Wildhorn's Wonderland is Coming to Bway!

[Jessica7]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:07pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Wildhorns_WONDERLAND_Heads_to_Broadway_Apr_17_2011_Gregory_Boyd_Directs_20100803

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:09pm

1. Philly03 just creamed his pants over and over and over again.

2. This will likely be gone by Tony time.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:11pm

Wow, I didn't think this would come to Broadway. I'd much rather see Disney Theatrical's upcoming version of Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" than this.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:15pm

Is this the one that got the doody poo-poo reviews out of town?


Leave Alice alone!!

[philly03]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:21pm

Rudddddeeeeeeeee ljay!

This will get deleted, as the other threads have today because Broadwayworld released the news a day early.

Give it a chance, it's pretty good. Very entertaining, and the reactions were twice as good as those form the audiences of The Addams Family, and to boot that was in Tampa!

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:21pm

"In this new musical featuring a new score, WONDERLAND is a story about a new Alice who has lost her joy in life. Estranged from her husband, alienated from her daughter and in danger of losing her career, Alice finds herself in Wonderland where she encounters strange though familiar characters that help her rediscover the wonder in her life while searching for her daughter."

Along the way, she unearths several power-ballads in the hope that Streisand will record them one day. Caught in a lulling vortex of introspection, she ultimately dies from boredom.

THE END.

You know, why didn't he just turn "Dream Child" into a musical? A much better premise for bringing a "modern-day" Alice (the real Alice) into the world and characters of Wonderland.

This sounds like a self-help children's book.

[Edna Turnblad]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:24pm

Of what I've seen/heard, I don't want to see this. It felt very much like a bunch of hoping to be pop hits put together. Not entertaining. Also, is it really necessary to have back up singers/dancers for every song?

[philly03]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:33pm

Bring on the haters!!! I'm surprised there's no noble crusade of some unaffliated poster saying "Why do we have to put down every new show blah blah."

The show was originally written as just songs. That's why the story has been shakey to say the least. The story is sculpted around the songs (obviously lyric changes are made).

Not every song has back up singers. The White Knight concept in this WONDERLAND is that he is the leader of a boy-band. He's boy band is always with him. The only other song that has back up singers/dancers is "Off With Their Heads" for a verse, as well as the CUT "Don't Wanna Fall in Love." Having dancers as part of the scenery isn't something so weird...

Frank will never win on this board!

[newintown]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:33pm

I am very surprised to hear this, after seeing it in Tampa. I found it to be among the ten worst things I've ever seen in musical theatre, truly painful to watch. It has one of the most incoherent, pointless, witless books of any show ever written.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:38pm

I still can't believe that that porno ALICE IN WONDERLAND flopped so badly off-broadway several years ago! Now, that was CLASS.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:45pm

The show was originally written as just songs. That's why the story has been shakey to say the least. The story is sculpted around the songs (obviously lyric changes are made).

So basically a Jukebox musical?

Frank will never win on this board!

Yeah, because he has such a GOOD track record for people to have faith in him...

Give it a chance, it's pretty good. Very entertaining, and the reactions were twice as good as those form the audiences of The Addams Family, and to boot that was in Tampa!

You asked everyone?

[perfectliar]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:45pm

So where will this show be going? The only appropriately-sized houses seem to be the Nederlander and the Brooks Atkinson. The other Nederlander theatres seem too big.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:48pm

"Give it a chance, it's pretty good. Very entertaining, and the reactions were twice as good as those form the audiences of The Addams Family, and to boot that was in Tampa!"

Speaking as someone from the Tampa Bay area... reactions don't mean a damn thing from the people there. The Tampa critics, such as they are, were kind/positive because this is the first major theatrical venture from the area.

It's not going to be received well here. And if they are indeed going into the Marquis, it'll be a tremendous flop. Bigger and better shows have failed in there. And this is a highly competitive season, packed with bigger names and better quality.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:48pm

And we'll never catch the subtle nuances in a large house.

[newintown]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:50pm

On the other hand, in a small house, everyone will lose their hearing from the shrieking noises that come from Nikki Snelson's mouth.

[philly03]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:56pm

Rumor has it it'll be the Marquis (disappointing all you who thought Catch Me or whatever would be going in there), but it seems too big. However, this is the same team that gambled to bring The Civil War to the St. James (and well, failed). I do agree this is a BAD season for them to come in, especially considering that Bonnie & Clyde also has it's eyes on Broadway. Perhaps that one will wait now.

Frank's track record isn't as horrible as people say it is... Jekyll & HYDE is still the longest running show at the Plymouth/Schonfield, and was the box office leader until this past year. Critical favourite? Never. Fan favourite? Very much so, with the exception of people on this board.
Plenty of people lie about seeing shows on here, I'm certain of it - TheatreFan4 were you even around for Frank's hey day back in the '90s? You didn't see it in Tampa or Houston, and you're judging it off the concept album, which is purposely over-pop -ed.


Judging from audiences. I am more than aware that Tampa press means little... Most of the reviews raved about Janet Dacal's dancing, and she danced in only two or three songs.

It has been 7 months and will be over a year when it comes to Broadway since it's original try-out. Not everything is perfect in it's try-out, let's see what this team has done since it's time from Houston. I have never said it's flawless. I said it was entertaining. It's cute. It's warm, nothing life-changing, but gives a nice escape and is relatable (well, not the Wonderland part).

[philly03]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:57pm

Snelson's role has been recasted. There was an audition notice, and her pictures are all missing from the website.

Looks like they've kept Darren Ritchie, Janet Dacal and Karen Mason, or atleast those are the only people pictured on the website.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 1:59pm

Great. Yet another show for Wildhorn's blind fans to mindlessly defend with infinite excuses.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 2:00pm

Snelson's role has been recasted.

*Recast. Not trying to be rude, but people don't like that error here.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 2:05pm

Rumor has it it'll be the Marquis (disappointing all you who thought Catch Me or whatever would be going in there)

I doubt the Marquis will be left empty until March.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 2:07pm

Well, people don't like Wildhorn here, so you might as well just rack up the points.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 2:08pm

According to Playbill, the Broadway run will be preceded by a return engagement in Tampa in January. Perhaps they'll try and do another round of revisions prior to coming int New York. The casting notice going around also says they're planning another reading for October.

While I don't think the show is anywhere near strong enough to run successfully in New York, I'm surprised to hear Nikki Snelson isn't continuing on with it. She was still involved as of the most recent reading in June.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/141752-Frank-Wildhorns-Wonderland-to-Open-on-Broadway-in-April-2011

Updated On: 8/3/10 at 02:08 PM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 2:08pm

Great. Yet another show for Wildhorn's blind fan to mindlessly defend with infinite excuses.

^Fixed it for you.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 2:14pm

"Frank's track record isn't as horrible as people say it is... Jekyll & HYDE is still the longest running show at the Plymouth/Schonfield, and was the box office leader until this past year. Critical favourite? Never. Fan favourite?"

All of his Broadway ventures have lost money, regardless of how long they ran. They have all lacked critical support. Dracula is still considered a joke.

The only one of his shows that could be considered a success is Jekyll and Hyde, if only for the fact that people still remember it exists and it has a following.

Any producer that is willing to back a Wildhorn show on Broadway needs their head examined.

[morosco]

Posted: 8/3/10 at 2:16pm

How many musicians are there in the pit? I hope more than DRACULA's 6 players.