Weissler's DIRT- Page 2

[DAME]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 6:01pm

I also think that they unjustly get viliefied for their stunt casting. They have figured out that during the blah end of summer time and during the brutal winter is when box office needs a iittle boost with some kind of a name. And I have loved a lot of their choices. Jennifer Holiday as Morton in Chicago, Brooke Shields in Anything Goes, Reba in Annie.... I loved being able to see these people do these shows. As to the whole Melanie thing. They were very smart and took a huge chance in doing that.

[alterego]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 6:05pm

They produced the recent Broadway revival production of CABARET in Australia when no one else would have attempted it.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 6:06pm

Anyone who has the guts to bring Falsettos to Broadway has earned my respect.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 6:12pm

"they have produced some not revivals". But certainly not "original" works.

Seussical - this is the only original show I credit them for.

My Thing Of Love - transfer from Steppenwolf that lasted 2 weeks

Falsettos - more of a revival really. Playwright's Horizons had already developed it and Hartford Stage produced the two one acts together before Broadway.

Haarlem Nocturne - transfer from LaMama ETC

[gettinhep]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 6:34pm

Hmm. Now I can't get Forbidden Broadway's 'Fran and Barry Infomercial' out of my head.

[bdwybelle]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 6:46pm

Although the Weissler's may be producing hits and be giving many actors good jobs in long-lasting shows, I have two friends who have worked with the Weisslers and had bad experiences with them. That feeling was shared with most of cast. Overall they have made themselves good business people but the choices they make are not always the best for everyone.

[billygoatgirl300]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 6:48pm

gettinhep I was thinking the same thing!

I had only seen one Weissler show and that was Wonderful Town and I thought it was very good. Seeing how I have not seen any of their other shows I can't make a judgement about them.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 7:11pm

My very first job in the city was in their office. I was there for two years. For every actor who complains about them, there are 20+ people in their office for 8-10 hours a day who have it much worse.

I have actor friends who have worked for them, and some have had terrible experiences, and some have been respected by them and done well working for them (those have been the ones whom I've had the chance to had long talks with beforehand so they know what they are getting into and how to negotiate with them).

They are not artistes - they are businesspeople who love theater. They keep a lot of people employed although we may not like their methods of doing so.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 7:29pm

Having worked with them twice, all i have is the upmost respect for them.

Just try to imagine live theatre with out them..

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 8:56pm

I agree with the fact that they're casting choices can be very flawed, but sometimes they are genious. Who would have thought of Brooke Shields as Roxie Hart? But then again why would anyone attempt to get Britney do "Charity"? They obviously have made mistakes, but who hasn't? My only issue with them is probably the fact that I don't think they stood up for Donna Murphy during the run of Wonderful Town, but I might be wrong. I don't think they're that evil because stars like Charlotte D'Amboise, Janine LaManna, Brooke Shields, and Brent Barret keep working for them.

[ShuQ]

Posted: 11/30/05 at 9:01pm

Exactly ray. They have put so many amazing performers on Broadway that perhaps wouldn't have gotten the opportunity. Regardless of your opinion or their "dirt", I think everyone can agree that Broadway wouldn't be the same w/o them.

[alterego]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 12:18am

But what are the bad experiences that everyone keeps mentioning?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 1:35am

We have previously discussed the problem that happened with Bebe Neuwirth; when she returned as Velma Kelly in Chicago, she wanted to get paid as much as Bernadette Peters was getting for Annie Get Your Gun (another Weisslers' show)but she was denied the same salary. Is this the Weisslers' fault or Neuwirth's? Does she deserve to get paid the same salary as Peters? It can be argued that one role is more demanding than the other, or that one star is more box office appealing than the other.
Another issue people have with them is that they also mistreated Ute Lemper, I don't know exactly what happened, I do know they put her on the tour and I think she was supposed to be on Broadway, not sure, someone please expand on this.

[jimmirae]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 6:11am

You know, I don't think everyone hates them, It is just that they are sooooo "Bigger Than Life" kinda Producers and will pull out all the stops on what may be a long shot, and for that we all tip the hat to them indeed. Who knows, They may be working on a Revival of "Sugar Babies" right now Starring Bette Midler & Billy Crystal - now wouldn't that be a hoot!! Much more bawdy than the original but I'll betcha Fran & Barry could sell it out!! They - in the words of Bette Midler, can truly turn chicken shi& into Chicken Salad! Of course, If Bette & Billy aren't available, I just know Nick Lachey & Jessica would love to show Broadway that there are no hard feelings between them and they would jump to do it as well, LOL!!! (They can even give sister Ashlee one number, the one where all the birds fly out and poop on her while she warbles, LOL!!!)

[clarky]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 8:23am

so are the weisslers husband and wife or siblings? I know it's a weird question, but he makes such a gay impression...

[WOSQ]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 9:31am

I worked for these awful people before they made their Broadway move and they were stinkers then. They have no class and think they do because they have money. God, they're the Donald Trumps of Broadway!

Bran and Farry are lawsuit happy. They will sue people when things go wrong because nothing is ever their fault.

They give producers a bad name and that says a whole lot when you think about it.

If you ever work for them in any capacity, put your armor on.

I get the shivers thinking about them. Martha Stewart goes to jail and they walk freely.

Ain't there no decency left?

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 10:17am

"Martha Stewart goes to jail and they walk freely."
---WOSQ

Why... Have they committed any felonies that you know of?

(Not being cute, either. I don't mean "artistic crimes," I mean real ones.) Or perhaps that was just a (bad) joke?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 10:37am

I hope The Apprentice musical they were producing with Trump doesn't happen.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 10:43am

janine lamana is a star?

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 12:01pm

Janine LaManna has been working for them since about 1997, the first CHICAGO national tour.

And she still works with them, so they do have a good relationship with her.

And Janine has quite a bit of theatre credits, you may want to check that out. She has done a lot. And she usually gets very good reviews, from the critics and Broadway fans.(Seussical, Sweet Charity, Candide etc)

I wish the Weisslers bought the rights for a BYE BYE BIRDIE revival, and had Janine leading as Rosie. They would be so great.
Updated On: 12/1/05 at 12:01 PM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 12:03pm

I just don't get the Janine LaManna fascination. Not that you're not entitled to it, but I just find her to be a cold presence on stage with serviceable skills. She works in a crunch, but she lacks the spark for me that makes someone a star.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 12:03pm

ljay, I don't think LaManna would be considered a star. She is a working actress, which is fantastic - many people would love to have her career - but she is not a star.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 12:06pm

Oh, I agree. Not a star yet.

But the average Broadway fanatic knows who she is. She isn't a big star, but she's not an unknown ensemble girl.

and she does have a lot of credits, regional, broadway, staged concerts, etc.
Updated On: 12/1/05 at 12:06 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 12:16pm

"Overall they have made themselves good business people but the choices they make are not always the best for everyone."

That one sentence could apply to dozens of Broadway producers, living or dead.

PS - Janine LaManna stopped the show with All For You in Seussical the night I saw it. She was hilarious and charming and deserved a Tony nod for that performance. She was absolutely the best thing about that show.

[zelda]

Posted: 12/1/05 at 12:21pm

sorry craig. i have to agree with some of the other posters. they arent lovers of theatre. money yes. ...but theatre? not so sure.
but yes we all must be greatful they are employing actors. that is the upside