SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 9:11pm

This is the thread to note changes that the creative team should make between London and Broadway (assuming Sister Act will make it to Broadway).

My suggestions are:

1) Reinstitute the song Mirror Ball (from the regional LA production) as the final song. It was the strongest songs in the score and was replaced in London.

2) Sets need to be brought up to Broadway mega-musical standards. The London sets are cheap and cheesy looking. (Note to producers- go see Nine to Five to see what sets should look like for a major show!)

3) Choreography needs to be punched up. Van Laast should be replaced with someone like Rob Ashford or Jerry Mitchell that knows what Broadway choreography is about and can also serve as show doctor to punch up some of the staging.

4) Some of the clunky dialogue (lines such as "They had are bulges in their pockets but I doubt they were happy to see me" by the mother superior need to be replaced. If I were the producer, I'd get a book doctor to replace much of the dialogue. Carrie Fisher, for instance, could really work wonders with the book.

5)While Patina Miller deservedly will get the role on Broadway, it will be key to find someone to play Mother Superior who can match Patina's star-in-the-making wattage.

Seeing the Nine to Five grosses should once again remind producers that very few shows are "critic-proof". There should be a lot of work done before the show is ready for Broadway. Alison Janney perhaps ?

[TheatreDork2]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 9:15pm

Elaine Stritch for Mother Superior!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 9:16pm

When did Carrie Fisher doctor a book?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 9:18pm

I think the whole thing should be re-cast, save for the electrifying and star-to-be Patina Miller who is BRILLIANT in the cast recording. What a talent! I'm dying to see her Deloris live.
Also, I could do without a couple songs like "Bless Our Show."
I haven't seen the actual production so I'm not sure what the design aspects are like or about the choreography.
I agree that a name as Mother Superior would be wonderful, not a Hollywood name, but an actress that is recognizable to theater goers and as you point out, BroadwayBaby, someone that can be a real match for Patina Miller, who seriously has enough star power to illuminate a whole theatre.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 9:27pm

I can assure you that there won't be many dramatic changes to the score, especially now that it's been recorded.

There has already been extensive work done to the music between Pasadena/Atlanta and London, and the fact that this roster of material remained in tact all through previews in the West End is a telling sign.

I'm especially surprised to see you suggest re-instating "Mirror Ball," BroadwayBaby6. While the tune was catchy, I thought the lyrics (and the concept of comparing God to a disco ball) were incredibly trite. "Spread The Love Around" may be a bit more broad, but I think it works much better within the context of the show.

While you shouldn't expect to see many major creative team members replaced, there almost certainly will be either a new director or a major uncredited show doctor as Peter Schneider (while still given billing) was virtually let go at the end of tech. Carline Brouwer was credited as the "Associate Director," but she took the reigns of the full production once previews began.

And ray, since the rest of the cast is completely made up of British performers, Miller will be the only one to make the move to New York.

Someone like Blythe Danner would be a great choice for the Mother Superior.

Updated On: 7/26/09 at 09:27 PM

[TheatreDork2]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 9:31pm

I hope they rework the logo, it is UGLY. For my iTunes I just made my own CD cover from the old logo.



Yes, Patina will probably the only one who can even consider a transfer.


Trailer

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 9:39pm

Somethingwicked, Equity seems to be allowing everyone and their mother to come from the West End so I was just a bit worried about them wanting to bring in the London cast. By the way, I think I peed in my pants a little picturing the idea of Blythe Danner as the Mother Superior. Her and Patina going head to head... theater orgasm.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 9:40pm

I haven't seen the show, but "I Could Be That Guy" stinks up the whole cast album. I'd either cut it or maybe have Alan Menken come up with a new song for that moment. Also, I can totally see Angela Lansbury playing Mother Superior. I think "Here Within These Walls" would fit her voice perfectly.
Updated On: 7/21/09 at 09:40 PM

[StageManager2]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 9:44pm

Ditch the entire new score and use the songs from the movie (including "Hail Holy Queen") and possibly add more Motown hits -- a sort of SISTER ACT jukebox musical. That's what was endearing about the original movie, anyway.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 9:44pm

Does anyone have the CD already and is willing to trade.

[gvendo2005]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 9:52pm

@ SM2: Thanks for sharing the opinion. Motown is what made it work, and Berry Gordy's potential jukebox musical (working title of Ain't No Mountain High Enough) is about as likely to appear on Broadway as a snowball in Hell, so I'm casting my vote for reinstating the Motown score as well. And maybe throw in some of the adaptations of music from Sister Act 2 as well, such as "Ball of Confusion," the opening medley, "Joyful Joyful," "Oh Happy Day," etc.

[TheatreDork2]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 9:56pm

The Set

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 9:58pm

I'm actually really glad that an original score was written instead of the obvious idea of a jukebox musical trying to incorporate the crap Marc Shaiman contributed for the film.
Updated On: 7/21/09 at 09:58 PM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 10:04pm

somethingwicked-
Equity does allow people to transfer, there just has to be a solid reason for it. If they want Sheila Hancock and Patina Miller to come over, they will. The fact that Miller is coming over and IS American can forgive that Hancock is not a member of AEA.

It's not like the situation with Hannah Waddingham and Night Music, where she wasn't considered until after Brantley reviewed her.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 10:05pm

BroadwayBaby6 im sorry but have you been drinking?

The set for London is Fantastic and moves beautifuly and does the job well for what the show is. Its funny that you mention 9 to 5, the sets for that show whilst inventive at the begining (when the office 1st appears) the rest are clunky and distracting (hence its snub at the Tony awards)

Mirror Ball was Dire, the lyrics awful the tune was sound a like of so many others.

The staging for the show was very good, and whilst Choreography was nothing ground breaking it again served its purpose

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 10:06pm

husk_charmer, I was referring to the fact that the entire cast won't transfer.

They cast Hancock because she is a "name" to British audiences. You can bet they'll want someone similarly recognizable in America for the Broadway transfer.

Those suggesting the "entire score" be replaced with the music from the movie clearly haven't heard any of the new material yet. It's easily Menken's best work in years.

Updated On: 7/21/09 at 10:06 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 10:10pm

I entirely agree with somethingwicked. I mean, I do think it would have been nice to get the original numbers, but I'm really over wanting them after listening to the new catchy and fun score. It works so well for the material.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 10:12pm

CATSNYrevival, what's your beef with Marc Shaiman? You never pass up a chance to diss him -- or HAIRSPRAY.

That said, I can't imagine SISTER ACT without "Hail Holy Queen," and I love Shaiman's arrangement in the movie:
Mater ad mater inter marata

Updated On: 7/21/09 at 10:12 PM

[nealb1]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 10:32pm

I always find these threads rather interesting, when people feel the need to let it be known, that they know what's best for a show, just because they've seen it.

Will be in London next month and have a ticket to see the show, and I'm really looking forward to it.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 11:39pm

Since Brantley already talked about how he didn't like the show in London, the show will need fixing before Broadway.

As for the cast, it is 99.99% doubtful that any of the cast will transfer with the exception of the AMAZING Patina Miller (who is a US citizn anyway). I hope Peter Schneider considers re-hiring Dan Domenech to play Dinero (he was hilarious in the Pasadena production and he's a wonderful singer/dancer).

As for Blythe Danner as Mother Superior, she is NOT a singer (remember the misbegotten Follies revival?).

I'm not saying that I personally have the magic formula to make this a critical hit in New York but I definitely believe that the show needs some serious work in order to succeed on Broadway.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 11:41pm

Sheila Hancock isn't a singer either.

I think Danner could pull it off.

[TheatreDork2]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 11:47pm

Since Brantley already talked about how he didn't like the show in London, the show will need fixing before Broadway.

Lordy, lordy. Brantley didn't like it? Who cares? He isn't the only critic in NY.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 11:55pm

Brantley hated it. When Brantley hates a show, it's almost a given that the majority of other New York critics will at least dislike it. Many of the critics here have similar opinions.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 11:55pm

Double post.

Updated On: 7/21/09 at 11:55 PM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/21/09 at 11:59pm

I think it's hilarious how heavily people are weighting Brantley's miniscule little "review," which was much more dismissive than it was venemous (I believe he called it "red hot family-entertainment," which is a pull quote if ever there was one.)

Updated On: 7/22/09 at 11:59 PM