Pre-Broadway Run of "Roman Holiday" in San Francisco

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 1:52pm

I'm thrilled to bits.  I was already making plans to go to SF in the summer time.  Now, I have an even better reason to do so.   https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/ROMAN-HOLIDAY-Musical-to-Receive-Pre-Broadway-Premiere-in-San-Francisco-NEVERLAND-More-Set-for-SHNs-2016-17-Season-20160323

Updated On: 3/23/16 at 01:52 PM

[Lilly7]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 2:16pm

The musical, which combines the plot of the 1953 film with the music of Cole Porter, has been in development for years — an early version was staged at the Muny in St. Louis in 2001, and a reworked version at the Guthrie Theaterin Minneapolis in 2012.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/artsbeat/2016/03/23/musical-adaptation-of-roman-holiday-is-broadway-bound/?_r=0&referer=

 

Has anyone seen the previous versions? 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 2:21pm

Huh, I didn't know they were using Cole Porter songs. At least those are fun! tried watching the movie once three years ago or so, I fell asleep during it.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 2:24pm

Why Cole Porter? Are there Cole Porter songs in the movie? (I've never seen it so I'm genuinely asking.)  

Updated On: 3/23/16 at 02:24 PM

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 2:55pm

As a huge fan of the movie, this seems odd. No, no Cole Porter songs are in the movie. I think it could work, definitely, depending on which songs they decided to go with. I wonder who they'll cast for the lead. An unknown or a previously established Broadway lady?

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 3:06pm

I wonder how this differs from the "Roman Holiday" musical they did at the Guthrie in 2012, which was also meant to be a "pre-Broadway" run. I know Jerry Zaks saw that one, to gauge interest, and did not become involved.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 3:10pm

This story lends itself to a musical treatment, but I wish it was an original score. This doesn't need to be a jukebox musical.

[gypsy101]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 3:10pm

I think a new fresh face would be appropriate since I don't think Audrey Hepburn was a star before she appeared in the film.

Updated On: 3/23/16 at 03:10 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 3:20pm

The more I think about it, Cole Porter is the wrong style and voice for these characters. It sounds "off" to me, like they're trying to wedge popular period songs into a story without regard for whether or not they suit it.

 

Frothy, witty, and sophisticated are not adjectives I would use to describe this story about a princess who escapes her life and ends up spending a day incognito with a reporter on the streets of Rome. If anything, it should be earthy and honest and simple ... that's what she would be craving. Now if the reporter went to the palace and spent his day with royalty, I would say a Porter score could fit nicely.

 

I wish Adam Guettel had taken a shot at this.

[Tom5]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 3:25pm

I think the best integration of a Porter score with a movie was with "Evil Under the Sun" which starred Peter Ustinov and Diana Rigg among others. The careful integration of the music with various scenes was brilliant and inspiring.

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 3:32pm

This is Christmas early for me

the producers are the brothers that did beautiful

Cole porter has written some of the worlds most beautiful and clever songs

and while anything goes and kiss me kate

Are both great I don't feel either fully delivers Coles best in a single show 

without knowing anything other that the story the songs and the producers and what they did with beautiful I'm very encouraged

 

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 3:34pm

Adam Guettel would be fantastic for this. What a shame. Are there any simple Cole Porter songs that could be integrated to fit Princess Ann? I can't think of one, let alone a whole scores worth.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 3:38pm

Highlights from the production at the Guthrie.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gki_QBhDEkw

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WiMvl97LJ8

 

 

[BobBenson]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 3:41pm

I wish this was a musical version of the cartoon THE ROMAN HOLIDAYS. Now THAT was a great show, brah.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 4:48pm

Knowing nothing of the movie except the mouth of truth scene I'm actually intrigued by those Guthrie clips. Aside from that first song from High Society (I think?) the rest of the songs sound new to me.

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 4:58pm

this link to the guthrie production has a few more video links and links to reviews

http://www.guthrietheater.org/plays_events/plays/roman_holiday

 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 5:20pm

" Huh, I didn't know they were using Cole Porter songs. At least those are fun! tried watching the movie once three years ago or so, I fell asleep during it."

 

You're kidding, right? It's one of my favorite movies. I was excited at first until I heard about the Cole Porter score. I agree, it doesn't fit. Part of the reason the movie works so well is the gender balance. It's half romance and the female protagonist coming into her own. And it's half this more serious story about the reporter and politics and responsibility. And the ending is heartbreaking but so fitting. If you make a frothy romantic comedy, you lose what makes it so special.

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 6:03pm

 

 

Updated On: 3/23/16 at 06:03 PM

[Ranger Tom]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 6:17pm

Very happy about this - especially that it will play in the City and close by.  I can live with the Cole Porter connection but would rather have an original score.

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 6:58pm

My sources provided this:

Here is the program with the 2012 Production Musical Numbers (obviously subject to change and revision.)

Some fantastic songs and I can really see this being great. More obscure songs mixed in than i thought they would do.  18 numbers from 13 lesser known shows, film, tv and an unproduced show. 

"Wouldnt it be fun" is a terrific song from Alladin that was the last song Cole wrote...

I have to watch the movie now thinking about these songs. my biggest reaction to the songs is I'd love to see a stronger finale than a reprise of Experiment, because I think the relationship was much more than just an experiment for the princess. 

 

ACT I

Overture

Once Upon a Time .PRINCESS  (Ever Yours unproduced)

I’m Throwing a Ball Tonight .JOE, ENSEMBLE (Panama Hattie)

Experiment .COUNTESS, PRINCESS (Nymph Errant)

Why Shouldn’t I? .PRINCESS (Jubilee)

You Do Something to Me .JOE, ENSEMBLE  (Fifty Million Frenchmen)

Let’s Be Buddies .JOE, PRINCESS (Panama Hattie)

Look What I Found .JOE, PRINCESS, ENSEMBLE (Around the World in Eighty Days)

Wouldn’t It Be Fun? .IRVING, PRINCESS, JOE (Alladin)

Most Gentlemen Don’t Like Love .FRANCESCA, PRINCESS  (Leave it to Me)

Ridin’ High .JOE, PRINCESS, ENSEMBLE (Red, Hot & Blue)

ACT II

Entr’acte

A Picture of Me Without You .JOE, PRINCESS, IRVING (Jubilee)

Use Your Imagination .PRINCESS, JOE  (Out of this World)

Just One of Those Things .FRANCESCA, MALE QUARTET  (Jubilee)

Easy to Love .JOE (Born to Dance Movie)

Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye .PRINCESS, JOE (Seven Lively Arts)

I Sleep Easier Now .COUNTESS (Out of this World)

Night and Day .JOE    (Gay Divorce)

Experiment (Reprise) .PRINCESS (Nymph Errant)

 

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 7:05pm

Why the hell is Audrey Hepburn singing Ethel Merman songs!

Who took that meeting?

 

(Oops, sorry. New day at BWW.com: I'm sure it will be fabulous!)

Updated On: 3/23/16 at 07:05 PM

[Felm_heart]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 8:49pm

I saw the version of this that went up at the Guthrie in 2012, and my god was it boring. I hope they've made a lot of changes to the material, but their biggest struggle may be finding someone with as much charm and elegance as Hepburn - few fit the bill. 

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 9:28pm

Agreed. Not much good about that production which was ugly, slow and seemed to kinda wish it were "My Fair Lady."

[jo]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 9:49pm

One of my favorite movies!

 

I know it is not going to happen, but how about Keira Knightley and Hugh Jackman ?

 

But maybe in a film remake - it can happen

 

Updated On: 3/23/16 at 09:49 PM

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 3/23/16 at 10:58pm

Laura Osnes did the reading in 2012

and is perfect for this

I think sierra boggess could also pull it off very well