What musical should Meron and Zadan do next?- Page 17

[tazber]

Posted: 12/11/13 at 9:56pm

From Riedel's column today (so take it for what it's worth):

From what I hear, “Grease,” “Oliver!” and “Fiddler on the Roof” are on the list.

The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization is plumping for another one of its titles. “The King and I” appears to be the favorite.
Link

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 12/11/13 at 10:05pm

As dark as OLIVER! can be, I still feel it has the widest appeal among those titles.

[Jonwo]

Posted: 12/11/13 at 10:11pm

I imagine Oliver! could do a coproduction between Meron, Zadan and Cameron Mackintosh and perhaps a UK broadcaster if NBC wanted to split the cost, maybe have the BBC or ITV involved and have a mix of British and American actors.

It'll be interesting if The Sound of Music is a seller on DVD/Blu-Ray internationally, I imagine given the success of the broadcast, a number of broadcasters will acquire the rights to show it as a holiday special

[Playbilly]

Posted: 12/11/13 at 10:17pm

The King and I is good choice. Familiar songs, lots of kids, R&H. Only problem is that the movie already is pretty stage-bound.

Who is Audra gonna play?

[jo]

Posted: 12/11/13 at 11:09pm

Maybe Audra can be Mme Thiang, although Lea Salonga can also play that role?

There are two leads and other secondary roles, so the casting can be wider. The musical has a more exotic touch, but some of the roles can be played with color-blind casting. Yul Brynner was not Oriental ( not Southeast Asian anyway) in real life but he was the definitive King.

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 12/11/13 at 11:22pm

Audra would make a fabulous Lady Thiang, but I think Lea Salonga would be better suited. Something Wonderful is always the highlight of the score.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/11/13 at 11:34pm

Love THE KING AND I, but it's certainly less family friendly than SOUND OF MUSIC. Not nearly as syrupy. The Tuptim/Lun Tha storyline is fairly dark.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 12/11/13 at 11:38pm

After just watching Kelly Clarkson's Christmas special, I would love to see her have a crack at Belle in Beauty and the Beast. It's obviously family friendly and she could belt the crap out of Home and A Change in Me. Not that NBC would ever be able to get the rights from Disney...

Updated On: 12/11/13 at 11:38 PM

[jo]

Posted: 12/11/13 at 11:45pm

So long as Hugh Jackman reprises the role of GASTON

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/11/13 at 11:55pm

It might be awfully silly of me to Suggest it, but part of me wonders whether broad TV audiences today wouldn't find some of THE KING AND I a bit racially insensitive. I don't think you could get away with casting non Asian actors in the roles, at least...

[Liza's Headband]

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

Agreed, Michael. Same goes for the Indians in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, even though it's a completely different tone and approach.

If Riedel's list is accurate (did he mention PETER PAN?), OLIVER! is the closest to Greenblatt's description of a classic family-friendly musical. Either way, I imagine we'll known within the next several weeks to a month.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/12/13 at 12:13am

What's the chance they'll do BARE?

[JohnyBroadway]

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

I won't be surprised if Zadan and Meron will team up with Cameron mackintosh and Samantha Barks will play Nancy.

[Liza's Headband]

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

Samantha Barks as Nancy?! Too pretty. Too innocent. No way. I absolutely adore the suggestion to have Adele as Nancy.

[Michael Bennett]

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

Riedel didn't mention PETER PAN but I assure you it's being strongly considered.

[JP2]

Posted: 12/12/13 at 2:06am

"After just watching Kelly Clarkson's Christmas special, I would love to see her have a crack at Belle in Beauty and the Beast. It's obviously family friendly and she could belt the crap out of Home and A Change in Me. Not that NBC would ever be able to get the rights from Disney... "

She certainly proved she's a better singer and actor than Underwood, although the former was already known...

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/12/13 at 2:19am

I wonder what "major star" they're looking to mount a FIDDLER production around.

And I really hope it's not GREASE. The stage version is...not great. My vote goes to THE KING AND I.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/12/13 at 6:36am

Samantha Barks as Nancy?!

She would never draw a third as many viewers as Carrie Underwood. Most people still don't know her name. You have to think of people who have had huge hit records and are well known on TV.

And I agree with MB. You could never get away with non-Asian actors in the Asian roles in The King and I today, especially on TV. The backlash would be huge.

Updated On: 12/12/13 at 06:36 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/12/13 at 6:43am

I wonder what "major star" they're looking to mount a FIDDLER production around.

That's my biggest problem with choosing that show. What huge movie star or TV or recording stars could play Tevye and Golde? Even if you threw in someone like Lea Michele in the supporting role of Tzeitel.

I actually think they went about this right the first time. Pick the star first, then decide what show she's (or he's) going to do.

Updated On: 12/12/13 at 06:43 AM

[madbrian]

Posted: 12/12/13 at 7:48am

After seeing Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton together, I'd cast them in Annie Get Your Gun. The ratings would be incredible.

[tazber]

Posted: 12/12/13 at 8:53am

Regarding the King and I's potential cultural insensitivity:

I've heard this argument many times, but it's a period piece. It's before Thailand and I think most people understand that.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/12/13 at 8:56am

I don't think people would have trouble with that. The injustice is explored, and the whole story is about trying to get someone who is mired in his own traditions and beliefs to see things in a different way.

But don't cast a whitey or Latino in that part, or there will be hell to pay.

Jackie Chan! Ken Jeong!

... opposite Kelly Clarkson!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/12/13 at 8:59am

Please not Grease!! We really don't need a censored version of the show. If you want to do Grease live, take it to HBO and do the script as written.

[tazber]

Posted: 12/12/13 at 9:03am

Oh, I see.

So the issue is the casting. I can see that.

[madbrian]

Posted: 12/12/13 at 9:17am

"That's my biggest problem with choosing that show. What huge movie star or TV or recording stars could play Tevye and Golde?"

I could see Robin Williams as Tevye.