Phantom Sequel to Tryout In Toronto

If this pans out, expect a lot to change regarding what has been announced as Mirvish's 09/10 season. My guess: Joseph pushes back to Spring 2010 and Priscilla to Fall 2010.

First Mirvish couldn't find enough shows of interest, and now there are too many.

They mention Simon Lee as the musical director, did they not fire him from the Sound of Music for getting in trouble with his younger boyfriend or hooker.

Dirty Dancing has only 9 performances left! What's coming next?

Updated On: 4/20/10 at 01:51 AM

Priscilla (in its current state - the Australian set) can only fit into the PoW. That is the problem (and why it has been delayed until next Spring when Mirvish thinks SoM will be closed).

If Phantom 2 happens at the Royal Alex, Joseph has to be cancelled as there won't be a theatre for it. Unless they somehow use the Elgin or The Sony Centre. I'm thinking it will not happen as commercial theatre in the city isn't doing very well at this time.

I am surprised that Phantom 2 will be using the Royal Alex though, as it is quite small and generally can't house a large technical show, which people are assuming it will be.

You don't suppose someone might take pity on Toronto and spare it yet another "Joseph" run? Fun to perform in, no doubt, and a sure family-and-friends ticket draw thanks to the children's chorus, but it's a vehicle that, quite honestly, should be relegated to the school pageant level instead of hoovering up production dollars and blocking off prime performance space.

Next to none of the musical genres at which it attempts to poke fun is familiar enough to today's family audience demographic for it to get, let alone enjoy, the tepid satire. And let's face it: that aspect was already pretty iffy when the show was in its first Toronto stint, which was really just a long-running excuse for the mothers of that generation to see a shirtless Donny Osmond in person. If that parade had all but passed way back then, imagine how far off it must be by now.

Other revivals can work when they have a solid book with enough equally solid musical/lyrical material - or when today's stagecraft can sufficiently distract the audience from forgiveable lapses in those departments. In Joseph's case, there isn't wizardry enough in the world to compensate for what is otherwise hollow or missing. And, even if there were, the most it all might come to in the end is a draw; so why bother?

Couldn't all that time, talent, money and effort be put to far more rewarding use? Suggestions, anyone?

The Neil Simon Theatre in New York is also a small theatre like the Royal Alex. It wouldn't be absurd to see the show try out at a theatre comparable to the one they'll be in in New York, in terms of size of stage and auditorium.

In any case, they'll benefit from an intimate auditorium in a tryout city.

Hate to burst bubbles, folks, but JOSEPH has *always* been a strong seller in Toronto. Toronto loves JOSEPH. It sold well when David Burnham took over, and then it sold well when the Troika tour of a different production came through a few years back with Deborah GIbson (shudder).

There's more than the market for it in Toronto.

Mirvish wants to bring it in because EVERY TIME it plays in Toronto it does well. It's something virtually guaranteed to make money. And that goes without saying that it's got a solid audience base because it's family friendly.

JOSEPH might get postponed, or a new venue, but I doubt Mirvish will scrap it.

When the show moves to New York, do you think that the producers will close Phantom 1, and put the sequel in the Majestic? I think 22 years was a good run, or do you think they will want to be greedy, and open Phantom 2 in another theatre in case it bombs they have the original?

Auditions are happening in Toronto this week...

I just read on BroadwayWorld that, if successful, the Toronto production will stay here and not move to Broadway (New York will get its own production).

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