Will “ Ballroom “ ever be revived? - Page 2

[David10086]

Posted: 1/23/22 at 12:31pm

joevitus said: "It's always baffling to me that the whole idea of Ballroom was to reassemble the team that made A Chorus Line and strike gold again--but without retaining composer and lyricist of that show. I don't know of Hamlisch refused or he had been difficult to work with and so Bennett didn't want to work with him again (I've heard a rumor that Jonathan Tunick did a lot of the heavy lifting for that show, have no idea the veracity of it). Ballroom has basically one good song: 50 Percent. It's a beloved song. But one song doesn't equal a strong score. And what's the point of reviving a musical with a forgettable score?"

Maybe that's why the Bergmans and Hamlisch had gotten together to revive the musical in 2011-12, before he passed away ? Maybe they intended to drop weaker songs and replace them with new tunes written by these three ? 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 1/23/22 at 1:46pm

Ballroom is one of those shows that I categorized as dull.  It was boring, too, but for all the activity on stage, it just lacked any excitement.  It didn't help that the score was mediocre (i.e., one good song) or that the choreography -- although probably on-target -- was uninteresting for a lot of people.  It was one of those shows that cost a lot, with all of it visible on stage, but never engaged the audience.  Applause the entire evening, right through the curtain call, were tepid.  

At least in those days you could tell that the audience didn't like the show any more than you did, by the indifferent applause, as compared to today, where they scream at everything.

[joevitus]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 11:36am

David10086 said: "joevitus said: "It's always baffling to me that the whole idea of Ballroom was to reassemble the team that made A Chorus Line and strike gold again--but without retaining composer and lyricist of that show. I don't know of Hamlisch refused or he had been difficult to work with and so Bennett didn't want to work with him again (I've heard a rumor that Jonathan Tunick did a lot of the heavy lifting for that show, have no idea the veracity of it). Ballroom has basically one good song: 50 Percent. It's a beloved song. But one song doesn't equal a strong score. And what's the point of reviving a musical with a forgettable score?"

Maybe that's why the Bergmans and Hamlisch had gotten together to revive the musical in 2011-12, before he passed away ? Maybe they intended to drop weaker songs and replace them with new tunes written by these three ?"

Ah! Maybe so.

[BIG BALONEY]

Posted: 1/24/22 at 11:40am

Now a day the audience screams at everything, God is that the truth. Seals clapping for fish. They so want to be part of a show.