Revival Mania

Seems as though there are truly a massive amount of revivals kicking around all it seems vying for theaters next season.
Based on rumors and speculation posted it appears:

Chess

A Little Night Music

Spamalot

Sweet Charity

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Joseph

Sunset Boulevard

Jesus Christ Superstar

Evita

Dreamgirls

Last Five Years

Thoroughly Modern Millie

Crazy For You

Titanic (Encores)

all have rumored gestating revivals attempting to happen next season. I can’t think of any other time in recent history that quite THIS many revivals have been slated to be “coming in.” Thoughts on this musical “revival mania?” It certainly seems to appear, sad as it may be, producers are viewing musical revivals over original musicals as money makers nowadays, exemplified by the financial struggles of the currently and newly opened Best Musical Tony nominees this season. Thoughts?

Rumor is LCT with Tveit as Count Malcolm.

You get more revivals in a weak economy, people want comfort and tried and true. .but no way that ALL of those shows are trying for any one season.

Bryce 2 said: "broadwayboy222 said: "Rumor is LCT with Tveit as Count Malcolm."

I hope not, that is such a misguided casting choice."



How so?



First I’m hearing of this rumor.

I’ve heard of a potential Titanic revival for the last few years, but for Encores? I’m a bit skeptical.

Oh also I believe TMM revival got scrapped when Ashley Park took off and is kind of too busy now

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "I’ve heard of a potential Titanic revival for the last few years, but for Encores? I’m a bit skeptical."

The rumor was that the brilliant revival of Titanic beautifully done in the round by Signature Theatre and restaged in Korea for a proscenium theatre would move to Broadway. The problem is that it was staged by Eric Schaeffer, the founder of Signature Theatre. Google his name if you want to see why this would have stopped the show coming to Broadway.

We obviously won't get that entire list but it will be a big revival year and that doesn't surprise me. Broadway is a copycat business and after the success of Into the Woods, Parade, Sweeney, Funny Girl (after LM joined), The Music Man, and, to some extent, Company, we shouldn't be surprised to see revivals as all the rage right now. At some point, some big new hit will arrive and then people will spend some time trying to replicate that success...

Updated On: 5/25/23 at 01:33 PM

I can believe the idea of A Little Night Music. I feel like we are still mourning the loss of Sondheim, and with the success of Company, Sweeney Todd, and Into the Woods; we are going to see movement behind his other shows as this "Broadway Salutes God" wave. If we can make Sondheim successful, why not? I feel like that rumor of a production with Julie Andrews as Madame Armfeldt always lingers around, whether there was ever truth to it or not. I feel like its a show that with the right casting, people will come to see. For me, I don't care for the show as much as others, but a chance to see Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters, Elaine Strich, and Catherine Zeta Jones live on stage is worth every penny.

Ke3 said: "GiantsInTheSky2 said: "I’ve heard of a potential Titanic revival for the last few years, but for Encores? I’m a bit skeptical."

Encores honestly seems like the only place Titanic would work these days. Titanic, Grand Hotel, Ragtime. The 90s were big on those sweeping vignette musicals that seem like they'd struggle to keep up a commerical run in today's market."

I hope Lincoln Center will eventually pivot to grand, sweeping revivals of musicals like those the way they have been doing the classics. I agree they would be hard in traditional commercial houses.

It’s funny that back mid 2020 it was predicted we’d see a revival boom and stunt casting galore. I would still love to see some more star castings (Bernadette Peters, Cheyenne Jackson, Julia Roberts return, even like TImothee Chalamet, or people like Lisa Kudrow or cabaret type concerts with Bette Midler or Barbra…. We’ve lost so many legends. I would love a chance to see some of these more mature artists one more time).


Of all of these listed. My top five choices (considering we have the exciting Jonathan Groff and Daniel Radcliffe merrily we roll along):

A Little Night Music (Julie Andrews, Cate Blanchett)

Chess (Ramin Karmiloo, Lea Michele,

Joseph (with Lea Salonga and Aaron Tveit)

Sunset Boulevard (maybe with Alice Ripley )

Dreamgirls (if we can get Heather Headley, Jennifer Holiday (one last time), Audra McDonald)

Titanic (Encores)

You forgot to mention revivals of The Wiz, Cabaret, and Dear World as well. And Crazy for You is not dead. It is currently having a big revival by Susan Stroman in the West End that is looking to come to Broadway.

The Blanchett/Andrews NIGHT MUSIC rumor stems from a rumor of what Scott Rudin had in the pipeline at the time of his stepping-down. As far as I know neither was contracted — but that’s all a moot point because SR is out of the picture and was one of the only producers persuasive enough to close a deal like that. People underestimate his power in closing major talent deals.

I do not see any world in which Andrews returns to Broadway as an actor. She herself had said she’s done acting onstage. Move on, folks.