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RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

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#2

re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

Posted: 12/21/09 at 8:44am

If this is true, then I highly applaud the producers and creative team for taking their time to DEVELOP a show before launching it on Broadway. TWO out-of-town tryouts is very rare, but with NEXT TO NORMAL and now CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, I hope this is a continuing trend!!
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
#3

re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

Posted: 12/21/09 at 8:49am

NEXT TO NORMAL only had one out of town production in Virginia, CapnHook.

It was workshopped at the Village Theatre in Washington at one point, but that developmental incarnation was far from a full production.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.

Updated On: 12/21/09 at 08:49 AM

#5

re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

Posted: 12/21/09 at 10:34am

Best news I've heard in weeks!

This show is FANTASTIC. I haven't loved a score this much in a very long time.

Everything about the out-of-town tryout was excellent and I am so happy they are taking their time with it, although it is in such good shape they could bring it in as is.

If there was any element I took issue with it would be the scenic design/projections, though I am sure they will be stream-lined and better worked out in the NY theatre for which they will be designed. Forced perspective projections are a tricky thing to pull off successfully, as WIW and the DREAMGIRLS revival have proved.

SO excited! re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

P
#6

re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

Posted: 12/21/09 at 10:48am

While the Second Stage production of NEXT TO NORMAL wasn't officially a "tryout" per se, I would consider it one since it coincidentally became a part of a development process of the show before the Broadway production.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
#7

re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

Posted: 12/21/09 at 12:00pm

Yeah, but if the show had gotten raves off-Broadway, they wouldn't have hesitated to transfer it to Broadway. It's not like they purposely said "hey, let's take our time."
#8

re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

Posted: 12/21/09 at 12:05pm

Capnhooker, it was not a tryout. It was never considered a tryout. You're under the wrong belief. Initial readings are also part of the "development process" but that also means nothing.

It wasn't a tryout. The end.
When I think about you, I touch myself.
#9

re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

Posted: 12/21/09 at 12:10pm

MusicSnob - CapnHook isn't saying it was an official tryout. He is merely stating that HE would consider it a tryout...in his opinion. But, seeing as how changes were made between the transfer from Off to On Broadway...it could be easy to consider it a "tryout" in one's mind.

I, personally, don't consider it a tryout since it was an Off-Broadway run.

But, back to the main topic...I find it refreshing that this show is looking to spend a little more time in perfecting itself. I have always been very excited for this show and can't wait for it to hit NY full force! Surely, this second out of town tryout will do it some good. A second out of town tryout would do ANY show some good.
"Somethin's comin', I don't know what it is but it is gonna be great!"

Updated On: 12/21/09 at 12:10 PM

#10

re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

Posted: 12/21/09 at 12:21pm

I don't get the love for this score. Maybe it's changed drastically from the demo, but I couldn't even listen to the full demo it was so bad. And the clip didn't peak my interest at all.
#13

re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

Posted: 12/21/09 at 12:38pm

Since we're spending some time debating terminology here I'll mention that the "Catch Me If You Can" Seattle run was not billed as a pre-Broadway tryout and was produced by the 5th Avenue theater. Of course there were a number of Broadway producers hanging out the entire time who threw some additional funds in.

I loved the score but didn't think the overall staging worked as well as it could have. It's an amazing concept for a musical: What if Jean ValJean and Javert had teamed up?

I think this is a perfect example of a good show that could be great with some additional tweaking. I hope a Toronto production happens.
#15

re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

Posted: 12/21/09 at 1:11pm

Touche. Well, that said, maybe they're doing this to "pique" some interest in the show since I don't think anyone in NYC really cared too much about the show. Didn't seem like there was too much interest in it.
#16

re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

Posted: 12/21/09 at 1:15pm

RippedMan - I've witnessed a lot of interest in this show here in NYC. For one...just look at the Seattle cast and creative team that came out of NYC...for starters.
"Somethin's comin', I don't know what it is but it is gonna be great!"
#17

re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

Posted: 12/21/09 at 1:24pm

I would say there was plenty of interest in the show. Aside from being often discussed on the boards, the show was the subject of two Riedel columns. He doesn't write about shows no one cares about.
#20

re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

Posted: 12/21/09 at 3:39pm

I think that this is awesome for Toronto.

Also, I only know of 2 demo recordings. One,from 2005, that I have a copy of, and the one from early this year. Pgenre, said there were 3 demos...Any information on the third, or are we including a copy of the Seattle tryout/production?
#21

re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

Posted: 12/21/09 at 3:47pm

There is one from 2005, with Marc Shaiman singing most songs (and Nathan Lane and Patti LuPone for two) I believe. I didn't particularly like this demo at all. Then there is another one floating around labeled as "2009 Demo" with Aaron Tveit only singing some of the songs. It appears to be a hybrid of different recordings, if I'm not mistaken? There are two live tracks sung by Matthew Morrison and Shoshana Bean, and another recorded track by Shoshana which is from the first demo. Norbert Leo Butz and Kerry Butler sing a few tracks too.

I haven't heard of a third one either, unless you can split this "2009" demo into appropriate, separate demos.

Updated On: 12/21/09 at 03:47 PM

#22

re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

Posted: 12/21/09 at 4:04pm

thats wonderful!!!. I saw the show in Seattle in August and thought it was fantastic. It has it's problems but no major ones and if this is true the show is only going to improve. I had emailed my thoughts to the 5th Avenue Theatre who sent me back an email saying thy had given the letter to the creative team. It really is a special show that as soon as they iron out the kinks I could easily see it become the breakout hit of whatever season it opens in.


Heres a link to my review.
CMIYC
Current Avatar:The sensational Aaron Tveit in the soon to be hit production of Catch Me If You Can.
#24

re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

Posted: 12/21/09 at 4:25pm

MusicSnob1, is your appetite for being a jackass appeased yet? Did I satisfy you? No? I apologize. I'll need to see a therapist about that. Bejeezuslordalmightyeffingchrist!

Back on topic, that's certainly something to consider, adamgreer (re: can't find a theater). Perhaps BWW's very own celebrity extradorinaire Marc Shaiman will chime in to answer? re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
#25

re: RUMOUR: 'Catch Me If You Can' is Toronto-bound...?

Posted: 12/21/09 at 4:50pm

I don't know. I think because it was more of a regional production there wasn't much interest in it. I didn't really hear anything about it and I didn't even know it had opened when it opened. It sort of was building interest then it fizzled. But that's just my opinion. Adams' Family has far more interest but that may also be because it's actually opening soon.

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