SCOTT ELLIS (Roundabout Interim Artistic Director) First Big Show

Scott is going to  a full-scale production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance

In 2022 they did a one night fund-raiser with Ramin Karimloo, Lilli Cooper, David Hyde Pierce!

 

 

OhHiii said: "Yawn. "Full scale" musical productions at Roundabout still always have a cheapness. And sorry, is anyone clamoring for a straightforward revival of this?"

While Roundabout definitely has had it's fair share of cheap musical revivals (and just production in general), I would argue that their past musical revival productions of Anything Goes, On The Twentieth Century, and She Loves Me were all pretty solid.

Oh look, another thread from someone who frequently posts falsehoods and unsubstantiated rumors.

 

Broadway Flash said: "Why doesn't Roundabout do new musicals? its always musical revivals and new plays with them. Wouldn't new musicals bring in the most money and excitement?"

That was a Todd thing. I think he got scared of new works on Broadway. It's been pretty rare that they lead-produce new plays on Broadway, too (though increasingly common in the past few years). The only musical they have ever produced on Broadway with an original score was PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE.

New musicals are risky and they also can take a long time to develop, but IF they hit there can be a massive upside and they can generate income for a long time.

I hope whoever the new leader is embraces new work. That should be the function of a nonprofit: take the risks that commercial producers can't afford. Same with LCT.

 

wasn't Kiss me Kate a roundabout revival too?

I just watched the film of " Are you there God, It's me Margaret" which says it is 1970 when it opens.  There is a scene where Kathy Bates as the grandmother takes Margaret to a production of Pirates at the Delacorte in Central Park.

According to Wikipedia though, the production at the Delacorte was actually in 1980.

I realize this has almost no significance to the thread, but interesting that in 1980 a production of Pirates was a hit in New York. 

Do we know if they'll be doing this at the American Airlines / Todd Haimes or Studio 54?

"I just watched the film of " Are you there God, It's me Margaret" which says it is 1970 when it opens.  There is a scene where Kathy Bates as the grandmother takes Margaret to a production of Pirates at the Delacorte in Central Park."

I actually worked on "Are You There God? It's Me Margaret"-- our version of the "Pirates" production in Central Park came about chiefly because the writer/director Kelly Fremon Craig was in love with the patter song of the Major General for that moment in the story between Margaret and Grandma Sylvia. I myself was at that 1980 revival of "Pirates" in Central Park, so we took great pains to avoid mimicking those set designs for our show. We did match the circa-1970 look of the Delacorte Theater itself pretty accurately, but the movie WAS guilty of a few errors in that scene. For one thing, Grandma Sylvia PAID for her tickets! (We all know Delacorte shows are free.) Also, this scene takes place in early October-- at least a month too late for Central Park shows. Despite this, I hope the scene rang true for you in the context of the movie.

Updated On: 11/5/23 at 09:59 PM