VISIT Cancelled

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 1:35pm

What is Chita going to do?


http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm?int_news_id=3834

Updated On: 8/22/03 at 01:35 PM

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 1:44pm

Something else?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 1:47pm

Hey, Mister Smartypants, this is sad news! Don't be mean! We want Chita back in a starring role and this was gonna be it. I wonder if she passed on anything because she was contracted for THE VISIT.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 1:53pm

I am curious too if she is staying with "Nine" now for the upcoming months. Updated On: 8/22/03 at 01:53 PM

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 1:53pm

Sorry, feeling facetious and I couldn't resist. Maybe she'll reprise her magnificent turn as Roxie on Broadway now........

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 1:54pm

Ahh, Chita rocks and she seriously rules the Queen throne of Musical Theatre. Yes, she is up in age, but getting better and better. Her last straight drama was a powerhouse of emotional intensity. The House of Bernarda Alba broke Chita Rivera's typical diva dancing belting sterotype and let her show a side not often seen in the diva, the bitchy, bitter, strong willed mother of five girls type character. She was so impressive, she sent chills down my spine.

Chita is a force to be reckoned with. I hope she gets something soon, if not she's ALWAYS doing charities, and benefits, and performing. :)
HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 2:13pm

Hopefully they will get it back on track and maybe do it next year. It would be nice. Maybe they feel there are too many good shows coming up with Boy freom OZ and Wicked and Bombay Dreams and they did not want to feel crowded out.

[magruder]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 2:52pm

Looking at Jon's list, it's going to be a battle for the 4 Best Musical slots at the 2004 Tony Awards.

Three likely candidates, just as I'm pegging them in my opinion:

-Avenue Q, whether it runs or not, has earned great reviews, and will probably be one of the nominees. Surprised there's not more talk of it on this website. It's a good show. Go!

-The Boy from Oz looks like it will be a hit, thanks to Jackman, and whether critics like it or not, the Tonys love to honor financial successes with nominations. (The score, though, consisting of old Peter Allen songs, would not appear to be eligible).

-Bombay Dreams, though it received some mixed notices in London,
is getting a revamp for New York, with a new book by Thomas (Hairspray, Producers) Meehan, who can't seem to do anything wrong these days. With the Andrew Lloyd Webber imprimatur and AR Rahmun's score (most of which is lovely), it seems a likely candidate.

That leaves Wicked, Taboo and Never Gonna Dance to duke it out for the fourth spot for Best Musical, as the season stands now, without knowing what shows may suddenly appear on the horizon.

Given all of that, and that it's taken more than 10 years to get The Visit to New York, what's another year?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 2:54pm

it's sad that among all this new stuff there isn't room for the queen of musical theatre!
MY CHITA PAGE

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 2:57pm

The Public is off Broadway so Tonys aren't a consideration. Of course, shows transfer but I don't think a glut of new shows is a reason to cancel. If the show is good enough, they should have the courage of their convictions.

[magruder]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 3:00pm

Of course, but with Kander & Ebb and Chita Rivera, and commerical producers attached, Broadway is the clear objective.

[thebigkrakowski]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 3:02pm

It's too bad for Chita, but that woman ALWAYS works.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 3:02pm

Right. Hence my courage of convictions comment. If this show is such a surefire hit, why did the investors suddenly get cold feet?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 3:18pm

Pop, you may have hit the nail on the head. The show had major problems in Chicago, but everyone thought they could be fixed. Maybe it was not such an easy task afterall.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 3:21pm

Kander & Ebb are well known for tackling ridiculously hard storylines and making them work, sometimes unsucessfully....but look at what they've accomplished!

FLORA - A story about an 18 year old girl thrown into the world of communism
CABARET - duh
THE RINK - A mother who's an ex prostitute, a daughter who's an ex crack addict, who run a roller rink!
KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN - Communism in jail with a drag queen.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 3:26pm

Well, actually, Terrence McNally was in charge of the storyline for Kiss of the Spider Woman. Joe Masteroff, Cabaret (and good old Christopher Isherwood has to take some credit too). McNally, again, for The Rink, but according to many people not too well. And of course, George Abbott and Robert Russell for Flora.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 3:30pm

right, but they had to wright the music for all those unsusally storylines, they do have some unusual songs. one of my favorite scores is Flora the Red Menace. I think that's their first work. I really love the original cast album. I think everyone should give it a shot!

[sondheimfreak]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 5:45pm

Hey Robactorguy, you forgot Chicago. Talk about a WEIRD plot.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 5:51pm

lol, true that, lol

[Jeff]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 5:51pm

Chita's Best role was as Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie..Kiss of the spider woman was just sad...sorry to say.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 8/22/03 at 8:16pm

Re: Kander and Ebb:
Flora---a flop
The Rink---a flop
Kiss of the Spiderwoman---a flop
The Visit---dead in the water (Sure, producers decide to postpone bringing in their show, thereby losing revenue for a year, because other shows are coming in that season. R-I-G-H-T. The fact is they didn't have enough enhancement money to produce this turkey.)

Re: The 2003-2004 season
Bombay Dreams--banal and boring

Taboo--an abortion and the most tasteless ad campaign
EVER. The critics will disembowel Rosie O'Donnell and hang
her guts from the marquee and for good reason.

Wicked--generic score and trite book

Never Gonna Dance--unnecessary retread

The Boy from Oz---unknown (but at least has authentic
star power going for it, unlike any other show)

You heard it here first.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/23/03 at 1:12am

I think the show may have been a little bit of a dog. That may have had something to do with Angela Lansbury's withdrawel from it.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 8/23/03 at 11:43am

MusicMan..

Have you actually seen any the shows you are so critical of?

[alterego]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 9:52am

Chita = Mame.