What musical should Meron and Zadan do next?- Page 12

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 12:45am

There is no family appeal to MY FAIR LADY. I believe KING AND I might be more realistic option. Either way, we know the choice will be an older classic since Bob Greenblatt stated as much in an interview today. That eliminates such titles as ANNIE, GREASE, and so on.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 12:51am

King and I would be great too, although they may decide not to pull from the Rodgers and Hammerstein canon again so soon after Sound of Music. And the King's death isn't much of a happy ending.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 12:58am

Liza - that's not exactly what Bob Greenblatt said.

"In a telephone interview, the three men said they had begun work on selecting another musical. Mr. Greenblatt said they were 'circling a couple of titles' that fit their prerequisites: family-friendly Broadway classics with a lot of familiar songs."

That doesn't necessarily mean the show has to be ancient.





Updated On: 12/10/13 at 12:58 AM

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 12:59am

Lea Salonga would make a fab Lady Thiang, and if they wanted another AI for Anna, Kelly Clarkson. Christian Borle could play Sir Edward Ramsey.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 1:02am

I mentioned here earlier (or in another thread) but I think THE KING AND I is unlikely. Pretty sure the Broadway revival scheduled for next season will be broadcast instead on PBS's LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER







Updated On: 12/10/13 at 01:02 AM

[jonahke]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 5:18am

No, please not Grease! The movie was amazing, but no one can beat John Travolta and Olivia!
I hope they'll do a live version of A Chorus Line! (and I hope it will be better than the movie, which was awful!)
But I also think that Singin' In The Rain would be a really good idea

Updated On: 12/10/13 at 05:18 AM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 9:02am

Here is what I think fits the tv audience and has star casting options:

The Secret Garden
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
A Christmas Story
How To Succeed In Business
Big River

[madbrian]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 9:06am

But Goth, I don't think any of those fit the "family-friendly Broadway classics with a lot of familiar songs" as described by NBC's Bob Greenblatt.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 9:20am

"I don't think any of those fit the "family-friendly Broadway classics with a lot of familiar songs"

He's going to have to be talked out of that notion. The reason there are familiar songs is because they are over done. It's a difficult balancing act because you want to draw in both children and adults.

Out of the rest of the R&H catalog, I can see them doing Oklahoma or The King & I, but I think that might bore the under 18 crowd. I'd like to see Carousel, but I think it's a bit too dark.

[madbrian]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 9:35am

I think Oliver fits the bill, and it's not over done. It wouldn't be my first choice, but it does allow for star casting of Fagin, Nancy, and Bill.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 10:02am

I also would like to see a good production of Oliver. However, is it too dark for the holiday season? I was hoping that the next professional production of the musical Oliver would be darker.

Everybody always thinks of pretty blue-eyed, blonde haired Shani Wallis leading a merry band of boys Peter Pan style. I want to see the drug addicted, emotionally dependent, abused, downtrodden Nancy.

If they were to do Oliver, I know she wouldn't do it, but I'd love to see Patti LuPone do the "I Shall Scream" number. Many productions cut this song now.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 10:20am

Mary Poppins

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 10:23am

As long as it's not anything with any sort of technicolor garment.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 10:24am

I still want to see The Secret Garden with Lilla Crawford, Daniel Huttlestone, Patrick Wilson and Laura Benanti.

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 10:34am

On the Town could be interesting!

[Matt1]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 11:40am

The Secret Garden
Oliver
King and I
Christmas Story

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 11:42am

They want a show with a lot of songs that the public knows.

[jetts7]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 12:02pm

The Wizard of Oz starring Ariana Grande!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 12:06pm

Interesting comment by Craig Zadan in the Times article:

"Social media played a pivotal role in the success of the show,” Mr. Zadan said, noting Twitter and Facebook traffic “that lasted the entire performance and beyond.”

In other words, Craig is saying that the fact that the snarky comments lasted for the whole length of the broadcast actually helped boost the ratings.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/10/arts/television/a-network-is-buoyed-by-sound-of-music-ratings.html?_r=0

Updated On: 12/10/13 at 12:06 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 12:18pm

NBC entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt, who also moonlights as a Broadway producer (9 to 5, The Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder), told the news outlet they were "circling a couple of titles," adding that they were only looking for mainstream musical theater classics that contain familiar songs.

... in case anybody doubted this. "Mainstream musical classics with familiar songs." Only.

After Sound of Music Success, Broadway Will Go Live Again on NBC in 2014

Updated On: 12/10/13 at 12:18 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 12:20pm

The problem I see with Oliver is that the star is a 10 year old boy. They can cast big draw names in the 3 adult supporting roles, but is there a 10 year old who can bring in as large an audience as Underwood?

Maybe whoever is famous on the Disney Channel at the moment.

[darquegk]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 12:24pm

Oliver is the title character, but far from the star and drawing role. You can plug any kid of talent into the part, because the showy drawing roles are the adults.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 12:24pm

They won't promote the 10-year-old, except to perhaps have a nationwide search for him and make a reality special out of it.

As for the three "supporting" roles, they're almost as big as the role of Oliver. At least Nancy and Fagin are. And if you cast Adele, Hugh Jackman, and Collin Farrell (as we "dream cast" earlier in the thread), you would have your 18 million viewers again.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 12:28pm

"Mainstream musical classics with familiar songs." Only.

Familiar to whom? What people on this board think is familiar is not the same as what people in Idaho think is familiar.

"We Need A Little Christmas" is familiar, so do we believe that Mame will be the next title? I'm sure they will compare that to "Bette Midler Gypsy" but how many children are going to tune in to see a madcap old lady sing "If He Walked Into My Life." And is Mame family friendly?

"Annie" is already overdone.

I think they are going to have to change their thinking on the "familiar song" idea.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 12/10/13 at 12:29pm

I need Mame with Debbie Harry as Mame and Madonna as Vera and I need it now.