TOMMY TUNE's "TURN OF THE CENTURY"
TOMMY TUNE's "TURN OF THE CENTURY"
#1TOMMY TUNE's "TURN OF THE CENTURY"
Posted: 4/7/08 at 10:14pm
Has this show even been workshopped? It's opening at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago in the fall ....
Slated for a fall premiere, "Turn of the Century" came to the Goodman through Rick Elice, who co-wrote the show with Marshall Brickman. The Tony-winning writers of "Jersey Boys" have concocted what Robert Falls, artistic director of the Goodman, calls "a wonderful comic romp."
"The basic premise involves a young songwriter-piano player and his girl singer who find themselves through mysterious, supernatural, 'Twilight Zone'-ish activities thrown back to the turn of the century, the 20th century," Falls said in a telephone interview from Chicago.
"They are playing a gig on the eve of the 21st century and at the strike of midnight, they find themselves thrown back to the dawning of the 20th century," Falls said.
The score will be composed of great American standards written by giants such as Irving Berlin, Rodgers and Hart, George Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein and more, according to Tune.
"The fun part is that the couple, Billy and Dixie, realize the songs they are performing haven't been written yet -- so they decide to write them," said Tune, who has directed Broadway musicals such as "Nine," "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," "My One and Only," "Grand Hotel" and "The Will Rogers Follies."
"The two become the toast of the town," Tune continued. "But for every action, there is a reaction, so they face the results of this fame, fortune and karma and find their relationship is unraveling."
"The hard part is choosing the songs," he said. "That's our work between now and the time we open." Falls said the musical will go into rehearsal in late summer and open in either September or October.
ARTICLE FROM DAILY HERALD
#2re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 4/7/08 at 10:18pmI want to go see this one, when do the tickets go on sale?
"Leave Walt Disney Theatricals new sparkling production of The Little Mermaid on Broadway alone!!!"
lakezurich will be played by Paul Groves in the BWW musical
#2re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 4/7/08 at 11:06pmI believe it has indeed been workshopped. I've heard Brickman and Elice talk about it a bunch of times and they seem to be pretty thrilled. Honestly, Broadway has suffered with Tune's absence, I hope this is only one of many upcoming projects for him.
commasplice
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/29/04
#3re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 8/27/08 at 4:28pm
Didn't feel like starting a new thread for this, but have a pretty promo pic of Rachel York (♥!) and Jeff Daniels:
The Goodman also now has a photo album of rehearsal pictures on their site: http://www.goodmantheatre.org/photoalbum/display.aspx?id=60
#4re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 8/27/08 at 5:12pmThanks for that link, commasplice! It's nice to see Tune at work again, and I am always thrilled to see Rachel York!
#5re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 8/27/08 at 6:28pm
Sounds Wonderful.
Tune needs to bring Grand Hotel back!
#6re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 8/27/08 at 6:35pm
Can not wait for this! Tommy has been absent from Bway for tooo long.
I want a revival of "A Day in Hollywood/A Night in The Ukraine" !
Anyone remember that "ankle stage" and Priscilla Lopez playing the Sax? (and the ghost written Jerry Herman tunes? THE BEST!!)
#7re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 8/27/08 at 9:35pm
I'm flying to Chicago for a week and will see one of the first performances on October 2 -- was glad to get great seats.
I saw Tommy Tune recently on a PBS interview and he said he is currently working on four different projects. Hopefully at least one will go to Broadway, he said.
#8re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 8/27/08 at 9:59pmSo, I'm a little confused. Is this a Pre-Broadway try-out for this show?
"Leave Walt Disney Theatricals new sparkling production of The Little Mermaid on Broadway alone!!!"
lakezurich will be played by Paul Groves in the BWW musical
lovesclassics
Broadway Star Joined: 10/7/05
#9re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 8/28/08 at 12:07am
Ooooh, commasplice! Sooooooo pretty. Thanks a bunch! When are you planning to see it?
There's nothing official about this coming to B'way yet, but there has been a lot of buzz about it being a tryout for NYC. Let's hope!!! Rachel York deserves a lead in a major new show pronto. And Jeff Daniels isn't chopped liver, either. 
Patash, please please promise to give us your review.
commasplice
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/29/04
#10re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 8/28/08 at 12:44am
lc, I haven't decided yet -- my guess is it'll will be sometime in October, though. I should have a better idea in the next week or so.
Also! They've put a video (squee) up on the website since I visited this afternoon and found the pictures. It's loading incredibly slow for me, so I haven't gotten to watch the whole thing yet, but hopefully the you guys will have better luck!
http://goodmantheatre.org/movies/index.aspx?id=854
lovesclassics
Broadway Star Joined: 10/7/05
#11re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 8/28/08 at 12:54am
Wheeeeee! I just watched it. Now I really MUST get myself out to Chicago to see this! Rehearsal highlights include Stepping Out with My Baby and Alexander's Ragtime Band with Rachel taking the lead singing and dancing. There are interviews, too. They really seem to be promoting Rachel as the star, even moreso than Jeff. It looks like a lot of fun.
#12re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 8/28/08 at 1:00am
All the reports I've read say this is a Broadway-bound try-out. With Tommy Tune at the helm, a renowned book-writing team from one of the biggest hit shows playing on Broadway right now, a regular Broadway leading lady, and a bona-fide screen and stage actor of Daniels' stature I can only imagine that this is definitely eying a Broadway opening.
lovesclassics
Broadway Star Joined: 10/7/05
#13re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 8/28/08 at 1:28am
I'm sure it is, ray. It just hasn't announced anything definite - no date, no theater, no backers. Given all the shows that were scheduled and are now off, who knows?
#14re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 8/28/08 at 8:30amI hope this eventually makes it to Broadway, because it looks like a lot of fun.
theatregeek2
Understudy Joined: 1/16/07
#15re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 8/28/08 at 12:51pm
Also! They've put a video (squee) up on the website since I visited this afternoon and found the pictures. It's loading incredibly slow for me, so I haven't gotten to watch the whole thing yet, but hopefully the you guys will have better luck!
http://goodmantheatre.org/movies/index.aspx?id=854
^^ was that Noah Racey? What happened to his hair?
lovesclassics
Broadway Star Joined: 10/7/05
#16re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 8/28/08 at 4:25pm
Here's a link to a really long article on Playbill.com announcing the full cast and creative team. And, yes, that is Noah Racey doing the choreography. Looks like he got a summer whiffle.
The set concept with the LED sounds interesting! May be some serious sfx in this.
Century Cast
#17re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 8/28/08 at 5:11pm
Am I the only one who never knew Jeff Daniels was a musical talent?
By the way, at the same time Turn of the Century is playing at The Goodman, in their smaller theatre they are doing "Million Dollar Quartet" -- "On December 4, 1956, an auspicious twist of fate brought together Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley."
#18re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 9/2/08 at 10:18am
I took these photos on my way home from work on Friday, August 29th. We have tickets to see TOTC on October 14th. Sept.19th is the first preview and I might get a ticket. 
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#19re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 9/2/08 at 11:57amThe last two big "Pre-Broadway" musical premieres at the Goodman were BOUNCE and THE VISIT - so don't assume this is heading to Broadway anytime soon...
Bbbbbwya
Swing Joined: 9/2/08
#20re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 9/2/08 at 12:46pmWhat about 'Light in the Piazza'?
lovesclassics
Broadway Star Joined: 10/7/05
#21re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 9/18/08 at 3:23pm
Nice article/interview with Rachel York in TimeOut Chicago today. Previews start tomorrow night! Anyone going soon?
Rachel York Interview
#22re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 9/18/08 at 3:31pm
Piazza had a pre-Broadway engagement at the Goodman, but it premiered in Seattle prior to Chicago. The Goodman was supposed to premiere a WWII-era musical over the summer, but replaced the show with Ain't Misbehavin'. I wonder what happened to the other show.
And speaking of vanishing premieres, is Masada dead now? I remember that being announced for the Chicago Broadway series for months and then it was simply never mentioned again.
commasplice
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/29/04
#23re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 9/18/08 at 6:57pm
It's actually NOT dead, Matt (which surprised me). They renamed it to 'Imagine This' and it will be running in London in November: http://www.londontheatre.co.uk/londontheatre/news/ju8/imaginethis333174.htm
Also, the TotC run is listed on the Goodman website as running until October 26th, but the website calendar has performances listed the first weekend of November (no tickets on sale yet, though, for that or anything else that month that's not A Christmas Carol). Does that mean they'll be extending it a weekend? Because that would make me happy, as I've been dragging my feet about buying tickets (damn you, real life scheduling).
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#24re: TOMMY TUNE's 'TURN OF THE CENTURY'
Posted: 9/18/08 at 7:16pm
Here's what happened to "The Boys Come Home", the musical that was cancelled this past spring:
David Petrarca, who was supposed to direct, got a job directing a TV show when the writers' strike was settled. Bob Falls was going tostep in and direct the musical, but when he looked at the latest draft, he decided it really wasn't good enough to be mounted yet and needed major rewrites.
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