Show Doctors...bad medicine?

[RyanB83]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 10:00am

I was intrigued by Patrick Healy's recent NY times article on this subject...so Today on the Crazytown Blog I discuss the wisdom of hiring a show-doctor to fix a problem show.

Composer Ryan Scott Oliver weighs in with his two cents as well!

http://www.crazytownblog.com/crazytown/2011/04/broadway-shows-need-a-nutritionist-not-a-doctor.html

[Broadway Doctor]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 10:15am

Maybe they just haven't found the right show doctor.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 11:03am

Here's the thing- even now, I would wager most shows that get doctored don't announce it. Sure, the shows mentioned are certainly mentioned- but the majority of those shows were troubled to start with, so the announcement that a well-regarded veteran was stepping in would actually bolster confidence in the public or among potential investors or whatever. Who knows how many successful shows currently on Broadway actually received some fixing up from unnamed people?

I think show doctoring is certainly necessarily sometimes, and is part of the collaborative process. Directors or writers aren't perfect and sometimes another voice saying "Scene 4 doesn't work" is needed.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 11:38am

I think the case for doctoring in the modern theatrical world has been re-proven by Sister Act. I was so incredibly encouraged by the quality of the revamped version.

[Patti4President]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 11:39am

From the two shows I've worked on with script doctors, I can tell you that a lot of their success depends on the climate they are walking in to. The first show, which will remain unnamed, had a rather positive interaction. The original writer was open to the ideas, and "constructive" criticism of the script doctor. The composer/librettist was open to songs being moved and restructured (even a few lyric changes). The producers were supportive of the changes. It was truly a team effort where they embraced the new team member.

I was a P.A. on one of the shows mentioned in the Times and can tell you that an open and supportive environment was not at all happening in our theatre. The only people who seemed to be behind the script doctor were the producers. Even some of the cast acted like a**holes to the script doctor. Needless to say, the changes weren't nearly as significant (and ultimately helpful) as they could have been within a supportive environment.

[RyanB83]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 1:38pm

I think Sister Act made the right call by actually hiring Jerry Zaks as the new director instead of just bringing him on as a consultant. It also seems from the Times article that the original bookwriter(s) were supportive of Douglas Carter Beane's input.

As far as the writers/directors needing an outside perspective...I think the show doctor issue is another example of Producers outsourcing responsibilities they once took on themselves due to a lack of knowledge, time or both. Ideally that outside perspective should come from a very active creative Producer in my book.

There's also plenty of unofficial doctoring going on. Usually in the form of Directors and Producers inviting their smart producer, writer and director friends to see run throughs and give their opinions privately.
Updated On: 4/28/11 at 01:38 PM