[title of show] going to Broadway? — Page 4

I am into musical theatre, did get the jokes, but did not find it that amusing. It was a cute little show. Not only will it not appeal to tourists, I don't see it appealing to mainstream audiences. Theatre geeks, yes, but my brother and his family from the Upper East Side (who are regular theatre goers) ... not a chance. They weren't interested in seeing it at the Vineyard, they certainly won't be interested at Broadway prices.

"....it rhymes with caress."

Well, if ya put it THAT way, sweetalker! I'll say it that way then.

More [tos] news: Susan is in SPEECH AND DEBATE (by Stephen Karam) with Gideon Glick and two other actors the inaugural production of the Roundabout's new black box space, opening in October and directed by Jason Moore.

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Updated On: 8/13/07 at 05:45 PM

Of course MasterLcZ's pronounciation is correct, Pepsi, hence my earlier post that the Italians pronounce it that way (and it is an Italian name).

It's just not the way Michael pronounces it - and it is his name, after all, and as you say, it's a personal preference.

Thanks for the info on SPEECH AND DEBATE, Master. I'll keep an eye out for it.

Ok, I take your point that What I did for Love is the most generic one in the show and not a fair comparison to anything in [tos], but I think overall, A Chorus Line has more "generally appreciated" numbers than [tos] with such tunes as "I Hope I get it", "Hello Twelve...." etc. Both deal with universal themes- nostalgia for youth, wanting to get "that job" or that thing you think you need. Sure, there is a message in "Die, Vampires, Die" that goes beyond musical theatre, but with songs like "Festival Medley" and "Part of it All" and "Original Musical" you aren't exactly pandering to a wide audience. Granted Forbidden Broadway has done well, but is also a in a small theatre off-Broadway and keeps its staples in of well known shows. Who knows? It might get some attention, but I don't think its fair to say the show has even remotely universal appeal.

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True, Part of It All and An Original Musical may not pander to Joe Schmuckatello from Chillicothe, Ohio - but there are songs in the show with broader messages, even those like A Way back To Then and 9 People's Favorite Thing. And even the bonus track on the album (which, though not in the show, still has validity under these scircumstances) is one that speaks to me in a pretty big way - "So take your biggest dreams in stride, and have your friends along for the ride." [tos], in my opinion, isn't just a musical about two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical. It's about breaking down the walls of your inhibitions and succeeding despite doubt and criticism from outside sources - and if that's not a fairly universal theme, I don't know what is.

NEWSFLASH:

Title of Show is.....


(drum roll)


pretty gosh darn bad. There's just nothing else to say about it.
It's nice that they have dreams--and that they are fans. But they don't really have any skill as writers, or anything to say in an interesting fashion.


Nick Plasia, I am really curious as to who you are behind that screen name. It's clear that you work for someone (or someone who works for someone) in the industry.

Throughout GREY GARDENS' run, you repeatedly took cheap shots at other shows and held a veritable knife to the throat of anyone who had constructive criticisms to make about the show or the cast album.

And here you are again, making blanket statements, that [title of show] is "pretty gosh darn bad. There's just nothing else to say about it."

You clearly have some sort of an agenda, and it gets tiring to read unconstructive comments about a show or an artist from someone whose opinion is far from pure.

You say that the creators of [title of show] "don't really have any skill as writers."

Well, neither do you. And we're only on a message board.

They are out there creating art, while you sit back in your computer chair spewing vitriol without a trace of a worthwhile point or supporting argument.

I suggest that you come back when you're no longer getting paid to write, because even now, your bosses are most definitely NOT getting their money's worth.

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Updated On: 8/14/07 at 06:55 AM

For the last two weeks, I've been on a major [tos] jag that has helped me kill some vampires with an artcle I'm been plugging away at that I couldn't get a grip. I finished and I'm thrilled.

Then the news this morning that my favorie editor unexpectedly died has me reeling. And "A Way Back To Then" has kept me from rolling over into despair.

I don't write on theater, but I do think the struggle to create (the ultimate message of [tos]) is universal. The more I listen to my [tos] CD, the stronger it seems. In tough times, [Tos] has shown its mettle - it holds up, like (dare I say it) SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE.

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I agree with Nick. I loathed the show. If there had been an intermissiion, I'd have been out the door like a shot. At one point someone says something to the effect that "maybe this is all to self-referrential". Well the answer to me was YES, it's far to self everything - referrential, indulgent, aggrandizing, and smug. Right from the first scene, my mind started screaming "oh dear god no - not an hour and a half of arch tripe about your boring artistic struggles", but indeed that's what it was, and by the end I found myself very angry.
Not to say that these people aren't talented - a lot of the writing was tight, the songs certainly musical enough, (I liked Heidi's song about childhood a lot) and the performances competent to good. To me it was all to do with the subject matter - like a joke that wan't funny to begin with, but got blownout of proportion as they started believing their own hype. I would far rather see this group tackle something new rather than drag this out to what I can only believe will be a short brutish run on Broadway, which could only lead to an epilogue show at next year's fringe about the demise of tos.

Updated On: 8/14/07 at 12:00 PM

What could be swee-a-ter!

Um... if Jeff single?

Updated On: 8/15/07 at 06:44 PM

You're kidding me...
That's so sickly perfect it makes me sick!
Hehe

I don't have to pretend, I AM Christine Ebersole. And as
surely as I have a couple of Tony Awards sitting on my mantle,
I know good theatre from bad(even if you taste-challenged ninnies don't...) which is why I'm down on the utterly lame
____ of ______ (I can't even bear to write it).

Updated On: 8/16/07 at 12:22 AM

The truth always hurts....