Would THE MUSIC MAN work on Broadway again?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 6/9/05 at 9:07pm

I have always thought that THE MUSIC MAN was a really great piece of theatre. It was one of the most enjoyable shows I have ever done and I'm wondering if a revival of this show would ever be truly successful.

The recent 2000 revival played just a little over a year and a half and won no TONY awards.

The basis of the plot is a wonderful and comical story. Unfortunately, some of the song lyrics are INCREDIBLY dated. You can see this especially in "Rock Island." Although this number is very hard to perform and impressive to watch, the lyrics go in one ear and out the other because not many people fully understand what the salesmen are talking about.

Other than that I think it is a classic story that remains just as funny and fresh as it was in the original production.

I'm just wondering what it would take for a revival of this show to have a healthy run. Or, maybe now, a year and a half is a healthy run for a revival. LA CAGE didn't even last a year on Broadway. I guess revivals like CABARET and CHICAGO spoiled me, but those shows were completely broken down and rebuilt in a brand new and fresh way, which is probably why they've lasted so long.

What do you think would be needed in order to mount a successful revival of this show? An updated script? A new concept? A complete restaging and massive re-writes? Or, do you think a revival of THE MUSIC MAN would never work?

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 6/9/05 at 9:12pm

It closed about 4 years ago, so there is going to be a good stretch of time before its revived again. I think its a good show, but I think that it is just dated...

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 6/9/05 at 9:14pm

Well...of course I meant that the revival would be mounted in quite a few years. It's most definitely not time to bring it back yet. Not for at least another ten years or so.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/9/05 at 9:15pm

It's dated. You can't update THE MUSIC MAN. Meredith Wilson is genius.

There are no traveling salesmen these days. For it to work, it would TOTALLY have to be changed in dramatic ways. It would be an entirely new musical and there would be an uproar.

Enjoy the community theatre and school productions. Enjoy the movie. I predict it will not see Broadway again for a very very very very very long time.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/9/05 at 9:15pm

My friend was Amaryllis in the Dick Van Dyke revival, with Christian Slater. Just throwing that in.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 6/9/05 at 9:16pm

I personally loved the most recent MUSIC MAN revival, and saw it several times. I could see it being revived again, but not for another 15-20 years.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/9/05 at 9:16pm

Rath - you changed your avatar on us!

[Marquise]

Posted: 6/9/05 at 9:23pm

i saw it with eric mccormack...i liked him.
no to matthew and cheno.
too young for preston and cook.
love me some preston and jones in the '62 flick.
it would work on b'way.
it's a period piece.
it's a classic.
but i don't see this revisited any time soon.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/9/05 at 9:30pm

well, isn't there currently a musical on Broadway about con artists? plus we don't need another revival so soon after the last one...

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 6/9/05 at 9:35pm

Again, I'm not asking if this would work on Broadway NOW. I'm asking if it could EVER have a healthy run again.

[nmartin]

Posted: 6/9/05 at 9:39pm

I couldn't even finish watching the tv version. Broderick was so miscast.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/9/05 at 9:45pm

I loved the recent revival. I saw it when Eric McCormack took over. Both he and the production were brilliant.

It's pretty obvious that WILL AND GRACE will run only one more year. Wouldn't it be great to have Eric in a Broadway musical. He's told me he's love to originate a role.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 6/9/05 at 10:00pm

He was being considered as a replacement for Hugh Jackman in THE BOY FROM OZ. I doubt it would have sold as well, though.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 6/9/05 at 10:01pm

WILL & GRACE needs to do two more years. Two would be perfect. One year is obviously too short. Two more years = perfect.

And I'd LOVE for the four of them to do a play together.

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 6/9/05 at 10:14pm

I think that it'll be a while before it's revived...

[Jwei123]

Posted: 6/9/05 at 10:28pm

I think the story is timeless, even if the lyrics are timely. It is SUCH a classic that I have no doubt that it will be back. Everyone loves a good old fashioned dancing show.

[joeybiltmore1]

Posted: 6/9/05 at 11:28pm

THE MUSIC MAN can work anywhere with good casting and direction.
I have enjoyed high school productions of it as much as professional ones. It is so well written and it never fails to put a smile on my face, a tear in my eye and a spring in my step.
I do think Broadway can do a lot better than the recent revival, and we'll surely find out in a few years when someone revives it again.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 6/9/05 at 11:44pm

THE MUSIC MAN is one of my favorite shows - and it would absolutely work on Broadway again anytime - that's kind of a silly question.

I thought the revival was fantastic - and should have won best revival over KISS ME, KATE. Stroman's direction was pretty good - and her choreography was stunning. I truly loved the revival.

[PussyinaPie]

Posted: 6/10/05 at 12:30am

Hmmm...it must have *some* appeal for the young 'uns....

".....monorail, monorail, monorail...."

Obviously lacking the magnificent score.

[Jon]

Posted: 6/10/05 at 12:37am

Actually, there was a movie that "updated" the basic premise of THE MUSIC MAN - it was called SCHOOL OF ROCK. Okay, he isn't really a con man, and he really does know about music, but he pretends to be a teacher. He softens the heart of the spinster principal, and just when the parents are ready to run him out of town, the children play a concert and everyone is won over.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 6/10/05 at 2:07am

VERY dated.......let it rest in peace, and in high schools where it belongs

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 6/10/05 at 2:13am

The Music Man is such a classic show and will always be an audience favorite. I think we will certainly see it have another successful revival (hopefully as wonderful as this last one). It just needs time before the need for a new revival comes. Don't worry, I'm sure we'll see it again in a decade or so =)

[Jimmyojimmy]

Posted: 6/10/05 at 2:18am

I really love this musical, but since they made the movie with broderick/chenoweth i think they are going to ride off that for a while. I dont think broadway is ready for another revival of music man. maybe in like 15 years, i mean i really dont see it coming back anytime soon. but i love doing this musical its such a work of art. its weird, i did it at my high school and within a 20 mile radius i think i heard about 3 other schools doing it too.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 6/10/05 at 6:31am

Kelli O'Hara would make a wonderful Marian, IMO.

[magruder]

Posted: 6/10/05 at 7:29am

There is nothing dated about The Music Man. Old does not necessarily mean dated. Written in 1957 and set in 1912, it was always a cannily written period piece, so the references in "Rock Island" were always meant to sound quaint and archaic (even though Uneeda Biscuit is still around). Moreover, for a supposedly old-fashioned show, the score is remarkably brash and fresh, filled with those unusual syncopated numbers for Harold, like "Ya Got Trouble," "Sadder But Wiser Girl," "76 Trombones"... Also, speaking of "Rock Island," what show has as strange and unusual an opening number? For a show about music conquering a town, Meredith Willson finds music everywhere, from the organic way Amaryllis' cross-hand piano exercise becomes "Goodnight My Someone", to the school board being a natural barbershop quartet, to the way Harold and Marian are meant to be together because they share the same melody ("Goodnight My Someone" and "76 Trombones"). It's a smart entertainment that holds up beautifully, and I would expect to see it back on Broadway again when enough time has transpired after the most recent revival.

Updated On: 6/10/05 at 07:29 AM