Update on Houdini Musical

#1

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 11/2/10 at 4:01pm

2012 perhaps?

Danny Elfman gives an interview to Entertainment Weekly.

>>>Elfman spent the last week in New York meeting with Sorkin, O’Brien, Slater, and a producer to discuss the show. “Right now Aaron Sorkin is writing,” says the composer. “He’s writing away, and we all have high hopes that Aaron’s going to come through and do some good stuff.”

Next up is a first reading of the script, scheduled for January. After that, Elfman estimates that the show could open in early 2012 — though we wouldn’t be surprised to see it on Broadway even sooner if the reading goes well.<<<
Elfman has High Hopes

#2

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 11/2/10 at 5:05pm

with Aaron Sorkin working on this, I just got way more excited. speaking of which, any update on the revival of A Few Good Men that was supposed to be in the works?

#3

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 11/2/10 at 8:18pm

It sounds like an incredible creative team --

Jack O'Brien at the helm, Danny Elfman as composer, Glenn Slater as lyricist, Aaron Sorkin for the book, David Rockwell as set designer ( and co-producer)!

And with Hugh Jackman to lead the box office assault - it is going to be a producer's dream

#4

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 2/23/11 at 11:40am

In an interview with Aaron Sorkin, he talks about the plays he has written and when "Houdini" might come to Broadway - fall of 2012.

>>>Sorkin says he's working on the book for a musical about Houdini, to go up in the fall of next year, as well as a movie script and a new TV series. But if he ascends to the stage of the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles Sunday to accept an Academy Award, New York helped him get there.<<<

Sorkin Interview

Updated On: 2/23/11 at 11:40 AM

#5

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 2/23/11 at 3:27pm

Don't you mean fall of 2012?

#6

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 2/23/11 at 3:29pm

>>>Don't you mean fall of 2012?<<<

Oops, yes I did. Went back and corrected it. Thanks for pointing it out.

#7

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 2/23/11 at 6:37pm

What a long wait!

I wonder if part of the reason for the delay is that Hugh will likely be doing worldwide promotion for his Darren Aronofsky-directed movie The Wolverine, due out in spring 2012?

It seems there is renewed interest on Houdini because I've just read about a new movie on his fictional exploits with Arthur Conan Doyle that has been announced for development.

Updated On: 2/23/11 at 06:37 PM

#8

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 2/23/11 at 6:55pm

just a loving reminder that perfect people in a show does not always a smash hit make (i.e. Spiderman)

---

"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."

#9

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 2/23/11 at 6:56pm

What perfect people are in Spiderman?

#10

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 2/23/11 at 7:11pm

Spidey aside, JR has a point.

Hal Prince, Alfred Uhry, Kurt Weill music, Michael Cerveris, and Donna Murphy led to LoveMusik
David Yazbek, Jeffrey Lane, Bartlett Sher, Patti Lupone, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Laura Benanti led to WOTV
Arthur Laurents, Richard Maltby Jr, Charles Strouse, Joanna Gleason and Barry Bostwick led to Nick and Nora
Comden and Green, Jule Styne, Michael Kidd and Carol Lawrence led to Subways are for Sleeping
Jule Styne, Bob Merrill, Gower Champion and Angela Lansbury led to Prettybelle

It's good to be excited, but let's not assume a second coming.

---

"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.

#11

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 2/23/11 at 7:28pm

True, some well-anticipated shows do not become Broadway hits -- but there is reason to be excited about a show that has :

*Jack O'Brien ( despite Love Never Dies), a TONY awardee for both a musical and a Shakespearean play
*Danny Elfman - a multi- Oscar nominee for his film scores
*Glenn Slater - current Oscar nominee for Best song
*Aaron Sorkin - we'll see how he fares on Monday's Oscars.
*David Rockwell - Kodak theater, Oscars 2009
*Hugh Jackman - he has a record on Broadway for turning not-so-great material into smash hits ( TBFO and A Steady Rain).

Houdini - people are still fascinated by the world of magic and Houdini is probably the most famous magician who ever lived.

So, there is much reason for the anticipation

Jo

Updated On: 2/24/11 at 07:28 PM

#12

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 2/23/11 at 7:45pm

Quality aside, history shows us that Hugh Jackman in any show, regardless of it's good or not, will sell out.

#13

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 2/24/11 at 11:34am

More confirmation of the 2012-2013 opening for HOUDINI and an interesting article on another member of the creative team, lyricist and current Oscar nominee for Best song, Glenn Slater.

http://jimhillmedia.com/editor...ot-tangled-quot.aspx


>>...And did I mention the other musical that Slater is currently working on with Aaron Sorkin of "The Social Network " fame? Which will attempt to musicalize the life of Harry Houdini? Only - this time around - instead of crafting lyrics for Menken's music, Glenn will be working with Tim Burton's longtime musical collaborator Danny Elfman?

And given that this Houdini musical is supposed to open on Broadway for the 2012 - 2013 season ... <<<

#14

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 2/28/11 at 12:29am

Congrats to Aaron Sorkin for winning an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay ( Social Network)!

#15

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 7/3/11 at 3:58am

With Jackman now doing the Les Mis movie as well as Wolverine and Sorkin with his new tv show, is Houdini still moving ahead? Jackman's also been attached to the Big Fish musical, which seems to be more of a certainty than Houdini. Anyone know the latest?

#16

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 7/3/11 at 4:54am

I have been waiting as fast as I can for this show!! Whatever gets Danny Elfman on the Broadway scene is fine by me. Can we please follow it up with a staged Nightmare Before Christmas? If we're going to be making movies into musicals, why not one of the most imaginative musical movies ever??

#17

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 7/3/11 at 4:58am

I have a feeling that Jackman will choose this role over recreating a role done by a fellow "Hollywood" star. He is a good stage acor as far as I can tell.

#18

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 7/3/11 at 7:11am

It seems the buzz during the HJ show in San Francisco was that Stephen Schwartz may be composing the new score, vice Danny Elfman. He was seen at the Opening of the Jackman show along with Jack O'Brien. Aaron Sorkin who was supposed to have been doing the book was also seen with Hugh Jackman having a meal together in San Francisco. After WOLVERINE 2 and LES MISERABLES, presumably on Jackman's schedule next year, he will only have time for a Broadway show in the second half of 2012? Maybe the new Houdini score would have been completed by that time?

Hopefully, we can get further clarification on his Broadway musical theatre intentions when Hugh is up for media appearances prior or at the opening of his Toronto show?

#19

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 7/3/11 at 10:47am

jo, I thought there were two different Houdini musicals in development: the Elfman one and the Schwartz one.

#20

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 7/3/11 at 12:40pm

Well, Elfman did make comments that he was finding the process of writing for a musical very difficult. Perhaps he backed out or was replaced.

Jackman has 3 films in pre-production right now and is also attached to a new film version of Carousel and a new movie musical based on the life of PT Barnum (apparently not adapted from the stage musical 'Barnum') with Anne Hathaway. One of these may be going into production in late 2012. Beyond that he's rumoured to be attached to a few other movies as well (like a new Sunset Boulevard if that's still happening).

Sorkin is very busy with his new TV show.

Everyone involved seems to be too busy to make this happen, with the exception of O'Brien who seems to have nothing in the works

#21

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 7/4/11 at 12:14am

Mr. Jackman is attached to every musical ever written, it would seem. There seem to be two films in "pre-production" but one of them is - a cartoon. One is Wolverine, but if that's slated for 2012 shooting they most certainly are NOT in pre-production NOW.

#22

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 7/4/11 at 12:18am

Wolverine 2 is on hold until they find a director willing to be attached to the project for more than two weeks.

#23

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 7/4/11 at 4:45am

Jackman said a few days ago that Wolverine starts shooting in October. Reports say the new director James Mangold. Les Mis is supposed to start shooting shortly after Jackman's done with Wolverine (early 2012)

#24

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 7/4/11 at 8:26am

My understanding, after chatting with HJ after one of his concert performances in San Francisco, was that Schwartz is writing the score for another new show HJ is interested in: BIG FISH, a musical adaptation of the film. That project appears to be on more of a front burner than HOUDINI. But as we all know, projects can zoom ahead or crumble into dust in the blink of an eye.

#25

Update on Houdini Musical

Posted: 7/4/11 at 10:42am

Andrew Lippa is writing the BIG FISH score. Elfman is off the HOUDINI project. Schwartz considered writing it for a time, but ultimately that isn't happening. (There aren't two HOUDINI musicals.)