The future of SILENCE! the Musical?

Does anybody know of a future for the show? Has there been any goossip spreading around about possibilities of a trnsfer to Off-Broadway or Broadway?

haha. yeah, sure. it's opening on Broadway next month... go get your tickets... hmm mmm...

Most people I know who have loved the songs from the website were actually a little disappointed in the stage production. They said they played it too much for cheap laughs, and that a more deathly serious approach to the absurd premise would have been more effective.

I'm sure the project will resurface in other markets (Los Angeles for sure) but I sensed a general sense of overall disappointment in the fringe mounting that will probably keep any bigger Off Broadway transfer at bay for the time being.

I think the show was a victim of hype though. Everyone expected WAY too much from the show. I went in expecting nothing and had a blast. The singing wasn't exactly top notch, but Jenn Harris totally acted her way out of her less than stellar voice. I personally think this could have a very successful run Off Broadway.

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This show could be a huge hit Off-Broadway. A Broadway production COULD work, but might be better Off.

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This show could have some success Off-Broadway, I think, but doesn't really have enough substance for Broadway. I don't even know how long it'll last Off-Broadway, since it's just a parody of one movie, which limits its audience. But with production values that include clapping chalkboard erasers, it shouldn't have a problem turning a profit. :)

True enough- I guess that was kind of a comment on Fringe production values, so maybe it wouldn't carry over to Off-Broadway.

I guess no one cares that these people did not bother to clear the rights from Thomas Harris or from the motion picture company, and they could be in very big danger of getting their pants sued off.

Silence! is an extended Saturday Night Live skit. One very long joke, and a 10 year old joke at that. How can you parody something that's already become a parody?
Nonetheless, the cast was game and Jenn Harris sublime. The audience mood was electric--that goes a long way. It will be difficult to sustain that 'limited-run, we saw it first' electricity for an open ended run.

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Updated On: 9/22/05 at 12:57 PM

if SILENCE! isn't a parody, I don't know what is. There's no ambiguity here- they don't need permission in order to stage the show.

Updated On: 9/22/05 at 02:29 PM

Exactly, Michael Bennett. This is why I'm curious about the "legal grey area" of parody.
But I'd also think, given that the Fringe run was extremely high-profile, that the owners of the rights to Silence of the Lambs would have issued a cease and desist on the production if it weren't a parody.

You must be completely insane. I am told by a respected entertainment lawyer that SILENCE does not fall under "parody" at all, although that is how they are trying to get out of paying for rights.

Obviously, with the upcoming THE WEDDING SINGER, LEGALLY BLONDE, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, CRY BABY and countless other shows based on movies, do you think that Thomas Haris, Ted Talley, and the motion picture company are going to sit back and let an unauthorized version go forward when they could be paid for rights to an authorized version?

That said, I LOVED the show. I thought it was wonderful on every level. Unfortunately, it was trashed by the Times, which is an instant kiss of death.

It may not matter.

I have been told by a reliable source that a lawsuit is already in the works.