While Sinatra certainly had more drama in his life compared to, say, Neil Diamond, I wonder how many of his edges will have to be sanded down to get the approval of the estate.
KevinKlawitter said: "While Sinatra certainly had more drama in his life compared to, say, Neil Diamond, I wonder how many of his edges will have to be sanded down to get the approval of the estate."
HA! Who are we kidding? I’ll put $500 on this being just as sanitized as Chaplin was (a show I loved for the score and Rob McClure alone). It’ll be framed so that we focus on his struggles and obstacles, none of the same that he created for others.
The music label and his estate are jumping on the bandwagon of jukebox musicals. It’s as simple as that.
I’m sure Joe DiPietro has done a lot of projects that I’m not aware of, but FWIW, in the 12-or-so years that I’ve known his name I haven’t heard of a single project he’s worked on that was actually good. It’s baffling to me that even his friends would continue to hire him.
"I’m sure Joe DiPietro has done a lot of projects that I’m not aware of, but FWIW, in the 12-or-so years that I’ve known his name I haven’t heard of a single project he’s worked on that was actually good. It’s baffling to me that even his friends would continue to hire him. "
He is living off his one success which is "Memphis". Show won the Tony award for "Best Musical" and did recoup its investment.
I wish Broadway producers would finally understand that not every pop star that has been a huge success needs a musical done about their life. The generation that loved Sinatra are no longer alive and I don't see the audience for this show. As others have posted, the seedy part of his life will be ignored so at best this will be another bland jukebox musical.
I wonder how cleaned up it’ll be; Sinatra’s estate profits off the myth of the man, and Sinatra’s myth (like the Four Seasons) trades on his neuroses, his hot temper, his love of rubbing shoulders with the criminal element.
Are we going to see him sexually assault Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland? I’m betting on “no,” but those are also so up-in-the-air that his definitive biographer isn’t entirely sure whether they happened or not. But I’d be shocked if we don’t see at least SOME mob stuff.
Matt Doyle posted a couple short clips to his Instagram story yesterday of him singing “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “I’ve Got The World On A String” at what looked like their sitzprobe, and he sounded wonderful. He sounds enough like Sinatra to suit the style; but Doyle himself has a much cleaner, brighter tone to his voice. He sounds a lot different from anything he’s performed before, so I would be curious to see this, if only to hear him interpret those songs.
I’ll reserve judgement till I see it but I can’t say I'm sold on this from the sitzprobe clips. And I do worry about how sanded down the story will be. He had a fascinating life story and was a severely complicated man. There’s a reason why Scorsese and others have dropped their plans for biopics, because the estates would not allow them to be Frank enough.
ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Anyone seen this in early previews?
I’ll reserve judgement till I see it but I can’t say I'm sold on this from the sitzprobe clips. And I do worry about how sanded down the story will be. He had a fascinating life story and was a severely complicated man. There’s a reason why Scorsese and others have dropped their plans for biopics, because the estates would not allow them to be Frank enough."
His daughter is heavily involved in the production so it will be just an hagiography of the man
Two reviews by audience members on theatreboard. Raves for Doyle as Sinatra. Not for the show. They say the show is a bit dull - too snippets of songs - not a lot of conflict or drama. In other words, a standard bio-musical by people who have an interest in presenting a positive characterization. It doesn't sound like there is any specail staging. Sounds like the joke about Jersey Boys: "We did a song. it was a hit and we wuz happy. Then we did another song and it wasn't a hit and we wuz sad. Then we did another song and it was a hit. [repeat]"
I love me some Matt Doyle, but the subject matter and biomusicals do nothing for me.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "But this also feels like something that could bypass Broadway and make a killing. They could get 100 touring weeks out of it and then license it."
Sinatramania!
Like Beatlemania, basically an homage concert experience. It could alternate with A Beautiful Noise on tour.
"I implore people to stop making cradle to grave bio musicals/biopics. Stick to a single event or period in someone’s life and go deeper."
Very good point. An example would be the West End musical many years ago "Backbeat". It told the story of how the Beatles became the Beatles. A major part of the story was about a guy (Stuart Sutcliffe) who was originally in the band but quit and tragically died before they became incredibly famous. The music in the show is mostly 50's cover songs and not all Beatle music. I thought at one time this show was talked about going on Broadway, don't remember what happened.