Story of My Life Logo- Page 2

[philcrosby]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 8:44am

What d folks know about the show? Anyone seen it? We will be in NYC over Valentine's weekend and the Broadway pickings are slim.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 8:58am

As someone that saw the show's first incarnation in Canada (and knows the person it was originally written about), I am really proud of this show making it to Broadway. I do worry about how it will fare on this level with this economy.

I am not a huge fan of the graphics. Its pretty sloppy work (the perspectives on the guys and the books don't quite match up. And it just seems like a mediocre photoshop experiment. Even the font is boring (and things can be both classy and not boring). Oh well, too late to do anything about it now. Best of luck!

Akiva

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 11:09am

Like Link, I also saw the show when it opened in Toronto in November 2006.

The artwork doesn't really tell what the show is about. It's a touching and intimate show with some first rate songs loaded with character detail. It got very strong reviews here (and also apparently at Goodspeed.)

The question of whether it will fly on Broadway is trickier. I suspect the offbeat subject matter and the outstanding songs will win over many of the New York critics, and the casting sounds ideal. (Brent Carver & Jeffrey Kuhn headed the cast here.)

Below are a few excerpts from my review of the Toronto premiere:



Not since RAGTIME opened here 10 years ago has a new musical come along that so thoroughly and entertainingly explores its subject matter. The score offers music that induces all the right moods and lyrics that explore every corner of each character's psychology while remaining fresh yet colloquial. As a result, they are saying "hello" and "goodbye" and your heart is aching.

It could lose maybe 10 minutes through pacing and some minor trimming. The score, though sounding all of the same piece could maybe use a little more variety. On the whole, if you care about musical theatre, you owe it to yourself to see this remarkable show.

***SPOILER WARNING***

The story chronicles a friendship between Thomas and Alvin who meet in grade school and bond over a love of books (and the movie IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.) Alvin is a proverbial outsider, a nerd, the kid always beaten up, always picked last but Thomas offers him friendship when he needs it most. As youths they have their scraps but remain bonded. As teens and young adults they grow apart with heartbreaking consequences.

Predicting audience response is difficult. It will not attract the mass of tourists who demand big spectacle (WIKED, PHANTOM) for their $100+ tickets but those who value story and character on stage it will be a gem. Much will depend at first on the support of the critics, then by the season-ending awards.

That said, I am stunned that PRFRMR20 looks at the marquee and writes it off as a flop, claiming that small shows don't succeed on Broadway. Oh really? Have you heard of a small show called AVENUE Q? Before it opened on Broadway many were writing that show off, saying it wouldn't last.

Look at all the big budget multi-million dollar failures that have littered the great white way the past few seasons. When 1 in 10 shows makes a profit, it is a crapshoot. Given its small cast and low operating budget, STORY OF MY LIFE could prove to be a lesson in how to make a small show work on Broadway.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 11:10am

The story is about a writer - you can gather that from just looking at the marquee.

[Insider2]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 12:20pm

I predict that the same rabid fan base that made title of show such a gigantic box office hit will keep this thing running for an entire.........two days.

This is so misguided. If it has to run at all, it should be running at one of the non-profits.

I want to know who the producers think is going to pay the top ticket price of $110.00 (more than a buck a minute) or the premium ticket price of $176.50 for this? It is really obnoxious, and in this economy, outrageous.

By the way, Telecharge has tickets on sale through September 6. I think someone is living in Fantasyland if they think this is going to run longer than March or April, max.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 12:26pm

The Booth has approximately 140 seats less than The Lyceum, and no balcony.

They're in a much better space than [tos] was for such a small show.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 12:40pm

FYI. It's on TDF for $36.50 for the next two weeks- everyday.

Sundays: February 8th 3:00PM
Tuesdays: February 3rd 8:00PM, February 10th 8:00PM
Wednesdays: February 4th 2:00PM, February 4th 8:00PM, February 11th 2:00PM, February 11th 8:00PM
Thursdays: February 5th 8:00PM, February 12th 8:00PM
Fridays: February 6th 8:00PM, February 13th 8:00PM
Saturdays: February 7th 2:00PM, February 7th 8:00PM, February 14th 2:00PM, February 14th 8:00PM

I am sure it will be on TKTS too. I wonder who's going to pay $110.00 for this?

J*

[Elke]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 2:39pm

I wonder who's going to pay $110.00 for this?

I did. After hearing two of the songs at Bound For Broadway, I did not mind paying full price for this at all. The font may be ugly, the logo may be Photoshopped... whatever. Those two songs were gems and I cannot wait to hear the rest.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 2:48pm

The marquee should be a giant book. The book should open up to mini versions of Gets and Chase doing jazz squares. It'll be the new tourist hot spot!

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 3:43pm

I want to know who the producers think is going to pay the top ticket price of $110.00 (more than a buck a minute) or the premium ticket price of $176.50 for this? It is really obnoxious, and in this economy, outrageous.

And I want to know why you are getting so worked up over this.
What do you care if the show runs or doesn't run or makes a profit or loses its investment? It's not YOUR money. The high prices ensure that when tickets are sold 1/2 price it still brings in a good chunk of change to the production. Note that the average ticket prices for many shows are less than 1/2 of the top price, yet they still manage to run. You have obviously already made up your mind that you don't like it without having seen it.

I will ant to hear people’s reactions to this piece once previews begin.

[maybethistime]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 6:39pm

I'm excited to see how audiences respond a show like this, but must admit, the artwork certainly isn't going to be what wins anyone over.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 6:42pm

I'll def. be at the first preview. I've heard enough of the music to be interested, but I don't want to spoil it for myself. I love going into a show and not knowing much about it.

[lstbutifulgrl2]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 6:50pm

i'll be at first preview also.

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 6:55pm

Rentboy and Istbutifulgrl-

Don't you mean you'll be at the final preview?

[scott2]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 8:02pm

having seen this show at Goodspeed, i find it interesting that so many of you are writing it off prematurely; without hearing, seeing or experiencing this amazing show...instead of embracing a new original show, with terrific songs, extraordinary performaces and genuine emotion...you're bitching about a logo..

incredible...this little show will make believers out of you all

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 1/14/09 at 8:06pm

I'm not b*itching about the logo... Look at my previous posts!

And, that is what people said about Glory Days and Title of Show who saw it at Signature and Off-Bway respectfully and look what their outcome was... You do the math!

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 1/15/09 at 4:27am

The cache of playing "on Broadway" has led some shows to make the jump when really they should have stayed off-Broadway. By the time [title of show] opened it had burned through much of its audience off-Broadway. And after the move they were selling the same number of tickets, which made the show a hit off-Broadway but a failure on Broadway.

GLORY DAYS (from all reports - didn't see it) was saddled with uninteresting characters and a weak score.

These failures do not automatically mean that small musicals don't work on Broadway. Each show will be judged on its own merits.

From the production of STORY OF MY LIFE we had here in Toronto in 2006, I can promise that the score is a good one and the story connected with audiences.

The reviews were mainly favorable (a few mixed, a few negatives) but overall it worked quite well in an intimate (500 seat) theatre here. I can imagine it will work well enough in the Booth. With a small cast and minimal production values the break-even will be quite low. If the critics endorse the show it could have a successful run.

Here are some links to reviews and articles from the time of the Toronto premiere:


http://jam.canoe.ca/Theatre/Reviews/S/The_Story_Of_My_Life/2006/11/04/2231333.html

http://moderntheatre.suite101.com/article.cfm/new_musical_lives_up_to_hype

http://www.nationalpost.com/scripts/story.html?id=202e0ae1-d092-48f0-83c2-0b37f4fdd3da&k=94127

http://www.torontostage.com/reviews/storyOfMyLife.html

http://www.xtra.ca/public/Toronto/On_stage_The_Story_Of_My_Life-2247.aspx

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/17/09 at 1:34pm

I would never wish for a show to fail, but especially during these times, no one is going to pay $100 to see a two-person musical, no matter how good it is. Their marketing is also a big mistake in terms of attracting a wide audience, since it looks very, very gay ("not that there's anything wrong with that").

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 1/17/09 at 2:46pm

Poor Will Chase, when will he ever be in something that isn't an unmitigated commercial disaster?

[canmark]

Posted: 1/17/09 at 3:58pm

Ah, I thought the name sounded familiar. This was the show that played at CanStage a couple years ago? Didn't it play just a limited run at the intimate Berkeley Street Theatre, which is an off-Broadway type venue?

I never saw that production, and I do wish the producers luck, but unless it gets strong reviews (and even if it does) I think much of the worry on this thread is legitimate. It's a small show, perhaps better suited to a small off-Broadway theatre. The stars are not big name, and the music/songs are not known. I don't think it's based on a story (book or play, or something familiar) that are well-known and easily marketable. The marquee and logo are drab, and look more like it's for a straight play than a musical. And Broadway prices for a unknown show without big name stars, without lavish sets or dancing chorus boys seems highly risky during the winter months of a recession.

[TOS] and Glory Days (as have been mentioned) couldn't last, despite loyal followers ([TOS]), but does Story of My Life even have supporters? I don't think anybody is wishing this show ill. But Broadway is a savage battle, and no one wants to see an unprepared show take to the field unarmed.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/17/09 at 10:35pm

I'd rather have musicals like "Story of My life" and "Glory Days" vying for Broadway, then "101 Dalmatians: the musical" or "Shrek: the musical."

Who knows? It may totally suck? But there's not point in speculating about it.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/17/09 at 10:37pm

I don't think things bode well for this show. It's opening next month and they haven't announced the supporting cast.

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 1/17/09 at 10:54pm

Dollypop - I don't think you were joking, so... that is because there is no supporting cast... it is a two person musical (as many have mentioned in this thread). That is the main reason I believe it will flop.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/18/09 at 12:44am

What difference does it make? One-man shows do fine on Broadway, two person plays do fine on broadway. What difference does it make if they sing while they act? No one says you have to pay full price. I'm sure the producers of the show know no one is going to play top dollar for this show. I'm sure they'll offer a student rush and discounts a plenty

Posted: 1/18/09 at 12:44am

I originally bought tickets to the Guys and Dolls first preview, but it got canceled. After checking out the website, facebook page, the Goodspeed videos, and reviews of people who've seen the show, I'm sold on attending The Story of My Life's first preview. It looks interesting. And I'm always a sucker for the underdogs. =]