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

[J. Wilkes Booth]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 1:35pm

Okej...

Here I am again, an ABBA fan, looking for info. I've just found out from a fairly reliable source that "Kristina" will move into the same theatre "The Color Purple" is now playing in...once they vacate. My question is this...does anyone have any predictions for its' longevity? Now, I just took a look at the weekly grosses, and read that they're sold out almost every night, and I am discouraged. I want to see "Kristina" very badly, as do a lot of other fans worldwide.

Another question...I fully intend to be at the premieres of "Kristina", one off, one on Broadway. What does a guy wear to a premiere? If it's a tux, I'm going to begin planning now...this tux won't be a rental.

People, "Kristina" is shaping up to be one helluva production, from what I've heard. I don't know Sara Chase's work at all, but she has an impressive bio (any info on her would be appreciated as well). And with the two musical geniuses (Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus) behind ABBA (I think selling 360 million+ worldwide qualifies them for the title "geniuses"), how can it not be a winner?

Thanks for any information and/or predictions on the length of TCP's run...

Scott (aka J. Wilkes Booth)
Kristina från Duvemåla

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 1:37pm

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.

[robbiej]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 1:38pm

I'm sure you didn't mean this...but...

Is it just me, or does someone named John Wilkes Booth hoping for the demise of The Color Purple seem just a tad...well...creepy.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 1:38pm

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.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 1:40pm

Good luck scoring tickets to the premier.

That's all I have to say.

Isn't it invite only?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 1:43pm

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

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 1:43pm

1) TCP isn't going anywhere for a couple of years, at least. There are other theatres of comparable size that will be free.

2) Why on earth would a show open both on and off Broadway? What would be the point? To my knowledge, no show in the history of New York theatre has ever done this.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 1:45pm

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?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 1:59pm

If it will be your first Opening night on Broadway, start saving for a tux now.
You will not feel out of place and it will make the night all the more special!

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 2:01pm

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

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 2:03pm

Other than that, Ms. Winfrey, how did you like the show?

[robbiej]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 2:04pm

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.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 2:04pm

"Now, I just took a look at the weekly grosses, and read that they're sold out almost every night, and I am discouraged. I want to see "Kristina" very badly, as do a lot of other fans worldwide."

Why would a theatre fan say they are discouraged over a show doing well?

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 2:06pm

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

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 2:07pm

He didn't say he was a theatre fan -- just an ABBA fan.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 2:10pm

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

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 2:18pm

True.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 2:33pm

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.

[aces25]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 5:30pm

Please... instead of calling them the geniuses behind ABBA can we PLEAE classify them as the geniuses behind Chess?

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 5:45pm

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

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 3/23/06 at 5:49pm

And with the two musical geniuses (Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus) behind ABBA (I think selling 360 million+ worldwide qualifies them for the title "geniuses")

God. If sales qualifies someone as being a genius, then even Britney Spears would be a Mensa member.

[J. Wilkes Booth]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 6:13am

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

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 6:45am

I think people got confused because 'Off Broadway' usually refers to the fringe theatres in New York which are either away from the Times Square Area, or have fewer seats than Broadway theatres. Minneapolis would be considered an out-of-town tryout (unles it was a permanant 'sit-down' production)

"Chess . . . is still playing after 20 years in the UK"

Only it now features a flying nanny and the song Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious? I'm afraid Chess left the Prince Edward Theatre in 1989.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 8:14am

Shill.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 3/24/06 at 1:23pm

Um, you said that Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus qualify as musical geniuses because of their sales. I was pointing out that sales is not exactly a blanket statement for what qualifies someone as a musical genius. So your statement "I think selling 360 million+ worldwide qualifies them for the title 'geniuses'" is not necessarily true.

Don't make assumptions about my knowledge of music or musical theatre, because it only makes you look more pathetic. I was pointing out that the evidence you originally gave to justify your opinion that they are musical geniuses is weak. Don't YOU try to write ME off as being completely uninformed just because I criticized your shoddy argument skills.