The Color Purple's Longevity: Make Way for Kristina!!

The Color Purple has a $21 million advance sale and is playing to packed houses every night. It's not going anywhere any time soon.

THE COLOR PURPLE isn't going anywhere anytime soon, and I doubt that the producers would have announced that they're looking to take over the Broadway Theatre WHENEVER TCP closes...that's stupid.

Wear whatever you want, but I would say don't wear a tux. When I go, I wear a suit - although I have worn jeans in the past with a tie, jacket, etc. If you're not involved with the show, as I wasn't, just wear something nice - no need for a tux.

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Invite only? There aren't even definite plans for a Broadway production, let alone the ticket policy for opening night...

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Didn't 42nd Street run at the City Center one holiday season fror a week or so while it was eithr running at the Majestic or the St.James?

robbiej - Yes it is a bit creepy...with that theatre connection and all.

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Threadjack:

I'm currently reading a new book on the Lincoln assassination called AMERICAN BRUTUS. I'm halfway through chapter two and it's harrowing.

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Namo - I am on my cubicle floor laughing!! Too funny!

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with the Money they made from Momma Mia they should build a new Theatre!

Deena Jones, it was the tour of Grease that played City Center during the holidays when the same show was playing at the O'Neil.

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As Margo pointed out, he didn't say he was a theatre fan. He is an ABBA fan.

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Wow, did I ever open a Pandora's box!!! Robbie J, I totally didn't mean it to be a racial slur by saying that I want TCP to end asap. I loved the movie and the book, but haven't yet found the chance to see the musical.

I am a theatre fan, but don't get to see as many plays/musicals, what have you, as I'd like. I am primarily an ABBA fan, though, and when a musical such as "Kristina fran Duvemala" can transcend language barriers by the
sheer emotion in the performers (Helen Sjöholm and Åsa Bergh, just to mention two) voices, I get hooked. The songs are incredible, and I've read are viewed as similar to the epic musicals of the 80's in style. Just a suggestion to anyone interested...get ahold of the "Kristina fran Duvemala"
highlights cd from the American Swedish Institute ( http://www.americanswedishinst.org ), listen to "Hemma" (Home), "Stanna" (Stay) and "Du Maste Finnas" (You Must Exist). These songs, along with many others in the 4-hour musical, are emotionally charged and incredibly
performed. "Du Maste Finnas", for example, is sung by Kristina (Helen Sjoholm), who has just been told by her doctor that she can no longer have relations with her husband, because if she gets pregnant with their eighth
child, she will die. She's just miscarried the seventh child. This devout Christian woman stands alone in a field in Minnesota, thousands of miles away from home and family, and questions God's existence, asking "Him", "How
can You abandon me?". She comes to the conclusion that "You Must Exist"..."Du Maste Finnas".

Also, I don't think it is unprecedented for a musical to open first off Broadway. Didn't TCP open in Atlanta first? What I've heard about "Kristina" is that it will initially have a 3-week run in Minneapolis, then go to Broadway. This makes sense, as quite a few Swedish emigrants settled in Minnesota in the 19th and 20th centuries, and there is a sizeable Swedish/Scandinavian community still there. It could just as easily have opened in Chicago, though, as Chicago was once referred to as the third largest Swedish city.

I'm not the only one that is eager to see this onstage. This past Saturday night in Minneapolis, at the Bloomington Sheraton, between 600 and 700 of us heard Helen, the original Kristina, perform "Home/Hemma", which she will not have the chance to perform in the English language musical. Most of us that heard wept. I'm getting goosebumps as I type this.

Orangeskittles, how many ABBA songs have you heard? Have you heard their last album, "The Visitors" (the title track, written before the end of the Cold War, was written about Russian dissidents hiding from the KGB.)? Moreover, how many songs from "Chess" (both the 1986 and 1988 versions) or "Kristina från Duvemåla" have you heard? No, Britney doesn't qualify for Mensa, but yes, Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson do qualify for "musical genius" status. Ever seen the part of a U2 concert where Bono invites B&B up on stage, sings "Dancing Queen" with them, and bows to them both at the end, saying "We're not worthy!" I have. This group has inspired musicians and singers worldwide. The musical "Mamma Mia" and it's worldwide impact have shown that yes, there are a lot of people that love the music...even though ABBA broke up in 1982. Yeah, they are musical geniuses. Don't mean to provoke a fight, but listen to the above before you write these composers off.

Aces, I love "Chess" as much (or more) than you seem to. This is another incredible musical that flopped in the US, but is still playing after 20 years in the UK, and is being performed by small theatre companies around the US -- it will be performed in Cincinnati at the Aronoff Theatre by a local group. All that said, it is good work, but KfD is the best to date...no exaggeration.

Finally, CurtainPulldowner, thanks for the advice on the tux...I want to wear one, and yeah, it will make it an unforgettable night...

Does anyone have any suggestion on how to become an investor in a musical, "Kristina" in particular?

Any advice would be appreciated...

Scott

Shill.