Would a Michael Bennett "variety" or "highlight" show work?

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 4:42pm

All the talk about "A Chorus Line" as made me want to ask this.

"Jerome Robbins: Broadway" and "Fosse" were both the same type of show and they were successes. Would the same type of show work for Michael Bennett?

Part of me thinks that maybe it wouldn't work in the dance sense because in some of his biggest hits like "Dreamgirls" the choreography was not what made it a hit.

What do you think?

[fgreene1938]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 4:59pm

Doubtful but you never know. Bennett only had two big hits that were considered his babies, ACL and Dreamgirls (which actually had much choreography and won a Tony for it). Ballroom failed and the success (as it were) of Follies and Company was really laid at the feet of Sondheim and Prince. Seesaw ran but didn't recoup and Bennett was really the show doctor more than anything. I suppose a revue could be cobbled together, but it would consist mainly of ACL, Dreamgirls and numbers from shows people don't identify with Bennett.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:05pm

Michael Bennett is synonymous with "A Chorus Line", but I think that and Dreamgirls are all he is associated with in the general public's mind. I don't think it would be much of a draw. Plus, the big number in the show would be "Music and The Mirror" which has been done to death at this point.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:10pm

Well, from Follies alone you have "The Story of Lucy and Jessie" and "Who's That Woman?" the latter of which is arguably considered (one of) the best musical number in the history of Broadway.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:12pm

And "Music and the Mirror" wasn't really even Bennett...it's documented in a few places that Donna McKechnie did the vast majority of the choreography, and had to teach it to the first group of replacements.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:14pm

Donna had to teach it to her rival, Ann Reinking????
Updated On: 7/22/09 at 05:14 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:17pm

I agree with Phyllis--the two Follies numbers would work spectacularly in a highlights show, as would "You're Gonna Love Tomorrow"/"Love Will See Us Through" (featuring at least one member of the recent Chicago production, no?).

But I would add in other Bennett numbers from Ballroom and Seesaw, "Turkey Lurkey" from Promises, and numbers recreated from Hullabaloo would be fun.

Add in a few ballads with minimal staging, like "Fifty Percent" and "Losing My Mind" and you've got a show.

The question is: Would Baayork have to helm it?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:27pm

Yes, ljay, but they weren't rivals then. That didn't happen until "Sweet Charity."

Basically, the MATM story goes:
Originally during the final dance section, she was joined by Wayne Cilento, Rick Mason, Thommie Walsh and two others. She was having trouble going full out because they were there, and space was an issue. It also was going against what Chorus Line was about, because suddenly five men were backing a star dancer. Consequently, the men were cut. (Wayne Cilento never actually got what was going on, or at least, didn't seem to as of the writing of "What They Did For Love") At that point he kinda gave it to Donna to do. She'd work on it, and he would get her to pull back, to keep from being too dazzling. The goal was to make it look like Cassie were making it up as she went.

Once they got it to where it is now, he kinda left it alone, planning to go back and fix it, but never did. So when replacement time came he had Donna teach the dance, and then fit it to the other dancers bodies.

PJ-
I think Baayork would have to handle any of the elements used from Chorus Line. Everything else would probably fall to Bob Avian or Donna McKechnie, I would guess.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:35pm

Personally I think the "Tick Tock" dance is brilliant.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:42pm

Absolutely, Tick-Tock!

[blaxx]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 5:44pm

I'd buy a ticket! But I think not many people would

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 7:41pm

Oh my god, this happening has been my dream FOREVER. I would love it. I think it could be great. Maybe there could even be a number from Scandal (a girl can dream). Think of all that there is to choose from---

A Joyful Noise- A Joyful Noise

Clog Dance- A Joyful Noise (was a big dance deal within the show)

I Wonder How It Is To Dance With A Boy- Henry Sweet Henry

Weary Near To Dying- Henry Sweet Henry (Bennett's big hippie number!)

Poor Little Person- Henry Sweet Henry

She Likes Basketball- Promises Promises

Where Can You Take A Girl?- Promises Promises

Turkey Lurkey Time- Promises Promises (!!!!!!!!!)

The Money Rings Out Like Freedom- Coco

Ohrbach?s, Bloomingdale?s, Best and Sach?s- Coco

Company- Company

You Could Drive A Person Crazy- Company

Side By Side By Side/ What Would We Do Without You- Company

Tick Tock- Company

Beautiful Girls- Follies

Waiting for the Girls Upstairs- Follies

Bolero d?Amour- Follies

Who?s That Woman?- Follies (!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

You?re Gonna Love Tomorrow/ Love Will See Us Through- Follies

The Story of Lucy and Jessie- Follies

Live Laugh Love- Follies

My City- Seesaw

Chapter 4, Number 1909- Seesaw (YES YES YES!)

It?s Not Where You Start- Seesaw

I Hope I Get It- A Chorus Line

I Can Do That- A Chorus Line

Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love- A Chorus Line

The Music and The Mirror- A Chorus Line

One- A Chorus Line

The Stardust Waltz- Ballroom

Move You?re Steppin? On My Heart- Dreamgirls

Cadillac Car- Dreamgirls

Steppin? To The Bad Side- Dreamgirls

Hard To Say Goodbye My Love- Dreamgirls

American Woman in Paris Ballet- Scandal ?

Menage a Trois Ballet- Scandal ?

Only One Life- Scandal ?

Children?s Crusade ???

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 7:49pm

Sounds like a great plan...only through "Loosing My Mind" and "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" in their for fun and it should all work out just fine!

[Pgenre]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 8:13pm

"The Story of Chess", "The Arbiter/Merchendiser's Song/Hymn To Chess" and "One Night In Bankok" from CHESS were all choreographed by Bennett and Avian before Michael left to die in Arizona.

P

[jv92]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 8:19pm

I have been dying to see something like this for years. Someone tell Bob Avian and John Breglio they have to do this. It's such a wonderful idea!
However, it would need the full sets and costumes treatment (like Jerome Robbins' Broadway, NOT like Fosse).
I think Michael, like Jerry Robbins, documented everything, or most of everything he did so there'd be plenty of stuff to help resurect the material. And there are plenty of people too.
I'd die to see the "Company" number, the Mirror Number, stuff from Ballroom and Dreamgirls, Turkey Lurkey and all that great stuff in a retrospective. It'd be a lot of fun.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 8:33pm

Didn't he choreograph numbers for TV variety shows? I found Dean Martin Show and Ed Sullivan Show credits under his name but nothing specific. Probably CHORUS LINE & other stage work performing on those shows, but anything "new" just for TV?

[Pgenre]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 9:16pm

All those industrials... particularly the Milliken shows... and fashion shows he did could be utilized as well.

Wasn't one of the Milliken shows the reason he got the job on SEESAW?

P

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 10:53pm

I totally agree that his TV work needs to be featured as well. David Winters did ALL of the stuff on HULLABALOO, except for Michael's occasional solo stuff.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/22/09 at 11:19pm

I loved the Hullabaloo featuring The Mamas and the Papas.
Updated On: 7/23/09 at 11:19 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 8:29am

In case anyone in this thread HASN'T seen this clip, here is Michael's "Who's That Woman?" as performed by the original cast:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhQeVQ6677A

[alterego]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 9:37am

The trouble is that there isn't enough recognisable material for Joe Public to sit up and take notice.Most casual theatregoers really wouldn't be interested in seeing "Highlights of A Chorus Line and Dreamgirls" and that is how such a project would be sold.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 10:08am

By all means, watch that clip PJ linked. Do NOT watch "Who's That Woman?" from the 2001 revival. The women from the original cast will rise from the grave and haunt you if you do.

I was going through some of the links on the side over on YouTube, and I found what seems to be a longer version of Loveland than I've ever seen before. Maybe I have and I've just forgotten, but I don't remember seeing the entire number before.

I'm still holding out hope that one day enough rehearsal and super 8 video footage will appear to put together almost the whole show.

[jv92]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 4:52pm

"I'm still holding out hope that one day enough rehearsal and super 8 video footage will appear to put together almost the whole show."

Anything is possible, but I have my doubts about that. I'm holding out for some footage and/or an audio from the last show. THAT would be madness. PalJoey, were you at the last performance of Follies?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 5:04pm

Phyllis Rogers Stone, while the 2001 revival was a big mess, I thought Carol Woods' performance as Stella was one of the only things worthwhile in it, along with Judith Ivey's definitive rendition of "Losing My Mind."

Kathleen Marshall's choreography for "Who's That Woman?" was a big let down in comparison to the Bennett version, but I'd say the video of it is certainly worth watching for Woods. It was thrilling to watch her tear into the final section, which is probably the only reason the number always elicited such a big response (though Bennett's concept is hard not to go crazy for, even in such a shambled staging.)

Updated On: 7/23/09 at 05:04 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 5:06pm

As I think PalJoey said, the staging of that number in 2001 made the women appear to be buffoons.

And I have nothing against you, so please don't take this personally, but on no planet would Judith Ivey's "Losing My Mind" be definitive. Just. No!