Could NP Harris Be Competing wtih Hugh for Next Year's Tony?

[mamaleh]

If HOUDINI opens as scheduled, could be.... News is that in spring 2014 Neil Patrick Harris will be doing a B'way version of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH. This will be its Broadway bow; it was previously done only Off-B'way. A movie version was made, too.

For those not familiar with this very edgy role, Hedwig is a transgendered singer whose operation was not quite completed---hence, the "angry inch." The role has been played by both men (show's creator John Cameron Mitchell, Michael Cerveris) and women ( Ally Sheedy). The score is actually catchy; I'd recommend renting the DVD.

broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-News-Neil-Patrick-Harris-to-Star-in-HEDWIG-AND-THE-ANGRY-INCH-on-Broadway-Spring-2014-20130617

Ellen

[jo]

That was the show where the male lead beat Hugh for two major awards in Australia, when he reprised The Boy From Oz.

EDIT: I've just read through the entire BWW thread -- very divisive thread on the choice of show and choice of NPH for the role.


Jo

[mamaleh]

Jun 17, 2013 18:40:58 GMT -5 jo said:

That was the show where the male lead beat Hugh for two major awards in Australia, when he reprised The Boy From Oz.

Jo

Yes, it's a very showy, high-energy role. True, so was Peter Allen, but Hedwig has the extra advantage of being an androgynous, way out-there rocker.

Just as we are willing to overlook Hugh's maybe being a little too old to play Billy Bigelow, I'm sure Harris' largely gay following will not care that Hedwig has a ways to go before reaching his 40's.

Ellen

[jo]

To tell the truth - I would much rather ignore the age difference in the Joe Gillis movie role than his reprising the role of Billy Bigelow in a second film adaptation. Carousel is well-loved but I think Sunset Boulevard can be contemporary at any time, because it is a portrayal of Hollywood way back then. I find it a more dramatic material even if the focus to most is the lunacy in Norma Desmond's personality.

Back to Angry Inch - er...how will a transgender-ing tale appeal to a wide Broadway audience or even to the Tony voters? Some people on BWW question how long such a show could last in a big Broadway house ( connoting the demos) compared to an off-Broadway more intimate, more audience-focused show.

I guess what I really want to know is if Hugh Jackman is going to be back on Broadway soon - LOL!

Jo

[mamaleh]

I'm sure you'd never see a production of HEDWIG in a big Broadway house unless a major name were attached to the show. And even then, it's quite a gamble. I wonder if Harris even has enough pull to compensate for unorthodox (to most B'way audiences) subject matter.

But, of course, as you indicated, whether/when Hugh comes back to Broadway is the more important question. We'll see.

Ellen

[Jamie]

Jun 17, 2013 19:39:31 GMT -5 jo said:

To tell the truth - I would much rather ignore the age difference in the Joe Gillis movie role than his reprising the role of Billy Bigelow in a second film adaptation. Carousel is well-loved but I think Sunset Boulevard can be contemporary at any time, because it is a portrayal of Hollywood way back then. I find it a more dramatic material even if the focus to most is the lunacy in Norma Desmond's personality.

Back to Angry Inch - er...how will a transgender-ing tale appeal to a wide Broadway audience or even to the Tony voters? Some people on BWW question how long such a show could last in a big Broadway house ( connoting the demos) compared to an off-Broadway more intimate, more audience-focused show.

I guess what I really want to know is if Hugh Jackman is going to be back on Broadway soon - LOL!

Jo

Jo,

Have to strongly agree about a movie musical. I would much rather see a completely new Sunset Boulevard as a film than a remake of Carousel with its much needed fixes to not feel dated. It would be wonderful if Hugh could go back to Broadway in a new show but only if they actually filmed it this time so that all the people who couldn't get there would have a chance to see him in action on a stage.

[mamaleh]

Well, the competition question is now officially moot with HOUDINI director Jack O'Brien's statements yesterday about the show's not opening in New York until spring 2015.

I have a feeling it would have been an interesting contest, even if we have no idea about other future prospective Tony nominees. The Broadway community loves both Hugh and Harris.

I am also curious to see how much $$ Harris is able to raise, assuming he'll participate in the BC/EFA collection drive.

Ellen

[jo]

Do they have similar fanbases?

Jo

[mamaleh]

Their fanbases probably overlap in part, but I doubt they are exactly the same. Just my conjecture, but I tend to think that while both have inveterate theatergoers, all ages, heterosexuals and gays in their camps, Harris might have more of the younger and gay fans, with Hugh having more mature and more female fans. Just a feeling.

Ellen

[mamaleh]

Harris is on the cover of Time Out New York magazine this week, clad in the classic white bandeau top and diaper-ish "shorts" worn by the title character in the '50s sci-fi camp classic, THE ATTACK OF THE 50-FOOT WOMAN. That pretty much tells you where his fan base lies. In the article he says he would like to do a revival of BARNUM. Some of us on this board (including me) have evinced hope that Hugh would someday star in a revival of that show. Has he ever expressed such a desire? Somehow, I don't think so. Which likely means--especially if HEDWIG is a hit--that Harris, if anyone, will be the one spouting the lyric, "Quite a lotta/Roman terra cotta."

Oh, well. THE WORLD'S GREATEST SHOWMAN is coming up, isn't it?

Ellen

[Jamie]

Feb 21, 2014 13:31:42 GMT -5 mamaleh said:

Harris is on the cover of Time Out New York magazine this week, clad in the classic white bandeau top and diaper-ish "shorts" worn by the title character in the '50s sci-fi camp classic, THE ATTACK OF THE 50-FOOT WOMAN. That pretty much tells you where his fan base lies. In the article he says he would like to do a revival of BARNUM. Some of us on this board (including me) have evinced hope that Hugh would someday star in a revival of that show. Has he ever expressed such a desire? Somehow, I don't think so. Which likely means--especially if HEDWIG is a hit--that Harris, if anyone, will be the one spouting the lyric, "Quite a lotta/Roman terra cotta."

Oh, well. THE WORLD'S GREATEST SHOWMAN is coming up, isn't it?

Ellen

Hugh would be great in Barnum singing Colors of My Life. Not too sure how he would feel about walking a tight rope every night

[jo]

Hugh likes to do more original material. Even GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH is a newly-written musical for the movies, and supposedly written with a contemporary slant. His straight plays are also relatively new material ( for Broadway, at least). Maybe that is the theatre training ( and maybe even the journalism training) in him - to want to explore new roles and new environment, compared to simply revisiting already established productions?

Isn't Hedwig supposed to be a transgender, costumed and made up as a woman? I think the furthest Hugh has gone that way is to wear sequins on his shirts or wear color on his Hawaiians...and that was just to emphasize the sassy side and sense of showmanship of Peter.

I wonder who will play Houdini, if Schwartz ever get to completing the score and someone wants to produce it on Broadway?? Will that team try to approach Hugh again??? Or will Neil be willing to pick up the role?

One thing though, Hugh has much wider career options compared to NPH. Hugh's film career ( in many genres) is very successful and his stage career will continue to flourish, at his own pace and preference ( limited though the time for this aspect of his career). NPH has basically his TV career to fall back on and except for a certain type of role or two, I doubt that he can be considered a true Hollywood A-lister. He has moved to NYC so maybe he does want to concentrate on a stage career? Hugh is in NYC not only for Broadway but because his film options take him to many places across the globe and NYC is a central location to fly from. Hugh is truly the most versatile performer these days!

Jo

[njr]

Feb 21, 2014 17:45:33 GMT -5 jo said:

Hugh likes to do more original material. Even GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH is a newly-written musical for the movies, and supposedly written with a contemporary slant. His straight plays are also relatively new material ( for Broadway, at least). Maybe that is the theatre training ( and maybe even the journalism training) in him - to want to explore new roles and new environment, compared to simply revisiting already established productions?

Isn't Hedwig supposed to be a transgender, costumed and made up as a woman? I think the furthest Hugh has gone that way is to wear sequins on his shirts or wear color on his Hawaiians...and that was just to emphasize the sassy side and sense of showmanship of Peter.

I wonder who will play Houdini, if Schwartz ever get to completing the score and someone wants to produce it on Broadway?? Will that team try to approach Hugh again??? Or will Neil be willing to pick up the role?

One thing though, Hugh has much wider career options compared to NPH. Hugh's film career ( in many genres) is very successful and his stage career will continue to flourish, at his own pace and preference ( limited though the time for this aspect of his career). NPH has basically his TV career to fall back on and except for a certain type of role or two, I doubt that he can be considered a true Hollywood A-lister. He has moved to NYC so maybe he does want to concentrate on a stage career? Hugh is in NYC not only for Broadway but because his film options take him to many places across the globe and NYC is a central location to fly from. Hugh is truly the most versatile performer these days!

Jo

I thought NPH & David Burtka lived in Los Angeles. *confused*

Nancy

[jo]

NPH has recently said they are moving or have moved to NYC.

www.nytimes.com/2014/02/23/theater/neil-patrick-harris-prepares-for-hedwig-and-the-angry-inch.html?hpw&rref=arts&_r=0

The family is moving to New York soon. The couple is renovating a $3.6 million townhouse on Fifth Avenue in Harlem, and Mr. Burtka plans to start auditioning for theater again...