What musical should Meron and Zadan do next?- Page 9

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/7/13 at 9:32pm

I think another consideration might be "Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". It's fun, they can cast some stars in it and it will pass network censors.

[justincharacter]

Posted: 12/7/13 at 9:40pm

"People really need to put themselves in the mindset of a television executive, not a theatre fan, if this is going to be a realistic discussion."

Fine.


What about A Christmas Carol? Menken's version?

The Wizard of Oz?







Updated On: 12/7/13 at 09:40 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/7/13 at 9:44pm

Chicago won't make it. I don't see network tv allowing a song "They both reached for the gun." And they will definitely cut Velma's Act 1 line (which is very funny): "Oh Sh*t".

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 12/7/13 at 9:46pm

Disney only distributed RNH Cinderella. Whitney Houston's production company, Zadan, and Meron held the TV rights to Cinderella.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 12/7/13 at 10:36pm

I think A CHRISTMAS CAROL, A CHRISTMAS STORY, or WHITE CHRISTMAS would all be fine choices. But I'm also thinking those choices do alienate certain demographics. It's more likely they choose a generic "holiday" musical (ex. ANNIE).

[daisybeetle]

Posted: 12/7/13 at 10:37pm

If it's going to be Peter Pan, I think it would be interesting to see an actual MALE actor as Peter. I'm imagining..Daniel Radcliffe!

Updated On: 12/7/13 at 10:37 PM

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 12/7/13 at 10:41pm

NBC tried Menken's Christmas Carol with Kelsey Grammer. (Do people have such short memories?) It was in 2004, and it was a flop. And for the purposes of this discussion, let's just say any further "...but LIVE this time!" possibilities are off the damn table, especially if it's already been done on TV in some form in recent memory.

Updated On: 12/7/13 at 10:41 PM

[justincharacter]

Posted: 12/7/13 at 10:47pm

^Oh I remember alright...

I have a good feeling it will either be Peter Pan or The Wizard of Oz. But I really don't need to see any "she's no Judy Garland!" if it is done. Updated On: 12/7/13 at 10:47 PM

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

Posted: 12/8/13 at 12:02am

I'm still pulling for Meron and Zadan to do OKLAHOMA!

[Whatshisname]

Posted: 12/8/13 at 12:33am

My fair Lady: Seth MacFarlane and Anne Hathaway

The Music Man: Seth MacFarlane and Jessie Mueller

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 12/8/13 at 1:19am

How about Katie Perry in "Sweet Charity" or Justin Timberlake and Cher in "Pal Joey?"

[HorseTears]

Posted: 12/8/13 at 2:02am

So, here's the thing. Beyond the now established fact that Carrie Underwood and Stephen Moyer were poorly cast, the biggest issues I had with "SOM Live!" were the look and feel. Those daytime soap opera sets looked so cheap and dated, the camerawork was pretty limited because it was happening live on a soundstage and everything felt a bit trapped and flat. The King and I needs to look lush and luxurious -- I worry about how chintzy that would look. And big dance musicals like West Side Story? Would the dancing feel dynamic when filmed on a limited soundstage? The other missing element for me was the audience. When the actors are performing pieces written for the stage (as opposed to tv musicals like Evening Primrose), many of these numbers cry out for applause and the audience and performer release that those moments provide. Without them, the transitions back into book scenes feel so awkward to me. In a film, you have post-production, cinematography, location, editing to give you more fluidity. I just don't see how this kind of project can ever be an artistic success. All that being said, I look forward to seeing a better-cast musical next year and I'm glad they're doing it.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 12/8/13 at 3:35am

Guys and Dolls would be great: the Carnegie Hall cast is perfect, although I think Lady Gaga could make a brilliant Adelaide. I think they'd have to find a younger Nathan depending on how they look together, but it could be great.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 12/8/13 at 3:52am

NBC will not be able to d MY FAIR LADY since CBS owns the rights They fully backed the original Broadway production to get them.)

There are very few Broadway musicals that have the kind of Universal appear of SOUND OF MUSIC. The original production got very mixed reviews and even the positive notices were not exciting raves...More qualified and favorable maybe. But the show was a big hot in New York and especially in London.

The tradition of big musicals on TV around Thanksgiving goes back to at least 1957 when Mary Martin and Jon Raitt did a live TV version of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN. A year later CBS riposted with Rosalind Russell in WONDERFUL TOWN. Of the titles suggested, PETER PAN might do best and Daniel Radcliffe still has enough boyishness to pull off the lead. But the show has a great 1st act and great final act but it sags a lot in the middle with much "filler."

Of the R&H Musicals OKLAHOMA! is perhaps second only to SOUND OF MUSIC in terms of popularity and name recognition.

Still, seeing Audra made me wish there had been TV version on RAGTIME (even In Concert.) I'm not suggesting it because it doesn't seem to have that kind of widespread appeal.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/8/13 at 7:32am

I think it's too soon to hope for a major network to push something like Ragtime or anything that's more geared for adults (although it has two supporting roles for children).

If Peter Pan, or whatever comes next, draws equally good ratings, they might consider branching out a bit. But for now, it's essentially one (small) notch above children's theatre (hey, so is Broadway these days). I actually think Peter Pan might be TOO much like children's theatre, rather than "family entertainment" like The Sound of Music.

Time will tell. I'm also curious if they'll cast a grown woman as Peter Pan, or if they'll opt for some hot "boy band" singer who can draw a bunch of tween fangirls and their mothers in to watch. Then they can lower all the keys and watch him riff his way through "Never Never Land." I don't know.

I do know that for anybody not familiar with this musical or for average TV viewers (who watch Honey Boo Boo or Dancing With the Crocodile Killers), they aren't going to go five minutes with a grown woman in the title role, even if their kids are into it. They'll find something perverted in it. Or just messed up. Trust me.

[all that jazz]

Posted: 12/8/13 at 9:49am

They don't HAVE to lower the keys. I'm a tenor, and I can sing it in the original key. So can other guys I know.

That being said, I think Peter Pan is an awful choice. I fully agree with Best, in that the show is a full on kids show. Sure it evokes nostalgia from those adults that are old enough to have seen the original, but what about the ones that didn't? Sure the title is beyond recognisable, but it is recognisable as a children's show. Unless they go with a huge teen idol in the title role, I really don't see no other reason for teens and tweens to watch and if they do go with one of those, why would the childless adults watch? Not to mention that the most popular version nowadays is the Disney one.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/8/13 at 9:55am

Justin Bieber flies and pouts!

EDIT:

"Do you Belieb in fairies? I'm a Belieber!"

Oy.

Updated On: 12/8/13 at 09:55 AM

[all that jazz]

Posted: 12/8/13 at 10:10am

I BELIEB! I BELIEB! (kidding, kidding...)

He's not big enough, but I kind of would like to see Daniel Huttlestone in the role.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 12/8/13 at 11:24am

It may not be PETER PAN, but that is a much more realistic and viable option than some of the other crazy suggestions on here (LITTLE SHOP? THE WIZ?)

[darquegk]

Posted: 12/8/13 at 11:53am

Glee is ending soon, which means that the major crop of singing-dancing-acting TV young people will suddenly be without a major network contract. And as much as the quality has slid down over time (which is MUCH MUCH MUCH), the show retains its selling power and viewer appeal. Much like Darren Criss led to landslides of popularity during his short tenure in H2$, Glee star names will bring a certain demographic to these shows if they are peppered in once in a while.

If they're going to use a male Peter Pan, Chris Colfer looks the part and could sing the original keys- unless they're too low for him. He's certainly a B-lister under Daniel Radcliffe, but the odds of getting him for a TV musical are at the same time MUCH higher than someone who is at the top of his game like Radcliffe, who would probably only be able to take a few days out of his schedule for an SNL-type event.

We're also not looking at the other elephant in the room with Peter Pan. Not just the "how do you cast it" problem, or the "children's theatre" problem. Someone somewhere, and probably lots of someones, will flip out over the Ugg-A-Wug section, which is neither innocent enough to not be racist seeming, nor satirical enough to be obviously tongue in cheek. And without Ugg-A-Wug, and its traditional insane dance extension, much of the show's oomph will be taken away.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/8/13 at 12:15pm

The whole depiction of Indians (aka "savages") in the story is going to be a problem, no question. Not just that song.

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 12/8/13 at 12:29pm

Have we ever seen Chris Colfer sing live? I wonder if it would be a recreation of the Martin production? Robbins choreography and all? or a closer readaption like the Rigby production! Which gave a nice authentic feel to the native characters. All they really need is a star Peter and a Wendy, Wendy doesn't have to be a singer. If they go for a girl performer for Pan, cast a younger actress in her 20s who's a name and has a lock in fan base. The rest of the cast can be filled by Broadway Talent. Borle can play Hook, Laura can play Mrs. darling and Wendy grown up, and Audra can narrarate. I think Kathleen Marshall would be the right person for the job to direct.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/8/13 at 12:35pm

Do we really think 18 million people will tune in to see Chris Colfer?

And as good as Christian Borle would be a Hook, that role will go to a bigger celebrity, no doubt. Maybe he could play Smee.

And Benanti would be great as Mrs. Darling.

[darquegk]

Posted: 12/8/13 at 1:06pm

I wouldn't put him in as the draw, but if they wanted a male one, everyone is saying Radcliffe, and I suspect he would be nearly impossible to get for a live TV musical. Fill the cast with other notables to make up for a star power deficiency elsewhere, no matter WHO is the lead.

Especially Captain Hook. Hook is the showy role anyway. And it's a role that, like Captain Von Trapp, requires a rather minimal amount of singing ability.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/8/13 at 1:16pm

Radcliffe is too old-looking for Peter Pan now.

Aren't there any boy-band pop singers around 16 or so? Do we have a shortage of male teen idols all of a sudden?

EDIT: I love how we're all switching genders on this role already. Maybe they'll cast a 30-somthing female instead. If they do, get ready for the Twitter-hate on that one. Ouch!

Updated On: 12/8/13 at 01:16 PM