Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?

[theaterdude87]

Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#1

Posted: 12/22/06 at 12:47pm

I remember when I saw the show, I thought it was fantastic. The cast seemed very strong from what I remember. But then when Tony time came around they were overlooked and wound up with nothing. Why did it not do as well as it should have. So many people love the movie.

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[purpleprince101]

re: Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#2

Posted: 12/22/06 at 12:49pm

it didn't live up to the movie Updated On: 12/22/06 at 12:49 PM

[BreeDaniel]

re: Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#2

Posted: 12/22/06 at 12:49pm

I totally agree. What I really loved about SNF is although it was ridiculous, it was truly fun and harmless. I saw it several times and I usually don't have the stomach for such shenanigans. Orfeh was incredible (ROBBED of a Tony nomination--how did she and Sherie Rene Scott of Aida get snubbed in favor of Ann Hampton Callaway and Laura Benanti of Swing again?) and Sean Palmer was a big improvment over James Carpinello in the lead in the show's second year. And I don't care what anyone says--Arlene PHilips' dancing was really great.

[broadwayguy2]

re: Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#3

Posted: 12/22/06 at 1:42pm

gotta love Sean Palmer... the underused highlight of the current apple tree.

[Jimmcf]

re: Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#4

Posted: 12/22/06 at 1:49pm

I saw it as well...it just did not work (at least for me)

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[papalovesmambo]

re: Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#5

Posted: 12/22/06 at 1:51pm

it was the man. c'mon now, ya'll know who i'm talkin' about. the man put the word out, "ain't no show about disco gonna run on my broadway." after that? man it was lights out.

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he was the gimmicky sort

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[jimnysf]

re: Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#6

Posted: 12/22/06 at 5:28pm

I loved it on Broadway and on tour. Richard Blake was great as Tony and much better than James Carpinello. Orfeh was also excellent as was Aileen Quinn (from the "Annie" movie) who played the same role (Annette) in the first National Tour. It was killed by the critics and the lack of Tony nominations but still lasted for more than 500 performances.

I have to admit I HATED it when I saw the non-Equity tour. The show had been trimmed, the mother looked younger than the son, the father was gone completely and the "orchestra" sounded very thin.

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[ruprecht]

re: Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#7

Posted: 12/22/06 at 5:29pm

well its simple, Carpinello sunk that ship! Still was a better show than some recent fare and it had Orfeh which was it's best asset and yes, she was ROBBED of a Tony nomination. Every Manero other than Carpinello was better.

[Phantom2]

re: Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#8

Posted: 12/22/06 at 5:35pm

James Carpinello was beyond hot.

"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer

"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher

Updated On: 12/22/06 at 05:35 PM

[Amy Archer]

re: Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#9

Posted: 12/22/06 at 5:49pm

Too many Amneris walk-ons?

[HOUFlip04]

re: Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#10

Posted: 12/22/06 at 5:50pm

so what ever happened to James Carpinello? SNF was the only broadway show he did according to IBDB. I guess he got married and left the business?

This is Harvard, not a stripper bar...

[Phantom2]

re: Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#11

Posted: 12/22/06 at 5:55pm

He was supposed to be the original Link in Hairspray. He bailed, Matty Fresh got the role, and the rest is history.

"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer

"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher

[broadwayguy2]

re: Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#12

Posted: 12/22/06 at 5:56pm

.. and so is that movie he left to do.. lol.

[Craig]

re: Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#13

Posted: 12/22/06 at 6:01pm

Yeah.. what a tragedy. He made a career choice that may or may not have been the best ultimately - but who knows. Since then he's been on TV in a few shows, got married and has a baby. If he had done Hairspray, some or all of that might not have happened. I guess it all depends on what you value as important...

"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men" - Willy Wonka

[Phantom2]

re: Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#14

Posted: 12/22/06 at 7:31pm

Same goes for Matty Fresh.

"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer

"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher

[Al Dente]

re: Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#15

Posted: 12/22/06 at 8:43pm

What does "too many Amneris walk-on's" mean Amy? Carpinello's ego ruined that show, that and his foul temper. Oh yes, and he was completely ill equipped to handle that role. He's made some very odd career decisions and I don't imagine we need to "worry" about his return anytime soon. Fever was shafted on more than one count where the Tony's were concerned(Orfeh and the choreography, being the most egregious oversights) but all the committee made obvious that year was how unbelievably inept they were when they nominated Contact (canned pop tunes and all) for best musical.

[Sylar2]

re: Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#16

Posted: 12/24/06 at 3:21pm

Was the title meant to be a rhetorical question?

[broadwayguy2]

re: Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#17

Posted: 12/24/06 at 3:32pm

hahaha! funny skylar!

[FosterChild]

re: Why did 'Saturday Night Fever' fail on Broadway?#18

Posted: 12/24/06 at 3:51pm

Sylar, I see you're just snappy on every thread.

Saturday Night Fever failed (although, it ran far longer than many a recent failer) because they screwed up with the casting Period. As good as Orfeh was and I'll chime in about her robbed Tony nomination too, she simply didn't have a big enough role to justify spending over a hundred dollars for "If I Can't Have You". The rest of the time, you had to endure Carpinello croaking his way through the songs and looking like he was going to need oxygen after every big number ended. Still, it was thousands of times better than the still running "dance" show at the Wintergarden.