We all speculated...THE BOY FROM OZ ARENA PRODUCTION 2006 WITH Hugh Jackman — Page 2

QUOTES

That "filth" was Sunset Blvd...which I believe not only kicked off his career--it got him cast in Oklahoma (Trevor Nunn directed both)--which got him the audition for X-Men.I think we all know the rest (and I know I've enjoyed all of it so far).


Let it be known it was BEAUTY AND THE BEAST that got him cast in "Sunset Blvd" which WAS a disaster down under, for very many reasons, but it was that lead to Sunset Blvd. otherwise no one would have noticed him and cast him in such a production that, yes, lead to the next big role...

It was Beauty and the Beast: which was a great show


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The argument still doesn't hold up. I saw Les Miz for the first time in 1989, when I was 15, and for the last time in 2003, when I was 29. Yes, it was around forever, but it was a great show and I loved being able to revisit it as often as I did (8 times between NY and London).


I don't care if you think the argument doesn't hold up. Me and my friends are not supposed to think in your frame of mind. If Oliver and My Fair Lady never stepped aside, we'd never have seen Jesus Christ Superstar. And if Superstar had never stepped aside, we'd never have seen Evita and Les Miserables. And Cats. And The Phantom of the Opera. And all those other 'spectacles' that STILL haven't stepped aside. Bare in mind, they've done great business AND I'M NOT TELLING THEM TO CLOSE: THAT IS NOT WHAT I SAID!! but keep some space for the youngin's to get in and let these big bastards, from last century, step aside (metaphorically) for the new successes. Let the new shows in. Let the old ones run on, because Les Mis can be around and My Fair Lady can still be a big success. And Phantom can be around and Oklahoma can still go on. GET WHAT I'M SAYING?


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Remember, it's called show BUSINESS. You can't take a show as successful as Les Miz and Phantom and just close it while the tickets are selling out every night. I remember when those shows first opened, the wait for them was ridiculous.


You know I really didn't imply that the shows would have to close. I am not an idiot. What I implied was: the shows can keep running. In this day and age, you have to expect that. But don't just let the shows keep running and take up room for everything else... so that we all have left are terrified producers who put their pride and trust in tried-and-true entities. It gets very frustrating for four people who, each, have written seven musicals between them: and nine myself.

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Everybody knows Jonathan Larson's story. What if he had lived? Would it not have been acceptable for him to write another musical, since he got his success with "Rent"? Of course not.


He WOULD be successful? or he wouldn't?


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It's the same reason I see Billy Joel concerts, even though he hasn't had a new album in 12 years--I like his music. I'll go to see new bands and try out new music any time. But if Billy and Elton are going to be Giants Stadium again, I'll be there in a second.


Yes, I know you will! And I'm not saying that Giant Stadium thing CAN'T happen. I'm saying that, around the corridor to the left, there should be a new band playing on the same night (or the same week) and three new musicals that are smash-hit successes by the youngins.

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When I say flogged I should have said, outstays its welcome.The Melbourne season of Oz started strongly but in the last four months the show was playing at about 50% capacity. Like all shows here the producers tend to be greedy and expect too long a run. Let's face it we are a small country with a small theatre going public.

I remember going to a matinee of HAPPY DAYS at Rod Laver Arena with about 4,000 seats occupied of a potential 12,000. Awful just awful.

Quite a few people (re: T Mc K) are talking about karma. Hmmm.

Let it be known: it was a very accomplished show and (visually) one of the most pleasing. But all the crap that happened just leaves a bitterness in my throat that only tells me it was, yes, filth. But good that Hugh got something out of it: even though I think it was Beauty and the Beast that lead to Sunset: and etc. Just like it was Les Mis that lead Anthony to Phantom, and then to Jekyll (and then turning around and doing something incredibly noble for his kids, by giving up what could have made him the greatest star on Broadway, by staying at home).

Which is really inspiring

In general I only have bad memories of Sunset.

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Feris, I actually think you are lucky you got the chance to be a part of a show in the first place, even if sadly all the political behind-the-scenes bullsh!t killed it for you. I feel for you because Melbourne deserved a brilliant wonderful version of that show, not Godzilla on her period pretending to be Norma Desmond.

I'd of given my right ball to see SB, because I can imagine how visually pleasing it would've been. Only if there was some quirk in space and time that could've had Debbie Byrnes replaced with Betty Buckley... then it would've been great.

Let it be known it was BEAUTY AND THE BEAST that got him cast in "Sunset Blvd" which WAS a disaster down under, for very many reasons, but it was that lead to Sunset Blvd. otherwise no one would have noticed him and cast him in such a production that, yes, lead to the next big role...

Yes, I read the Playbill bio too, I know Beauty & the Beast came first. I was pointing out that Trevor Nunn directed both--in fact, I thought I read in an interview somewhere that because Sunset closed early, he was able to go London and audition for Oklahoma.

It was Beauty and the Beast: which was a great show

I agree...but it's been on Broadway for more than 10 years now. Shouldn't they be "stepping aside" to make room for another musical....ok, not going there.

If Oliver and My Fair Lady never stepped aside, we'd never have seen Jesus Christ Superstar. And if Superstar had never stepped aside, we'd never have seen Evita and Les Miserables. And Cats. And The Phantom of the Opera. And all those other 'spectacles' that STILL haven't stepped aside. Bare in mind, they've done great business AND I'M NOT TELLING THEM TO CLOSE: THAT IS NOT WHAT I SAID!!

Don't they close when they "step aside"?

True, shows run longer than they did 50 years ago. But these shows never went away--they're revived all the time. I don't think there's a statute of limitations on how long as show is supposed to be relevant.

I loved "Rent." And I think that show did open the door for smaller off-Bway shows like "Avenue Q" and "Spelling Bee" to come to Broadway. Doesn't mean I think that Rent should step aside to make room for someone else. It's a great show...I haven't seen it in a few years, but there's a new generation of fans who are just as exciting about seeing it (as well as the movie) as I was 9 years ago.

You mentioned Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, Les Miz, and Phantom...but the creative people involved are still making musicals today. Should they step aside to give someone else a shot?

Urban, you needed to see Maria Mercede's, if see was cast instead of Deb, that show would have run for years...

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I think Maria, has always been under rated , the girl has done Chess, Nine, Cats, Chicago, Sunset and i am sure many others i am missing.

Should she have been the star over deb?, yes..Having seen sunset nearly every monday night during it's run ( don't you love free tix's )

You got a hell of a different show when deb was out, even if it was possible Hugh was better too.

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Rockfenris, I would just like to say, I completely appreciate what you are saying re: younginsl, I know how you feel. As an aussie myself I would just like to contribute a couple of things.

My concern is that it seems that the climate here in Australia is completely unable to support new productions. I mean, how many shows have closed here before they opened? Jekyll and Hyde, Hair, Godspell all come to mind. These all never happened due to a lack of interest.

Now, Australia should be proud of a big production of 'Boy From Oz', because it is all we get to see. Broadway has it all, I wish I lived there and could go and see any of a heap of shows to choose from any time I like, but unfortunately, I am currently having to wait for Australian producers to debate for 10 years, then finally make a decision to bring a big production over here. I mean, I totally respect you guys on here bagging someone out every time they start a 'Wicked' thread, because you are all sick of it. But, there are a stack of people out here that are all DYING for an announcement to be made about an Australian production of this, and Hairspray, and Avenue Q and a million other shows we never get to see.

I don't like The Boy From Oz, but I will probably see it because it's the only chance we get. Personally I would probably go and see 'The Sound Of Music' starring the entire cast of TV Soap 'Neighbours' if it was on because I don't have another option.

However, I would LOVE to see some new productions launch here. Unfortunately though, I think we need to concede that people like you and I are very few. If Jekyll and Hyde can't sell, how can a production by an unknown composer, with unknown music, unknown story etc succeed?

I don't think the producers are to blame here, it's the public that need to wake up. Maybe 'The Boy From Oz' will bring some more people back to the theatre, who knows?

Jollipops, i agree with every thing you said, but just one point: If Jekyll and Hyde can't sell, that was not the problem with that show, the producers failed to find the money.
The set was already in the theatre, the crew was waiting to go, the cast was ready, tickets had been on sale for months.

Then the day before thre first tech, the show was no more, for those lucky enough to see a run thru, the show would have been a hit.

But Australian producers over the 10 years got greedy, hoping every show that came along would be a "Phantom" and run for 8 years, we need to go back to the way it, the run of the show would be 12/16 weeks in each capital city and a return visit if need be.

That way we would never miss shows like "Kiss of the spider woman", "City of angels", "Wicked" and the list goes on and on..

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I was to work on that production of "Jekyll and Hyde". It was not poor ticket sales that killed it, the theatre was waiting to be paid, some of the crew had been there over 2 weeks, bumping the show in..The producers kept saying the money is coming, the money is coming and then nothing..there was no way to open that show with no money to stage it and run it till they found some...

I was lucky enough to sit in on the run thru in rehearsal room.

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Updated On: 10/27/05 at 01:03 AM

Well, I definitely agree

I say it from personal experience mostly… I wrote this show that would have starred Nik Janev: who was Meat Loaf on Starstruck (the Channel Nine show – if anyone knows about it). He’s a big, awesome talent: and larger than life: and (hell, I’ll say it) larger than Meat Loaf. It was an amazing show I had planned for a very long time, but no one in the city would invest in it. Bare in mind that we had the best production elements (I think) for, like, in ten years: and it was something that would have been crazily magical. We were going to do it out-doors, on the cheap (but in an eerie way: kind’a like Blair Witch onstage): but no one STILL was interested…

I, personally, ended up being the producer myself. I coughed out so much money my pocket has still got holes in it: and I have migraines thinking about it. Firstly, well, I said to all the producers: “just because you think everything has to be ‘tried-and-true’ doesn’t mean it’s going to stop me.” I became my own producer. But THEN: I couldn’t even get a director LOL. So I became the director. I couldn’t get a musical director. So I became the musical director. I couldn’t get a choreographer, stage manager, set designer, costume designer, make up and wardrobe: so I became all those too. I was just about to become the cast and orchestra (with Nik still in the lead: and he is still very passionate about the show) when my friends took me aside and said “This isn’t going to work. You’re wasting your time.” A new musical, it seems, is IMPOSSIBLE to produce!

I’ve grown up on theatre. I was raized on Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sondheim, Jim Steinman, Rodgers and Hammerstein… is there anything WRONG with wanting to be someone like them? The same goes with my friends. It’s very difficult when you’re surrounded by this majority who don’t give a damn, who couldn’t comprehend what you have to offer. And like the masters I treat everything I write as something DIFFERENT to everything else. So, for example, Little Night Music is entirely in 3/4. Pacific Overtures has an all-Kabuki cast. And Merrily we Roll Along is backwards, Sweeney has cannibals etc. etc. I won’t describe what’s different about my shows, there is a site on the web though, but I am conscious of, if something must be done (and it takes a lot of time) it has to be the best you can possibly give. Eureka wasn’t the best they could possibly give. It was half-baked. Boy From Oz wasn’t the best, because they changed it. Like the great shows, I’m conscious of revolution (and evolution) and really want to tell the best stories possible. However, the business-side are really REALLY afraid…

So, I definitely agree

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Shouldn't people be glad then that Hugh Jackman is bringing back his TONY-acclaimed role home? It is unrealistic to expect that he would be able to spend as much time as he did on Broadway for this show - perhaps that is why an arena version is what is practicable. You can't expect a show to be produced on expectations that it would lose money, given a very short run.

I think perhaps what the Aussies will see is the sense of joy that Hugh brought into the role, not just a slightly different production of the original THE BOY FROM OZ seen in Australia. I, for one, am looking forward to this new version ( hopefully I can make it to Sydney or Melbourne) which I expect to be a little different from what I had seen at the Imperial many times. If you had been at the closing show of TBFO on Broadway, what was celebrated was the great sense of joie de vivre! It seemed like we all went to a party! I don't see why that exhilarating feeling cannot be recreated in the arena production of this show.