Steve Schalchlin and Jim Brochu Leaving THE BIG VOICE on 3/11

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 2:47pm

Stars and creators of the hit Off-Broadway musical, The Big Voice: God or Merman?, Steve Schalchlin and Jim Brochu will be leaving the show on March 11, 2007. The shows replacements start on March 18, 2007 and are yet to be announced.

Go see the show before they leave! It's fantastic. It's still hard to beleie they are leaving. It's like Jay Johnson leaing Jay Johnson: The Two and Only!.

Link coming soon. I just submited the news.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 2:54pm

Hmmm. Unless it's Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, I don't see this show lasting.

Personally, I don't believe it stands on its own. A major building block of the success and interest is that it's being performed by the people who experienced it.

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 2:54pm

WHAT?! I thought this was a self-written, semi-autobiographical show?! I am confused...

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 2:57pm

Exactly my thoughts Rath.

I'm still not sure if it's only for a limited time and then they're coming back, or it's final. I know that Jim will be performing hs play Zero Hour in Houston in late April. So maybe they are just leaving for that. Steve didn't go into details when I asked him.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 3:25pm

I guess I'll play devil's advocate here...

TBV has broken a LOT of new ground, aside from being the first show to play at the Actors Temple. I don't think there's ever been an autobiographical show created and starring the two partners of the marriage the show is about, and certainly not singing their own original songs.

However, I don't think that prohibits other people from being able to do the show. While the fact that Jimmy and Steve are starring in the show at this point certainly has its benefits and charms, the strength and longevity of the show really depend upon other actors. And there are TONS of talented ones in New York, who are going to come in with their own ideas and interpretations.

We'll see. I'm excited for the possibilities.

ETA: Jim is doing Zero Hour in repretory with I Am My Own Wife at STAGES in Houston from April 18 - May 13.
Updated On: 2/27/07 at 03:25 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 3:33pm

Jim is an extremely talented guy with stage presence to spare.

However, I found the show long and tedious at points, and it's not going to be helped when you have "actors" onstage, not the original writers.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 3:38pm

FWIW (and I work at the theatre, so this is how I know this), most people who come to see the show have no idea that it's autobiographical, let alone that Jim and Steve are actually... Jim and Steve. And they're usually shocked when they find out.

While the show will certainly change for those of us who KNOW them, for the "average" audience person, it shouldn't make a difference.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 3:41pm

Well, I knew from reading the program. It's not like you have to do a research project - aren't people interested in what they're about to see?

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 3:43pm

You're overestimating people, Rath.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 3:45pm

LOL!

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 3:47pm

Either way, should at least be worth checking out. I'm interested to see how believable the new Jim is in the scenes "with" Ethel Merman.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 3:48pm

I'll definitely be curious to see who they cast.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 3:51pm

Rath, your sig line makes me want to see Anderson Cooper as Steve. Any chance he plays piano?

[steveshack]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 4:10pm

Just a little note here -- and I don't mind at all the criticisms of the show, btw. You'd be surprised how many people I've met -- experienced theatergoers -- who PURPOSELY do not read the program ahead of time. They don't want to know anything about it until the lights go down, so that the piece completely speaks for itself. So, it's mistaken to assume that people who don't read the program are doing so because they're ignorant or negligent. I'm kind of the same way. I don't want the program telling me about the show. I want the show to tell me about the show. I read the program after I get home.

I'm personally very excited to see the show performed by great New York actors. They will bring things to it that we, frankly, do not, or cannot bring. While I think us doing it probably lends a little authenticity in the moment, there's nothing unusual about actors playing real life people on a stage. In fact, that's what they do anytime they get on a stage to perform a piece taken from real life. The only difference here is that we, being performers, opened the show ourselves.

Samuel French has licensed the musical for stock and amateur, so they obviously saw the piece as a musical that can stand independent of the authors. I don't see it as being that different from The Last Session, our first musical which was also based upon real people. The only difference was that the situation was fictional and we used different names.

I think audiences who come to the piece "new" will just accept what they see. I also know New York has the best actors in the world.
Bonus Round blog

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 4:10pm

Hi Steve. Thanks for weighing in!

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 4:13pm

Oh, I never thought of it that way.... I guess I'm too much of a spoiler queen to NOT read about a show beforehand, :)

Posted: 2/27/07 at 4:16pm

raithnet obviously has too much time to spare

[steveshack]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 4:17pm

Hi Rathnait. BTW, we've done some very strategic cuts of the play during its run. We also felt it ran just a tad long. Also, I think if it got "boring" in places, it was more because of my bad acting than anything else. :) I can't WAIT to see a really GOOD actor playing my role.

I also don't think us being in it added that much box office value, given the fact that Jim and I aren't that famous. Insider theater audiences, like those who read these boards, might know our names (kinda), but the general public doesn't. I don't think our names really sold that many tickets. People come to see a show because of a friend of theirs saw it and told them to go.
My personal blog

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 4:19pm

Steve, my point was more that it was the two of you sharing your own experiences that is a big part of the show itself.

Posted: 2/27/07 at 4:25pm

i never read the program beforehand (or reviews, if i can help it)...i like to see the show fresh & then savor the program notes afterwards.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 4:50pm

Hey Steve, any word yet on who is replacing you guys? And you are not a bad actor. You are VERY good!

Miss ya!

[steveshack]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 5:08pm

> Steve, my point was more that it was the two of you sharing your own experiences that is a big part of the show itself.

I totally get that. I really do. But, again, the larger issue mentioned above was that only Nathan and Matthew could keep it open, as if having us on the stage sells that many tickets. I'm not sure, at this point, whether it does or not. I think the show stands on its own. Most of the incredible reviews we're garnered have been mostly about the writing and the story.

So, we'll see.
My personal blog

[Cyndy]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 5:30pm

I'm feeling very lucky to have gotten back to NYC to see the show last month. Steve and Jim will be missed. Do try to see the show before they leave. HOWEVER...I do feel the show will stand on it's own. There's just too much in the story itself that people can personally relate to and/or be touched by.

2 Pianos,4 Hands is another show in the same style...two peoples story, told by the two people who lived it. I saw it after the two writers had left the show...and I'm also one who usually does not read the program until after the show...and I would have sworn the the two on stage were the writers...they weren't.

I would love to see Jim and Steve bring the show out here to the west coast. Please, oh please? But, whatever your next adventures, good luck and warm fuzzies to you both.

[steveshack]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 5:35pm

We've just had offers to do the show in Tucson, Arizona and San Francisco. So, keep an eye on my blog for updated information.
My personal blog

[Cyndy]

Posted: 2/27/07 at 5:47pm

"We've just had offers to do the show in Tucson, Arizona and San Francisco. So, keep an eye on my blog for updated information."