[Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
[Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
#1[Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/18/09 at 5:50pm
Looks like Signature Theater in Arlington, VA is doing [Title of Show] next season. This is from their press release:
The Washington Premiere of
[title of show]
Music and Lyrics by Jeff Bowen
Book by Hunter Bell
Directed by Matthew Gardiner
March 30 – June 20, 2010 in the ARK
“Hilarious! A fresh new musical worth cheering!” – The New York Times
[title of show] puts the audience right in the middle of the creative process —dizzy, unpredictable, and uproarious. When faced with a festival’s submission deadline for their new musical, Jeff and Hunter can’t decide what to write about. With friends Susan and Heidi (and Larry on the piano), they come up with a solution — write about what to write about. Helen Hayes Award-winner Matthew Gardiner directs this love letter to the musical theater — a uniquely American art form — and to the joy of collaboration.
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#2re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/18/09 at 6:25pmThat will be so weird to see. I'm glad it won't be a replica of the Broadway show - same costumes, etc.
#2re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/18/09 at 6:26pm
Do we know if it'll be the original cast?
It's so weird, that's right near where I live, and I never thought I'd see [tos]. Not that I'd get to anyway, because it's chock-full of obscenity, and I doubt my parents would approve. But it'd be nice to see what all the hype is about.
#3re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/18/09 at 6:28pmI doubt it would be with the original cast, as it has a different director.
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#4re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/18/09 at 6:36pmuhhh how do you know it wont be the same costumes? like where did you get that from?
Cages or wings? Which do you prefer? Ask the birds. Fear or love, baby? Don't say the answer Actions speak louder than words. (Tick, Tick... BOOM!)
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#5re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/18/09 at 6:42pmLike, because it's a different director. Aka, different design team.
#6re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/18/09 at 8:20pmIsn't the licensed version of the script sort of a mad-lib version? Like (INSERT YOUR NAME HERE!) stuff? So it wouldn't make sense to similar costume designs. Unless your actors happen to dress like the original cast.
#7re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/18/09 at 8:56pmHow do we know the new designers won't just copy the Broadway designs? A lot of regional theatres tend to do that.
heo1128
Broadway Star Joined: 7/9/08
#8re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/18/09 at 9:34pmIt seems like it's kind of defeating the purpose of the whole "meta-musical" concept without Hunter and Jeff playing Hunter and Jeff.
#9re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/19/09 at 4:51pm
I am a current Signature subscriber though I definitely don't fit the demographic. I have to wonder what Eric Schaeffer was thinking here. I love [tos], but this will not transfer well generally speaking. I know there has been a huge debate on whether this is too insider, but really, I don't think this is a good fit for this theatre's base audience. I mean, the subscribers will come because it is part of the season and maybe some other [tos] fans, but it is way to insider for the DC crowd, generally speaking.
In any case, it does not really matter to me what they do with this show. I am not renewing my subscription because there are only two shows I want to see and the upped prices/lack of world premieres in comparison to years past are two factors.
Spider Woman
Understudy Joined: 7/4/08
#10re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/19/09 at 6:52pmSo, you aren't thrilled by the new season's offerings,( can't please everyone) but are "now renewing" your subscription??? Seems contradictory.
ghostlight2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
#11re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/19/09 at 8:24pm
I'm guessing it's a typo, Spider Woman. Substitute "not" for "now" and the post makes sense.
I'll be really interested to see how this turns out.
#12re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/19/09 at 9:15pmI don't see how a show about staying true to your own artistic vision could be labeled "too insider-y."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#13re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/19/09 at 9:23pmBecause no one in DC (or anywhere else in the country) is going to get the reference to Mary Stout and the hot dog cart.
#14re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/19/09 at 9:26pmTrue. I'm a DC-er, and I know who Mary Stout is, and I know what hot dogs are, but I don't get that reference at all.
#15re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/19/09 at 9:38pmThe Mary Stout reference isn't what the show is ABOUT.
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#16re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/19/09 at 9:45pmI used the Mary Stout line as an example to prove my point. The whole show is full of references like that that no one outside of the NY theater circle will get. it may not be what the show is about, but none of the jokes are going to land. How will that entertain people?
#17re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/19/09 at 9:48pmSchmerg disproved your point.
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#18re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/19/09 at 10:16pm
What's great about [title of show] is that they talk about how insider-y they are and what level of reference is too much. I think a lot of the audience will be comforted by the fact that they acknowledge that the are a small, insider-y musical that is a tough commercial sell.
Also, there have certainly been many shows which feature characters obsessed with obscure things (33 Variations jumps to mind), and nobody seems to complain about them. I can understand some of the argument that jokes may go over people's head, but I think a lot of the jokes can be gotten at a "that's so obscure and crazy I can't believe this is what their conversation is like" level, so you laugh at the fact that they're making such crazy references and not at the references themselves.
ghostlight2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
#19re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/19/09 at 11:00pm
"Schmerg disproved your point."
All due respect, no, Wannabe, she didn't. Schmerg didn't get the joke - but of course she hasn't heard it in context, either, which I think would have made the difference. To expand on what lull89 was saying, [tos] is funny. If you get all the references, it's funnier. And no, it's not for everybody, but it's also not just for theater geeks, either.
For Schmerg. Years ago, Mary Stout, while working on Beauty and the Beast, was actually hit by a hot-dog cart. The anecdote is recounted as a one-liner in the show, dropped casually into conversation as Jeff speaks to Hunter on the phone: "Did you hear Mary Stout was hit by a hot dog cart?".
Later, when they begin to doubt themselves, Hunter questions whether the reference is too obscure and thus whether it should be removed. This frustrates Jeff, who responds "But Mary Stout was hit by a hot dog cart". In other words, it's true, it happened, why should we cut it just because not everyone knows about it?
I've always loved the reference to Mamie Duncan-Gibbs. And if you don't know her, then really, I am so sorry for you. One of the finest Gypsies Broadway has ever offered.
ghostlight2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
#20re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/19/09 at 11:00pmbzzt! Updated On: 3/20/09 at 11:00 PM
#21re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/20/09 at 7:58amWhen I first saw [tos], about three and a half years ago, I didn't know that Mary Stout had really been hit by a hot dog cart. I learned later that it was true. I still laughed at the line and the delivery.
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#22re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/20/09 at 10:35pm
It was a typo obviously. Common sense is a wonderful thing.
In any case, I don't think the general message of the show is too-insider. I just don't think it is a particularly good fit for this theatre with the subscription base it has and it probably won't get the attention of the general DC audience. It would be better off at a place like Woolly Mammoth, but that company does not do musicals.
#23re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/20/09 at 11:01pmi think the show will do fine outside of new york. i took my brother to see it and he hadn't been to anything but rent and he loved it. he had no knowledge of theater or anything like that. i think most of the jokes are pretty funny with or without knowledge of theater. but like ghostlight said if you have that knowledge it's funnier. i had no idea who mary stout was when i first saw it but that fact that someone was hit by a freaking hot dog cart made me bust out.
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SueleenGay
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/03
#24re: [Title of Show] Returns [Sort of]
Posted: 3/20/09 at 11:05pm
Will this come to Broadway?
I love the fact that Schmerg's parents are so concerned about inappropriate language in a musical that they would not let her see this fabulous show but they will allow her to post on a message board with a bunch of homos 24/7. Fncking great 'rents.
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