Sunset Blvd. vs Tammy Faye

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 1/31/24 at 8:25pm

Two British transfers opening this fall on Broadway in 1700 seat theaters.  Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Blvd. directed by Jaime Loyd at the St. James, and Elton John’s Tammy Faye directed by Rupert Goold at the Palace. Which will do better business on Broadway?

[TBFL]

Posted: 1/31/24 at 9:59pm

If Tammy Faye does actually open at the Palace, it won't stand a chance and will die a death very quickly.

But get it into the right, fairly intimate house, and I would hope it would do great business. It will be the first show to get me back to NYC in many years, despite having already seen it numerous times. I would also give Katie Brayben the Tony over Scherzinger. The score is fantastic IMO.

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 2/1/24 at 9:39am

Sunset, without a doubt! We must also pay attention to the hyped-up production of Next to Normal opening in the West End this year. Rumor has it that it might transfer with Cassie in the spring of 2025. I'm hoping to catch N2N in September, just before it closes. 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 2/1/24 at 10:10am

I don't think Tammy Faye is going to be an easy sell.  I think the Jessica Chastain film was about as much backstore into Tammy Faye as most people ever want to visit.  Sunset has a lot more buzz and energy surrounding it.

[TBFL]

Posted: 2/1/24 at 3:50pm

QueenAlice said: "I don't think Tammy Faye is going to be an easy sell. I think the Jessica Chastain film was about as much backstore into Tammy Faye as most people ever want to visit. Sunset has a lot more buzz and energy surrounding it."

It should have, it only closed in London 4 weeks ago. Tammy Faye closed in 2022.

Once the show is in place and dates are announced, I imagine it will be everywhere. Elton and Jake Shears will be doing the circuit of TV shows, Katie Brayben will be belting the songs from the score, if he's in it, Andrew Rannells will also be flogging it to everyone. It will be a big machine with lots of money behind it 

Sunset will have Nicole Scherzinger. -who IIRC has never publicly sung anything from the show. Which I guess only goes to reiterate just how good the word of mouth was for the production. And worthy of it.

I saw them both numerous times and they are some of the best things I have seen in years. It's sad to pit them against each other, but Tammy Faye is the one I'm rooting for 

 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 2/1/24 at 6:27pm

I’m also rooting for Tammy Faye.  Based on the surprise success of Gutenberg and Spamalot, it seems like people are really going for comedy not tragedy. I love the songs I’ve heard, and I’ve only heard great things about the book. Lynne Page is one of the best choreographers working today. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 2/1/24 at 6:42pm

Broadway Flash said: "Based on the surprise success of Gutenberg and Spamalot, it seems like people are really going for comedy not tragedy."

I don’t think it’s a case of going for comedy or tragedy… A-list stars or VERY well-known property does the trick, no matter the genre. 

Gutenberg had Rannells and Gad, and while Spamalot got off to a lousy start, all it took was a gentle nudge to the Python fanbase once performances began for their fortunes to improve, starting a few weeks later. 

If people were going for comedy, maybe Shucked would still be open.  

[Jarethan]

Posted: 2/1/24 at 7:10pm

Broadway Flash said: "I’m also rooting for Tammy Faye. Based on the surprise success of Gutenberg and Spamalot, it seems like people are really going for comedy not tragedy. I love the songs I’ve heard, and I’ve only heard great things about the book. Lynne Page is one of the best choreographers working today."

I would assume that Tammy Faye has a lot more tragedy and drama than you are suggesting, unless the show decided to emphasize the camp, which would be a mistake.  The London run was certainly not an impressive baseline.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 2/1/24 at 10:46pm

One of the big numbers is called he’s inside us. Meaning Jesus is inside them. It’s all very phallic and seems like the musical is satirical, and deals with the rise of religion in republican politics. It’s a James Graham show so of course it’s going to be political and dramatic. But it’s also Elton John and it’s very colorful and comedic.  They reworked the show after the almeida run so we’ll see. 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 2/1/24 at 11:08pm

And yes, truly there isn't much reason to pit them opposite each other. One is a new musical, the other is a revival. Perhaps the only fight between the two will be in the Best Actress in a musical race.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 2/2/24 at 2:48pm

Im more interested to see how they will fare at the box office than Tony awards.  Andrew rannels im assuming will be in Tammy Faye and he was a hit in Gutenberg 

[TBFL]

Posted: 2/4/24 at 1:03am

Broadway Flash said: "One of the big numbers is called he’s inside us. Meaning Jesus is inside them. It’s all very phallic and seems like the musical is satirical, and deals with the rise of religion in republican politics. It’s a James Graham show so of course it’s going to be political and dramatic. But it’s also Elton John and it’s very colorful and comedic. They reworked the show after the almeida run so we’ll see."

I think James Graham has done a fantastic job on the book, showing how the politics of the time are eerily similar to todays political climate, especially where religion is concerned. I really wasn't expecting it to be as funny as it was. I would put good money on him winning best book of a musical