How Long Should It Take Between Revivals?

One of the more interesting pieces of news that came out the day after the Tony Awards was the announcement that the West End production of La Cage Aux Folles would be transferring to Broadway during the 2009-2010 season (this production won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival). This came as a shock since the show was already revived very recently, running from Dec 9, 2004 to June 26, 2005. That production, which starred Gary Beach, Daniel Davis and Gavin Creel, won Best Musical Revival in a relatively weak field. The production closed soon after the Tony Awards after playing 229 performances.

Now this is nothing against the show, which I think has a decorated place in the musical theatre canon, but do we really need another revival of La Cage right now? The last revival barely lasted seven months, which made it impossible for the production to return on its investment, even after winning the coveted Best Musical Revival Tony Award. I completely support the necessity of revivals of musicals for the purpose of guaging where we are as an art form. It's fun to see how a revival of one show "speaks" to the newest show around the block.

Another example of this is the recently announced transfer of the Kennedy Center's production of Ragtime. Now as a disclaimer, Ragtime is one of my top 10 favorite musicals and I absolutely love every little moment of its three hours traffic. Given that, the original production of Ragtime ran two years, but still had trouble returning its investment and gain the respect of the theatre community at the time. Is 11 years really enough of a break for people to revisit this piece? Now you might be thinking, "you love this show! How can you say that you wouldn't want another Broadway revival?!" I say this because I respect the piece so much that I'm willing to wait another 10 years or more for a time where audiences can experience this wonderful exploration of the human spirit in a production more distant from the original.

My question is this: should the Broadway League do anything about this? Should their be a "rule" that any piece must wait at least 10 years to be revived on Broadway? As well as being an artistic choice, it is also a fiscal consideration. When a production takes one of the few vacant Broadway theaters, they are pledging that they will be able to make a smart investment. Having a 10 year rule would help ensure that revivals and new works that are on the track have available space when the time is right.

It's all a matter of opinion so who knows; maybe these revivals will be the hits of next season. For me, I'd rather see a new piece or a new revival than a show that needs more time to appreciate its place in the musical theatre canon. Example: the revival of Brigadoon that was postponed with revised book by John Guare!

Comment about what you think about these upcoming revivals!

Back At the O'Neill!

Over the next few weeks, I'll be working at the National Music Theatre Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT. Although I will not be blogging about the projects that are in development, being that these pieces are at various stages, I wanted to at least announce what projects they will be doing!

First up is Picnic At Hanging Rock, an adaptation of a Joan Lindsay novel with Book, Music, & Lyrics by Daniel Zaitchik. Joe Calarco will direct the reading (June 27-July 3) with musical director Deborah Abramson. The cast features Whitney Bashor, Charlie Brady, Matt Doyle, Jessica Grove, Veronica Kuehn, Hannah Laird, Anne Letscher, Anne Nathan, Lauren Nolan, Laila Robins, Sarah Shahinian, Nick Sullivan, Kate Wetherhead, Jessica-Snow Wilson, Lauren Worsham and Valerie Wright.

The other musical is Tales of the City, an adaptation of the Armistead Maupin novel. The piece features a book by Jeff Whitty and a score by Jason Sellards and John Garden, members of the Scissor Sisters. The reading will be directed by Jason Moore and musical directed by Stephen Oremus. The cast will include Mary Birdsong, Candy Buckley, Jeffrey Carlson, Diane Davis, Christopher J. Hanke, John Jellison, Steve Kazee, Jose Llana, Matt McGrath, Betsy Wolfe and Kristine Zbornik.

Both musicals will be given four performances and lots of rehearsal time to put the text on its feet. I can't tell you how exciting it is to be in the room when this magic happens!

During my time here, I will be blogging about lots of issues in the musical theatre world today and the future so keep checking back!

2009 Tony Award Wrap Up

The 63rd Annual Tony Awards was a wonderful celebration of the 2008-2009 theatrical season on Broadway. With new producers at the helm, the telecast promised to be a little different than other years and succeeded in many ways:

1. The opening number gave even the more casual theatre fan some identifiable celebrities from other mediums to show how inclusive the Broadway community can be. Of course, it also gave viewers Bret Michaels getting hit in the face with a drop (which was one of my favorite moments of the evening; one I will enjoy on YouTube for years to come. In case you missed it...)

2. Congrats to Billy Elliot! Although I haven't had the opportunity to see this musical yet, it seems that across the board, the piece was rightfully recognized. It is nice to see a piece that won a suitable amount of creative and design awards win Best Musical. In some years, 2005 for example, a show can not win in those important categories and still win Best Musical, which I deem hypocritical.

3. Congrats Next to Normal! Although I picked this to shock the world and win Best Musical, I'm sure the creators were happy for Best Score and Orchestrations, as well as Best Actress for Alice Ripley. These honors should be an indication that audiences enjoy an original contemporary musical and producers can take more chances with contemporary material.

4. Neil Patrick Harris was a WONDERFUL host, with what he was allowed to do.

WHICH, brings me to my Tony "Thoughts For Improvement"

1. Why wasn't Neil Patrick Harris used more?! We have a wonderful song & dance comedian and he barely was allowed to do anything until the credits rolled and sang a great parody. A perfect opportunity would have been that opening number. What if he played a role in each segment, accessorizing to the current show, and then moved on to the next one? This would give him a tour de force moment that features the shows, as well as our host for the evening.

2. On a night that celebrates Broadway theatre, it's pretty surprising that the sound for the telecast was pretty terrible. With Elton John's mic being cut out of the beginning and Titus Burgess' mic freaking out during the introduction of "Sit Down, You're Rockin the Boat," they just couldn't get the sound right. Hopefully this will be remedied for other years.

3. I cannot tell you how dumbfounded I was that three touring companies were allowed to perform on the telecast while other important awards were assigned to the creative awards. With the 10-15 minutes that were wasted on showing us shows that are selling fine, they could have done a montage about touring shows, then presented at least two more awards. My suggestion would be Best Book and Best Choreography. In a medium that is grounded in storytelling, it is unbelievable that Best Book was not included on the telecast.

4. This is more of an observation, but wasn't it shocking that Best Play was announced at 10:15pm? I seem to remember when that would be the second to last award of the evening. It's miraculous how much our attention has turned to musicals and not look at the plays at the Tony's. As a musical theatre nut, you might be surprised for me to say this, but I believe that each medium of storytelling should have their moment on the telecast.

Overall though, I was ecstatic to hear that the ratings were up for this year's telecast. Although many will not agree with this, I believe that the popularity of shows American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With the Stars, and You're the One That I Want has increased exposure to the performing arts and it can only help the future of the musical theatre for these people to be watching the Tony Awards

Feel free to leave your comments on what you thought about the Tony Awards!

2009 Tony Award Predictions!

It is truly the most wonderful time of the year: the Tony Awards. It's the one night where the country (or at least the educated sect of the country) turns their attention to celebrating the theatrical season on Broadway. In honor of this great night, here's my take on what I will win tonight in the musical theatre categories!

Best Scenic Design of a Musical:
Robert Brill, Guys and Dolls
Ian MacNeil, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Scott Pask, Pal Joey
Mark Wendland, Next to Normal

In a category that many deem up for grabs, I think people will gravitate towards this much utilized unit set.

Best Costume Design of a Musical:
Gregory Gale, Rock of Ages
Nicky Gillibrand, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Tim Hatley, Shrek The Musical
Michael McDonald, Hair

Hatley, who also designed the set, gets the nod here for inventive use of costume throughout the piece.

Best Lighting Design of a Musical:
Kevin Adams, Hair
Kevin Adams, Next to Normal
Howell Binkley, West Side Story
Rick Fisher, Billy Elliot, The Musical

After winning the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Awards, it seems fitting that Fisher will complete the triple crown here. Look out for Kevin Adams to maybe steal this one though!

Best Sound Design of a Musical:
Acme Sound Partners, Hair
Paul Arditti, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Peter Hylenski, Rock of Ages
Brian Ronan, Next to Normal

With it's rock band that turns up to 11, Hylenski gets the nod here for creating a full aural world.

Best Orchestrations:
Larry Blank, Irving Berlin's White Christmas
Martin Koch, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt, Next to Normal
Danny Troob and John Clancy, Shrek The Musical

The combination of composer Kitt and orchestrator Starobin have created the blueprint for what a contemporary musical's sound should be

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical:
David Bologna, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Gregory Jbara, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Marc Kudisch, 9 to 5: The Musical
Christopher Sieber, Shrek The Musical
Will Swenson, Hair

Jbara gets his Tony after his second nomination. My personal pick would be Sieber for his wonderfully crafted performance in Shrek. Being on your knees for 2.5 hours has to count for something!

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical:
Jennifer Damiano, Next to Normal
Haydn Gwynne, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Karen Olivo, West Side Story
Martha Plimpton, Pal Joey
Carole Shelley, Billy Elliot, The Musical

In her Broadway debut, Gwynne grabs the Tony in a relatively weak category.

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical:
David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish ‚ Billy Elliot, The Musical
Gavin Creel, Hair
Brian d'Arcy James, Shrek The Musical
Constantine Maroulis, Rock of Ages
J. Robert Spencer, Next to Normal

Although many belive the 3 Billy's will nab this award, I'm of opinion that d'Arcy James grabs this award tonight. His performance transcends its original subject matter and brings a new humanity to the ogre.

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical:
Stockard Channing, Pal Joey
Sutton Foster, Shrek The Musical
Allison Janney, 9 to 5: The Musical
Alice Ripley, Next to Normal
Josefina Scaglione, West Side Story

Ripley, a Broadway veteran, gets her Tony here for a beautiful performance in such a tough role.

Best Direction of a Musical:
Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Michael Greif, Next to Normal
Kristin Hanggi, Rock of Ages
Diane Paulus, Hair

Although Paulus might steal this one, many believe that Daldry's direction will win tonight.

Best Choreography:
Karole Armitage, Hair
Andy Blankenbuehler, 9 to 5: The Musical
Peter Darling, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Randy Skinner, Irving Berlin's White Christmas

With its story grounded in dance, Darling grabs this award. Look out for Armitage to take this one though!

Best Book of a Musical:
Lee Hall, Billy Elliot, The Music
Brian Yorkey, Next to Normal
David Lindsay-Abaire, Shrek The Musical
Hunter Bell - [Title of Show]

In a much contested category, Hall is favored to win, with Bell being the dark horse.

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre:
Elton John & Lee Hall, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Tom Kitt & Brian Yorkey, Next to Normal
Dolly Parton, 9 to 5
Jeanine Tesori & David Lindsay-Abaire, Shrek the Musical

Kitt & Yorkey get their Tony for finding the perfect contemporary sound for a contemporary musical story.

Best Revival of a Musical:
Guys and Dolls
Hair
Pal Joey
West Side Story

Basically a forgone conclusion since it opened, Hair gets the Tony.

Best Musical:
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Next to Normal
Rock of Ages
Shrek The Musical
In the tradition of Avenue Q and Jersey Boys, I'm predicting a huge upset in this category. Although I think Billy Elliot will win many awards, I believe that Next to Normal is a better musical and that voters will agree with this.

Enjoy the awards and I look forward to talking about the outcomes in coming days!

Try your luck at this Best Musical quiz!

In the spirit of the Tony Awards, which are coming up on Sunday, June 7th at 8pm, try your luck at naming all 60 winners of the coveted Best Musical Award. My score was a disappointing 43/60! (I forgot that shows like The Wiz won!) Try your luck and post your score as a comment!

http://www.sporcle.com/games/tonymusicals.php

I'll be posting my predictions and thoughts tomorrow!