Boublil-Schönberg's new musical

[Sandrinoo2004]

Here is the story

www.playbill.com/news/article/93445.html

So what do you think? I am pretty excited to hear this musical!!

[Martina]

I read something about it on my musical mailing list: the story seems quite catchy!
I don't really know the two authors (shame on me, I still haven't bought Les Miserables... ) but from the little I've heard, they write really good music!
Have you heard that the show will open in Dublin and then on Broadway but not in London because of pro-Irish feelings...

[Sandrinoo2004]

No I didn't know that!!!

[vampbear]

Because of 'pro-Irish feelings'? That'd wouldn't stop a musical where the story seems pro Irish? anti-Irish feelings perhaps? Publicity that its the same folk as Les Mis would go down well here, and also 'Riverdance' which didn't suffer any anti-Irish feelings at all, that was a huge success and with the same people also involved in 'The Pirate Queen' that would be another plus. It sounds on the surface as a show that would attract several strands of theatre-goers: musicals lovers in general, B&S fans, Riverdance fans.

I know that 'The Beautiful Game' didn't do that well in the West End, but that's most likely because it wasn't historical as in the past but reflected current life, and portrayed things that were happening still and was therefore somewhat uncomfortable material. (Also, personally speaking, it wasn't that good!).

I must say its quite frustrating to have shows open everywhere except in the West End! Well, at least the shows I'm interested in seeing! Obviously we've now got 'The Producers', 'Mary Poppins' and 'Billy Elliot' here. But several shows seem to pass us by:-( Some shows are translated and put on in Germany before or instead of the West End. Now I have no objection in the shows going to Germany at all, but I would have thought that the extra costs and time in translation would perhaps mean the show went to another country with the same original language first?? 'Aida', 'Titanic', 'Jekyll & Hyde' to name just 3 have all been in Germany but not the West End.

My creditcard is going to run out of puff soon for travelling round seeing lots of different musicals in different countries:-( Hey, but at least it will have been fun before bankruptcy;-)

[Phoebe]

^^ I don't get that either.

But the story seems pretty cool. I want to hear what the music sounds like. Irish pop/rock/musical theatre should sound interesting.

[Milady]

vampbear said:

Now I have no objection in the shows going to Germany at all, but I would have thought that the extra costs and time in translation would perhaps mean the show went to another country with the same original language first?? 'Aida', 'Titanic', 'Jekyll & Hyde' to name just 3 have all been in Germany but not the West End.

Joop van den Ende's Dodger Stage Holding Theatricals put up the money for Wildhorn's Dracula on Broadway. I'm not familiar with how Jekyll & Hyde was financed, but if Joop had anything to do with it, that might be a reason why J&H was sent to continental Europe first. The Wildhorn/Dodger relationship, as far as Broadway is concerned, is now over, as I understand it. Dodger pulled out when Dracula was bleeding money, and I think that's a big reason why there's going to be the controversial "studio cast" rather than an OBC recording. Wildhorn's relationship with Atlantic Records is also gone. That being said, I think there will be a lucrative market for Wildhorn musicals in Europe for time to come now.

Dodger Stage Holding invested in the Broadway production of Titanic, which would explain why there have been Dutch and German productions of the show. Titanic's 1997 "Best Musical" Tony is part of the history of Stage Holding page at:

www.stageholding.nl/html/123.html

As for Aida... no clue. Maybe to capitalize on the popularity of the European theatre market at the moment. Beauty & the Beast wasn't nearly as successful in the UK as it's been on Broadway, but had two German-language productions and is going to be opening in the Netherlands soon, where Lion King has been running for the past year. Disney has about a bazillion dollars and can do what it wants.

There has been a UK tour of Jekyll & Hyde running, with talk of a West End transfer, but from all reports the leading man is a disgrace and the potential producing company just as bad. As for Titanic, there have been UK regional productions of the show. I've not heard much about them, but they have been popping up right and left!

Edited to add:

This explains a lot. Dodger didn't put up money for J&H or Pimpernel, for that matter, but they did finance Beauty & The Beast. Here's a list:

www.stageholding.nl/html/275_401.html

[Milady]

Casting Call!

www.playbill.com/jobs/find/job_detail/7468.html

Any thoughts on who we'd like to see in the roles now that we know what's involved??

I read Grania's description and I think.... Jayne Paterson. An amazing Jane Eyre, Fantine, and Lizzie Borden! Beautiful voice and wonderful actress!

If she wasn't just too old for the role, I'd love to see Marin Mazzie as Queen Elizabeth. She has one of the most gorgeous legit voices on Broadway and plenty of power to go with it. Same goes for Carolee Carmello - gorgeous voice, but probably reads too old. Kelli O'Hara might be just right for it, though. What a voice!

Edited to add: Just had another thought on Grania - Sara Ramirez! She might not be my top pick for the role, but after her performance and Spamalot and all the hype around her, she'd probably be a top contender for the role. Would be just the thing to kick her into leading lady land!

[vampbear]

Thanks for the info:-) Hadn't realised that SH was so heavily involved in those productions, yep it explains a lot!

As for J&H, the production company is the leading man's company, hence he'd have to sack himself (please!). It won't make it to the West End, if it does it will get slaughtered and rightly so:-( Such a shame as a lot of musical fans had been looking forward to the show only to be very disappointed not just with the lead guy but also with the poor direction as a whole. I don't believe the tour has been that successful, local press and word of mouth not being very positive in general:-(

Might have to hop on a plane to Dublin after all! Cos B&S are my favourite composers, Les Mis being my all-time favourite show. Saw the latest touring production of Miss Saigon last month and it was excellent, I thought it was better than the London production:-) I'd also love to see Martin Guerre again as that has some gorgeous music in it too.

[B3TA07 - Ben]

O! High Baritone/Tenor! that Means I could play him! except i'm a 16 year old jr in high school living in TX...but I can still play him!


and vampbear, I love martin guerre too. go to this forum and look at the post I made about a petition for it.. Also, I've heard that it might be produced in germany in 2006 from the welcome to artigat site (look on stacy's links).

[B3TA07 - Ben]

Also, I heard Beauty & the Beast did well in Germany...I saw pictures of the set and the beast and both were really creepy! But I'd like to see it...now if only I could age 5 years and get about 20,000$ ^_^

[Sissi]

This actually looks pretty interesting! I definitely will check it out when it comes out!

[B3TA07 - Ben]

Colm Wilkinson is going to play the male lead. I read that lastnight!

[B3TA07 - Ben]

Source: Broadwayworld.com

[epo9]

wow this sounds like its going to be another hit.. I think its a good story and should be interesting to see with the irish dancing


P.s. where are you getting this casting info cuz its not showing up when i go to those sites you all mentioned

[Stephen - Yar Matey]

this'll be interesting.. i didn't read the plot.. because it's late---and i'm lazy.. but i will.. i swear! but hey!.. it's Boublil-Schönberg... it's GOTTA be good! ;D ;D