It's too bad Stu is not a bigger rock star, but there hasn't been a musical yet where the composer/musician also acts in the piece, narrating his life story. It would be like Duncan Sheik performing in Spring Awakening.

I have never heard of Stew and neither has anybody that I know that I have discussed this show with. He isn't much of a name or a draw for the audience. Duncan Sheik is a much much much bigger name and it would be a huge draw for people to see the show if he was in it, not so much Stew.
Updated On: 12/29/07 at 03:18 AM

[jaso937]

Posted: 12/29/07 at 3:32am

I recently worked with Rebecca Naomi Jones on a project and based off of what she said about Passing Strange, changes of course have been made due to the transfer to a proscenium but nothing that will effect too much the experience of seeing the show. So here's to hoping all is still well since that convo last week.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 12/29/07 at 3:41am

It will be interesting to see how this show is marketed. The fact that it's previewing and opening in Feb, means they're looking for a "soft" opening, hoping that word of mouth (good reviews, etc) will slowly build up a buzz towards the spring. I saw the show last year and loved it, the performers were uniformly excellent, vibrant and young. "STEW" SHOULD be a bigger name, because he is one talented guy.

[tazber]

Posted: 12/29/07 at 5:20am

those pics certainly look....interesting.

[winston89]

Posted: 12/29/07 at 10:43am

I don't think that this going to work on Broadway for several reasons. First off, the choice of theatre. The Belasco NEEDS to figure out a way to let people who are in Times Square walking around know of the fact that it is around. I was in Times Square the other day seeing a show. I was on the seventh avenue side of the same street the Belasco was and was lookind dead ahead. I saw a marquee and I couldn't make out the name of the show on there. If I didn't know that passing strange was going to be there and knew that was what it was then I would have had no clue.


And I can see why people would consider the music to be good. It is catchy but after hearing the two songs on the website. Those are the WORST lyrics I have ever heard in my entier life.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/29/07 at 10:47am

You must not have heard The Pirate Queen, Legally Blonde, Frankenstein the Musical...

[winston89]

Posted: 12/29/07 at 11:34am

I heard leglally blonde and the Pirate Queen. They both have okay not great lyrics but the ones for this show are by far the worst.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/29/07 at 11:43am

People had no trouble finding the Belasco when Ralph Fiennes starred there in Hamlet, or Denzel Washington in Julius Caesar.