SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway- Page 2
SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#25re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 12:04am
somethingwicked-
Hancock is most certainly a singer! She was fantastic as Mrs. Lovett in "Sweeney Todd" and as Hannigan in "Annie." And honestly, she sounds fantastic on the recording.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#26re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 12:06amI think Hancock sounds fantastic too, but that material is certainly nothing a "non-singer" couldn't pull off, especially someone like Danner who's already done musicals.
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.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#27re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 12:12amAfter the "Sweeney Todd" film, I don't buy giving an actress singing credibility because she can brilliantly do Mrs. Lovett.
-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
#28re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 3:11am
I'm not interested in seeing Hancock reprise her role on Broadway, she got to record it, let her do it in London. Seriously, the idea of Blythe Danner AND Patina Miller in the role is fascinating to me. Will it happen? Doubtful, I'm still healing from the Kate Winslet excitement on a certain other thread, but it'd be wonderful to see a Broadway star play this role. I don't ask for much, even someone like Mary Beth Piel would be fine with me.
I don't think Brantley's review is that big of a deal, however, I do think he was very unfair in his "review" of the show as I think the score is fantastic and Patina Miller deserved a love letter like the kind he likes giving to Kristin Chenoweth.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#29re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 4:42am
THE SETS ARW FANTASTIC. Did you see the change of scenery from the backstage to the dressing room? It was done in like 3 seconds!
Wouuld anyon else like to see Carole Shelley as Superior
''With the number of people I ignore, I'm lucky I work at all in this town'' - Helena Bonham Carter
#30re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 7:14am
I Agree, the sets are truely fantastic, and probably the best on the West End right now (along with Priscilla's Bus!).
It's just one of them feel good nights at the theatre that we all love! Hardly the most moving show in the world but who cares, its one of the most fun nights at the theatre I have EVER had.
#31re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 10:40amHoW would Bernadette be as Mother Superior?
#32re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 11:09am
I can guarantee you that there won't be any changes to the score, especially now that it's been recorded.
Recordings do not halt changes to scores, especially when a show transfers. Virtually every Boublil/Schoenberg score changed post-recording. Lloyd Webber and Sondheim have done the same. Even Menken added a new song to Beauty and the Beast long after the original Broadway and London cast recordings had been created.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#33re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 12:03pmI been telling my friends since this was in the talks that Carole Shelley had to be Mother Superior. And I think the sets are awesome. I'm loving the turntable stuff!
"i had no idea billy elliot was about one boy's triumph over epilepsy."-FindingNamo
#34re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 12:13pm
Oh god what are you talking about?! The sets for this show is fantastic! It worked very smoothly/slickly for the running of the show. The cast in London right now is amazing! I personally loved Sheila Hancock as Mother Superior. She's not a singer but there's something about her talking voice trying to sing leaves something to be desired for me. She played an amazing original London Mrs. Lovett so... why don't we have the original original Angela Lansbury to play Mother Superior on Broadway???
The choreography while not THE best, serves the songs well and easily the best I've seen from Anthony Van Laast (Mamma Mia & Joseph are the others I've seen).
I personally think they should have Patina reprise on Broadway! And will love to see either Angela Lansbury/Carole Shelley/Haydn Gwynne as Mother Superior (I'm sorry, Allison Janney is ALL WRONG for the role!); Norm Lewis as Shank; Jenn Gambatese as Mary Robert; Marissa Jaret Winokur as Mary Patrick ~
All That Jazz
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#35re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 12:22pm
Mister Matt is correct. Just because they recorded the score doesn't mean there won't be changes.
Take "13" just last season for example. They made the recording in early previews (or possibly before previews even began, but after TWO out of town try-outs). You would have thought they had settled on a score.
Two recorded songs were cut during previews, but they remained on the recording when it was released. Just because something's recorded doesn't mean it's set in stone.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
#36re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 12:44pmI second Angela Lansbury.
Everything in life...is only for now.
#37re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 12:46pm
When did Carrie Fisher doctor a book?
She's doctored many screenplays but I've never heard of her working on a book for a show.
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.
Weren't they denied the rights to those songs?
"All our dreams can come true -- if we have the courage to pursue them." -- Walt Disney
We must have different Gods. My God said "do to others what you would have them do to you". Your God seems to have said "My Way or the Highway".
#38re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 12:52pmThankfully somethingwicked and husk make intelligent and knowledgeable debate in this thread thus counteracting the emotive ignorance of some other posters, particularly broadwaybaby6 whose posts about Equus still ring in mind as being those of an attention-seeking twat.
TheatreDork2
Leading Actor Joined: 7/21/09
#39re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 12:53pmI wonder what theatre will be able to house that set? That is a pretty big dropping turntable to put under the stage.
#40re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 12:55pm
Carrie Fisher was one of the many people who doctored the script for the film version of Sister Act, which was written by an amalgamation of people and credited under a fake pseudonym.
In terms of the show, I'd like to clarify that I didn't mean changes won't be made simply because the score's been recorded. What I meant was that because so many extensive changes were made between Pasadena/Atlanta and London and no songs were cut throughout previews in the West End, I'd say the odds are good that they feel confident with what they have and won't make any major music alterations for New York.
I was using the recording as supporting evidence to that claim, not the sole derivative.
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.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#41re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 1:32pm
I knew Fisher (among others) had worked on the script for the film, I just didn't see how that qualified her to doctor a book for a stage show that's pretty different. That's like saying "Well, Emma Thompson has written screenplays, so since she can write, let's have her doctor this show's book!"
At least pick someone who, I dunno, has written a stage play (or musical) before to do the doctoring.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#42re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 1:46pm
I don't believe Fisher is qualified to work on the book at all.
I was just pointing out that she was one of the many who worked on the film.
There's actually a terrific piece in The New Yorker about the genesis of the screenplay from when Paul Rudnick originally conceived the idea in the late 1980s.
The New Yorker: Selling Sister Act
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: 7/22/09 at 01:46 PM
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#43re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 1:49pm^ I never said you did, I was still commenting about the OP's idea.
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#44re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 2:29pmWould ayone else like Jackie Hoffman as lazarus?
''With the number of people I ignore, I'm lucky I work at all in this town'' - Helena Bonham Carter
TheatreDork2
Leading Actor Joined: 7/21/09
#45re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 2:30pmEither Jackie or Mary Testa.
#46re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 2:43pmI'd love to see Phyllis Somerville (who was terrific in HAPPINESS at Lincoln Center) as Mary Lazarus.
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.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
americanboy99
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/06
#47re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 2:44pm
I would LOVE to see Testa as Mother Superior.
Get that lady in a strong leading role NOW.
#48re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 4:08pm
"She was fantastic as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd and as Hannigan in Annie."
Anyway, how come you know this Husk - I'm only just old enough to have seen her in both roles (accompanied by my parents) and you're younger than me.
When I saw her in the OLC of Sweeney Todd I was sat on the front row of Drury Lane with my parents and we were the only three people in the first 7 rows. I remember my father counting about 60 people in the whole of the theatre.
Shiela sang By The Sea directly to me and she was totally hilarious "with the fishes splashing" and "the seagulls squawking". But now when I listen to her in that role I hear a terrified London war child in the body of a grown woman, not understanding what is going on around her, running everywhere and nowhere to try and escape from something that is unescapable.
Updated On: 7/22/09 at 04:08 PM
TheatreDork2
Leading Actor Joined: 7/21/09
#49re: SISTER ACT- what changes should be made between London and Broadway
Posted: 7/22/09 at 10:41pmCan I ask why it opened in the West End before Broadway?
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