Piazza Takes the Tonys, but Will It Last?

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 10:12am

Congrats to the Piazza crew for their Tony haul. It seemed like the Wing said, "yeah, we know you're the best, but Spamaloot is sooo funny!"

While this may add prestige to the show, I don't see it being a big boost at the box office.

Is this staying a limited run? Or will Eden replace Kelli?

Updated On: 6/6/05 at 10:12 AM

[apdarcey]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 10:19am

depending on the demand at the box office it might extend to the end of the year, but not past that at all.

[Avigdor]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:11am

i hope it does extend til the end of the year..that will at least be reward enough for enough people to see this beautiful show and bask in the glow of incredible talent and pass the word.
CONGRATS TO VICTORIA CLARK A TRUE BROADWAY STAR AND LADY

[chitown]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:30am

For the sake of the theatre, I hope it closes.

This kind of pretentious writing could push musicals in an entirely wrong direction. My theory is that people WANT to like this musical like they WANT to enjoy a Pollack painting. They don't understand it, nor do they particularly enjoy it, but it makes them feel more cultured to just give in.

[LucilleAndLeoFrank]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:32am

Chitown, are your brains in your ass? Piazza is the kind of show that could SAVE musical theater.

[midtowngym]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:32am

Or maybe they do understand and enjoy it (I did), and your statement is pretentious. Just maybe.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:33am

Oh, shut up. People understand it.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:33am

Well, La Cage won...and I give it a month before it folds. They're already pushing the tour with Goulet.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:34am

Chitown - I enjoyed it and the music isn't even my style.

Actually, it's my favorite show on Broadway.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:35am

Since, it's on a limited run anyways, if they extend it(again) then I say that it "lasts"

[Princeton78]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:36am

Hey, if the box office is up, why not transfer it?

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:36am

Lovin' your Kelli avatar Thenadier. You have great taste in musicals...and avatars.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:40am

I honestly think it hardly matters. Piazza was supposed to be a limited run anyway. It's already extended once. That musy mean something. Hopefully it'll get through the summer slump. I think it'll last long beyond it's broadyway run. Look at Guettel's other work. Floyd Collins never came to broadway, it's had productions all over the world actually. Myths and Hymns isn't even a show and I've seen it done in regional theatres. Piazza will last.


And what is pretentious writing. I don't understand that concept. What, is the harmonic structure too dense? Can you not understand the lyrics? It's certainly melodic. What, because it's acoustic and there's no big belters?

What the hell does that mean? I love how intelligence in theatre is now pretentious. Notice how when a serious artst play comes along, it's not pretentious, it's a play. Not all musicals have to be DRS, or The Producers.

[chitown]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:40am

I think I worded that incorrectly. I don't mean that people don't understand the story (that's not all that difficult) - I think that people want to enjoy it because it's artsy and different. Seriously, were you able to hum even ONE tune from this production after seeing it?

And if musical theatre gets too heady for itself (like Piazza does), then we run the risk of alienating the common man. Isn't he/she the ones we should be trying to enlighten? We're the choir here - if not, we sure as hell wouldn't be posting on Broadwayworld.com!

[Avigdor]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:42am

Chitown..what exactly are youtrying to say. first of all how can you compare a pollack painting to this musical..a) two different forms of communication and b) the musical told a story the painting wants you to infer a story..
and precisely why should it close..should all musicals be spama lot or little women or hairspray..or should we return to vaudeville and fan dancers..would that suite your taste..or maybe just maybe you are the one who doesnt want to think.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:44am

"Seriously, were you able to hum even ONE tune from this production after seeing it?"

In my mind I could - but not out loud since I can't sing it.

Just because it isn't memorable HARDLY means it isn't good. It's more complex than keeping the same tune throughout one song.

LaChiusa's The Wild PArty is one of my favorites and I couldn't hum every song after one listen like I could with Lippa's. However, LaChiusa's has more emotion and feeling.

Same with Piazza. It has emotion and feeling not overly catchy tunes.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:49am

well personally I want more musicals like Piazza. I find it intersting you think the "common man" isn't intelligent enough to get this show. I have so many friends who love this show and aren't theatre people. I want artsy shows. If people don't like it then go see Hairspray, which is also good. I don't see why you think Piazza should leave. Why can't there be room for ALL kinds of theatre. That's what braodway's about. I think I'd stop going to theatre if this weren't there. Oh an btw I left humming the main theme (as it appeared in the overture and the Octet) and I left humming the title Song. I wish people would remember that theatre is about stories and musicals are about telling the story. It's not a rock concert. If I wanted to hum the tunes I buy the CD. I left DRS humming 1 song, the last one. Is DRS tuneless? NO not at all.

[chitown]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:53am

Now you're just being rude. Fan dancers? Give me a break.

Of course a painting and a play are different. My point is that often people say they like something because it seems as if 'they should'.

If you like Piazza for it's other qualities - fine. I'm just voicing my opinion. I didn't tear every piece of the show apart (in fact, I believe I was quite fair in my assessments).

[MusicMan]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:55am

I completely understand what your saying, chitown. But have no fear--given that American musical theater has always been and will forever be a populist medium, the vox populi of the audience will be the final authority on the future of the genre. That said, the form is also elastic enough to accommodate shows written for an elitist minority or fringe elements.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:56am

Oh, and thanks Marquise.

<---I'm with her in that picture (and it's my facebook picture).

[chitown]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:59am

I grew up in a very intelligent blue collar family - and yes, they would be perfectly capable of 'getting it'. The point is that I don't think the majority of the population would really enjoy this show. Call me what you like, but I believe in using theatre as a tool to reach out and inspire the masses. There's nothing more exhilarating than watching a group of non-theatre goers having the time of there life and discovering live theatre for the first time.

Now - that being said, let's talk technically. The lyrics are ridiculous in many places..the story is trite (and oddly creepy)...the book is just tragic (though what do we expect from the mediocre talent that brought us such gems as Prelude to a Kiss?). I just don't believe this show has staying power.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 11:59am

Hey..Chitown is right..this damn show is too high falootin.

Come on everyone!

Helloooooo Dollyyy Why Heloooooooo Dollyyy

someone pass the mayonnaise

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:01pm

Do you think the majority of the population enjoys every Sondheim show?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:03pm

Assassins took the most last year, and didn't even play out its extension. I think Piazza will probably play its extension, and then quietly disapear.

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 6/6/05 at 12:03pm

I don't care what any of you guys say, Piazza is a beautiful show, with an amazing score, stunning scenery and costumes, and performers who really sing the crap out of their songs. I love it.

However, there isn't a green girl belting about flying with a monkey, or a screeching wench wearing a garbage bag, so I guess most people find it...pretentious and a waste of time. Sometimes I think its people like you that are going to be the ruin of musical theatre. BroOKlyn and Wicked FOREVER and EVER.