TOOTSIE to open at the Marquis, April 23 — Page 2

"Just curious:

Why do people seem to be more excited about this one than all the other hyper-commercial adaptations and jukebox musicals coming this season? I'm not trying to pass judgement on the show - obviously I haven't seen it. But on paper it doesn't seem all that different from the other musicals coming this season in terms of its prospects. 

Not trying to be snarky. It's genuine question! "

 

Because the main character in the movie is a guy wearing a dress - lol !!!

Countless now classic musicals never recouped but were considered hits: WEST SIDE STORY, GYPSY, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, FUNNY GIRL, FOLLIES... the list is endless.  

Just because a show doesn't recoup doesn't make it a failure.  A financial failure?  Yes.  A failure as a show?  Absolutely not.  

 

I’m so excited for this. I LOVE the score and Santino (just in the readings) has such a great grasp on who his Dorothy Michaels is, that I have a feeling this can be a huge critical hit.

Updated On: 8/9/18 at 02:10 PM

BroadwayConcierge said: "JBroadway, the movie is a beloved gem. It’s one of my all-time favorites, and seems to be many others’, too. I find that when I tell people about a Tootsie musical being made, they respond enthusiastically with, “Oh, I LOVE that movie!” It’s really comedy gold.

I also think it’s going to have a really poignant, powerful message at this time in history. Plus, with David Yazbek penning the score, it seems like there’s a lot that could go really, really right on this one."

Here's the thing . . . I read an early version of this and felt they had drained all of the feminists leanings from the script.  While it is a talented creative team, it is all white males.  The film had the wherewithal to bring in Elaine May (though uncredited) to bring in a female view point to the script. Otherwise it is once again mansplaining the women's point of view.  The depth that existed in the movie, I found lacking in the script.  We'll see what happens in Chicago, but hopefully there has been fixes in the book, and it's awhile before it opens on Broadway. 

markypoo said: "Broadway Concierge:

The statement you made about the show's potential merits echo precesely the hopes that everyone and their brother - Ken Mandelbaum leading the pack - had for The Goodbye Girl back in 1992; with its killer-diller star wattage and music by Marvin Hamlisch.
Couldn't miss.
And it too opened at the Marquis."

And NICK AND NORA with Joanna Gleason . . . what could go wrong?

JBroadway said: "Just curious:

Why do people seem to be more excited about this one than all the other hyper-commercial adaptations and jukebox musicals coming this season? I'm not trying to pass judgement on the show - obviously I haven't seen it. But on paper it doesn't seem all that different from the other musicals coming this season in terms of its prospects.

Not trying to be snarky. It's genuine question!"

I think the difference is that in the 2017-2018 season, all of the musicals felt like corporate cash grabs with many of the shows being part of billion dollar franchises. Disney’s Frozen, Nickelodeon’s Spongebob, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Escape to Margaritaville, were not created because a composer/lyricist/playwright saw the source material and was like “this might make a great musical” instead it was a CEO saying “we could make a killing if this opened on Broadway”. Add to that Mean Girls had the full court press of NBC/Universal behind it. As well ass Jukebox musicals are Cash grabs 9 times out of 10, so Summer falls into the category too. Compared to this upcoming season Tootsie and Moulin Rouge, are adaptations being spearheaded by beloved members of the Broadway community. Then we also have 2 original musicals opening in the fall, compared to none last season. Head over Heels may be a mess, but its still an artistic mess. 

Why do people seem to be more excited about this one than all the other hyper-commercial adaptations and jukebox musicals coming this season? 

For me, it's all about a new Yazbek score.  I'm really excited about seeing it next month.

It didn't recoup- that's the definition of a failure.

No, that's the definition of a "flop".  Musicals can fail or succeed based on any criteria that comes to mind.  "Hit" and "flop" are terms specifically based on recouping their initial investments.

 

 

Shows that don’t recoup are not necessarily failures in the long run. Many shows don’t recoup until years later, after stock, regional, international rights etc. The specific Broadway production of a show may be a failure, but a show itself has an infinite lifespan.

Updated On: 8/9/18 at 04:02 PM

"Shows that don’t recoup are not necessarily failures in the long run"

Exactly.

God, I am SO excited for this.  My friend was in the room when they did the reading last June, and even then, he said it was something really special.  Santino is one of my favorites.  Cannot wait!

Updated On: 8/9/18 at 08:04 PM

As I mentioned in another Tootsie thread I am most curious to hear the Ms Dorothy voice that Santino gives her.

Perhaps Jordan you might like to tell me/us as you were there for the reading/s.

Just walked by the Cadillac Palace in Chicago and they're unloading the trailers for the show, Can't wait!