Yentl- Page 2
Yentl
rockfenris2005
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
bogey_LIVE
Featured Actor Joined: 8/11/04
#28re: Yentl
Posted: 8/17/04 at 9:18amWell duh, Tovah is too old. We're discussing her in this thread because she was the star of the ORIGINAL. If you read the full thread before posting, you would have been able to figure that much out.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
Updated On: 8/17/04 at 09:18 AM
bogey_LIVE
Featured Actor Joined: 8/11/04
Barbra Streisand
Chorus Member Joined: 8/8/04
the-one-you-want
Chorus Member Joined: 8/19/04
#31re: Yentl
Posted: 8/19/04 at 2:34am
There WAS a stage version....but it was a non musical.
A musical simply wouldn't work, unless it was a one woman show. The material is purely cinematic--the show would have to add songs for the other characters to soothe the redunancy, and THAT wouldn't work because all the songs take place in Yentyl's head.
PS--Anyone else love her closing number in the film? On the boat? When I saw it, it was like having a cinematic orgasm.
...Yes, I am a gay man, but c'mon, it's Barbra!
Limey
Swing Joined: 8/21/04
#32re: Yentl
Posted: 8/21/04 at 7:04pm
WOW. I do a random search for Yentl and I find this current thread...
I spent three years of my life developing th efilm of Yentl as a stage musical!
The music from the film was by Michel Legrand and Alan and Marylin Bergman. It was a late addition to the film and was actually Alan Bergmans idea. Barbara didnt want any music in the film - but it wasnt working so they tried adding some..
Michel, Alan and Marylin thought it was their best stuff ever...
But of course all the songs are sung by Yentl - which wouldnt work on stage SO...
I pursuaded the composers to write a stack of new songs for the stage.. There was to be a new book too.. Yentl was going to be played by Maria Freedman and it was going to open in London...
But we couldnt raise the money - even after ENORMOUS efforts to combine the rights and get the film company to agree to let us do it.
In the end the rights went to a succession of different producers - none of which could finance it. I lost a great deal of money on it - but I'd still do it if I could get it bankrolled. I have no idea who has the rights now...
By the way - as a stage musical it was going to be called "A Piece of Sky"...
If anyone can afford a few million to finance it - I'll get it back together for you!
Regards,
Limey
(Peter Byard)
#34re: Yentl
Posted: 8/22/04 at 3:41am
I am (I know you didn't ask, but I answered anyway 
)
It took 15 years to bring YENTL to the big screen. The statement that ..."It was a late addition to the film and was actually Alan Bergmans idea. Barbra didnt want any music in the film - but it wasnt working so they tried adding some.." is not true at all. It was decided pretty early on that for it to be successful, people expcted Barbra to sing. She actually went to make the pitch to the studios with a demo tape of her singing some of the songs (Some of it even appears on her compilation, "Just For The Record". ), and that's how they got the deal.
And I wanted to add something about the fact that all the songs are sung by Yentl. The musical is supposed to take place inside her head- that's why you never see her flat out singing out loud, except when she's alone - it's always in her head when there are other people around (except for the end, which signifies the change in her). The songs are her internal voice, and therefore she is the only one singing.
"Years from now, when you talk about this - And you will - Be kind. "
Updated On: 8/22/04 at 03:41 AM
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