Oh gosh, I was so excited about this project and Cyndi Lauper. But reading this.... I am a little heartbroken.
Theresa Rebeck has never written a play I've remotely liked. And this is a show all about likability and charm. I'll keep an open mind but I'll probably just keep watching the movie instead.
Ugh Rebeck. I have no idea how she keeps getting produced and hired. I find her writing awful. I love Cyn and I'll go for her, but Rebeck is a hard pass.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
RippedMan said: "So what has Lauper been doing? Just writing a bunch of loose songs ?"
The article says Bridget Carpenter was attached at first, I'm guessing she and Cyndi were working on it together. Or maybe the script was being written first?
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
Both Leslie and Jojo are great choices in my opinion.
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
verywellthensigh said: "It would be interesting for them to go back to the original script which was reportedly more satiric and cutting.
Without the fantastic cast and Nichols' deft direction, it's just a rather vapid story of the quest for corporate acceptance.
But then, maybe that's what people want now?"
So true. I would love to see more bite and retrospective assessment of 80s corporate and gender dynamics. Sadly, Lauper's not really the person to bring that to us. My assumption is that this will play up themes of female empowerment and positivity more. I'm very excited to see this take shape! Perhaps a trip to Chicago for the tryout will be in my future if it follows in Kinky's footsteps!
greensgreens said: "Perhaps a trip to Chicago for the tryout will be in my future if it follows in Kinky's footsteps!"
A La Jolla Playhouse premiere seems most likely, considering Chris Ashley is directing.
The real question is who's doing the musical arrangements and orchestrations. Stephen Oremus reportedly did herculean work on KINKY BOOTS and some ghost-composing to turn Cyndi's song fragments into actual musical numbers.
Rebeck is the third bookwriter attached to this. Which could mean nothing, or could mean that the team doesn't quite know what they want this to be. (Kim Rosenstock and then Bridget Carpenter were previously announced.)
EDIT: Per a social post of a reading program, confirmed that La Jolla is producing. Stephen Oremus & Brian Usifer (of Kinky Boots and Frozen) are the Music Supervisors. No choreographer or designers listed, this being a reading.
I saw that as well, I’m guessing that’s just reading cast?
Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist.
Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino.
This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more.
Tazber's: Reply to
Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian
rosscoe(au) said: "I saw that as well, I’m guessing that’s just reading cast?"
Jojo at least feels like it could be an actual casting hope? She's not someone with deep theatre roots so it doesn't seem like it'd be a "doing a reading for my friends" situation.
If Jojo wants to pivot to theatre, this could be a great opportunity for a high-profile project considering the title and the presence of Cyndi and Ashley –– if she can stick with it and not get burned out by the process of workshopping and going out of town.
But reading casts can also mean nothing, or can be a way to "audition" a high-profile person for a part. She and the team could decide tomorrow that this isn't the right fit. Or she could say "I want in."