Seesaw...My new favorite musical.- Page 3
Seesaw...My new favorite musical.
Broadway Star Joined: 3/5/04
Seesaw #50
Posted: 3/13/16 at 5:33pm
I saw the original 3x-once with Patti Karr, who was Michelle Lee's standby. Really liked it....and I remember being mezmerized watching a girl in the chorus-the goddess Anita Morris,in the My City number. She was sex on a stick.
Seesaw #51
Posted: 3/14/16 at 5:39am
Mr Roxy said: "Many shows are dated but that does not stopped them from being revived. Sorry you did not enjoy it as most of the posters here did. Everyone has different opinions about shows.
"
I too love the recording and had it memorized back in the 1970s.
But in addition to its structural problems, SEESAW hasn't been revived because the idea of a Protestant dating a Jew is no longer a novelty to us. It's the same reason we don't see major revivals of its source, TWO FOR THE SEESAW, or one of the longest running Broadway plays of all time, ABIE'S IRISH ROSE. (The latter is Catholic/Jew, but t's the same basic conflict.)
Seesaw #52
Posted: 3/14/16 at 5:43am
sondheimboy2 said: "Actually, "It's Not Where You Start" was a song for a musical about FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt that Cy and Dorothy had worked on earlier.
It was to be sung by Eleanor and, I'm not sure, Harold L. Ickles or some famous friend of FDR's, to FDR to cheer him up after he's been struck down by polio and encourage him to get out of bed and go out and get re-elected.
"
sondheimboy2, that may be the funniest thing I have ever read here, and I don't doubt for a moment your account is correct. Even the greatest writers get some strange ideas for songs.
Seesaw #53
Posted: 3/14/16 at 7:33am
I love it when these really old threads come back. Every time, I am reminded of posters who are no longer around- there have been some great minds on here.
Is there still a role Lainie Kazan would consider performing on Broadway?
Seesaw #54
Posted: 3/14/16 at 8:46am
GavestonPS said: "Mr Roxy said: "Many shows are dated but that does not stopped them from being revived. Sorry you did not enjoy it as most of the posters here did. Everyone has different opinions about shows.
"
I too love the recording and had it memorized back in the 1970s.
But in addition to its structural problems, SEESAW hasn't been revived because the idea of a Protestant dating a Jew is no longer a novelty to us. It's the same reason we don't see major revivals of its source, TWO FOR THE SEESAW, or one of the longest running Broadway plays of all time, ABIE'S IRISH ROSE. (The latter is Catholic/Jew, but t's the same basic conflict.)
"
You are right, there are many dated elements in this show that would have to be modified for a revival. Having a gay character isn't a novelty anymore either (seesaw was the 2nd Broadway play to have a gay character on stage)
There's a scene where Gittel is asking Jerry if he knows what gay means, and his response is "happy?". Very sweet and innocent for the 70's but not going to work in a revival. And I'm not even sure how well the ulcers part worked back then...
These days Gittel would probably be gluten intolerant, and instead of a Japanese restaurant would take Jerry to that new trendy gluten-free vegan restaurant. David could be a transgender who just had a sex change operation. And I'm not even sure how to approach all these payphone scenes..?
Seesaw #55
Posted: 3/14/16 at 8:49am
CarlosAlberto said: "
It is really nice to know that despite all the back stage drama that went on during production of SEESAW that Lainie Kazan and Michele Lee are still friends.
"
They didn't speak for 30+ years. Here's how they made up:
http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/11-2000/michele-ma-belle_1095.html
Seesaw #56
Posted: 3/14/16 at 9:51am
Nor sure if this has been seen before, but I just posted Tommy Tune and company in "It's Not Where You Start" from a 1973 telethon. Enjoy----
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3tz5gB4y92P9uZINFuX7_g/videos?view_as=public
Seesaw #57
Posted: 3/14/16 at 10:34am
justme3 said:
"They didn't speak for 30+ years. Here's how they made up:
http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/11-2000/michele-ma-belle_1095.html
That's great justme3, forgiveness is a great thing. Thanks for sharing!
Seesaw #58
Posted: 3/14/16 at 12:04pm
cliffordbradshaw2 said: "Nor sure if this has been seen before, but I just posted Tommy Tune and company in "It's Not Where You Start" from a 1973 telethon. Enjoy----
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3tz5gB4y92P9uZINFuX7_g/videos?view_as=public
"
Thank you!!!! My much missed Grandma used to talk about tune doing the "balloon number" on TV--I of course knew from photos that it was from Seesaw but gave up hope of ever tracking it down.
Seesaw #59
Posted: 3/14/16 at 4:25pm
Thank You So Much for that Clifford. I have always wanted to see that number done by Tommy Tune.
Seesaw #60
Posted: 3/14/16 at 4:43pm
Saw the national tour in Boston with Lucie Arnaz, John Gavin and Tommy Tune. It was so successful here, it returned at the end of the tour for another sell out engagement. Had the added thrill of having Lucille Ball sit directly in front of me. She'd flown to Boston to see Lucie perform on the first stop of the tour.
Seesaw #61
Posted: 3/14/16 at 11:04pm
I too love Michele Lee's belt and her performance on the OBC recording, but readers shouldn't assume Lainie Kazan was any slouch in the vocal department. I saw Miss Kazan in concert about 10 years ago (she was in her 60s by then) and it was one of the best performances by a vocalist I have ever seen.
Maybe Bennett WAS just bothered by her weight, but who knows? Directors get an odd idea in their heads (see Hal Prince on HELLO, DOLLY! or on Liza Minnelli in CABARET) and nothing can shake it.
Seesaw #62
Posted: 3/15/16 at 4:00am
cliffordbradshaw2 said: "Nor sure if this has been seen before, but I just posted Tommy Tune and company in "It's Not Where You Start" from a 1973 telethon. Enjoy----
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3tz5gB4y92P9uZINFuX7_g/videos?view_as=public
"
Wow, great video!!! Thanks for sharing!
I always wanted to see this scene. I had a version of this from "Broadway at the Bowl" but this is way better!
were you the one that posted a year ago a clip of Michele Lee singing the seesaw finale on one of the STAGE benefits ?
Seesaw #63
Posted: 3/15/16 at 4:03am
GavestonPS said: "I too love Michele Lee's belt and her performance on the OBC recording, but readers shouldn't assume Lainie Kazan was any slouch in the vocal department. I saw Miss Kazan in concert about 10 years ago (she was in her 60s by then) and it was one of the best performances by a vocalist I have ever seen.
Maybe Bennett WAS just bothered by her weight, but who knows? Directors get an odd idea in their heads (see Hal Prince on HELLO, DOLLY! or on Liza Minnelli in CABARET) and nothing can shake it.
"
Lainie Kazan was a great singer on Seesaw, but acting-wise she wasn't a "Gittel". Michele lee was just perfect for this role.
I tried to send you a PM, did you get it?
Seesaw #64
Posted: 3/15/16 at 10:56am
Thank you, thank you thank you for posting "It's Not Where You Start"!
Seesaw #65
Posted: 3/15/16 at 12:50pm
I have always wanted to see that number! So charming! Is that Baayork as that little peanut on pointe? So great.
Seesaw #66
Posted: 3/15/16 at 1:38pm
Eric, Marc, justme, Joey, SingDance---
Very glad you enjoyed "It's Not Where You Start." Thanks for watching. More to come.
Seesaw #67
Posted: 3/15/16 at 5:04pm
Odd to look back on the old posts in this thread (which don't feel as old as 2008 to me--for some reason my comments come up with no screen name--spooky). It was said then but it should be said again--why hasn't Encores done this? It truly is, IMHO, exactly the kind of show that is tailor made for them--lots of good music, enough theatre community nostalgia for it, opportunities for star turns, and yet a show that for a variety of reasons isn't really viable to actually get a Broadway revival.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
Seesaw #68
Posted: 3/15/16 at 5:16pm
If Encores did it, who would do the Tommy Tune part . It would be a bitch to cast.
Seesaw #69
Posted: 3/15/16 at 5:21pm
I'm quite surprised that City Centers Encores! has not done this one yet.
Hopefully someone at City Centers Encores lurks on the boards and actually takes it into consideration.
Seesaw #70
Posted: 3/15/16 at 5:39pm
Mr Roxy said: "If Encores did it, who would do them Tommy Tune part . It would be a birch to cast."
Could Gavin Lee have a crack at it?
Seesaw #72
Posted: 3/15/16 at 6:24pm
What if Tune himself reprised the role?
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
Seesaw #73
Posted: 3/15/16 at 6:52pm
He is a bit long in the tooth for a young choreographer. Doubt he could physically do it anymore. He needs to bring a musical in.
Broadway Star Joined: 3/5/04
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