THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA Musical - News & Discussion Thread- Page 20

[InTheKnowEvenIfYouDontBelieve]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 10:08am

Jerry is there to see you if wants to take over, scrap everything but the score, and start again.  The other big name in musical movie comedy directors said no because of the material.  
 

[Marlothom]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 10:23am

and they have flown Jerry Mitchel in to come show doctor. Lol

Have they really flown in Jerry? Seems odd as they only have a handful of shows left in Chicago. 
 

 

[Lola Getz2]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 10:51am

InTheKnowEvenIfYouDontBelieve said: "Jerry is there to see you if wants to take over, scrap everything but the score, and start again. The other big name in musical movie comedy directors said no because of the material.
"

Everything BUT the score??? Bringing in Jerry at this late stage is not likely to fix the major problems. Jerry might be able to hire the right designers, new book writers, recoreograph the show, do a bit of recasting, but the score is something that will bring this show down without major rewrites. I have a feeling Jerry is there as a last ditch effort to see if ANYTHING can be done for any future productions but nothing will change this week. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 11:02am

Obviously nothing will change this week or during the Chicago run. It’s a matter of trying to salvage the show for Broadway. With a newly structured book and a more appropriate director, some new songs could be written (and rewritten). I’m sure Elton has an ironclad contract making him irreplaceable — and I believe he has money in the show too.

Do we know if Anna wants out from the project (doesn’t feel it’s a good fit & she’s not the one to fix it in this scale), or has Kevin M fired her? My guess is Stroman and/or Nicholaw have passed on taking over.

Wonder who would come in as a new bookwriter. For optics purposes, if they don’t hire a woman, the Internet might revolt. Not that that has a big impact on sales in the long run. They need a steady hand who knows musical comedy structure, not necessarily a groundbreaking or thought provoking playwright. 

Updated On: 8/18/22 at 11:02 AM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 11:12am

InTheKnowEvenIfYouDontBelieve said: "Chicago23 said: "And I know of at least 6 people who are Broadway veterans who gave a general thumbs up. And I respect their opinions much more than the likes of that arrogant and often ignorant, Catey Sullivan."

This is one of the most unintentional funny things I’ve ever read in my 15 years here. Former Broadway performer means nothing about taste.

and they have flown Jerry Mitchel in to come show doctor. Lol"

A friend of mine is a pal of Leavel and while she was still in rehearsals she raved about the costumes being made for her by Arianne Phillips. She said it was beyond couture and she was overwhelmed these were being designed for her.  Leavel is a Tony Award winning ‘Broadway veteran.’ This assessment of her costumes in her own words says a lot. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 11:24am

Multiple things can be true at the same time.

- an actor can think their costumes look good in a fitting.

- an actor can like wearing their costumes onstage.

- the production team and/or designers can think the costumes don’t read well onstage in the context of the rest of the show.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 11:55am

The book needs to be rewritten by a gay man who understands what the property has become. 

[Marlothom]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 11:57am

Bring on Harvey!!!

[gleek4114]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 12:12pm

Or maybe Douglas Carter Beane!?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 12:39pm

Please not Doug Carter Beane! His aptitude for musical storytelling is limited and so spotty. This really needs someone who understands musical structure intimately — even more so than a funny jokester.

Optics aside because there are so few women bookwriters working at the highest level today: Harvey Fierstein, Chad Beguelin & Bob Martin, Doug Wright, David Lindsay-Abaire, Lee Hall, David Henry Hwang, Catherine Johnson (Mamma Mia), Marsha Norman, Robert Freedman, Joe DiPietro, Ken Ludwig, David Thompson, or Michael R. Jackson (a Hail Mary). 10/20 years ago, Tom Meehan already would have been called up.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 12:41pm

Lisa Kron… or let’s give Amber Ruffin a shot after collaborating with Matthew Lopez on Some Like It Hot. 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 12:42pm

Whatever happened to Paul Rudnick?

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Paul-Rudnick-on-Staying-True-to-THE-DEVIL-WEARS-PRADA-Film-in-the-New-Musical-Adaptation-20210527

[InTheKnowEvenIfYouDontBelieve]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 12:48pm

Jordan Catalano said: "The book needs to be rewritten by a gay man who understands what the property has become."

I said before it opened, I said on tik tok, and I'll say again:

Jeremy O'Harris was the ONLY person for the job of writing the book of a Devil Wears Prada musical set in current day.  The ONLY PERSON, IMO. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 1:22pm

No, no, no not O'harris, sorry. 

This show should be light, fun, and camp. 

Nicholaw passed because there's no way to infuse tap into anything. 

I think get Mitchell and then throw in an Oremus (spelling?) for the orchestrations. Kinky Boots this beast.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 1:41pm

InTheKnowEvenIfYouDontBelieve said: "I said before it opened, I said on tik tok, and I'll say again:

Jeremy O'Harris was the ONLY person for the job of writing the book of a Devil Wears Prada musical set in current day. The ONLY PERSON, IMO."

 

Yes, that master of comedy. 

 

[cliffordbradshaw2]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 5:59pm

https://nypost.com/2022/08/18/panned-devil-wears-prada-musical-is-seeking-a-massive-makeover/

[Dolly80]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 6:17pm

Jerry Mitchell is the last person I would bring in,

He has zero taste - look at Pretty Woman.
It needs a stylish director and witty designers for a start.

#Fullout

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 6:41pm

I mean Pretty Woman is the worst musical I've ever seen. Cheap in design, not even one good song, awful direction. And On Your Feet was pretty bad too. 

I guess he's had more misses than wins, huh?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 7:08pm

While I totally agree that the show needs a lot of work, I find it interesting that it has been so incredibly panned and has garnered such a bad reputation in this industry... I have seen shows 10x worse than this one make it to Broadway. I guess since it is such a well known/beloved property, the stakes are higher?

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 7:36pm

Dolly80 said: "Jerry Mitchell is the last person I would bring in,

He has zero taste - look at Pretty Woman.
It needs a stylish director and witty designers for a start.

#Fullout "

He is the obvious/lazy choice. He’s known for light, splashy, campy shows. By no means do I think that it is the right decision, just saying that on paper he makes sense. I’m sure he is there to assess the situation and evaluate if the triage makes any sense or if its DOA. 

I’d say Robert Horn for the book. He’s a very funny joke writer, although he’s tied up with Shucked so probably unavail. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 7:41pm

Hell, I’d even say let Tina Fey have a crack at the book. While “Mean Girls” isn’t my favorite show, I thought she actually did a masterful job adapting her script to a musical format. 

[BJR]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 8:05pm

My guess about the musical movie comedy director who passed was Zaks. After Sister Act and Addams Family, he has also proven he can show doctor. It's a distinct talent and skill.

It sounds like they need more than a doctor, though. With reports of its demise being so publicized, it would probably need some new creatives at the helm for people to give it a chance.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 9:38pm

Jeremy O'Harris was the ONLY person for the job of writing the book of a Devil Wears Prada musical set in current day. The ONLY PERSON, IMO."

LOLZ. 

[shocktheatre]

Posted: 8/18/22 at 9:44pm

Two major questions come to mind:

(1) How can a Broadway musical about the fashion world look so ugly?

(2) How can you NOT provide Beth Leavel with the showstopper that she (and her character) deserves?

Show is doomed.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/19/22 at 12:24am

"How can you NOT provide Beth Leavel with the showstopper that she (and her character) deserves?"

I think this is actually one of the major problems but not in the way you mean. Miranda having a showstopping number just seems silly. That's so against her as a character. And what is her showstopping number about? It can only be about her job and the song she has now is as "big" as her character should ever get with a song. But after that, she sits down with Andy, holds her hand and tells her she's a great writer and she's gonna help her publish her writing and find her a new job to showcase her talents. It's ridiculous.