This Year's NBC Musical...- Page 4

[degrassifan]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 5:36pm

Ijay889, I know West Side Story isn't sugary sweet, but I thought they were looking for a show that was well-known and can be family friendly (which doesn't necessary mean sugary sweet), and I thought WSS was "family friendly" (well, beside the rape, deaths, etc. Ok, nevermind)? Isn't the 1961 film rated G? I mean a PG rating wouldn't be bad either. BTW, love your Quad profile pic!

I know Sound of Music is well-known, but how known is this Peter Pan version? The average person does not know that the 1997 R&H's Cinderella was a remake. I hear people refer to it as Brandy's Cinderella or the Black Cinderella. Heck, people did not even know The Sound of Music was a Broadway musical first. I don't think there will be enough interest for this honestly. I think when the average person hears the title Peter Pan, they automatically think about the Disney version and will be expecting that version.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 5:42pm

Yeah, I don't know in what context people would consider WEST SIDE STORY "family-friendly." For the networks, "family friendly" means that anyone at home from the youngest kids to the grandparents can enjoy it equally. A show that includes three deaths on stage and an attempted rape (depending on the production) is not "family friendly" for a network like NBC hoping to get a massive audience.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 5:47pm

Daniel Radcliffe for Peter is actually a great idea. My vote for Captain Hook is Johnny Depp.

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 5:51pm

But what about Audra?!?

[lovebwy]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 5:55pm

The most boring, lame, predictable choice they could have made. Come on. We've SEEN this. Sandy Duncan, Mary Martin- ugh.

I was really hoping for West Side Story or Guys and Dolls.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 5:55pm

"boo. How boring. We have several LIVE versions of this already. I would have preferred Cinderella over this. BIG pass."

And we have several live versions of Cinderella already as well. How would that be any more exciting?

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 6:03pm

Actually I think Nick Jonas might be a draw. But can't imagine him doin it. Actually the role of Peter might frighten away many young male names as it has been 'feminized' in the past

So. Who?

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 6:17pm

I'll bet if this one does well, next year well get the R&H Cinderella again.

That's not a joke.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 6:19pm

At this rate, they're never going to do BAJOUR.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 6:32pm

best12bars, I definitely agree with you, especially since Disney will release a live action Cinderella movie next year as well. I will not be surprised if Cinderella occurs next year, that is if Peter Pan is successful.

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 6:34pm

My Cast....
Peter Pan-Kellie Pickler (she has the right look and energy for the part)
Captain Hook/Mr. Darling-Brian Stokes Mitchell
Wendy-Lea Michele
Mrs. Darling-Laura Benanti
Tiger Lily-Carly Rae Jepson
Smee-Nathan Lane

[lovebwy]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 6:38pm

The whole thing is just a horrible idea. It isn't going to work in 2014. Having Mary Martin play the role gave Peter an otherworldly quality- and it worked. With Sandy Duncan too. But if you put a boy (man?) in the role how the hell is it going to work??? A boy saying things like "Think lovely thoughts" and "I'm sweet! I'm sweet!". This is a terrible idea.

Updated On: 1/19/14 at 06:38 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 6:39pm

Oh, Jesus.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 7:08pm

I'm not excited for this as much but I'll still watch.
Unless that Colfer plays Peter. I can't stand his whispy, boring voice.

[Gorlois]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 7:21pm

I wouldn't be opposed to another version of "Cinderella." I like the idea of a made-for-television musical getting "revived" in its own medium every few years. Plus the music is charming, and "Cinderella" is such a lovely fairy tale.

My only reservations about Peter Pan is that the musical is not well-known to the younger generation. It hasn't been in reruns for years, and is notoriously hard to find DVD ensuring that parents can't easily share it with their children. I would say I know more about musical theatre than most 18 year old boys in my high school, but I can't name or hum a single song from "Pan." In fact, I only remember seeing it once, in first grade, more than ten years ago now. I remember it because it was so different from the other movies we watched, because of course, it was a filmed stage play. But obviously it left an impression on me. I have no idea which version it was.

On the bright side, this means that the next Pan won't have to contend with a Twitter backlash berating them for not being Mary Martin.

This will still pull in big ratings because I'm sure they'll cast big names and the Live aspect makes it both an event and an opportunity to potentially catch a trainwreck which is always alluring...

[supportivemom]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 7:22pm

I like Kristen Bell for Peter but if they want a boy- Daniel Radcliffe or Joseph Gordan Levitt. Kristen could be Tinker Bell too.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 7:28pm

I realized it isn't discussed literally in the script, but isn't it implied in the story that Peter hasn't reached puberty yet and therefore his voice hasn't changed? This is why the part is usually played by a woman; it isn't that there aren't talented teen boys who could carry the role.

Chris Colfer or some other counter-tenor could at least sing it as if his voice hasn't changed.

Maybe there's some Disney kid who could play it, but casting Zac Efron or one of the Jonas brothers rather makes the whole "I Won't Grow Up" theme pointless.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 7:31pm

Casting a boy in the role is just a horrible idea. It was written with a woman in mind and it makes sense when a woman plays it. To cast a male in it will be a friggin disaster worse than Carrie Underwood in Sound of Music.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 7:32pm

Then Justin Bieber would be perfect. He looks like a prepubescent girl. But that would make me not watch.

[musicaljen]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 7:36pm

I do hope that some of the children that were in the sound of music live, are cast
for Peter Pan. I think that Michael Nigro (Freidrich) will be great as Peter Pan.
Than have big names for Mr Darling/Captain Hook and Mrs Darling. The children in
TSOM were fantastic and they already have experience in last year's show.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 7:38pm

Stokes as Captain Hook would be wonderful.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 7:53pm

"Then Justin Bieber would be perfect. He looks like a prepubescent girl. But that would make me not watch."

But Justin can't sing, act, and he would show up two hours late. He's excellent at pissing in buckets, throwing eggs, and downing sizzurp though.

Peter Pan is a safe, lucrative, and lame choice.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 7:53pm

I personally think casting a boy in the part is a brilliant idea. I think the score couldn't be done by a boy 8 times a week, but for one performance it will be fine. The only reason Peter (as well as all of the lost boys) was originally played by a woman was due to child labor laws when the show was first performed. Woman actors have kept that tradition alive so they could play the part. It's time for the role to be cast correctly.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 8:03pm

It's time for the role to be cast correctly.

With a boy who will never grow up?

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 1/19/14 at 8:09pm

The only reason Peter (as well as all of the lost boys) was originally played by a woman was due to child labor laws when the show was first performed.

I'm sorry, Marc, but this can't possibly be true. For one thing, Mary Martin was, along with Ethel Merman, the most bankable star on Broadway. There wouldn't have been a PETER PAN without her.

For another, there were plenty of children in the show (the Darling kids, for example). And THE SOUND OF MUSIC was just a couple of years away.