a big succesful show that hasn't been revived yet.- Page 3

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 1/11/10 at 5:01pm

I'd love to see "The Merry Widow" on Broadway, and it would be a PERFECT vehicle for Cheno and Stokes!

[Pgenre]

Posted: 1/11/10 at 5:13pm

I'm sure I'll get crucified for this, but I would kill to see Idina do EVITA. She only has a few years left if she's gonna do it (though I guess she auditioned for ALW and he went with Elena Roger, so whatever).

P

[claudioislove]

Posted: 1/11/10 at 5:33pm

I squirm every time I read Crazy for You. What a waste of good music.

Few things in life would make me as happy as the chance to see a Tommy revival.

Urinetown-- too soon? haha

[morosco]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 11:24am

Agnes of God

[NDR]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 11:34am

Miss Saigon
Tommy

[AnythingGoes2]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 12:01pm

Mame
Funny Girl
Crazy For You
Sunset Boulevard (would have been successful if Webber didn't mess up his leading ladys and finances!)

Those above were all successful and have never had a Broadway revival. I'd really welcome Mame back... think with the right star it would be great.

[Kent]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 6:40pm

ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY - This landmark musical needs to be revived for many reasons: it's considered Broadways last great Golden Era score with book & lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green (Wonderful Town) and music by Cy Coleman (Sweety Charity, City of Angles, Will Roger's Follies). Originally directed by Hal Prince. Part operetta, part screwball comedy; it's a hilarious, inventive, big, splashy musical comedy in the best sense of the word. But more than anything audiences deserve to revisit OTTC's technically brilliant design work. Robin Wagner's sleek and beautiful art deco train is considered by many to be among the greatest of Broadway set designs (a formidable group to top for sure). Much like Wagner's landmark design for A Chorus Line, OTTC's set became as much a character as any of the actors onstage, moving, unfolding, shrinking and growing as it sped along a-vista (in full view) to the show's pulsing train-like rhythms. The show ran for well over a year on Broadway. When Madeline Kahn dropped out very early in the run due to "vocal stress" Judy Kaye stepped into the taxing role of "Lily Garland" and became a fully-blown Broadway star.

I never witnessed the Broadway production but years later saw a bus-and-truck production featuring OBC members Judy Kaye and Imogene Coca. I remember Coca seeming a bit odd on stage that night(odder than usual then not coming out for the curtain call. We found out later she'd suffered a heart attack towards the end of the evening's performance (non-fatal). Even with one of the lead actors at death's door and without it's brilliant set I found the show to be a gem. If you've never heard it, do yourself a favor and buy the soundtrack. Before I bought the CD I owned the LP. This was one that I played nearly through the grooves.

Please...someone...bring back ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. Keep the score, keep the direction, KEEP THE SET, ...update the sound and lighting. This one's a winner.



Updated On: 1/14/10 at 06:40 PM

[Kent]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 6:40pm

Sorry,double posting. Updated On: 1/14/10 at 06:40 PM

[morosco]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 9:43pm

Much like Wagner's landmark design for A Chorus Line, OTTC's set became as much a character as any of the actors onstage, moving, unfolding, shrinking and growing as it sped along a-vista (in full view) to the show's pulsing train-like rhythms.

All accomplished without any computers. Good old fashioned stagehand labor.

I love the show too. I treasure my vivid memories of the Broadway production. And the LP was one of the most gorgeous ever made. All that chrome!

[gypsy4]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 11:01pm

the OBC of Crazy for you! looked pretty fantastic.
crazy for you! Jodi Benson

[wickedfan]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 11:17pm

Everyone's said them, but I'll just repeat: Crazy For You, City of Angels, Grand Hotel, Mame, Carnival (whatever happened to transferring that Encores production?), and Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (I don't count that return engagement). The last one, especially. Someone once mentioned doing it at Encores Summer Stars Series with Reba McEntire, and I CAN'T get that out of my head.

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 11:28pm

Wicked Fan, I love Carnival but I feel the show is terribly dated and just hasnt aged well. The character of Lili is terribly flawed to the point I don't know if there is a way to justify her naiveness. I do adore the score though and have been in the show.

I say Grand Hotel with Hugh Panaro and Leigh Ann Larking. City of Angels as well though I havent given any idea to casting.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 11:43pm

I disagree with it being dated. However, I will agree that the character of Lilli has proven problematic. She is so very naive and sometimes borders seeming mentally impaired. But I've always felt that there's a certain fantastical, poetic element to the piece, despite how dark it can get, that keeps it from seeming absurd. I do think it can be done. Directors like Bartlett Sher, Nicholas Hytner, and Jerry Zaks have taken musicals that were once considered dated (South Pacific, Carousel and Anything Goes, respectively) and turned them into fresh productions that outshone all the new musicals during those seasons. With such a wonderful score and emotional, simplistic (in a good way) book, there's such a magical production just waiting to happen. I'm hoping LCT might tackle it one day.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 3:50pm

Gypsy4's link leads to pretty well the entire original cast production on videos. Wow.

[JRybka]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 4:12pm

I think Barnum with the right person would be awesome. I actually think Cirque should do it for Broadway.

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 7:06pm

Thanks Gypsy for posting that link... It only strengthens my opinion that, with the right casting, this show is just a jaw-dropping knockout. Also love seeing a young Beth Leavel tap her butt off.

Love Benson's voice, but not crazy about her tapping. She hoofs too heavy and C4U is a show that requires Polly to effortlessly skim the surface of the stage when she dances. It seems to me that Benson's dance background might be more in rhythmic tap than traditional classic.

What the hell happened to Groener? Man, he's talented. I remember seeing him on Buffy a few times as the Evil Mayor. Gotta love a show that brings on Broadway alum on a regular basis (anyone remember Hinton Battle on Buffy?).



BN
Updated On: 1/15/10 at 07:06 PM

[BenjaminNicholas2]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 7:17pm

I might not like a lot of what Stro has done since her early days, but this clip is an absolutely stunning reason why she is a great choreographer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9wM0FtReXY

Sure, her prop use was insane, but it was inventive at the time and the cast simply danced the **** out of it. Impressive.



BN

[gypsy4]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 8:04pm

those original orchestrations were magnificent. does any one know where that footage was from?

[wickedfan]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 10:51pm

From the way it was filmed (two cameras, one in wide shot, the other in close up), it looks like a Lincoln Center archive tape. Don't know how the poster could've gotten his/her hands on it.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 1/15/10 at 11:23pm

Benson's tapping actually resembled Ginger Rodger's footwork ( especially pre-Astaire.) Could it have been intentional?

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 1/16/10 at 12:13am

I second:
CALL ME MADAM
BARNUM
CARNIVAL

I humbly suggest:
A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD, A NIGHT IN THE UKRAINE
GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (LORELEI doesn't count)
THE LIFE
HAPPY HUNTING (only kidding)

[gcontini2]

Posted: 1/16/10 at 12:42am

1776

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/16/10 at 11:34am

HIGH BUTTON SHOES. It seems a natural for Susan Stohman to direct and choreograph.

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 1/16/10 at 1:24pm

A few years ago, I saw a bare-bones (pracically a reading) of the classic flop WHOOP-UP and was amazed at how funny it was and how the solid the score was in performance (I have the CD and love it). I'd love to see a small, XANADU-esque production of it.

ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY has been talked about for years, and someone (Douglas Carter Beene??) has been working on a revised book for OUT OF THIS WORLD for a long time.

I like the idea of GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, especially as the movie cut a huge chunk of the Broadway score.

The problem with so many of the great shows mentioned (FUNNY GIRL, CALL ME MADAM) is they call for larger-than life Oompy ladies. And that is VERY tough casting. I'd love to see what PANAMA HATTIE would be like now (It's never been done at ENCORES!)...but again, which star do you cast?

[NeoNormal]

Posted: 1/16/10 at 2:55pm

I don't know if the Broadway version of Singin' in the Rain did well in 1985, but it made over $13,303,713 in like 45 weeks, but I saw a local theatre here in Virginia do it, and it was mind-blowingly amazing.