A big Broadway producer calls you. He says the skies the limit for your budget (read: you have endless amounts of money to spend on a production), you have any theater at your disposal. What would be your dream revival, adaptation, or completely new work??
I'd like to see one of Jodi Piccoult's novels adapted for the stage, maybe 19 Minutes, My Sisters Keeper or Sing You Home. Or I'd like to star in an adaptation of The Princess Diaries.
Step 2: Re-negotiate contracts with the unions accordingly.
Step 3: We have a new 500-seat, Tony-eligible Broadway theater to which productions with a smaller capitalization can be diverted. Things that would work better in an Off-Broadway venue of similar size don't have to lose their intimacy and can possibly enjoy a healthy run in Midtown; a lot of transfers will immediately fill the waiting list.
Step 1: Obtain the lease on the former Liberty Diner within the Dave & Buster's / Applebees complex on West 42nd St.
Step 2: Convert into suitable box office / lounge area for...
Step 3: ...the restored Liberty Theatre (which would be a considerable job, but would preserve the ornamented balconies, proscenium stage, and box seats, and would ensure better access to the balcony and gallery levels from the main floor than the ladder that's presently there).
Given its general placement in the Times Square area and the establishments in the same building, this could pay for itself by being the place for one-person shows like the Springsteen or Manilow concerts, or for whatever visiting comic, tribute band, or magic act wishes to grace the scene with a summer show.
FUNNY GIRL starring Lady Gaga and Jake Gyllenthal Directed by Steven Spielberg Produced by Scott Rudin also starring Barbra Streisand as Mrs. Brice and Ben Platt as Eddie Ryan Choreography by Paul McGill and costumes by William Ivey Long
Performance schedule: Wednesday thru Saturday at 8pm (no matinees Wednesday or Saturday). Only matinee is Sunday at 3pm. No alternates; principals perform all scheduled performances.
Bernadette Peters & Mandy Patinkin in Sweeney Todd
Marin Mazzie & Jason Danieley in Bridges of Madison County ()
A reunion concert of Sunday in the Park with Bernadette & Mandy
Mandy Patinkin in The Great Comet
However, instead of day dreaming about these I want to acknowledge that sometimes dreams do come true. Bernadette Peters in Hello, Dolly! being one.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Gorlois said: "Cate Blanchett and Julie Andrews in A Little Night Music, please.
What an event that would be."
I’m glad you’re on board for that as well!
also
Cher in Mame
aaron tveit Cynthia Erivo and Megan hilty. Ooo or Eva nobelzada in Aida
A revival of Ghost
kristin chenoweth in Dolly Parton bio musical
some sort of show for Leonardo DiCaprio. And a show to give Julia Roberts another chance and something for Meryl. Honestly I wonder if Julia and Meryl (without sounding too August Osage County) could do Nighy Mother
bwayphreak234 said: "Into the Woods at the Vivian Beaumont."
I second a Lincoln Center production of Into the Woods at the Vivian Beaumont! Starring Jake Gyllenhaal or Lin Manuel Miranda as The Baker and Laura Benanti as The Baker's Wife.
Elfuhbuh said: "Dance of the Vampires revival with a proper script/translation of the original German lyrics, with a lusciously grand and gothic set/costumes."
Believe it or not, still working on this (though admittedly luscious production values aren't my first priority -- keeping costs tight returns the money much more quickly, and reverses the flop stench).
I know Rocky Horror didn't do well in it's last revival, but Alex Brightman would kill it as Eddie. My SO mentioned this and I really cannot stop thinking about it.
DoTheDood said: "I know Rocky Horror didn't do well in it's last revival, but Alex Brightman would kill it as Eddie. My SO mentioned this and I really cannot stop thinking about it."
Frank N' Furter- Max von Essen/Taylor Mac/Neil Patrick Harris (or David Bedella, but he's been in the role before, still he's fantastic)
Brad- Noah Galvin/Rob McClure (or Ben Forster, but like Bedella, has done the role before. I adore the 2015 production obviously)
Janet- Renée Rapp/Jessica Keenan Wynn (if McClure reads too old with Rapp, then Kerry Butler too. Butler was my first choice but I want to avoid this just being a Beetlejuice reunion haha)
Magenta/Usherette- Jasmine Cephas Jones
Riff Raff- Damon Daunno
Columbia- Sarah Stiles
Eddie/Everett Scott- Alex Brightman
Rocky- Literally any hunk from any recent BroadwayBares
The Criminologist- Richard O'Brien (or Tim Curry pre-stroke. I guess now would still be cool, but I don't know if he could handle 8 times a week sadly)
To make this perfect, it would open in the Belasco Theater around March 2025 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the original Broadway production/movie.