The Wild Party - LaChiusa

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 11/18/04 at 9:46pm

Ok, I know bringing this up is often a volatile thing, but I'm just out trolling for fans of Michael John LaChiusa's musical, the Wild Party. I saw the musical shortly after it opened in 2000 and was completely blown away, specifically by the performance of Toni Collette (Robbed of the Tony that year, in my opinion).
I heard a little rumor the show is going to be produced at NYU this Spring and am very excited about it.
Ok, just had to share. Let's please try to keep this from being a LaChiusa version vs. Lippa version. I realize each version has its fans and that's great but I'm not here to fight, I'm here to find others who think like me (And personally, I think that LaChiusa's Wild Party might be one of the most underappreciated musicals in the last 10 years).

[kyle.]

Posted: 11/18/04 at 9:57pm

lachiusa's version is actually being produced at emerson this weekend. a friend of mine is directing.

THE WILD PARTY
November 19th at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM
November 20th at 2:00 PM
The Greene Theatre at Emerson College
10 Boylston Place, Boston

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 11/18/04 at 10:10pm

What a shame I'm not able to travel anywhere this weekend. I know a lot of Emerson grads and, based on their talents, I imagine the productions there are very good.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 11/18/04 at 10:11pm

You know how I feel about this show. I do loves it. And it's good to have ya back, Bwaysinger.

[wildparty20]

Posted: 11/18/04 at 10:20pm

I love LaChiusa's work. I saw TWP in New York. I'm hoping someone around here wises up and there's a local production soon!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/18/04 at 10:32pm

I'd like to direct this production sometime in the future. I can see naked figures hanging from the rafters after the orgy and for sure full frontal male nudity from some of the ensemble members during the orgy. then they just stay all entangled and moving during "People Like Us"... I dunno... just visions...

[andyf]

Posted: 11/18/04 at 10:33pm

which has already been edited.

Updated On: 11/19/04 at 10:33 PM

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 11/18/04 at 10:37pm

But thank god for shows like All Shook Up, eh?
God knows I'd much prefer catalog musicals than the Wild Party any day. ;P

[Mattio98]

Posted: 11/18/04 at 10:43pm

I like both WPs for different. The amazing thing about the LaChiusa version is the intricacies in the score. If you were to open up the vocal selections, it LOOKS like a wild party. It's hectic and hustled and it fits perfectly with the feel of the piece. But, it's not a "hear it the first time and you're stuck on it" kind of thing. It's something you appreciate more with time and you realize how great it is.

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 1:05pm

I loved THE WILD PARTY on Broadway. I didn't care for Lippa's version so much, although I do understand its charms.

This argument comes around so often, but so many people are basing their reactions on the cast albums, and not the shows. I saw both of them, and trust me, Michael John's WILD PARTY was far, far superior to the Lippa version. They were both misconceived, to an extent, because in the end, the source material proved unadaptable.

The Lippa cast album IS more accessible, on one listen. But Michael John's version stands up to repeated listenings, and his version is not only my personal preference, but the one I think will stand the test of time. Updated On: 11/19/04 at 01:05 PM

[twogaab2]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 1:50pm

I saw the OBC and thought it was terrific (allthough the set was rather large and clunky-the cast and music more than made up for it).

This thread got me to thinking about the term that people like to use "musical theater". When you come to think about it, the only "hits" in the past few year, the things most people seem to like, (Hairspray, Wicked, Mama Mia, Chicago-although each the might have some "lip service" seriousness) are really pure musical comedy. Anytime anything that smacks of serious "musical theater" (Wild Party, Marie Christine, Parade, Last 5 Years, My Life with Albertine, Caroline or Change etc.) They are pretty much roundly rejected. So it seems that "musical theater" will never prevail (except for short term revival or in reperatory).

Anyway, just my opinion, I may be wrong.

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 2:14pm

Whenever comparing the two, people always talk about the "first listen" which is important when you're seeing a show live. Seeing LaChiusa's Wild Party and hearing it live for the first time as opposed to buying the album and expecting it to strike a chord without an alarming visual, is a tough task - that I think Wolfe did brilliantly. Wolfe is a unconventional director whom many people feel is sloppy and unaware of typical staging techiniques (blocking according to text). Whatever your opinion on the often avant-garde director is, he staged Wild Party with flair and no inhibitions. LaChiusa's score is not even in the same ballpark as Lippa's (greatly superceding the latter), and rightly deserving of the cult acclaim it gets. After seeing it on the Tonys, I knew it was something that most people wouldn't like - and LaChiusa says it best in an interview:

"I think you'll see more of the same thing you've been seeing on Broadway unless we all start dealing with some truths about our culture, which is in decline right now. I wish there was some way for that to be reversed, but I don't know how. I know that my colleagues speak to me in their songs; I feel like they've got a voice that says, "This is a thing of beauty." But it's a larger, more powerful thing that has to go on here. We need a mayor, we need a President, we need religious people to reverse the trend of where we're going culturally. Broadway is a small part of the culture and it's getting increasingly smaller, unfortunately."

This is all too true as far as the success for the show goes and I just thought it would be interesting to just have some of you read that. I digress. Back to the show itself - In LaChiusa's version you feel the booze and you feel the sex in the music and banter of the lyrics. It's real 20's-jazz nightlife. And like Caroline, or Change, Floyd Collins, Marie Christine, My Life with Albertine, etc. much of the music is too complex and not melodic enough for the pop-trained ear to enjoy on a first few listens. I've likened to think that I have tried to rise above it, but each person can only do so much - to have the want to hear, live, and experience new styles of music. LaChiusa is doing his best - which I find to be quite stellar - to go against the grain, but still make audiences laugh and cry. And that's something we all want out of a show.


nice point TWOGAAB - i was writing my thesis as yours was being posted. good thoughts

Updated On: 11/19/04 at 02:14 PM

[BreakingTheCircle07]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 4:39pm

THANK YOU for starting this thread!!! I honestly think I'm sometimes the only fan of the Broadway version. Yes, the Off-Broadway version had more of a name cast, and not all of the Broadway names do it for me (sorry Eartha), but the music is far better that Lippa's, which I consider to be musical theatre pop for the sake of being pop.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 4:42pm

I've gone over this a meeelion times but I love LaChiusa's score here and would love to see a production of this. A recording of LITTLE FISH, sometime please...

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 4:50pm

borstalboy, perhaps you've gone over this a "meeelion" times, but I couldn't agree with you more.

Michael John LaChuisa is the most important composer working today. Yes, he is often obscure, and yes, his work tends to appeal to the elite. Nevertheless, it is crucial to the future of the American musical theatre that his work is preserved, and I hope and pray that record labels like Ghostlight and DRG realize this, and start preserving his brilliant work. RCA recorded Sondheim's work WITHOUT QUESTION. Why isn't someone behind LaChuisa? It boggles my mind.

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 6:13pm

i think you see Lippa's version produced more often out in the provinces simply becuz the rights are cheaper.

Not a value judgement, just a fact.

[larryjackieemmiejoe]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 6:29pm

bwaysinger-

i'm actually the director of the proposed 'wild party' at nyu.
we're still in the midst of the proposal process. tomorrow we go in for our interview (cross your fingers...and toes...and other extremities) and we should know if we've been approved soon after. but i'll definitly keep you informed.

[andyf]

Posted: 11/19/04 at 11:05pm

"But thank god for shows like All Shook Up, eh?
God knows I'd much prefer catalog musicals than the Wild Party any day. ;P "




Sorry to go back there, but I was annoyed that you thought you were so clever.

My profile doesn't say "YAY ALL SHOOK UP!!!" it says "YAY CHEYENNE!!!"

Don't you remember one of the many reason all the Brooklynites were so annoying? ...because they were raving about the show when they had never even seen it, months before it had even started previews here. So I'm sorry for being excited that someone - who I HAVE seen perform - who is THAT talented is finally getting some of the recognition he's always deserved.

Sorry again for interrupting. Continue your civilized discussion.
(This is where you scoff and go "Civilized??" and quote my first post. )

Updated On: 11/19/04 at 11:05 PM

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 1:19am

anyway...
i'd like some of your opinions on:

Mandy as Burrs
Tonya as Kate
The d'Armano brothers.

I felt that the major weakness in the cast was Yancey Arias who played Black. I have never heard him do anything else - and probably rightfully so. But actually BreakingtheCircle, the Broadway cast actually had much more star power: Toni Collette, Mandy Patinkin, Tonya Pinkins, Norm Lewis, Michael McElroy, Eartha Kitt, Marc Kudisch...

[wildparty20]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 12:26pm

I really wish they had made a recording of LITTLE FISH. I bought the libretto and it looks very interesting.

I got back last week from seeing LaChiusa's new work THE HIGHEST YELLOW in DC. I live in Michigan, so it was quite a haul for a show, but I am a devoted fan of Michael John's work. I fell in love with his work after seeing his Broadway production of THE WILD PARTy twice. THE HIGHEST YELLOW solidifies even further Michael John's leading voice in the world of musical theatre. The score soars to heights of beauty and complexity. I'm 24 and I was heartened to see a group of about 5 teenagers in the audience loving every second of this incredibly difficult new piece. They led the standing ovation at the end of the show. It gave me hope that this kind of intricate, moving, and serious work will have a following in this world of rap and hip hop, albeit a small one. THE HIGHEST YELLOW runs through December, if you are in the area, go see it. You won't regret it (it stars Jason Danielly, Judy Kuhn, and Marc Kudisch). It's great to see the Broadway performers on such a small stage and feeling their raw talent unmic-ed and in your face with a 10 piece orchestra (with orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick). Their true abilities and gifts are even more appreciated.

[fiyeros_elphaba]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 5:44pm

I didn't know there was one besides Lippa's...

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 6:56pm

that's not surprising....

[kyle33nyc]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 3:15pm

THANK YOU a million times over for starting this thread! I love this web site, but too often I feel like everyone here thinks that Wicked and Rent and the beginning and end of all conversation on musical theater.

LaChiusa's Wild Party is in my humble opinion the best new show to hit Broadway in the past ten years. It's difficult, dark and moody, so I can understand why it wasn't a huge success. But why were the critics so unmoved? I thought it was beautiful, and enjoyed it even more the second time I saw it.

I agree with leomaxfrank's comment that Yancey Arias was the weak link of the show. He was handsome, but couldn't sing like the other principles. And what an amazing cast... I liked Toni Collette quite a bit before the show, but I had no idea what a brilliant singing actress she was. She deserved the Tony that year, as did Marc Kudish (sp?) for his supporting role as Jackie. And Eartha Kitt stole the show in her two big numbers... Damn, they were all great!

I could gush on and on about this show. I appreciate the fine work by Lippa, but LaChiusa is truly a Broadway legend in the making. I hope that he keeps making the shows he wants to make rather than the shows producers want him to make.

Kyle

[Justice]

Posted: 12/30/04 at 3:20pm

Don't forget, Toni was nominated for an Oscar that year, and was robbed of that one, too.

Posted: 12/30/04 at 10:26pm

Agreed on all accounts--amazing work.

It's shocking that so many LaChiusa works aren't recorded (Hal Prince's Petrified Prince, R Shoman, Nutcracker, Little Fish, the various shorter works, etc etc...)

E