Musicals in general

We should have a topic about musicals in general, methinks.

My contribution is that I'm currently trying out the web radios listed in iTunes. In "International/world" I came across a quite unique one:

"Musical radio - Dutch Musical Hits".

They play musical songs in Dutch, non-stop. I think the fact that there IS a musical radio is fantastic in itself. It's also very interesting to hear the songs in Dutch, and they play songs from less known European pieces as well ("Ciske de Rat", anyone?). I must say, however, that I now understand what people mean about musical singing being slightly artificial. People sing in a very... well... musical way... Stuff from "Miss Saigon" (and especially "Last night of the world") made me laugh, it sounded like "The song that goes like this" from Spamalot, only they were serious....

"The Producers" opens in Oslo in spring season 2011.

I will be produced by the same theatre who did a cool "Les Mis" las year, and who is known for their high quality in musicals. Yay!! Audition for dancers and cast members in mid June. Director will be Swedish Anders Aldgård.

http://underholdning.no.msn.com/film-og-musikk/artikkel.aspx?cp-documentid=153384583

This is great news, at least for me. I had such high expectations for the new "Folketeatret", which were to specialize in grandiose musical productions. They did "Mamma Mia!" to great success, and then nothing for half a year. This autumn they'll do "Buddy Holly", which I couldn't care less about, and which I predict will play maximum 4 months. "Mamma Mia!" was a success because it was a family show, few will bring their kids to see "Buddy Holly", hence they won't have the audience to play for several months. So the possibility of a cool "The Producers" production makes me very happy.

ETA: I shouldn't complain, because "Next to Normal" opens at Det Norske Teatret this autumn. And last season a kick-ass production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" played at the same theatre. Interesting stuff is going on in the musical scene in Oslo.

Does no-one here like plays? I see both plays and musicals in the theatre, but there are so many awful examples of the latter that these days I'd rather go and see a play...

Scorp wrote:Does no-one here like plays? I see both plays and musicals in the theatre, but there are so many awful examples of the latter that these days I'd rather go and see a play...

It's a hit-and miss for me. Of the play theatre performances I've seen, most have either been highly experimental new stuff, or more old fashioned pieces. I miss the in-between versions. In general I'm easier bored at plays than at musicals. But I agree that there's a lot of godawful or just boring stuff going on in the world of musicals right now...

But as for jollier news, (what appears to be) a cool production of "The Producers" will open in Oslo next spring. Yippee hooray. Not sure how amusing it'll be with a Swedish-Norwegian Ulla, as the languages are just too similar, but I like how they solved it in Denmark. Here's an official clip from a theatre award gala some years ago, showing "When you got it, flaunt it". One of the best Ullas I've seen and heard, especially when she jumps to belting towards the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG-kZemxbcs

OMG, I don't like the style Folketeatret in Oslo has chosen.

They started with "Mamma Mia!", fine. Big production, ABBA guys visiting, lots of spectacle, fun, nice overall.

Then they continued with "Buddy Holly - the Musical". Which in itself is fine, but I was 1. surprised that they chose another jukebox musical, and 2. picked an "adult" musical instead of a family show. They have a large auditorium to fill, which they more or less managed with MM for some nine months. But Buddy Holly won't attract families in the same way MM and Disney musicals do. And I think they depend on it. So I had high hopes for their third season. and what do they go for?

"We will rock you". ANOTHER jukebox musical! Again, the musical is fine in itself, it's just the concept I find bleeeh. If they want to be a concert hall instead of Norway's leading musical stage (as they originally promised), be my guest. But don't expect to survive financially. Around half a million people live in Oslo, and tourists don't go to theatres here as they do in London and New York. They can't pick musicals with such a limited potential. Why not think big and commercial? It's what Norway need on the musical stage. Get "Wicked", get "Lion King", get "Mary Poppins", get "Phantom". Puh-leeeease!

/rant

This song, from a Danish musical called "Cyrano", is so ridiculously catchy! Doesn't hurt that it's performed by wonderful Flemming Enevold...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TG0hqWrtIo

So apparently Michael Crawford is already missing performances of "Wizard of Oz". The reason seems to be laryngitis, although I have this from unconfirmed sources. According to the same sources, his understudy went on, all unprepared, and had to use a script... I have a hard time believing the latter! Just reporting what someone who knows someone who saw a preview has said.

Michael Crawford left "Woman in White" after only three months due to ME. I have a feeling people better hold on to their tickets if they wanna catch him in "Wizard of Oz". If the laryngitis rumours are true, I don't think his voice will handle too many performances.

Shit, things are certainly not working in Michael's favor lately. I don't think my heart can handle the day that he can no longer sing.

Yes, I didn't like these news either. But latest reports tells he back on stage tonight.

Last I heard was that the first cover understudy was back doing his regular ensemble role, while they've put on the second understudy to play the Wizard. This guy also had to use a script. Have they not rehearsed before the previews kicked in? It just seems so strange that these fairly well-known roles should be so hard to learn. Yes, I know they're understudies, and that they might have planned to rehearse the role along with Michael Crawford. But to not learn the lines? I hope these reports are wrong, or at least exaggerated.

Apparently 5 or 6 of the leads and supporting roles have been off this week. Here's to a speedy recovery to all of them. Now London can rejoice in TWO sequel/prequel musicals playing alongside the originals... And three of these productions are due to Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Anyone familiar with "Shockheaded Peter"? It's a burlesque musical based on a German childrens' book from 1884, and with music by the British band Tiger Lilies. It'll be produced in Oslo this autumn. It looks really cool, but I know zero about it other than what I wrote above. Or, from the description in the theatre's home site it sounds like one long "Temper Temper (Mary Poppins), in a burlesque setting.

http://www.detnorsketeatret.no/Default.aspx?TabId=65&PlayId=398

TONY AWARDS 2011

Seems like "Book of Mormon" swiped the table on the musical bit, while "War Horse" ruled the play category...

Best Musical:
The Book of Mormon

Best Play:
War Horse

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play:
Frances McDormand, Good People

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical:
Sutton Foster, Anything Goes

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play:
Mark Rylance, Jerusalem

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical:
Norbert Leo Butz, Catch Me If You Can

Best Direction of a Play:
Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, War Horse

Best Direction of a Musical:
Casey Nicholaw and Trey Parker, The Book of Mormon

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play:
Ellen Barkin, The Normal Heart

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play:
John Benjamin Hickey, The Normal Heart

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical:
Nikki M. James, The Book of Mormon

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical:
John Larroquette, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Best Revival of a Play:
The Normal Heart

Best Revival of a Musical:
Anything Goes

Best Book of a Musical:
Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone, The Book of Mormon

Best Orchestrations:
Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus, The Book of Mormon

Best Original Score Written for the Theater:
Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone, The Book of Mormon

Best Choreography:
Kathleen Marshall, Anything Goes

Best Sound Design of a Musical:
Brian Ronan, The Book of Mormon

Best Sound Design of a Play:
Christopher Shutt, War Horse

Best Costume Design of a Play:
Desmond Heeley, The Importance of Being Earnest

Best Costume Design of a Musical:
Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner, Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Best Scenic Design of a Play:
Rae Smith, War Horse

Best Scenic Design of a Musical:
Scott Pask, The Book of Mormon

Best Lighting Design of a Musical:
Brian MacDevitt, The Book of Mormon

Best Lighting Design of a Play:
Paule Constable, War Horse

Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre:
Athol Fugard & Philip J. Smith

Regional Theatre Tony Award:
Lookingglass Theatre Company (Chicago, Ill.)

Isabelle Stevenson Award:
Eve Ensler

Special Tony Award:
Handspring Puppet Company

http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/nominees/index.html

James Reid and Nicholas Lloyd Webber (eldest son of you-know-who) is soon presenting a musical version of "The Little Prince", at Lyric Theatre in Belfast.

They've gotten the approval of the estate of Saint-Exupéry, original author of "The Little Prince", as well as the French publishers. Bravo for that.

The reason why this caught my eye is that an extremely talented NORWEGIAN actor is cast in one of the lead roles, namely Kåre (Corey) Conradi. I've seen him in My Fair Lady previously, as well as in plays, and he has quite the stage presence, and a good voice to match. I always thought he would make a splendid Raoul if Phantom ever came to Norway. Niamh Perry (Fleck from you-know-which-musical) plays the little prince, while the mentioned Conradi plays the pilot, as well as six minor characters.

According to Conradi, the score is sung-through, an element Lloyd Webber the younger probably has picked up from his father. And something I admittedly is more fond of than dialogue-song-song-dialogue-song musicals.

http://www.lyrictheatre.co.uk/whats_on_specific.aspx?dataid=556673&cat=Whats%20On
http://northernirelandchamber.com/Content.aspx?nSectionId=1&nSubSectionId=38&nContentId=1139
http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/11/28/kultur/teater/musikk/kare_conradi/19202637/

So apparently Rebecca, starring Sierra Boggess, Tim Mutu and D.C. Anderson (and others, of course...), has been postponed until next season. Economy is the reason, though I don't know exactly what the issue is. Originally they were to start rehearsals next week and open in April, but I guess they will have an autumn opening instead?

Too bad for Boggess and Mutu, who are (I think) engaged and probably looked forward to work together. Not sure how the casting situation will be in half a year.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/24/2605493/musical-of-rebecca-postponed-until.html

operafantomet wrote:So apparently Rebecca, starring Sierra Boggess, Tim Mutu and D.C. Anderson (and others, of course...), has been postponed until next season. Economy is the reason, though I don't know exactly what the issue is. Originally they were to start rehearsals next week and open in April, but I guess they will have an autumn opening instead?

Too bad for Boggess and Mutu, who are (I think) engaged and probably looked forward to work together. Not sure how the casting situation will be in half a year.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/24/2605493/musical-of-rebecca-postponed-until.html

My friend is the assistant to the producer on this show. There is no fooling: they just didn't raise enough money. They're sure that it'll be ready for the fall. The cast look forward to it.

operafantomet wrote:So apparently Rebecca, starring Sierra Boggess, Tim Mutu and D.C. Anderson (and others, of course...), has been postponed until next season. Economy is the reason, though I don't know exactly what the issue is. Originally they were to start rehearsals next week and open in April, but I guess they will have an autumn opening instead?

Too bad for Boggess and Mutu, who are (I think) engaged and probably looked forward to work together. Not sure how the casting situation will be in half a year.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/24/2605493/musical-of-rebecca-postponed-until.html

Mutu and Boggess are actually engaged? Cynical me thought the whole thing was about contacts in the industry......

Scorp wrote:Mutu and Boggess are actually engaged? Cynical me thought the whole thing was about contacts in the industry......

I don't think "contact" gets any closer than that, Scorp

R.

Lucky bastard.

If Ramin slipped in bed for a little fun, she'd never know the difference.

Hey! Be nice, you folks. I don't wanna switch to my admit self. She is mean.

(I really don't want to start a new thread, and this looked like the best place to put this bit of news)

"Back to the Future - The Musical"

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/159295-Robert-Zemeckis-in-Talks-to-Adapt-Back-to-the-Future-for-Stage-Musical

Why?

Cause the only types of musicals made these days are based-on-movie-musicals and jukebox ones. Blaaaaaargh!

Ugh.

I saw the BBC's 3-part documentary about the West End's history of musicals. And to see the change through all these years. (They spoke about Broadway quite a bit as well). It really made me kind of sad. It just seemed that there had been lots of innovation early on, through the 70s, 80s and early 90s and now it feels as if things have started to decline. There are glimmers of hope out there, (Book of Mormon) but otherwise 'if the audience isn't familiar with it, they ain't gonna make it' seems to be the attitude. It's so...so...so...corporate.

*sigh*

PhantomsGhost wrote:(I really don't want to start a new thread, and this looked like the best place to put this bit of news)

"Back to the Future - The Musical"

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/159295-Robert-Zemeckis-in-Talks-to-Adapt-Back-to-the-Future-for-Stage-Musical

Why?

My childhood, she is defiled.

~LCD

Since I can't find another place to put this: I reviewed the David Hasselhoff Jekyll and Hyde on my web series this month. I get pretty snarky on it (it's what I do) but I still tried to give credit where it's due.

The fabulous Gillian Lynne, who is receiving a well-deserved special Olivier Award this year, has the guts to speak out against ALW's crap reality TV shows: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21930904

Not the first time she's had the guts to take the Lord head-on, either. Not so long ago she called his recent claims that he didn't write Phantom for Sarah Brightman a load of nonsense, since everyone knows he did. I think I know what her feelings on LND are as well, but I guess she's too classy to diss it in public.

Scorp wrote:The fabulous Gillian Lynne, who is receiving a well-deserved special Olivier Award this year, has the guts to speak out against ALW's crap reality TV shows: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21930904

Not the first time she's had the guts to take the Lord head-on, either. Not so long ago she called his recent claims that he didn't write Phantom for Sarah Brightman a load of nonsense, since everyone knows he did. I think I know what her feelings on LND are as well, but I guess she's too classy to diss it in public.

She's so sassy!