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Post by Fantasma da Opera on Feb 10, 2008 9:27:45 GMT -5
Well we've talked about Eliabeth for god knows how many years and still no progress. But I guess we can live in hope... Well but there are GREAT differences: Elisabeth hardly would ever work on Broadway as we've discussed already, and there never was any mention of "Elisabeth, Broadway" in a VBW speech. I do hope Rebecca makes it to West End instead of Broadway. But that's just me.
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Post by Bradford on Feb 10, 2008 9:33:20 GMT -5
Oh, please people, have you seen what's a 'HIT" now on Broadway: "Wicked", "Xanadu", "Legally Blonde", "Jersey Boys", "The Lion King"... does any of these have anything remotely connected with the story of Rebecca? No.
Theatre-goers want FUN,they are not interested in the story.
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Post by Fantasma da Opera on Feb 10, 2008 10:06:52 GMT -5
If on Broadway now they just want fun then the only Kunze work that will be able to go there will be "Ich war noch niemals in New York".
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Post by IchBinRory on Feb 10, 2008 14:48:05 GMT -5
Well we've talked about Eliabeth for god knows how many years and still no progress. But I guess we can live in hope... Well but there are GREAT differences: Elisabeth hardly would ever work on Broadway as we've discussed already, and there never was any mention of "Elisabeth, Broadway" in a VBW speech. I do hope Rebecca makes it to West End instead of Broadway. But that's just me. Oh I know the ins and outs of the whole Elisabeth situation and why it wouldn't work. But a few of them can be applied to Rebecca. However It states that Rebecca was going to make it's world debut in London on Wikipedia but instead went to Vienna. So there may be a glimmer of hope. Speaking of which why did they pull out of a West end debut? Anyone know? p.s. As Much as I would love an English production of one of Kunze's works I wouldn't want it destroyed in the process everyone. We all know how delicate all his shows are.
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Post by exedore on Feb 10, 2008 15:24:29 GMT -5
Oh, please people, have you seen what's a 'HIT" now on Broadway: "Wicked", "Xanadu", "Legally Blonde", "Jersey Boys", "The Lion King"... does any of these have anything remotely connected with the story of Rebecca? No. Theatre-goers want FUN,they are not interested in the story. Xanadu is flopping hard, as is Legally Blonde. And not interested in the story? That's how Phantom and RENT ran for 10+ years and why Spring Awakening won the Tony. With Passing Strange opening and Next to Normal looking to be coming up for 08-09, there is clearly room on the Great White Way for more serious and engaging fare. Yes, most tourists want to see campy fluff, but there is once again room for more serious, engaging fare on Broadway. The West End, however, is a wasteland atm. The subsidised sector is kicking its arse left and right, but that, of course, is above the crassness of musicals.
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Post by IchBinRory on Feb 10, 2008 15:52:37 GMT -5
Everyone kill the motor 2 seconds. Just been on Wkipedia again. it states On November 4th 2007, it was announced at the end of the show by Kathrin Zechner (intendant of the VBW) that Rebecca will have a Broadway production. However no dates were yet announced for the USA production.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_%28musical%29Now they sound pretty confident. Or am I just living in hope? Wikipedia is 95% accurate most of the time.
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Post by Cia on Feb 10, 2008 15:54:52 GMT -5
Everyone kill the motor 2 seconds. Just been on Wkipedia again. it states On November 4th 2007, it was announced at the end of the show by Kathrin Zechner (intendant of the VBW) that Rebecca will have a Broadway production. However no dates were yet announced for the USA production.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_%28musical%29Now they sound pretty confident. Or am I just living in hope? Wikipedia is 95% accurate most of the time. Again, someone may just have misunderstood what Zechner actually said. Anyone can add anything they want to Wikipedia, after all.
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Post by IchBinRory on Feb 10, 2008 15:57:38 GMT -5
Everyone kill the motor 2 seconds. Just been on Wkipedia again. it states On November 4th 2007, it was announced at the end of the show by Kathrin Zechner (intendant of the VBW) that Rebecca will have a Broadway production. However no dates were yet announced for the USA production.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_%28musical%29Now they sound pretty confident. Or am I just living in hope? Wikipedia is 95% accurate most of the time. Again, someone may just have misunderstood what Zechner actually said. Anyone can add anything they want to Wikipedia, after all. *Deflates yet again*
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Post by Nene on Feb 10, 2008 17:09:29 GMT -5
Ditto to what Exedore said.
Never rely on Wikipedia. It's a great quick reference and it's good to find a few references. Though it is relatively accurate, it's still not the best source. I know way to many people who try to use Wikipedia to write papers.
However, Death, don't deflate. There's always hope.
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Post by Cia on Feb 10, 2008 17:10:44 GMT -5
I don't mean to be depressing, really. I just think there's a lot of fuss about nothing. As for the thought of a Broadway production, I don't know much about Broadway but I've gotten the impression that Rebecca isn't really the style it wants, at least yet. I also have DotV haunting in my mind, though I think that the next time (if it comes) Kunze won't let anyone interfere in his musicals again. Personally I don't need a Bway production, but of course it would be nice if fans in the US could see his musicals as well without having to travel to Europe or Japan.
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Post by Nene on Feb 10, 2008 17:16:09 GMT -5
There's always a chance for something serious to work on Broadway when the trend has been for the 'fun' shows. Rebecca is a good fit. It's just a matter of whether or not they want to open up their arms to that style of music and if the show itself is translated well.
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Post by scarlet on Feb 10, 2008 20:22:02 GMT -5
Broadway has 37 theaters. And there is room for both mindless fluff and serious work. That's why there's currently running:
A Chorus Line Avenue Q Chicago Curtains Grease Hairspray Jersey Boys Legally Blonde Mamma Mia Mary Poppins Passing Strange (I'll be posting a review of this later tonight) Rent Spamalot Spring Awakening Sunday in the Park with George The Color Purple Lion King Little Mermaid POTO Wicked Xanadu and Young Frankenstein.
And that's just the musicals currently playing.
We also have In the Heights coming in, along with Cry-Baby and A Catered Affair.
Broadway is not ONE thing, it is many and can support a whole range of genres. So, I think Rebecca COULD come to Broadway. I think Elizabeth COULD come to Broadway, if and I stress IF, there is good promotion, good planning behind it and mostly if the money is there and the people giving the money think they'll get money back. So until we hear that there's financing, there's not much to talk about.
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Post by Bradford on Feb 11, 2008 2:56:47 GMT -5
Wow, you guys are so hopeful! I think even if it does come it will close after the second performance, it will be the biggest flop ever. Not wanting to be negative ,but English drama is on it's way out, much to my disliking.
And exedore your basing your opinion entirely on just 2 musicals let's see: according to playbill.com The Phantom of the Opera weekly gross is $475,303 and Rent has $254,859, how can these compare to numbers like: Wicked $1,344,206, The Lion King $875,769, Spamalot $502,097, Mary Poppins $670,553, Mamma Mia! $600,571.
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Post by exedore on Feb 11, 2008 3:53:03 GMT -5
And exedore your basing your opinion entirely on just 2 musicals let's see: according to playbill.com The Phantom of the Opera weekly gross is $475,303 and Rent has $254,859, how can these compare to numbers like: Wicked $1,344,206, The Lion King $875,769, Spamalot $502,097, Mary Poppins $670,553, Mamma Mia! $600,571. OK let's look at the full numbers here. Phantom has been running for 20 years and is known to be cyclical with the winter busts. Rent is closing in June, but again, 12 year run - nothing to scoff at. Wicked is, to be honest, the new Phantom and Les Mis, and while it is far fluffier than the prior two, you'd have to be blind to miss the influences. The show has moved into phenomenon status and will be running for years to come, much to the chagrin of everybody who wants something else in the Gershwin. Lion King and Poppins (at 65% attendance) possess the Disney factor, and they're the only child-safe options on Broadway (sadly Chitty didn't do better). Both have recouped and continuing to run is money in the bank. Spamalot may be making good money, but you're ignoring the fact that it's only selling 60% of its theatre and relying entirely on an increasingly forgetful tourist audience at this point. Mamma Mia....again, percents are finally starting to go down (for years it was maxed out no matter what), but the movie is going to provide another big boom. The big thing staring you in the face that you're also missing/not including is this year's bumper crop of straight plays (mostly dramas) which are drawing a respectable number of people, though the grosses are deceptive (straight plays have lower ongoing expenses and can run at 50%). Oh, and Sunday in the Park with George, aka the ultimate artsy musical? 86% attendance and $370k due to heavy discounting during previews for a show backed by a non-profit. I stand by my statement - there is room for non-fluff on Broadway. It may not be the biggest thing selling, but there's a place for it at the theatrical buffet.
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Post by scarlet on Feb 11, 2008 12:38:28 GMT -5
And please remember, it's February. January and February are the worst time for Broadway attendance and anyway, comparing grosses is not a fair way to look at things, because some shows are gouging their customers while others are reasonable.
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