THEATRE GOSSIP #541: The “My Daughter’s in Suffs (But What Can You Do?)” Edition

Old thread:

Sorry, I haven't been following the Theatre Gossip threads lately. Is Toni really rumored to be joining Sweeney next year? That would be amazing.

Aaron Tveit IS Sweeney Todd.

I’ve actually heard Lovett is Lea Salonga. Old Friends wraps up in January.

Toni so far is a fantasy casting.

Here We Are reviews tonight

No, I just mentioned in the other thread that I would love to see Toni do it. There have been no rumors of it.

And OP, I never say this- mostly because it's usually impossible to- but good thread title.

I suspect that most of the reviews for HERE WE ARE will be respectful if rather unenthusiastic. They certainly can't blame Mantello or the production, it's really far better than the material deserves. Well, for that matter the reviewers can justifiably blame David Ives for a lot of the shortcomings.

Nevertheless, I can well imagine lots of college theater departments doing the show forevermore. This show will always be catnip for young smart aleck directors who'll think they can crack it.

[quote]And is there a Toni in Sweeney’s future?

Yes! Toni Tennille as Mrs. Lovett in Reno.

Which Lovett twin has the Toni?

I loved Lea in Miss Saigon and think she's been decent to very good in other roles, and, although she has a devoted following across the Filipino diaspora, I'm not sure that she has enough box office pull to sustain Groban-level sales. And those would be needed for this production to sustain beyond early 2024. I only see her working if they have a big name for Sweeney and that seems even tougher casting wise.

Which shows will post closing this week?

NYT reviews "Here We Are":

[quote]I loved Lea in Miss Saigon and think she's been decent to very good in other roles, and, although she has a devoted following across the Filipino diaspora, I'm not sure that she has enough box office pull to sustain Groban-level sales.

She recently did a stint in HERE LIES LOVE but didn't help the box office.

[quote] Did everyone giggle when the producers of MILK AND HONEY (was David Merrick involved?) tried to pass of that show poster of their 3 stars?

That wasn’t the show poster. When the lp was rereleased in 1970, they gave it that cover. Those models were never in the show,

[Quote] box office pull to sustain Groban-level sales

Wait, they’re expecting us to do what?

[Quote] She recently did a stint in HERE LIES LOVE but didn't help the box office.

Wrong.

When Lea was in it, Here Lies Love grossed over $750,000 every week—the only weeks that they have done so. Three of those weeks they made it over $900,000. It has been all downhill since she left. Maybe she didn't set the box office on fire, but she definitely helped move some tickets.

Gayle Rankin is Sally Bowles

Cabaret begins April 1. Redmayne and Rankin are scheduled to play a limited engagement through August 31, 2024. Starting June 17, 2024 Redmayne will not perform on Monday evenings and Rankin will not perform at Wednesday matinees. Kids, today.

And not so coincidentally, the Tonys are June 16.

Will the current London revival cast of Sunset Boulevard transfer to Broadway.

^?

That’s a big gamble to mount such an expensive production on a no-name (and even Eddie isn’t a proven box-office draw.)

I think they made a mistake with this. I’m sure she is extremely talented. She could have been matinee Wednesday Sally since apparently that is the schedule.

Who is this Gayle Rankin?

The Here We Are reviews seem to be much more positive and enthusiastic than I expected. Boy, are there going to be a lot of disappointed theatre goers. Plus, it will now probably moive to Broadway and lose tons of $$$$$$$.

Gayle Rankin played Fraulein Kost in the last revival.

Well, it seems the damn search function is STILL not working properly. In order to find this thread again, I had to go back to the old one and find the link. But it seems like search DOES work for other things, other threads. What the hell is going on?

[quote]The Here We Are reviews seem to be much more positive and enthusiastic than I expected. Boy, are there going to be a lot of disappointed theatre goers. Plus, it will now probably move to Broadway and lose tons of $$$$$$$.

If the show moves to Broadway, there will be lots more tickets available, so far fewer disappointed theatergoers. Or do you mean that lots more people will see the show and will be disappointed because you think the show is a disappointment?

Gayle looks like Samantha Powers’ artsy sister.

NY Times is grading on a curve these days. Making for very unhappy theatergoers who follow their advice.

I have theatre reviewers whom I trust. Jesse Green is not one of them. (Helen Shaw is.)

I meant the later, r29.

Here We Are is just not good. The NYT was extremely generous.

r28 Stop using (and complaining about) the search function. ALWAYS use Google. "Datalounge Theatre Gossip"

Tom Kirdahy will be more than willing to risk other people's money to move HWA to Bway (see NYNY). It will win the Pulitzer, but that won't amount to shit in ticket sales. I predict an announced limited run at the same prices they're gouging audiences for at The Shed.

I thought there would be a few renegade critics who would lament HWA for a disappointing attempt to honor Sondheim, but ultimately a failed effort. I haven't seen it, and may eat my words, but I think there was more sentimentality than critical acumen in those reviews. A lot of the comments in The Times for Green's piece are .... WHAT???

There is no way HERE WE ARE was going to get even a mixed review in the Times.

Beanie's waiting for The McRib to come back.

The chatter on HARMONY and GATSBY are all over the place. I always tend to believe the more negative.

Man, I wish someone would revive this with the original designs. It also had one of the best scares I've ever seen. The audience shrieked as one and then laughed at themselves because we all should have seen it coming.

[quote] I always tend to believe the more negative.

You're a Datalounger who posts on the Theatre Gossip threads.

Of COURSE you believe the more negative.

I have been taught by experts, r42

R43, I love you :-)

Oh, dear. Both lines are misquoted. It's "I have been taught...by masters." and either "Bolt it, Mariah." or "Bolt the door, Mariah." She says both.

Peter Allen was taught by experts (in the art of cruelty).

Why Broadway curtain times are changing:

^Sorry, didn't realize that article is for subscribers only.

Bloody Norma did a talk show. Twixxer didn't like her outfit.

Anyone else hearing rumors a closing notice is going up for a one, possibly two, shows tom'w?

This is one of the best pieces of theatre criticism I’ve read in a while.

I’m also looking forward to Helen Shaw’s review.

I tried listening to the Redmayne/Buckley Cabaret but the talking-singing was worse than Julie in the London MFL.

The Neil Diamond jukebox musical didn't exactly set Broadway on fire. Maybe a Dion jukebox musical will do the trick!

I wonder why there's never been a Stevie Wonder jukebox musical. He has a much bigger back catalog than some of these artists.

[quote]I tried listening to the Redmayne/Buckley Cabaret but the talking-singing was worse than Julie in the London MFL.

One of many flaws of that horrendous recording.

R41, and I loved that each scene had one drop of red in it. I have no memory of the big scare, though. ???

Shaw hasn't reviewed MERRILY yet. Maybe she'll combine them both. I'm intrigued because she doesn't seem to be a Sondheim worshipper.

It works well enough as an epitaph, even though it doesn't work that well as a show.

R43 your name is spelled Maria, pronunciation notwithstanding. Bad girl!

They call the wind Maria…

One of the greatest movies ever made, better than the play.

sigh...

I will say Cherry Jones and Frances Sternhagen killed it in the revival. The blackout scene at the end of Act 1, when Cherry cried out…Shivers!

And we say the play and the film are far better than Henry James' novella.

Miriam Hopkins was divine in The Heiress.

Sigh ( squared).

So, the two shows announcing their closures tomorrow are Here Lies Love and Melissa Etheridge: My Window, right?

So there is the wanderer and the wanderers?

Why isn't Mr. Hackmann a star?

Is this Nancy Dussault on drums?

One if the featured performers in HLL (Jasmine Forsberg) was announced as going into SIX soon so perhaps they have told the cast? It's a bit early for anyone making their Bway debut to be leaving/be let out of their contract.

[quote]Why isn't Mr. Hackmann a star?

He should be, but he pigged out.

[quote]s this Nancy Dussault on drums?

It's Linda Kaye Henning, a.k.a. Betty Jo Bradley, with her sisters Bobbie Jo and Billie Jo. I remember this episode of "The Ed Sullivan Show," which was a tie-in with that week's episode of "Petticoat Junction. (Both shows were on CBS.) The fourth "Ladybug" was a "friend" of theirs from Hooterville. I remember watching this when it originally aired. Yes, Beatlemania had even reached Hooterville.

Lots of curves - you bet, R73!

Why on earth would he tuck in a white t shirt when he's got a gut?

Hackmann's talent is currently being squandered in Back to the Future. I think the difficulty for someone like him is that there are so few new roles these days that call for a voice like his. His sound is very Golden Age. Shows these days are mostly pop inanities. What's a guy to do, but take a paycheck, do the occasional concert or studio recording, and have that dessert.

Great voice, but you can see the cogs turning as he vocalizes and there is very little emotional connection or personality. Actors like that often get tossed into character roles because the acting is less about authenticity and more about hitting the marks.

The fourth Ladybug was Sheila James (Kuehl), late of the Dobie Gillis Show.

Why would they costume Hackmann in a tight white tee shirt?

I have always loved that song from Paint Your Wagon and wondered why Alan Jay Lerner came up with the name Maria for his lyric. Turns out Wikipedia has the answer:

In the 1941 novel Storm, George Rippey Stewart names the storm that is the protagonist of his story Maria. In 1947, Stewart wrote a new introduction for a reprint of the book and discussed the pronunciation of "Maria": "The soft Spanish pronunciation is fine for some heroines, but our Maria here is too big for any man to embrace and much too boisterous." He went on to say, "So put the accent on the second syllable, and pronounce it 'rye'".

The success of Stewart's novel was one factor that motivated U.S. military meteorologists to start the informal practice of giving women's names to storms in the Pacific during World War II. The practice became official in 1945. In 1953, a similar system of using women's names was adopted for North Atlantic storms. This continued until 1979, when men's names were incorporated into the system. Although Stewart's story is set in 1935, the novel and its effect on meteorology later inspired Lerner and Loewe to write a song for their play about the California gold rush, and like Stewart, they too gave a wind storm the name Maria, which is pronounced /məˈraɪ.ə/.The lines throughout the song end in feminine rhymes mostly using the long 'i' sound /aɪ/, echoing the stress pattern and vowel sound of the name Maria.

Sorry, I know it's not remotely gossip.

Maria, bolt the door!

Was Mariah the general pronunciation for Maria in England throughout the centuries? I'm thinking of the character Maria in 12 NIGHT whose name is generally pronounced Mariah.

SUFFS!

How do you solve a problem like Mariah?

[quote]In the 1941 novel Storm, George Rippey Stewart names the storm that is the protagonist of his story Maria. In 1947, Stewart wrote a new introduction for a reprint of the book and discussed the pronunciation of "Maria": "The soft Spanish pronunciation is fine for some heroines, but our Maria here is too big for any man to embrace and much too boisterous." He went on to say, "So put the accent on the second syllable, and pronounce it 'rye'".

So, nobody ever pronounced 'Maria' like 'Mariah'?

It was the original author's own invention?

Jonathan was wearing an engagement ring on his finger on Colbert's show last night. And why do they allow Mendez to speak at all. Radcliffe's head seems to have gotten smaller, too. What's that about?

R86 Hi Celia Keenan! I’m sorry your revival of Merrily didn’t transfer in 2012 like this one did!

BTW, nobody likes your brother!

Here Lies Love up $90k to $690,574 last week. Is there hope?

[quote]Hackmann's talent is currently being squandered in Back to the Future. I think the difficulty for someone like him is that there are so few new roles these days that call for a voice like his. His sound is very Golden Age. Shows these days are mostly pop inanities. What's a guy to do, but take a paycheck, do the occasional concert or studio recording, and have that dessert.

Agreed, but it was a terrible career mistake for him to allow himself to balloon up like that. The contrast between how he looked in the PAINT YOUR WAGON video and how he looks know is pretty distressing. Sorry if I sound superficial and looksist, but I don't think most people want their traditional, golden-age musical theater leading men with gorgeous voices to look very round and moon-faced.

Gutenberg at $932,436! Who knew?

[quote]So, nobody ever pronounced 'Maria' like 'Mariah'? It was the original author's own invention?

If nothing else, Maria -- spelled that way but pronounced "Mariah" -- is a major character in PORGY AND BESS, and I'm sure Lerner was familiar with that work.

Maybe he just preferred that pronunciation. It does sound more regal and poetic.

But Ma-ree-a... Say it loud and there's music playing. Say it soft and it's almost like praying.

Mary-UH.

[quote] How do you solve a problem like Mariah?

Fuck her, how do you solve a problem like Suffs?

[quote]Maybe he just preferred that pronunciation. It does sound more regal and poetic.

I'd hate to meet a Mary! who called herself Marie.

[quote]Sorry if I sound superficial and looksist, but I don't think most people want their traditional, golden-age musical theater leading men with gorgeous voices to look very round and moon-faced.

Oh, I don't know.

I don’t remember the joke but I’ve always liked the punchline: “and they call the wind, the wind.”

Remember when THE SIMPSONS spoofed PAINT YOUR WAGON? 😂

Justin...

I saw a production of Blithe Spirit where they kept pronouncing Elvera as Elvira. Jesus I wanted to cut a bitch.

Daniel Radcliff's head looks fine. He's been working out so maybe that's why you think his head looks smaller.

Daniel's head is fine.

[quote]I saw a production of Blithe Spirit where they kept pronouncing Elvera as Elvira. Jesus I wanted to cut a bitch.

Unfortunately, it's impossible to understand what pronunciations you're referring to from those two ways you spelled the name. But anyway, I would think either "el-VY-ra" or "el-VEE-ra" would be acceptable.

Noel pronounced it el-Vee-ra, and he wrote the play.

British actress Maria Aitken (she played Charlotte in the original West End company of A Little Night Music) ‘s first name was pronounced as “Mariah.” And so was Phantom’s Tony winning set and costume designer Maria Björnson. And now both are dead. And I am sad.

r98...

Away out here they got a name

For rain and wind and fire

The wind is wind, the rain is rain

And they call the fire...fire

How does Maria Friedman, God's gift to the Sondheim oeuvre, pronounce her name?

The rain is Tess??

My nae is Tess

The right way, R108. Like the frigging song what Bernstein/Sondheim wrote.

[quote]Jonathan was wearing an engagement ring on his finger on Colbert's show last night.

From Jonathan's own mouth: That's not an engagement ring, and he's not engaged. So you all can dream on :-)

Merrily We Roll Along has the most unattractive cast currently on Broadway.

[quote] Unfortunately, it's impossible to understand what pronunciations you're referring to from those two ways you spelled the name.

I understood him perfectly.

[quote] Merrily We Roll Along has the most unattractive cast currently on Broadway.

Are you sure you aren't just looking at Lindsay Mendez and thinking she's the entire cast?

[quote]Merrily We Roll Along has the most unattractive cast currently on Broadway. wa

Just wait until you see "Suffs."

Don’t forget about me!

R115 wait till u see the producers of Suffs!

I have read on twitter that the new cast of ST involves someone from Moulin Rouge and Music Man. From Music Man, Sutton's name has been mentioned a lot...but from Moulin Rouge? Who could it be?

FOR TWO AND HALF WEEKS ONLY!

KO *is* Beadle Bamford!

R118 Aaron Tveit won the Tony for MOULIN ROUGE.

Broadway musicals no longer have attractive chorus people. Have you seen SOME LIKE IT HOT? They're much more likely to be filled with character types now. Pity the tired businessman. And businesswoman.

And that's partly why SOME LIKE IT HOT is a big, fat flop!

It's Broadway's attempt not to be limited by weight and looks, R121. Broadway is reflective of life, not fantasy anymore. However, people don't pay big bucks to see their neighbors on stage. I want to ogle Joshua Buscher dancing in tight pants, not Jonah Hill.

This was the plan for this all along. It'll clean up.

To be fair, SLIH also has unattractive leads.

[quote]It's Broadway's attempt not to be limited by weight and looks, [R121]. Broadway is reflective of life, not fantasy anymore. However, people don't pay big bucks to see their neighbors on stage.

I think it's on the West End, too.

I watched the recent 2022 London revival of ANYTHING GOES, starring Sutton Foster, but the sailor boys were so fucking ugly and some seemed doughy. I find it hard to believe they couldn't find fit, sexy chorus boys in London.

Pity, when I saw Sutton do it on Broadway a decade ago, the sailor boys were so much hotter (see below):

[quote]Unfortunately, it's impossible to understand what pronunciations you're referring to from those two ways you spelled the name.

[quote]I understood him perfectly.

Impossible to understand him perfectly from his failed attempt to type the name "Elvira" in two different ways including two different pronunciations, but I'm sure you're disagreeing with me just for the sake of being disagreeable.

[quote]I watched the recent 2022 London revival of ANYTHING GOES, starring Sutton Foster, but the sailor boys were so fucking ugly and some seemed doughy. I find it hard to believe they couldn't find fit, sexy chorus boys in London. Pity, when I saw Sutton do it on Broadway a decade ago, the sailor boys were so much hotter

One of those boys was Ward Billeisen. I hope this link works; if not, I'll try another.

Yes he did, r120, but as John O'Hara said about Gershwin's death, "I don't have to believe it if I don't want to."

R120. So did Danny Burstein

But Tveit's name has been thrown around along, with Sutton's, as potential replacements for Groban and Ashford.

R131, It’s a done deal.

Tony winner Sutton Foster would def keep ST up and running!

Cottage has amateur rights locked up the week it's closing. Funny, isn't it.

[quote] BTW, nobody likes your brother!

I certainly like the bulge AKB shows in his speedo. He may be super short, but his dick looks massive.

Tracie Bennett would be a great Mrs. Lovett. With Derek Klena as Sweeney. You’d totally get why she’s horny for him. Ivana Trump apparently was.

[quote] ’s a done deal.

And how do you know that for sure, r132? Just what are your credentials?

Tracie should do Lovett a la Judy.

R137, I know Michael Musto personally.

[quote] Impossible to understand him perfectly from his failed attempt to type the name "Elvira" in two different ways including two different pronunciations, but I'm sure you're disagreeing with me just for the sake of being disagreeable.

Umm, no. I simply understood him. He typed Elvera and Elvira. We all know how to pronounce the latter, but it's not too difficult to figure out how to pronounce the first one, especially if you know the play. He was quite clear. And the reason I'm disagreeing with you is because you were wrong in assuming it was impossible to figure out, and the fact that you were a massive, yawping cunt to the original poster and it was unwarranted.

Speaking of ST both Groban and Ashford are out for the matinee today.

This is the Datalounge. And a theatre gossip thread.

It is our responsibility to be massive, yawping cunts.

R141, They’re having lunch with Aaron and Sutton.

But Groban did Gutenberg last night.

What about Danny Burstein for Sweeney, though? Or is he more of a Judge Turpin?

I doubt Danny wants to do a show where he kills his wife

R146, I guess that would also rule out Jason Danieley.

[quote]He typed Elvera and Elvira. We all know how to pronounce the latter, but it's not too difficult to figure out how to pronounce the first one, especially if you know the play.

Incorrect. There are two acceptable pronunciations of the name, but they would be typed pseudo-phonetically as el-VEE-ra and el-VYE-ra (or el-VIE-ra), NOT as "Elvera" and "Elvira." Because "Elvera" looks like it should be pronounced ELL-vuh-ruh, which is not an acceptable pronunciation, and as we've already established, "Elvira" can be pronounced as el-VEE-ra or el-VYE-ra, which is the very issue we're discussing.

And I don't feel I was a "cunt" for simply pointing out that it was impossible to understand the other poster's failed attempt to type the name "Elvira" in two different ways indicating two different pronunciations, but YOU sir are quite clearly a dickhead.

[quote] And I don't feel I was a "cunt"

Yet your most recent post proves you are.

r148, are you the poster who pontificated about Eddie Redmayne's CABARET performance without seeing him in the production?

What matters, R149, is that you were dead wrong about you wrote. Which is why you called me a "cunt," because name-calling is always the reflex of people who don't know what the fuck they're talking about.

How can I be wrong about being able to understand what the original poster wrote? You're the one who said it was impossible to decipher it, so I guess that actually makes you wrong, since I had no trouble.

Now do fuck off, because you're boring everyone.

All of these Sweeney substitute suggestions are woefully lacking in box office appeal, except maybe Sutton and Collette. Danny Burstein? Tveit? Tracie Bennett??

Zombie Gretchen Wyler?

R152 I explained in detail why you were wrong, which was obviously a waste of time, because you don't have the mental capacity to understand what I wrote, nor do you have any concept of how to type words pseudo-phonetically to indicate pronunciation. Really, people like you are a blot on the internet in general and this site in particular, and I won't engage with you further.

Moving on to another topic as I stop wasting my time with the creep above: Interesting that Max von Essen is going into CHICAGO as Billy Flynn in early November.

You're one of *those* people, r155.

[quote] Really, people like you are a blot on the internet in general and this site in particular, and I won't engage with you further.

OH NOES!

[quote]Broadway musicals no longer have attractive chorus people. Have you seen SOME LIKE IT HOT? They're much more likely to be filled with character types now. Pity the tired businessman.

Now THIS was entertainment!

I suppose Sutton is a done deal. But they're selling tickets for Once Upon A Mattress starring her in February. What's gonna happen?

[quote] Cottage has amateur rights locked up the week it's closing. Funny, isn't it.

I found Cottage thoroughly unfunny.

[quote]Broadway musicals no longer have attractive chorus people. Have you seen SOME LIKE IT HOT? They're much more likely to be filled with character types now. Pity the tired businessman.

That may be true in general of SLIH -- I don't recall one way or the other -- BUT that show DOES have the gorgeous Casey Garvin as basically part of the ensemble, and he certainly goes a long way toward balancing the scale :-)

Small world, isn't it.

Didn't realize that Mr. Hackmann is the Curly on the new Complete OKLAHOMA recording. Glad he's getting work.

Broadway has never been known for attractive performers.

R111, The ring was on his right hand.

[quote] I suppose Sutton is a done deal.

You suppose wrong.

Every time Groban is out the box office drops drastically. One of the replacements better have some power. I'm sure the producers don't want a repeat of what happened when Sara left the Woods.

[quote]Didn't realize that Mr. Hackmann is the Curly on the new Complete OKLAHOMA recording. Glad he's getting work.

As you may know, he was also Curly in a staged concert version of OKLAHOMA! that was done in London at the Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms with the same conductor in 2017. Unfortunately, he had already begun to pork up by that point. It's admirable of that conductor to cast him for his voice. But in another production of OKLAHOMA! here in the U.S. around that same time, Hackmann was relegated to the role of Jud, and Curly was played by a guy who didn't have quite so beautiful a voice but was trim and good-looking as that character is supposed to be.

Nathaniel Hackmann also played Curley for the BBC proms.

Having now seen Here We Are, is anyone genuinely buying the company line that the lack of songs in Act Two was a purposeful conceptual choice?

NB KO for matinee Mrs Lovett.

Annaleigh is very well regarded in the role but she's not BO either. It's funny that anyone thinks Collette would do anything for the BO.

Yeah, how is Toni Collette a proven box office draw? She's only been in two Broadway shows, and they closed fairly quickly.

Moulin Rouge! has often grossed over $1 million weekly, but at least business picked up more than usual when Aaron Tveit was asked to return nearly a year after he had departed. Bootleg clips of his performance became popular on YouTube and TikTok.

Frankly, I can see Sutton and Tveit being a winning combo on Broadway. They both have faithful theater fans.

[quote] It's funny that anyone thinks Collette would do anything for the BO.

No one said she would. I'm the guy who started the Toni Collette chatter and I never mentioned box office, just that I would love to see her play the role. And I don't believe anyone has chimed in about her drawing potential.

That being said, I think Collette might bring in a few more people than she was able to 20 years ago. Don't forget she did two broadway shows that were premieres, got bad reviews and were hard sells to the tourist trade. Now she's in a high profile, popular revival.

She also has become the doyenne of streaming miniseries and I would think that has boosted her fan base. She's certainly not Audra in a musical, and I still think you'd need a namish Sweeney to add to the mix, but I would say thanks to her TV work, she's more broadly familiar now than she even was right after The Sixth Sense.

But no, I was not advocating for her because I thought she'd be a slam dunk at the box office. I just would love to see her play the role.

I sure hope Tveit and Foster aren't really replacing Groban and Ashford. Is the available talent so dismal they really couldn't find a Sweeney with an actual baritone or a Lovett with an actual head voice (granted, Dorothy London barely had a head voice, but she had a personality)?

The amateur prevails and delicacy fails, indeed.

When Here We Are inevitably moves to Broadway, I wonder who will be more unhappy: the audience or the investors.

The Toni as Mame rumor threads on Broadway World in 2016...

Kim Criswell might have been such a cunt she had to move to England for a career, but damn I love this. The songs Rodgers wrote with Hart are so lively.

R178 She is awful.

I know she cunted out to Sondheim and was blocked from his shows…but was there seriously no other jobs for her that she had to run away to London?

Groban was always the draw for ST. Hard to find a Sweeney with his following. I'm guessing they may just close the show and call it a day.

Kern Troll, I love you and just ordered that McGlinn CD used ("Very good condition") on Amazon for $8.50!

If I had a dime for every time Toni Collette's name has come up in answer to who should star in a Broadway musical revival I'd be a very rich theatre queen.

I love you too, R182. Don't neglect the recordings you can find on YouTube.

I *adore* this record

Rob Madge, star of ‘My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?)’, sees the marquee for the first time:

R155, Nobody in his right mind is pronouncing "Elvera" ELL-vuh-ruh.

[Quote] I'm guessing they may just close the show and call it a day

They have publicly announced otherwise

R175, Dorothy London or Julie Loudon?

Nonsense, R181.

Aaron Tveit and Sutton Foster will be the toast of Broadway when they assume the leads in Sweeney Todd.

R189 don’t you mean Roast?

So this whole Tveit/Foster thing is from the fevered mind of one queen who says he knows Michael Musto, as if that means something.

Meanwhile Encores is proceeding with Mattress full speed ahead.

Max von Essen will be the next Billy Flynn on Broadway. Oh well, a girl has to eat.

Chita as Mrs. Lovett and John Cullen as Sweeney

Couldn't they keep Sweeney running for 2-3 weeks with understudy Jeanna de Waal as Mrs. Lovett until Sutton is done with Mattress? Sutton could be learning her lines and blocking bow as I write this. The producers may very well think those few weeks of losing revenue is worth the box office gold Sutton and Aaron will create for the next several months.

“John Cullen”

Oh, dear.

Bill’s slightly younger brother

When have Foster or Tveit ever been "box office gold"?

2 little shows called The Music Man and Moulin Rouge. r197?

R198, And a little thing called Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Shows also have been known to take a break before a new cast steps in. Remember A Little Night Music with Bernadette and Elaine?

[quote]Aaron Tveit and Sutton Foster will be the toast of Broadway when they assume the leads in Sweeney Todd.

Aaron Tveit and Sutton Foster will be toast when they assume the leads in Sweeney Todd.

Any news whether The DaVinci Code is heading to Broadway? It got great reviews during its Olgonquit run.

“Olgunquit”

Oh, dear.

R202-I just spit out my latte.

They can get someone else for Mattress. Is Beanie available?

Oh good, Tommy is coming back. Love a rock musical about a pedophile.

[quote]Oh good, Tommy is coming back. Love a rock musical about a pedophile.

I hope you're joking. "Wicked Uncle Ernie" is a minor character who isn't exactly portrayed in the best light.

A Chris Jones review once again propels a show to Broadway.

Uncle Ernie may be a minor character but the whole "plot" such as it is, turns on his actions.

[quote] Shows also have been known to take a break before a new cast steps in. Remember A Little Night Music with Bernadette and Elaine?

That was so Elaine could be letter perfect with her lines.

[quote] Uncle Ernie may be a minor character but the whole "plot" such as it is, turns on his actions.

What are you talking about? Ernie has nothing to do with the "whole plot."

Pedephile musicals are very big on Broadway!

Oooh...let's reunite Hugh and Sutton for Sweeney Todd. Sure, Hugh can't sing the role, but just imagine the hilarious hijinx those two will get up to when they have a totally spontaneous, not remotely planned giggle-fest and crack each other up the way they did in The Music Man. Maybe they can do it during "A Little Priest" to distract from some of the lyrics that aren't really very funny. ("Locksmith....VERY long pause..." I'm looking at you.)

Maybe they can bring in Jerry Zaks to improve some of the staging and Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman to rewrite any problematic lyrics.

[quote]Uncle Ernie may be a minor character but the whole "plot" such as it is, turns on his actions.

[quote]What are you talking about? Ernie has nothing to do with the "whole plot."

I'm beginning to think that neither r206 nor r209 are familiar with Tommy, r211. It definitely isn't a musical about a pedophile, and the reason that Tommy loses his sight and hearing is not because of the sexual abuse, but because he witnessed the murder of his father by his mother's lover. Tommy's own mother tells him:

[quote]You didn't hear it, you didn't see it, you won't say nothing to no one, never tell a soul what you know is the truth.

The "funny uncle" business does not happen until after Tommy goes deaf and blind.

Music Man and Moulin Rouge would have been huge his without Sutton and Tveit.

John Cullen not Cullen….Damn autocorrect (and my laziness for not proofreading).

It keeps changing it on me. CULLUM!

Full Speed Ahead On The Mattress.

I think that is the title of Harold Lang's autobiography - or should have been.

Mattress was planned for Sutton. It’s going to have a revised book, and word I’d Dncores is hoping it will do what Into the Woods did and get raves that move it right on to Broadway. Sutton has no intention of dropping out of that.

Sutton doesn't sell tickets but Tveit does. The box office at Moulin Rouge always went up when he was in it. His fans will go back and see him again and again. He sold out his upcoming NYE show at 54 Below in record time and those were $350-450 tickets. I don't think he's right for the role but he'll keep it running a bit longer.

Also, Mattress is being rewritten by the Palladinos, who created Sutton's two TV series, so, as r219 said, she's not going anywhere. Just be forewarned - with the Palladinos in charge, everybody is goingtobetalkingreallyreallyfast!

Raul Esparza as Sweeney.

[QUOTE]What are you talking about? Ernie has nothing to do with the "whole plot.

What are you talking about? Tommy has no plot.

r222

I like that idea... I'm sure I missed this but they have announced that the production is continuing after Josh and Annaleigh leave?

Yes R224

"Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford will be departing Fleet Street on January 14, but you still have more chances to brave the chair dearie. Our tale is extending into Spring 2024!"

R225-Not with Raul it isn't.

Sandy!!!!!!! and Don

Just tell me- does Sandy go crashing into the mirror?

No, but at the beginning she appears to be masturbating.

Both the mirror and the glass eye shatter into a thousand pieces.

"The most harrowing crash since James Dean's!" - Rona Barrett

I really think Lovett is Lea Salonga

She’s a Sondheim vet

Her calendar is free for the dates

She’s played the role before in Manila

She’s doing Lovett right now in Old Friends

She is popular and a Tony winner

Vocally, she is still strong

Hugh Jackman once thought he was enough of a singer to duet with, erm, Aretha Franklin so why wouldn’t he attempt to sing Sweeney?

Hugh should do Sweeney and enter on a zip line.

R233, And then tap dance.

The tappin' barber from Fleet...Street.

The Sandy clip also had Canada's Jeff Hyslop who played Mike in the international tour. So Sandy did the number with her husband who played Mike in the LA company and Hyslop.

Wanted to add that in that thumbnail, Sandy looks exactly like Georgia Engel.

Don Correia was a hot piece of azz.

r205 Beanie is the mattress.

R239 but not the first weekend end - she has a wedding to go to.

R239. Beanie is the lump IN the mattress.

She's amazing, r227. The choreography fit her like a glove.

R170, you make it sound as if everyone involved with HERE WE ARE is pretending that the lack of songs in Act 2 is exactly what Sondheim himself wanted. I don't think that Mantello or Ives has suggested any such thing; indeed, it was made quite clear in the Frank Rich piece that Mantello offered the idea that Sondheim's being stuck about producing Act 2 numbers might in fact show a way forward:

In the Rich article, Ives says, "Joe put the hook in and let it sit awhile. But when we talked, I remember he kept saying, 'The show is finished, it really is finished, and this is why and this is why and this is why.' And it was that moment when you’re working on a show, and the director points out some key thing, and you realize, 'Oh, wait a minute, I didn’t see that about that character' or 'Oh, I understand that scene now.' And suddenly the whole show opened up in a way, and I thought, 'Yes, you are right.' It had been out of my hands, and suddenly it felt like it was back in my hands. I had thought it was in Steve’s hands, but actually it wasn’t. It was so powerful to have the freedom of going back to work on it and just letting loose and taking it seriously, as Joe said, in a way that I don’t think we had before."

I suppose some will claim that they made all this up after Sondheim's death, but I don't believe that. I think that the worst thing you can say is that they grabbed at this straw as a justification to move forward.

I don’t see Here We Are until November, but the idea that the music stops works for me. Sondheim, who seemed both endlessly articulate and immortal, died with unfinished work. Maybe this is exactly what his last show was supposed to be.

The Act 1 Sondheim score is extremely weak.

Tough titties, r245. Make do or do without.

The Act 2 Ives book is much, much weaker.

Sorry, Steve was unable to finish this particular hat.

I think I enjoyed the second act better, just because it felt more real and the characters were less annoying and more dimentional. (Don't get me wrong, it wasn't great, just better than the first act.) AS I think I've said as well as others, the music in the first act felt like rejects from his other shows. Everything felt slightly familiar, but since all the characters were annoying and fairly 2 dimentional in the first act, you didn't care. Except for the staff... Denis O'Hare and Traci Bennett. I have never been a fan of Bennett's. She works really HARD usually, but in this it worked perfectly.

[quote]Nobody in his right mind is pronouncing "Elvera" ELL-vuh-ruh.

Nobody is pronouncing "Elvera" in any particular way, as that's not how the name is spelled. But if it WERE spelled that way, of course is would be pronounced EL-vuh-ruh, not ell-VYE-ra or el-VEE-ruh.

Beanie is the Nightingale of Samarkand.

[quote]Meanwhile Encores is proceeding with Mattress full speed ahead.

Maybe Encores is planning to replace Sutton with Sarah Jessica Parker. People are still talking about the way Sarah played the role the first time around.

Elvers > pronounced like Olvera, as in Olvera Street.

Ignore the typo^. Get my drift.

[quote] Nobody is pronouncing "Elvera" in any particular way, as that's not how the name is spelled. But if it WERE spelled that way, of course is would be pronounced EL-vuh-ruh, not ell-VYE-ra or el-VEE-ruh.

Oh, just shut up already. No one gives a fuck. Let it go.

Saw Merrily last night, and thought the cast was even better than at New York Theater workshop. The set, though, is as ugly as ever. What the fuck is going on with those house plants on the second level?

Radcliffe was adorable after the curtain call raising money for Equity Cares Broadway Fights AIDS. He auctioned off a typewritten page of paper prop from the show for $1400!

[quote]He auctioned off a typewritten page of paper prop from the show for $1400!

Which, coincidentally, is also the price of a show ticket.

The auctioning is out of control. When I saw Music Man (shudder), Hugh Jackman auctioned off a glove. The bidding went to 20,000. There were three buffers so they gave both gloves and something like a signed poster to the third. The successful bidder in front of me said he knew Hugh (no, he was there with his wife and kids).

I saw video that this happened at least one other night. It seemed obscene to ask people to donate more after paying those ticket prices. But worse? There were plenty of people willing to do so. And $20,000 was the limit Jackman set, not the bidders..

R258 . . .

Obscene to ask, and worse that people were willing to donate to an excellent cause, r258?

You must lead a sheltered life. They are all consenting adults, and "obscene" is far too strong a word for that. Let people do whatever they want without judging them.

That’s the wax museum version of Nicole, correct?

In his book THE GREAT JAZ AND POP VOCAL ALBUMS, Will Friedwald writes, "In the musical theater, the big awards and the major accolades go to the dark brooding dramas of Stephen Sondheim rather than the diva-driven comedies of Jerry Herman, even though Herman is a composer with just as much craft--and certainly more melody--than Sondheim."

I agree with that. Not every Herman lyric is a gem, but overall they are simpler than Sondheim's, not unlike those of Irving Berlin. And Herman definitely writes more memorable melodies than Sondheim.

Were they friends?

Taylor Swift writes more memorable melodies than Sondheim.

Melody is only one element of music (much less theatrical music). Frankly, it was about all Herman could do. He couldn’t use music to intensify the action, he didn’t have much harmonic variety, and he had a style that was limited to maybe four basic song types. Compare his work to Jule Styne or Richard Rodgers rather than Sondheim. It falls incredibly short because they had the same goals but did it much much better.

r159- Sutton can perform ST at night while rehearsing Mattress during the day. Then she takes off a few ST performances to do the handful of Mattress performances. It's been done before.

Has anyone seen both the 2013 West End production of Merrily and the current B’way version? What’s the difference?

r170- there are multiple songs in Act 2.

Anyone ever notice how great Toni Collette movies are. Even when she doesn't have a big part. She clearly reads the scripts and only picks the good ones. Changing Lanes, The Way Way Back, About a Boy, Enough Said, and on and on. All great movies.

R266 Agreed. Didn't Ruth Ann Miles take a couple of weeks off to go to CC for "Piazza?

Yes, r270.

Yes, but she’s not an above title star

[quote]Yes, but she’s not an above title star

You want Sutton and she has a previous commitment, you work around it because she's..."an above title star".

[quote]there are multiple songs in Act 2.

Yes, then they completely peter out—and the show is much lesser because of it. They are staging an unfinished show, which is fine, but the post-hoc conceptual justification for the songs petering out doesn't hold any water.

Encores is no longer a 4 day run. All the productions now run for two weeks.

Max Clayton joining Chicago as Fred Casely. Assuming he'll also u/s Billy Flynn.

So Fred Casely will be fucking Frank Sinatra. Sounds like a Lifetime movie.

One that I'd watch the fuck out of, r277.

[quote]Both the mirror and the glass eye shatter into a thousand pieces.

Sandy Duncan does not have a glass eye. Stop perpetuating this myth.

SUFFS!

[R159]- Sutton can perform ST at night while rehearsing Mattress during the day. Then she takes off a few ST performances to do the handful of Mattress performances. It's been done before.

Back in the '80s, Cynthia Nixon was simultaneously in two Broadway plays -- THE REAL THING (Jan. 1984-May 1985) and HURLYBURLY (Aug. 1984-June 1985).

[quote][[R159]]- Sutton can perform ST at night while rehearsing Mattress during the day. Then she takes off a few ST performances to do the handful of Mattress performances. It's been done before.

Back in the '80s, Cynthia Nixon was simultaneously in two Broadway plays -- THE REAL THING (Jan. 1984-May 1985) and HURLYBURLY (Aug. 1984-June 1985).

If anyone should play Lovett, it should be DL fave Kathleen Turner

[quote]Anyone ever notice how great Toni Collette movies are. Even when she doesn't have a big part. She clearly reads the scripts and only picks the good ones.

Her last two movies were [bold]Mafia Mamma[/bold] and [bold]Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken[/bold]. (There goes that theory.)

Au contraire. Check the French box office numbers for those recent flicks.

Holy shit, I tried watching Mafia Mamma a couple nights ago because I love Toni, but pee-yew.

[quote]Oh, just shut up already. No one gives a fuck. Let it go.

You are obviously too dim to realize that if you don't want any more posts about it, an excellent way to help achieve that is to STOP RESPONDING.

[quote]I saw video that this happened at least one other night. It seemed obscene to ask people to donate more after paying those ticket prices. But worse? There were plenty of people willing to do so. And $20,000 was the limit Jackman set, not the bidders..

What the hell difference does it make how much people paid for their tickets if they VOLUNTARILY want to say for the auction after the show and spend lots more? P.S. If you object to the practice, you can simply leave as soon as the auctioning starts. Did that not occur to you?

[quote] You are obviously too dim to realize that if you don't want any more posts about it, an excellent way to help achieve that is to STOP RESPONDING.

You seem to be desperate to have the last word. Sad.

Instead of Toni Collette as Mrs Lovett how about Toni Tennille?

What happened to Lea Salonga as the absolutely positive Lovett?

[quote]Melody is only one element of music (much less theatrical music). Frankly, it was about all Herman could do. He couldn’t use music to intensify the action, he didn’t have much harmonic variety, and he had a style that was limited to maybe four basic song types.

I think there is SOME truth in what you wrote, but I don't agree that Herman "was limited to maybe four basic song types." Can you elaborate?

[quote]You seem to be desperate to have the last word. Sad.

And yet, you are trying your hardest to make sure YOU do.

[quote] Instead of Toni Collette as Mrs Lovett how about Toni Tennille?

How about reading the thread, as this joke was already made.

[quote]You seem to be desperate to have the last word. Sad.

Stated the person who's too dim to realize that, even as he's typing a sentence to berate someone for insisting on having the last word, he himself is doing so in order to have the last word. It's kind of vicious cycle, isn't it :-)

Anyway, bucko, I'm going to stop now even if you're not. So if you REALLY, REALLY need to have the last word, post again, and that will be the end of it.

Thanks for proving my point, hon.

SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!

Sounds like a cue for a Sondheim song, R297.

Incidentally, since they've already extended Sweeney Todd until next spring, when do you think they'll announce Grogan and Ashford's replacements when they leave in January?

*Groban

Punctuation, R299. Befriend it.

Yesterday

Guys, here is the dishy inside scoop!! I have been asked to replace Josh as Sweeney, while my dear friend Kitara will make her Broadway debut alongside me as Mrs. Lovett! EGOTs x 2!!!

Porkchop for matinee Mrs Lovett.

Someone’s pretty desperate to have Sutton play Lovett.

Mattress was planned from the beginning as a project that the Palladinos would rewrite to star Sutton. She’s The whole reason for it. She is not going to give it short shift by starring as Lovett at the same time.

Sutton can take time off Sweeney to do Mattress. While she is gone, the part of Winifred could be played by the always delightful and whimsical Patti LuPone.

Even if the the idea of Josh Groban as Sweeney Todd and Sutton Foster as Mrs. Lovett started as a joke, the fact that so many people apparently think they would be good casting in those roles is just about the worst comment on the current state of the Broadway theater -- and theatergoers -- that I can imagine.

So a handful of Tveit fans is meant to be representative of all theatregoers? Good god, some of you will reach beyond reason to whine.

Good point, R308. I should not and do not assume that a handful (or whatever) of Aaron Tveit or Sutton Foster fans are representative of all theatergoers, but I think the fact that ANYONE considers those two remotely acceptable casting as Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett is pretty damned shocking.

Aaron and Sutton are the Sweeney Todd replacements.

It’s a done deal.

Got that?

All good things come to those who can Tveit

Vicki Clark cutting back on KA performances. Will Donna Murphy be Tuesday night Kimberly?????

I love DL, but I skip any post that begins, "You are obviously too dim to realize..."

Makes scrolling through the threads much faster.

How long before it becomes common for stars to only do a portion of the week's performances?

When the new leads takeover in ST will they switch from 7 to 8 performances a week,? I assume the extra night off was specifically for vocal rest for Groban. Angie had a matinee alternate on the road but otherwise the leads have always played 8 a week.

By the way, I think Max Von Essen is first actor to play Billy Flynn and Mary Sunshine.

Sutton just mugs.

Also: Matt Doyle’s fiance is Fred Casely. Is that even a role?

One could say it's pivotal, r317.

I'm pretty sure this is the first time that this production of CHICAGO has ever put out a press release announcing the casting of the one-very-short-scene role of Fred Casely. Like someone else above, I'm thinking maybe Clayton will also be understudying Billy Flynn, although there is no mention of it in the release.

[quote] It’s a done deal. Got that?

Not according to Sutton, it’s not. No one’s offered it, and she wouldn’t be interested if they did. That came from her.

Fred Casely is a small role, to be sure, r319, but has more than one scene. He's also in We Both Reached For the Gun, and is a part of the ensemble throughout.

The actors playing Casely often cover Flynn. Michael Berresse, the revival's Casely, did, and later did it on tour, with Chita Rivera, I think.

Perhaps Max auditioned for Billy Flynn but they cast the other Max instead so they offered him Fred and Billy cover. He can keep his real estate job and do Chicago at night.

Mike Doyle is "engaged" again? He loves to get down on one knee as much as he likes to get down on both.

Mike Doyle and Matt Doyle are not the same person.

Wow, how did I read that as Mike Doyle? Thanks.

Mike Doyle showed a very nice dick in some Lincoln Center production back in the 2000s.

[quote]He can keep his real estate job and do Chicago at night.

Max has a real estate job?

R320, You’re lying.

R327. He does. Smart guy. Can't play Fred Casely forever.

Life upon the wicked stage ain't ever what a girl supposes

Stage door Johnnies aren't raging over you with gems and roses

Wild, old men who give you jewels and sables

Only live in Aesop's Fables

Life upon the wicked stage ain't nothing for a girl!

DVR alert: TCM showing Angela Lansbury "Sweeney Todd" at 12pm ET today.

R328, the liar is the nutcase who keeps trying to justify his obsession with Sutton doing ST. “She can rehearse Encores during the day and do Sweeney at night!”’

Pitiful.

The most likely scenario is Lea Salonga.

DeLaney Westfall will be Mrs Lovett this afternoon.

Uh oh . . .

Are people just batshit crazy now?

[quote]DeLaney Westfall

Great name

Anyone else hearing rumors about Equity bringing charges against a producer?

Who is the producer, r337? We're all friends here at this anonymous chat board.

[quote](New York, NY) - Tony Award-winner Kenny Leon, who directed the current critically and widely-acclaimed Broadway production of Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch now open at The Music Box Theatre, will direct a new Broadway production of Our Town by Thornton Wilder in the fall of 2024. This will be the first major Broadway revival of the classic play in nearly 25 years. The dates, cast, and a theatre will be announced at a later date.

[quote]The design team for Our Town will include scenic design by Tony Award-winner Beowulf Boritt (New York, New York; Act One,), costume design by Tony Award-nominee and Drama Desk Award-winner Dede Ayite (Jaja's African Hair Braiding; Topdog/Underdog), lighting design by Tony Award-nominee Allen Lee Hughes (Topdog/Underdog; A Soldier's Play), sound design by Tony Award-nominee Justin Ellington (Ohio State Murders; for colored girls...) and the dialect coach will be Kate Wilson (The Shark is Broken, The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window).

So, it looks like Broadway is getting an all-black version of " Our Town." Good luck.

What’s wrong with that? It could work very well. And where does it say it will be all-Black?

You’re a bigot…and you’re failing even that low bar.

[quote]Who is the producer, [R337]? We're all friends here at this anonymous chat board.

Him?

Is he the guy who bounced checks left and right for that Bells Are Ringing shitfest with Faith Prince?

No, R342, that was Mitchell Maxwell, who recently resurfaced as a co-producer of an Off-Broadway show.

JFC R312 - give us warning.

That picture came up and I had to reset every clock in my house.

Leon may as well cast Our Town with all trans and Enbys for as many tickets as it will sell.

[quote]Simon, who has also produced Broadway revivals of “Pippin” and “Bells Are Ringing,” told The Post he took down the fliers for the purpose of keeping the city’s streets clean, not for antisemitic reasons, and apologized for offending anyone.

Alarm bells are ringing...

And you're cancelled in.....JUST NO TIME AT ALL

Mitchell Maxwell was the check-bouncing producers of Bells Are Ringing.

Whose checks did he bounce? Cast members?

R299 According to BroadwayWorld poster poto19882023:

[quote]Intel from within the Lunt Fonanne:

[quote]- The announcement for the new cast will be coming this Tuesday, October 31 (fitting since it's Halloween)

[quote]- It is all but confirmed that it is, in fact, Aaron Tveit and Sutton Foster

[quote]- They will be starting early February

[quote]- In the interim Nicholas Christopher and Paul Jordan-Jensen will be sharing the role of Sweeney, while Jeanna de Waal and Delaney Westfall will share the role of Mrs. Lovett

[quote]I was predicting/hoping there'd be a few week stint where the standbys would become principle with the understudies getting to do some alternate performances so this is perfect. I will be frequently there to catch them!

[Quote] I will be frequently there to catch them!

Freak.

[quote]I will be frequently there to catch them!

Don't drop them!

Sutton is (presumably) doing Once Upon a Mattress Jan 24 to Feb 4. Could she really go into Sweeney in early February?

Only if they finish choreographing my tap break for "Nothing's Gonna Harm You"!

Well—at least it will close quickly, so there won’t be too much wasted “effort.”

Ye of little faith. I think Sutton and Tveit *together* will be a winning combination.

Aaron Tveit’s fan base is enormous.

DLers also said that Lea Michele would not be much of a box office draw, so casting her was futile.

^in FUNNY GIRL

[quote] Aaron Tveit’s fan base is enormous.

You know what they say. Enormous fan base = enormous dick.

Season 2 of THE GILDED AGE begins tonight on HBO with some of our favorite Broadway stars!

Who'll be watching?

Well, if Broadway World poster 19882023 says it’s true, then it must be so. He’s one of our most accurate Broadway prognosticators.

Groban out of ST today.

He’s checkin’ out Aaron’s big dick, allegedly.

I have enjoyed Sutton Foster in some roles, not at all in others -- and I'm sure I don't have to specify which. But if she really has the nerve to take on Mrs. Lovett, that will be the last straw following THE MUSIC MAN. I also predict critical disaster if this casting happens, and the same goes for Tveit as Todd.

It does sound ridunkulous!

If it is Aaron, Wayman will keep it afloat for months.

[quote]Well, if Broadway World poster 19882023 says it’s true, then it must be so. He’s one of our most accurate Broadway prognosticators.

Perhaps Broadway World poster 19882023 says the casting of Tveit and Foster is all but verified because he kept seeing it on DL.

Some of the geniuses at All That Chat are saying they don't mind the complete rewrite of PAL JOEY that's reportedly being done for the City Center production, and the reason they don't mind is that they claim the original book is "unplayable" -- yet they give not a single word of explanation as to WHY they think it's unplayable. What a bunch of know-it-alls who are actually no-nothings.

FYI: The BWW poster is called 'poto19882023.'

R369 welcome to the new Production Code!

Only this time, the censorship is coming from inside the house (i.e., Left).

[quote]Only this time, the censorship is coming from inside the house (i.e., Left).

You type old and conservative, r371.

Opposing censorship in the arts is now considered 'old' and 'conservative'?

Criticism is censorship now? When did that happen?

I'm not sure where all this talk of "censorship" came from. I was not suggesting that the massive rewrite of PAL JOEY has anything to do with "censorship," if that's what people are referring to.

There's only one poster who referred to it as censorship, r375.

The lyrics to “Zip” have lots of dated references that no one gets today, but the rest of the show is fine. But for some reason it’s one of those shows that gets tinkered with all the time. Like Candide or Show Boat. All 3 shows have great scores, too.

[quote]but the rest of the show is fine

The original ran 11 months and the '50s revival ran 16 months. It's not a big crowd pleaser.

[quote]welcome to the new Production Code!

Will they write a song about it?

“The lyrics to “Zip” have lots of dated references that no one gets today.”

So does “I’m Still Here”.

[Quote] The original ran 11 months and the '50s revival ran 16 months. It's not a big crowd pleaser.

How are you shows ran for much shorter times then. Pal Joey was never a blockbuster, but a couple of years was generally a good run.

[quote]The original ran 11 months and the '50s revival ran 16 months. It's not a big crowd pleaser.

But those were considered more than decent runs in those days.

Pal Joey produced more popular songs than most musicals.

Just saw I CAN GET IT FOR YOU WHOLESALE and thought it was terrific! Some of it is a bit dated but I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. Santino Fontana is a great, classic, leading man.

Just read that Pal Joey thread over on ATC and don't remember a single poster who "doesn't mind" a massive rewrite, r369. On the contrary, they're all up in arms over it. To which poster(s) do you refer?

Back in the 30s and 40s it was a rare musical or play that ran longer than a season. For one thing, audiences didn't usually see beloved shows multiple times. Shows that ran for even 500 performances were very uncommon.

oh my

[quote]"The original script of Pal Joey is a fascinating read on paper, and also all but unplayable today." -- ShowGoer

Sorry you missed it, R385, but I didn't really appreciate having to go back and find this for you.

r388, there was a single outlier (not "some of the geniuses" as you state) in the dozens in the thread who are objecting to the rewrites. It was easy to miss.

Reba is Mrs Lovett

Mrs. Lovett's BBQ?

Sutton will be Lovett, and I predict she will be extraordinary.

The financing is already in place to move Once Upon a Mattress if it gets the kind of reviews and heat that ITW got.

[quote]Sutton will be Lovett, and I predict she will be extraordinary.

That will certainly be a first for her.

Patty. Elaine Paige. Sutton. If you played Reno Sweeney, you will play Mrs. Lovett

Ethel Merman would have made a hell of a Lovett

Over Sondheim's dead body. Oh, wait . . .

Well, it's on Page Six, so it must be true.......................

Interesting that the Page 6 article makes no mention of Mattress at all.

Did you like my audio narration of “Shy”, Mary?

Aaron is big all over.

[quote]Ethel Merman would have made a hell of a Lovett

She'd have made an even better Sweeney Todd.

I just thank god the rumor of Audra didn’t pan out.

Lempicka! at the Longacre

Who do they think is going to go to all of these things?

I’d go see “Lempicka”

I love stuff like that

I’d also pay good money to see Ethel do either Lovett or Todd. It would be terrible, but it would also be fabulous.

I'd rather see the Mertzes tackle the roles.

Do I slash the throat on the upbeat or the downbeat?

Carol Channing as Sweeney, Mary Martin as Lovett.

William Frawley as Todd and Lucy as Lovett would actually be interesting. Young versions of course.

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 2003, "Wicked" opened at the Gershwin Theatre.

I saw Wicked on Halloween night of 2003; one-half of the audience was in costume… mediocre on stage and in the seats.

I work on that block —the crowds that still show up are entertaining…not in the way they might think.

I saw Lempicka at La Jolla. It is a stinker.

Tourists at the TKTS booth will be faced with the eternal question: "Lempicka or Suffs!?"

And the privilege of paying only 25% off for each.

The choice of the Longacre Theatre doesn't bode well for LEMPICKA.

Wow, that Too Wong Foo looks really cheap. Is it off-off West End?

UGH.

UGH.

So, will the 2024 Tonys have the theme of " Female Empowerment" with all-female hosts and presenters ( and Billy Porter)? I would not be surprised.

[quote]I saw Lempicka at La Jolla. It is a stinker.

"Lempica is a stinka!"

R422 that would be Rex Reed’s headline

“Sticky Fingers” could be the title of Rex Reed’s autobiography.

As well as Stinky Fingers

Rex Reed lost all credibility with his Funny Girl rave review for Beanie.

Reed didn't have credibility to lose, r426.

R426, I would say that anybody who raved over Beanie in FG completely lost their credibility.

That review was all about attacking Barbra .

He doesn't care about credibility, he just wanted his name in the ad.

Rex Reed was the asshole who started the rumor that Jack Palance accidentally read the wrong name off the teleprompter after announcing Marisa Tomei (MY COUSIN VINNY) as the winner, simply because he had been rooting for Vanessa Redgrave (HOWARD'S END) and was irate.

That stupid rumor was finally put to rest in 2017 after Faye Dunaway accidentally announced LA LA LAND as the Best Picture winner instead of MOONLIGHT and was promptly corrected on the broadcast.

Also, if you watch the actual clip, Palance opens the envelope and reads its contents, which only contains the winner's name.

*WHEN announcing Marisa Tomei as the winner...

Rex Reed was one of the first critics to savage the film version of “Mame” and Lucille Ball in particular. Angela Lansbury was one of his closest friends and he was furious she was not cast in the film.

Rex was also furious when bestie Polly Bergen did not win the Tony for FOLLIES in 2001. He was even her date the night of the awards.

He also wrote that A Little Night Music was the most stylish film musical since Gigi.

Well...it certainly has a *look*.

I've been seeing photos of Cabaret on Jake Shears' IG thread for weeks and if this is the design of the show, it's a major hard pass.

Is it true that Cabaret is also a tiny production, which is why we only see close-up shots of one or two performers at a time?

It just seems that modern revivals of Cabaret are merely competing to see who can come up with the most bizarre concept, costumes, and minimalistic sets. They call attention to themselves and not the story, so "critics" and audience members can hail the directors as visionary, rather than the hacks they are.

Maybe just cause it was a dreary rainy evening in London last spring as we queued into the Kit Kat Klub and we had bought 1/2 price tix that afternoon not expecting much (I saw the original Prince production about 4 times as a precocious teen), but I really surprised myself and loved this revival, perhaps even more than the Mendes version. Can't remember who played the Emcee, probably a 3rd replacement and Sally was played by that young tv actress with the buck teeth, Amy Lou.....Something, but they were both great, as were the Cliff and older couple.

I had earlier seen some numbers on the Olivier Awards telecast and looked at production photos (wtf is that oversized beige suit on Sally??) and was frankly appalled, but watching it all unfold in person, I was totally seduced. It's played on a rather tiny mostly empty circular disc with audience on all sides, so it's "immersive" but not with the audience dragged onstage. Fabulous costumes that really evoke Georg Grosz paintings.

But my point is, you just have to see it all live to get it. The young director Rebecca Frecknall is a genius. We had seen her bare bones Streetcar (another show I thought I never needed to see again) with Paul Mezcal earlier in the week) and she's the real deal.

Saw it in London last year. Thought it was flash and trash.

The only time I've seen Cabaret onstage was in Dallas circa '81. It was supposed to be Moreno and Chakiris but Sally ended up being played by Kelly Garrett.

[quote]Also, if you watch the actual clip, Palance opens the envelope and reads its contents, which only contains the winner's name.

I'm sure you're right and Palance did not read the wrong name. But for what it's worth, the problem when Beatty and Dunaway screwed up spectacularly was apparently that the envelope did NOT only contain the winner's name. Or, rather, it was the wrong envelope containing the wrong winner's name.

[quote]It just seems that modern revivals of Cabaret are merely competing to see who can come up with the most bizarre concept, costumes, and minimalistic sets. They call attention to themselves and not the story, so "critics" and audience members can hail the directors as visionary, rather than the hacks they are.

Agreed, 100 percent.

This new CABARET looks and sounds hateful, judging from the photos and video I've seen, plus the cast album, but I have a question: Is the story theoretically still supposed to be set in Berlin in the early 1930s? Because they have just announced the actor who'll be playing Cliff on Broadway, and he's an African-American, which of course would make absolutely no sense for this story in that time and place.

It's color-blind casting, r443, Please try and catch up.

[quote]I had earlier seen some numbers on the Olivier Awards telecast and looked at production photos (wtf is that oversized beige suit on Sally??) and was frankly appalled, but watching it all unfold in person, I was totally seduced.

Do you have any explanation for why you had such a positive reaction to seeing this CABARET live when you had such a negative reaction to the production photos and to seeing those numbers on TV? Because that makes no sense to me.

[quote]It's color-blind casting,

And what exactly is that supposed to mean? We're not supposed to see that the actor is a black man? S. Epatha Merkerson used to say that she did not like the term "color-blind casting" because it made her feel like she wasn't really there. She said this when she played Lola in COME BACK LITTLE SHEBA, and she very much made a point of the fact that she was playing the role as a black woman.

Like we need another revival of Cabaret. It’s been playing for the last 30 years…

r419

Good God, that peak at Lempicka. 🤮

Oops, meant to type ‘peek’

I know I’m late to the party, but who or what is SUFFS.

[quote]But for what it's worth, the problem when Beatty and Dunaway screwed up spectacularly was apparently that the envelope did NOT only contain the winner's name. Or, rather, it was the wrong envelope containing the wrong winner's name.

For what it's worth: Price Waterhouse royally screwed up and gave the envelope containing the already-announced Best Actress winner (Emma Stone for [italic]La La Land[/italic]) to Beatty and Dunaway.

[quote]It's color-blind casting, [R443], Please try and catch up.

No, it's the mandatory casting a black person ( even if it does not fit into the time or place) in a traditionally white role to satisfy the ultra-liberals who permeate Broadway. It goes under the name of " color-blind casting," but you don't see a white person in a traditionally black role. That would be " white privilege" and would cause a major uproar.

R452 yes, color-blind casting is not one size fits all; it does not work for every show, especially one that takes place in a specific time and place -- like1930s Germany as Hitler and the Nazis were taking over.

But it works in stuff like INTO THE WOODS, because that's about fairy tale characters who live in a magical kingdom with anthropomorphic animals where anything goes.

What time is the official Aaron/Sutton announcement being made today?

Probably doesn't work too well with Snow White.

Every Cliff in the Cabaret revival has been a diversity actor. Like Eddie Ryan and Flo Ziegfeld in FG are now diversity roles. Mother Abbess in SOM is now often played by a black actress. The only casting uproar has been over a non Jew playing Fanny Brice in the FG tour.

It's official, Sutton and Aaron.

R457 Probably the worst kept secret in the history of Broadway

It's true! Oh, no!

Bland and blander.

You'll finally be able to get tickets with these two in the show.

Last night's guests on WWHL were Josh Gad & Andrew Rannells.

Wonky eyed host asked them a question from an email: "What is your favorite Broadway SOUND TRACK?"

Gad said "Pippin" and I think Rannells said "Into The Woods."

And the world kept turning on its axis.

Sutton looks like Reno Lovett in that pic.

The new Sweeney photo makes it look like they've updated it to the 1940s.

Tveit is just too handsome for the role. The only fear he could induce is that he hasn’t douched pre fuck.

[quote] I know I’m late to the party, but who or what is SUFFS.

It is a revolutionary new musical 120 years in the making! Hamilton meets Wicked, revolution meets girl power—SUFFS!

Jesus Christ, will she PLEASE stop playing my roles?

R467 Patti LuPone

I would be far more interested in seeing “Suffs” if it didn’t have such a stupid title

Sutton Foster makes it official.

Fabulous picture of both of them, but especially her.

You can see Aaron's nipples poking through his shirt.

You complaining?

Sneak peek of Aaron Tveit as Sweeney Todd:

We have to change the key

Just for me Sutton Foster,

Just for me.

Because on all of the great white way, Sutton Foster

There is one kind of voice and only one.

You must belt high notes in everyone's face

If you don't then you're not

Very hard to replace.

Look at me Sutton Foster look at you!

So is Gatsby coming in?

R462, Andy Cohen asked Josh Gad what was his favorite ritual to put himself in a good mood prior to a show and Josh responded “Listening to ‘80s pop music”.

Cohen then said, “I thought it might be receiving a hummer from Andrew Rannells”.

I like Tveit and Foster and think they’re both fine performers but I don’t know — I just can’t see them in these roles. And that picture above doesn’t help.

Okay, everyone was bellyaching about Foster in Mattress. How does Sweeney fit into the equation now that her casting is official.

R477, Many thought the choice of Josh Groban was a mistake.

R478, Aaron and Sutton do not assume the roles until February.

R480 but wasn't one of the comments that the producers were considering moving it to Broadway? Of course, by that time, Sweeney might have posted closing notices.

Many who saw the show thought the choice of Josh Groban was a mistake, r479.

R479, many thought the casting of Sutton Foster in Music Man was a mistake. And it was.

[quote]No, it's the mandatory casting a black person ( even if it does not fit into the time or place) in a traditionally white role to satisfy the ultra-liberals who permeate Broadway. It goes under the name of " color-blind casting," but you don't see a white person in a traditionally black role.

Also, "color-blind casting" of traditionally white roles almost always involves black performers. Only very rarely does it involve Asians, Hispanics, and members of other ethnic groups. So it seems perhaps the main specific reason for "color-blind casting" is reparation for slavery.

[quote]Okay, everyone was bellyaching about Foster in Mattress. How does Sweeney fit into the equation now that her casting is official.

FWIW, I was happy with her casting in MATTRESS, because I think Sutton's best roles have been those in which she was able to show her comic chops. But I find her casting as Lovett incredibly bizarre, because even though the part certainly has a lot of comedy in it, and even though it's arguably a better vocal fit for her than Marian in THE MUSIC MAN, I think she's epically wrong for Lovett in many ways.

Of course, I'm sorry that Angela Lansbury has left us, but it's a mercy that she won't have to see this. Len Cariou and George Hearn, however, are very much alive, so I wonder if they will attend to see and hear what Tveit does to Sweeney?

Angela wouldn't have cared at her age. If anything, she should have been appalled that Helena Bonham Carter played the role in the movies.

[quote]So it seems perhaps the main specific reason for "color-blind casting" is reparation for slavery.

That's exactly what it is. A form of reparations.

We know for a fact that ultra-liberals want to desperately get that for African-Americans, but since that has not been feasible on the federal or state levels, they're going about it via the things they presently control -- such as Hollywood and Broadway.

Hence, blacks receiving 85% representation in movies, TV, theater, commercials, etc. despite being only 13% of the population.

But nothing lasts forever, so what's going to happen to them once 'wokeness' has run its course and those ultra-liberals get deposed?

Democrats think they can just keep going further and further left, but the country has begun to shift right...

85%? That is a vast exaggeration.

[quote] many thought the casting of Sutton Foster in Music Man was a mistake. And it was.

Not according to the box office or most attendees.

[quote] Not according to the box office or most attendees.

Anyone with a pair of ears would agree that she could not sing the songs. That last note would catapult Barbara Cook out of her wheelchair.

Can people of color be cast in plays by Chekhov? Ibsen? Shaw? Noel Coward? I don't think any of their plays deal with race.

To paraphrase Rocky Horror, they didn't make it for YOU

[quote]Aaron and Sutton do not assume the roles until February.

Aaron assumes the position nightly.

Serious question: Had she not fucked up during the Covid era, do you think Laura Osnes could have done some of these shows? Todd, definitely not but I could absolutely have seen her as Marian.

[quote]Many thought the casting of Sutton Foster in Music Man was a mistake. And it was.

[quote]Not according to the box office or most attendees.

As others have pointed out, it's impossible to tell how much or how little Foster helped the MUSIC MAN box office, because Hugh Jackman was the A+-list star of that show as both a hue Broadway AND Hollywood name. For that reason, many people feel that the show would have done just about as well if Marian had been cast with a no-name who was actually right for the role and could have sung it properly.

Sad to say but I think there was a concerted effort on original MUSIC MAN producer Scott Rudin (with support from Hugh) to not cast Marian as a classic soprano in the Barbara Cook/Rebecca Luker mold. I'd bet that they felt Sutton's interpretation of the role and singing style would feel more "modern" and accessible to current audiences.

R496, I think you're absolutely correct, but of course, that doesn't mean Rudin's decision was the right one. Remember that, even when Luker did the role on Broadway, the first part of "My White Knight" was taken way down. And of course, when Chenoweth did the TV movie, ALL of Marian's songs were taken down, although that's fairly common for screen adaptations of musicals.

Why does every single production have to be an exact recreation of the original show? Makes theater boring.

R498, I have no idea what show you're referring to, but there is a huge gray area between "exact recreation of the original" and "clueless, horrendous, disrespectful wholesale revision." Now, go have dinner with your straw man.

r498, I think that sentiment comes from certain people loving the original production or, at least, the cast recording of the original production.

R499, it's one of the reasons why A Chorus Line is unrevivable. Until they start making some changes, notably the choreography to Music and the Mirror, it will remain a great memory to those who saw the original.

Not necessarily. I loved the originals of all the Sondheims, but have also loved the revivals. The sentiment comes from understanding a piece and watching someone do a production without bothering to understand it at all.

As for Chorus Line, the problem is that musical theater performers now are overtrained with gimmickry. They can’t give an honest or unadorned performance, which is why the show doesn’t work. And Music and the Mirror is the least of the show’s problems.

To me, it's more about having respect for the material. I remember seeing the first revival of How to Succeed, and I thought they had none. It was beyond horrible. I'd rather see something that didn't work originally, and fix it.

R502, I totally disagree. MATM is Cassie's attempt to show Zach and the audiences what she can do and the choreography is so static and uninspired that it disappoints the audience and renders the entire subplot of her being too good for the chorus as being false.

Maybe when someone like Charlotte D’Amboise is performing. But I’ve never seen the number fail to thrill an audience.

R505, I've seen almost all the Cassies from the original production and the only thing that ever impressed me was when Vicki Frederick pulled her hair down from a ponytail and let her hair become part of the dance. As for the choreography, how could an audience be thrilled when the movements are literally flailing arms? For a show about dance, it has zero to do with character exposition or expression. It also goes on way, way too long and that's one reason why the climax is so anti climactic.

How about A Chorus Line, re-imagined for a more contemporary audience?

[quote]I loved the originals of all the Sondheims, but have also loved the revivals. The sentiment comes from understanding a piece and watching someone do a production without bothering to understand it at all.

Exactly.

[quote]To me, it's more about having respect for the material. I remember seeing the first revival of How to Succeed, and I thought they had none.

If you thought that was disrespectful, did you see the more recent revival, with Daniel Radcliffe? Even worse, as "directed" by Rob Ashford.

[quote]That last note would catapult Barbara Cook out of her wheelchair.

Perhaps. If she wasn't really so completely dead.

R483, How many were scratching their heads when it was announced that Phyllis Diller would be the next Dolly?

I'm a huge Sutton Foster fan (despite the awfulness of her Marian, which was foreseeable and therefore all the more regrettable), and I haven't ruled out her making a good impression as Mrs. Lovett. But among other considerations . . . have we ever heard her do an accent? (Ashford's poor accent was for me a real problem in the role -- in her case foreseeable because of how badly she'd done by the accent in KINKY BOOTS.)

^Young Frankenstein

R510, they were probably relieved it wasn't Jack Benny in drag.

Sutton Foster doesn't sound like Angela Lansbury! So fucking what? Sondheim OK'd Helena Bonham Carter for Christ's sake. They'll adjust the music to fit Sutton and she'll sing the lyrics as written. Still tells the same story.

For the musically illiterate, you can’t “adjust the music” with a 26 piece orchestra. And if you change the keys, it affects a lot in a work this densely and intricately written.

The weird Sutton hate on here is so strange.

I know, R516. They're similarly gunning for Kelli O'Hara, a truly spectacular performer.

Who is matinee Mrs Lovett?

Apart from Francesca, which was strange but ultimately perfect casting, O’Hara is far more aware of what roles are right for her. And then she exceeds the expectations. It’s not gunning for her to point out that Marian Paroo is not the right role for Sutton Foster or that she sang it flat. At $600 a ticket.

[quote]But among other considerations . . . have we ever heard her do an accent? (Ashford's poor accent was for me a real problem in the role -- in her case foreseeable because of how badly she'd done by the accent in KINKY BOOTS.)

Not to worry -- she's getting private lessons from Dick Van Dyke.

[quote]Who is matinee Mrs Lovett?

Beanie Feldstein.

I’m just thrilled it wasn’t that awful Audra McDonald person!

I’m not a fan of Kelli O’Hara at all, but I thought she was delightful in the Encores Bells Are Ringing. I know that’s very much a minority opinion, but there you are.

Her Anna in King & I was markedly inferior to Marin Mazzie’s performance, though.

[quote]The weird Sutton hate on here is so strange.

Not her, but the fact that she is limited in talent and is treated as if she's a formidable and versatile star.

What happened to the rumor that Sutton and Hugh Jackman each left their spouses to be together?

You must be joking.

Hugh left his wife for Winthrop

If Hugh was going to leave his wife for anyone in THE MUSIC MAN, I would have thought it would be this guy.

Aydin the Fey😹

I actually came to this realization the last time I watched the Chorus Line movie (never mind why): Zach looking to fill a chorus with people who can be themselves is so jarring nowadays when you think about how many Broadway musicals are revivals or based on existing properties.

My goodness, r528, you really have to put yourself out there as a piece of meat.

Or in Aydin's case, a truffle.

Even though Cassie said she can't act, she still had that experience that Zach was looking for in the dancers he would choose. He wanted dancers who could play some small parts and Cassie was an obvious choice.

I could see Hugh getting into this...........

R490, What high school production was that from?

Imgbb is the only site that works

Does anyone really believe Sutton Foster knows how to make a pie?

She eats Cake.

Who is the audience for How to Dance in Ohio? Autistic kids and Ohioans? This namby-pamby show is gonna bomb hard. Inexperienced producers living in a bubble.

LOL at r332

[quote] Who is the audience for How to Dance in Ohio? Autistic kids and Ohioans?

Yes, just like the audience for The Book of Mormon is Mormons.

I'm not saying it will succeed, but the target audience is rarely referenced in a show's title. Sheesh.

This spring is so crowded and so weird.

Suffs, Ohio, Tommy, The Notebook, Water for Elephants, Lempicka, and now Huey Lewis.

Baz Bamigboye tweeted/X’d/whatever that Hello, Dolly starring Imelda Staunton and Jenna Russell has finally been rescheduled for performances starting next July at the London Palladium. I think it was originally supposed to open the summer of 2020 at the Adelphi but Covid/Staunton’s schedule in The Crown kept pushing it.

Sorry, here’s the link…

God, between Imelda and Jenna, there won't be an inch of scenery without their teethmarks all over it.

But it's the perfect show for that, r545.

Absolutely makes sense that seeing a show in person can be MUCH better than photos and TV clips. Some great theater just doesn’t come as well on TV. Theater and TV aware just that different. Also photos out of context can be misleading too. I’ve seen songs on the Tonys that look awful but play really great in person. Giving a theater performance on TV just doesn’t translate.

85%? The majority of TV, Film, and theater roles are still played by white people. Like a vast majority.

Absolutely no thanks

A no-name playing off Jackman wouldn’t have worked. They need to have same wattage.

Not only is ACL not unrevivable, it will likely get a 40th anniversary Bway revival in a couple years.

50th I mean

R552, the Bennett estate has already said there will be a 50th anniversary production. And yes you have to marvel that the revival of Chicago opened in 1996 and is still going strong and will likely still be going strong when the second revival of ACL closes.

The revival of ACL ran only 759 performances. Audiences have moved on.

[quote]Does anyone really believe Sutton Foster knows how to make a pie?

Another reason to have Beanie as Matinee Lovett.

Groban out of both shows today.

R556, Amateur.

R556 So lazy.

[quote]Suffs, Ohio, Tommy, The Notebook, Water for Elephants, Lempicka, and now Huey Lewis.

And LAST and LEAST on the list, we have the Huey Lewis jukebox musical that the world has been clamoring for!

So Denzel is doing Othello? There's an email floating around from a producer raising money. Is this real?

He’s quite good with Shakespeare.

Is the Huey Lewis musical about his life or is it just his songs attached to a new story?

Either way, this seems doomed to fail.

Never mind, I just read the press release at r542.

Ugh. It's even worse than I thought possible.

Isn't Denzel at 70-something a little old for Othello?

r553

I was so excited to see that revival of ACL and left the theatre(like MANY others) thinking that was the best people they could get? I had seen regional productions of ACL better than that revival

R565. Every Little Step which documents the casting process of the ACL revival had me wondering the same thing. This is it? Charlotte d'Amboise or Natascia Diaz for Cassie? Angry Rachelle Rak or bland Deidre Goodwin for Sheila? Nikki Snelson got a callback after that horrible Val audition. Puzzling.

The musical theater programs and theater kids are to blame, along with professionalization of casting agents. There is not a raw edge they won’t smooth out.

[quote]Isn't Denzel at 70-something a little old for Othello?

He's an actor, he'll act young.

Sutton Foster is Mame!

Mickey Jo doesn't like the new Sweeney and Lovett.

Mickey Jo is a fucking moron.

R566 Deidre wasn't in Step until the very end where it was revealed that she got the role.

While the revival of ACL was moribund, wasn’t the City Center production supposed to be pretty electric?

Yes the City Center production was leagues better than the Broadway revival.

What is going into the Shubert? Surely something big!

[Quote] Yes the City Center production was leagues better than the Broadway revival.

Bob avian directed both. Baayork Lee choreographed both. How did they turn out so different?

Once Here Lies Love closes, Evita could open at the Broadway, where it opened in New York back in 1979.

How does Mickey Jo make a living? Certainly not as an "international theater critic." How does he afford all that crappy merch he buys?

[quote]Absolutely makes sense that seeing a show in person can be MUCH better than photos and TV clips. Some great theater just doesn’t come as well on TV. Theater and TV aware just that different. Also photos out of context can be misleading too. I’ve seen songs on the Tonys that look awful but play really great in person. Giving a theater performance on TV just doesn’t translate.

Agreed, BUT that's not what we're talking about here. If someone sees photos and videos of a show in which the costumes seems wildly inappropriate, the entire production concept looks wrong, the performers' interpretations of the songs are horribly overacted or way off the mark in some other way, etc., those things aren't going to change in live performance. So I think one can make an informed guess that one is going to hate a production based on photos and videos -- especially if it's a very well-known property like CABARET, and people can judge that what they're seeing is all wrong for the show as conceived by the creators, rather than as reconceived by latter-day directors and actors.

R576-The City Center revival cast people with talent.

[quote]A no-name playing off Jackman wouldn’t have worked. They need to have same wattage.

Foster did not have the "same wattage" as Jackman. Only in her dreams. And if you're suggesting there's not a single name performer who could have handled the singing and fit the part of Marian better than Foster, that's ridiculous.

Dear god, I hope the last word queen's typing monkey gets cancer

Foster would have been ok if she hadn’t sung in the show. She missed Marian’s innate intelligence as well as basically every quality described about her in the lyrics and script. And Marian being a soprano is core to the character. She instead went with a wry, earnest Mary Richardsesque characterization and belted everything like it was her best 8 bars. Which really is about all she does.

Why Kelli O’Hara or Laura Benanti or Audra McDonald were not cast is beyond me,

Why anyone paid those prices is beyond me.

I paid a lot because I could afford to, it was a show that I loved, and it seemed like a nice return to Broadway after the pandemic. There was a lot to love about the production, despite the textual changes. And the Winthrop was the best child actor I have ever seen. If only Craig Bierko and Rebecca Luker had been in the show.

What happened to hot Craig Bierko?

r579, if you can't go into the show (CABARET in this case) with an open mind, then, of course, you're not going to be open to new ideas and concepts and you're going to hate it. And that's fine if that's how you choose to approach new things that are very different from your expectations. To each his own.

I'm not the poster you quoted but I am the poster upthread who wrote about seeing CABARET on a rainy night and how much it took me by surprise, even though I'd seen footage and photos that "appalled me" as I wrote. Nevertheless, I was able to enter the theater with an open and curious mind and had a great time. For me, it all had to be seen in context to work. But I can tell from your attitude that you would hate it so just save your money and stop criticizing a production you haven't seen live onstage.

[quote]Foster would have been ok if she hadn’t sung in the show. She missed Marian’s innate intelligence as well as basically every quality described about her in the lyrics and script. And Marian being a soprano is core to the character. She instead went with a wry, earnest Mary Richardsesque characterization and belted everything like it was her best 8 bars. Which really is about all she does.

I agree with your description of her performance, but to me, that certainly doesn't translate into "Foster would have been ok if she hadn't sung in the show."

[quote]If you can't go into the show (CABARET in this case) with an open mind, then, of course, you're not going to be open to new ideas and concepts and you're going to hate it. And that's fine if that's how you choose to approach new things that are very different from your expectations.

What you apparently fail to realize is that my expectations are based on what the show is supposed to be as conceived by the people who created it back in the mid 1960s. If there were a new production of CABARET that was very different from the original in terms of staging, choreography, performances, and production concept from the original BUT still managed to preserve the essence of the piece as conceived by the creators, I would have no problem with it at all. But in my opinion, the Mendes/Marshall production did not do that. And from what I've seen and heard through videos and photos and the cast recording, not to mention the reports of many people who have actually seen the show, neither does the current production.

I know you take great satisfaction in seeing yourself as "open-minded" and me as "closed-minded," but I have a very different perception of the reason for our widely varying opinions.

That's a lot of words just to prove r587's point

No, 590. It's a lot of words to prove MY point, which you either can't understand or don't agree with: That the primary consideration of any revival is whether it respects the wishes of the CREATORS OF THE SHOW when they put the whole thing together in the first place, rather than bowing to the whims of latter-day directors et al. who of course don't have the talent to write their own shows, so they take classic shows with famous titles and distort them radically.

Your constant need to accuse anyone who doesn't agree with you of lacking intelligence is extremely telling.

R564, Denzel didn't let an age discrepancy stop him from playing Walter Lee Younger in the most recent B'way RAISIN IN THE SUN. (He was terrific in it, but it was still a stretch. A pal quipped that Anika Noni Rose was playing "Beneatha Much Younger.")

New thread:

BAJOUR!

STARMITES!

LEMPICKA!

FLAHOOLEY!

HERE LIES LOVE!

SUFFS!