Revival of PAL JOEY with Christian Hoff Postponed

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 12:13am

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/109938.html

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 9:23am

Bewitched... Bothered... Postponed... Again!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 9:25am

I could have predicted that when it was first announced.

Who (meaning the large tourist population that sustains shows) would want to see a revival of Pal Joey, starring someone who isn't famous?

[B3TA07]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 9:29am

I probably wouldn't want to see a revival of "Pal Joey" if it were starring someone famous.

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 9:39am

I'm in the same boat with you B3TA07 and Yankeefan007!

[Tom148502]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 9:51am

Pal Joey is a wonderful show if it's cast correctly. Unfortunately, the role of Vera has so often been miscast and misdirected on stage and film that, unless you were lucky enough to have seen Vivienne Segal as Vera in the original production or in the 1952 revival, you have no idea what the authors intended. It's interesting that Paul Gemignani will again not be conducting the Encores! concerts due to his Pal Joey assignment. Looks like he's out of work

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 10:23am

The New York Times mentioned that Stockard Channing was in the running for Vera. I must say that I find her to be a very intriguing choice. Too bad it's not happening any time soon.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 11:11am

I'd like to see Patt LuPone reprise her role of Vera. She was magnificent when she played the part of Encores!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 1:56pm

I would have preferred Donna Murphy over Channing though Channing would obviously bring more people in. Wasn't Cyndi Lauper attached to this as well? Someone in another thread mentioned she was tapped to play Melba.

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 2:30pm

The good news about this production is that the real reason that it was postponed is because of scheduling conflicts.

[ahmelie]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 3:01pm

Oh, Donna Murphy would be fantastic. Patti's too old now, I think.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 3:02pm

As someone on the other board said, there's no point in doing it until Jackman is available. Christian Hoff isn't going to sell a single ticket.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 3:05pm

Christian Hoff isn't going to sell a single ticket.

I'd venture to guess there's, oh, I dunno, more than a handful of people who really enjoy him in Jersey Boys, though. Oh ye of little faith.

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 3:06pm

Hugh Jackman was available. They did't want him.

[Plum]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 3:57pm

Really? Where did you hear that?

I'm sort of "meh" on Christian Hoff, but Stockard Channing sounds like a potentially wonderful Vera to me.
Updated On: 7/31/07 at 03:57 PM

[wicked_mimi]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 8:55pm

Christian actually has quite a few fans. My dad, who doesn't even like Broadway but loved Jersey Boys, watched the Tonys these past two years because he loves Christian and John. I think you'd be surprised the amount of fans he has. Besides which, look at Jersey Boys. They were all unknowns and I think it's done fairly well considering...

I am not familiar with the show but I've heard from people who are familiar with it and have seen him perform and say he'd be perfect. That is what would sell tickets. It's sad it got postponed but hopefully it'll happen soon enough! He deserves it.

[Fan2]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 8:57pm

>>>Wasn't this project supposed to be with Hugh Jackman and Kelli O'Hara?? It was on her website a while ago.<<<

That was "Leap of Faith" - Raul Esparza did it instead of Hugh who had another commitment (surprise!).

Updated On: 7/31/07 at 08:57 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 9:02pm

Will Broadway ever get a revival of this wonderful show? Geez! Hoff will be great, if this ever happens. We need Donna Murphy!

[Smaxie]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 9:06pm

We need Donna Murphy to do what? Sing it flat?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/31/07 at 10:29pm

I disagree. Murphy had played Vera before in Boston, she played the role in the workshops when the Weisslers were behind the revival, and I believe she's probably one of the Broadway actresses that is most right for the role. Specially now that she is old enough to play it (I don't think she was old enough back when she did it in Boston).
I think Murphy's "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" and "What Is a Man?" would be worthy the price of admission. I don't know much about music (I probably couldn't tell a flat note from one that isn't) but I do know about acting and I think Murphy's Vera--and her songs--would be beautifully acted.

[Plum]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 12:23am

Lots of Broadway actors have fans. Jackman is one of very, very few people who can sell to more than a hard-core group of Broadway junkies, which is why I find it a bit hard to believe any producer wouldn't want him. That said, I fall firmly into the "junkie" category, so I'd probably watch a Pal Joey revival with just about any decent lead.

[popular_elphie]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 12:33am

Christian Hoff isn't going to sell a single ticket.
I would buy a ticket solely for the fact Christian would be in the production. And I'd bring my family. That's three tickets right there :).

LizzieCurry, love your fun facts!

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 9:42am

Seems it may be back on... If Roundabout saves it, they'll do it at Studio 54 in the spring, according to playbill.

Playbill Article

Updated On: 8/1/07 at 09:42 AM

[jo]

Posted: 8/1/07 at 10:08pm

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08012007/entertainment/thea...del.htm?page=2


"...LOOK for the Roundabout Theater to save the Broadway revival of "Pal Joey," which earlier this week looked dead.

Sources say the non-profit company is trying to pin down the rights to present the show in the spring at Studio 54.

Tony winner Christian Hoff, who plays Tommy DeVito in "Jersey Boys," and Stockard Channing were going to star in the production, under Joe Mantello's direction.

"Pal Joey" was scheduled to open in the spring, but producer Marc Platt ("Wicked") said Monday that, for personal reasons, he wouldn't be able to do the show.

Platt, who's based in Los Angeles, had been looking for a co-producer to run the show for him in New York, but there were no takers.

One person who was approached said: "You can't do the show without a star. Christian Hoff is a nice actor, but he's not going to sell any tickets."

Richard Greenberg, who's rewritten the script, was said to be extremely ticked off, since he's been slaving away on "Pal Joey" for a couple of years.

The original script was by John O'Hara, who was battling the bottle at the time and disappeared during the out-of-town tryout.

Greenberg was said to be a little calmer yesterday, now that it looks as if the Roundabout is going to save the day.

But I'm not sure he and Platt will be hanging out at Bar Centrale anytime soon.

Says Platt: "I know Richard was disappointed, and he should be. He's done a lovely job on the book, and I feel bad on a personal and professional level that I was unable to put the show together."

The price is likely to be some "enhancement" money from Platt for the Roundabout production.

"If the Roundabout does the show, I welcome that, and I will do whatever is asked of me to help them make it happen," the producer says.

[e-mail] "

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/2/07 at 12:18am

What a great season to subscribe to Roundabout! I really hope they go ahead with this.