Houdini

[droverswoman]

Some news about Houdini!! There will be a read-through in January, before he starts filming Prisoners - so this is actually news about Prisoners, too! YAY!

www.broadway.com/buzz/164681/houdini-star-hugh-jackman-is-working-his-butt-off-tackling-stephen-schwartzs-greatest-score/

"Jackman and the show's creative team are “working our butts off,” according to O'Brien. A read-through of the show's first act is scheduled for January. Jackman will then take a break to film the police drama Prisoners with Jake Gyllenhaal, then reconvene on Houdini in March and April."

[mamaleh]

Ooh, finally some HOUDINI news. Thanks!

Ellen

[jo]

Thanks!

It is also delightful to read about some of the songs --

>>>“The two ballads Stephen has written, one that closes Act I and one that closes the show, are among the greatest things he’s ever written," O’Brien recently told Broadway.com. "Hugh just kills with them. It’s vintage Schwartz, it’s gorgeous,” O'Brien said of the Wicked composer's newest score, noting it echos music from the 1920s, when the story is set. <<<

Jo

[droverswoman]

Yes, Jo, I thought that was exciting, too - can't WAIT to hear Hugh do this musical!

[foxie]

I look forward to tis more than anything!

[birchie]

This is getting so exciting now! I love the news about the 2 ballads and that "Hugh just kills with them." I'm saving my money so I can finally make it to Broadway. I'm hoping for spring '14 so I'll have more time to save. Can't wait till we start hearing more about the other roles in the show too.

[jo]

I wonder which actresses are doing the reading?

Probably wishful thinking, but he has worked before with three Broadway musical theatre actresses - Stephanie J. Block, Isabel Keating, and Beth Fowler

Jo

[jo]

A BWW regular has posted that "Houdini is expected Spring '14."

Jo

[droverswoman]

It's exciting to have a date, but it seems so far away, doesn't it? Well, at least we have lots of movies to look forward to until then!

[jo]

I will believe it when an official announcement has been made ;D

This show has been announced as as a Hugh project for the last few years ...so, until a theatre has been announced, an official preview date has been announced, and ticket sales have been announced -- I will just keep my fingers crossed - LOL!

Jo

[jo]

I posed the question to the poster who said that Houdini is expected in spring 2014 --

Is this firm, assuming the show will be ready by then?

His reply --

dramamama611

Hugh Jackman as Houdini?
Posted: 10/14/12 at 04:25am

It's as firm as anything over a year out could be. I would suspect that if it doesn't happen in that time frame, they risk losing Jackman -- and I suspect, if they lose Jackman, they will lose a lot of funding. They can't expect him to keep a clear schedule for too long. (I also assumed that the show still being that far out had a lot to do WITH Jackman's schedule, but that seems not to be the case.)

I thought that when Hugh had done a reading for them around the time of his return to NYC after completing LesMiserables filming that the creative team would be moving at a pretty fast clip, but it looks like only the first act will be ready for a reading in January?

It looks like things are not as firm as we think


Jo

[mamaleh]

Set designer turned producer David Rockwell talks about the upcoming HOUDINI, how Hugh became interested, and the show's progress. HOUDINI discussion starts at about 4 minutes.

broadwayworld.com/videoplay.php?colid=430580

Ellen

[jo]

Thanks. Ellen

I wish he had been more definite re when the show will land on Broadway.

But...I guess we just need to be more patient.

Jo

[birchie]

Nov 26, 2012 11:36:53 GMT -5 mamaleh said:

Set designer turned producer David Rockwell talks about the upcoming HOUDINI, how Hugh became interested, and the show's progress. HOUDINI discussion starts at about 4 minutes.

broadwayworld.com/videoplay.php?colid=430580

Ellen

Ellen, That was very interesting. I love hearing the creatives behind it all and how film or stage projects come together! Probably why I love special features on DVDs so much. I guess in a few short months we'll be hearing something about the run through, or whatever they're calling it, that is supposed to happen when Hugh is done shooting Prisoners. Hope Houdini is still on schedule. Thanks for posting this.
Sue

[jo]

The problem may not be scheduling with Hugh. It is the ability of the creative team to complete writing the musical that may cause any delays. Sorkin is also busy writing the screenplay for a forthcoming Steve Jobs biopic. And I guess composing music is not something that happens at will.

Hopefully, the planned reading of the first act happens before he shoots PRISONERS. Yes, it seems that is the only portion that they expect to complete by that time.

This project has been so long on development status -- there as even a completed score by Oscar winner Danny Elfman and lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by someone whose name escapes me now. That whole work was discarded, at the time Sorkin was coming in...An early lyricist or book writer, Yazbek, also left the project.

That was what I also wanted David Rockwell to say something on - how much has been composed.

You cannot hold the creatives ( including Jack O'Brien) and Hugh forever

If Hugh is lucky at the Oscars ( even with just a nomination) that can open up many excellent film script offers to him.

Jo

[birchie]

Thought you all might like this update from Stephen Schwartz:

Houdini
Stephen Schwartz has been writing songs for Hugh Jackman to perform as the title character in a musical Houdini (music and lyrics by Schwartz and book by Aaron Sorkin). He tested a few of the songs in a private reading. When hurricane Sandy hit Connecticut, and many residents were without power for at least a week, Schwartz was able to keep writing at home by use of a generator. He enjoyed the peace of no Internet connection. Stay subscribed to The Schwartz Scene for future updates about Houdini.

www.theschwartzscene.com/quarterly-newsletter/issue-48-december-2012/
Sue

[jo]

Such dedication

Although sometimes an unwanted peace and quiet are what some people need to tap their full creativity!

Thanks, Sue.

Jo

[jo]

I saw the replay of the TONIGHT show with Jay Leno, with Hugh and the magician guest.

That was a neat trick!

But I am glad that Hugh confirmed once again that he is doing HOUDINI!

Jo

[jo]

Bad news

www.deadline.com/2013/01/aaron-sorkin-disappears-from-hugh-jackman-broadway-musical-houdini/

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Aaron Sorkin Disappears From Hugh Jackman Broadway Musical ‘Houdini’

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Tuesday January 29, 2013 @ 7:15pm ESTTags: Aaron Sorkin, Houdini, Hugh Jackman, Steve Jobs


By MIKE FLEMING JR | Tuesday January 29, 2013 @ 7:15pm

EXCLUSIVE: Aaron Sorkin has dropped out of the Broadway production of Houdini, on which he was to make his librettist debut for a musical slated to star Hugh Jackman as the famous magician. Sorkin has put a lot of work into the musical, but had to drop out because of scheduling. He had to go back and write the second season of his HBO series creation The Newsroom, which will be broadcast in the summer. He’s also hard at work adapting the Walter Isaacson book Steve Jobs for a feature film for Sony Pictures on the Apple genius.

That left him pressed to have enough time to finish the musical in time for the producer’s plan to open on Broadway during the 2013-2014 season. Sorkin’s reps are in conversations with the Houdini producers for them to continue developing the musical utilizing Sorkin’s initial concepts and other materials. Stephen Schwartz is writing the music and Scott Sanders and David Rockwell are producing.


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The continuing delays ( from the first creative team to the switch to the new writing team) have not augured well for this stage musical. Will it ever get finished and will it be a good one?

How will this affect Hugh's schedule? Would he consider another stage musical project?


Jo

[birchie]

Jan 29, 2013 20:02:29 GMT -5 jo said:

Bad news

www.deadline.com/2013/01/aaron-sorkin-disappears-from-hugh-jackman-broadway-musical-houdini/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Aaron Sorkin Disappears From Hugh Jackman Broadway Musical ‘Houdini’

By MIKE FLEMING JR | Tuesday January 29, 2013 @ 7:15pm ESTTags: Aaron Sorkin, Houdini, Hugh Jackman, Steve Jobs


By MIKE FLEMING JR | Tuesday January 29, 2013 @ 7:15pm

EXCLUSIVE: Aaron Sorkin has dropped out of the Broadway production of Houdini, on which he was to make his librettist debut for a musical slated to star Hugh Jackman as the famous magician. Sorkin has put a lot of work into the musical, but had to drop out because of scheduling. He had to go back and write the second season of his HBO series creation The Newsroom, which will be broadcast in the summer. He’s also hard at work adapting the Walter Isaacson book Steve Jobs for a feature film for Sony Pictures on the Apple genius.

That left him pressed to have enough time to finish the musical in time for the producer’s plan to open on Broadway during the 2013-2014 season. Sorkin’s reps are in conversations with the Houdini producers for them to continue developing the musical utilizing Sorkin’s initial concepts and other materials. Stephen Schwartz is writing the music and Scott Sanders and David Rockwell are producing.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The continuing delays ( from the first creative team to the switch to the new writing team) have not augured well for this stage musical. Will it ever get finished and will it be a good one?

How will this affect Hugh's schedule? Would he consider another stage musical project?


Jo

I just popped over to post the same article! What next? He's had a very long time to work on this so I hope he has quite a bit of it already done so a new person doesn't have to start from square one. These things are very tricky to accomplish so I hope everyone involved has enough commitment to see it through. I think it may almost certainly delay the project, so I hope Hugh gets some great offers for movie roles next year because of his Oscar nomination. If not he can always fall back on his one man show which will please a lot of people too.
Sue

[jo]

Aaron was supposed to do the book of the musical, so presumably the general direction and even details on the actual book may have had already a first draft. He has been the one who has talked at length about the musical when there was a change in the creative team.

I am not too sure but I think he is not the lyricist himself, but putting the structure for the storytelling ( as supported by the musical score and lyrics). Didn't Hugh say that a first act has been completed and was supposed to be ready for a first reading early 2013? I hope the work continues, with Aaron maybe playing more of the behind-the-scenes persona in this musical. He must be keen to have some significant involvement as he was a Musical Theatre major himself.

Re Hugh -- his approach to his career which seeks the best from both film and stage serves him best at times like this. And now that his work in Les Miserables has been recognized in a big way -- we all hope he is getting better film script offers hereon.

We'll see how this pans out.

Jo

[jo]

I've rechecked the Stephen Schwartz Page to see if there is anything new.

www.theschwartzscene.com/quarterly-newsletter/issue-48-december-2012/

It looks like it is also going to be busy year for him, as 2013 marks the 10th year of WICKED and his 65th birthday, with tribute events scheduled in Washington DC and Carnegie Hall. Nothing new on Houdini.

But I have also found out that he himself is doing the lyrics for HOUDINI ( to answer my own question earlier -LOL!), as he did for WICKED. So, Sorkin is or was essentially responsible for the book and the libretto?

Jo

[birchie]

Jan 29, 2013 22:12:06 GMT -5 jo said:

I've rechecked the Stephen Schwartz Page to see if there is anything new.

www.theschwartzscene.com/quarterly-newsletter/issue-48-december-2012/

It looks like it is also going to be busy year for him, as 2013 marks the 10th year of WICKED and his 65th birthday, with tribute events scheduled in Washington DC and Carnegie Hall. Nothing new on Houdini.

But I have also found out that he himself is doing the lyrics for HOUDINI ( to answer my own question earlier -LOL!), as he did for WICKED. So, Sorkin is or was essentially responsible for the book and the libretto?

Jo

I was going to tell you Stephen Schwartz was the answer but you figured it out, clever gal! I remember not too long ago someone...it may have been Hugh...said that there were already wonderful numbers written. i can't remember the exact quote and I didn't save it but I do remember how impressed the person was with the music that had been written so far. I hope they get someone with Broadway experience to replace Sorkin. I remember having a moment when I first read that he had never done a Broadway show. Guess my moment was telling me something.
Sue

[jo]

I hope they get someone with Broadway experience to replace Sorkin. I remember having a moment when I first read that he had never done a Broadway show. Guess my moment was telling me something

I think he may have already done the bulk of the book-writing and has articulated the concepts and structure for the entire libretto -- but he lacks the time to complete the whole process ( workshops, tryouts, previews may require minor or major rewrites), so they may be working out an arrangement where his work will still be the foundation for the musical, with the musical score from Schwartz, but he will not be able to participate actively in the final processes?

He was a musical theatre major in college ( Syracuse) and has always loved the theatre. It is said that when he was a struggling theatre-wannabe, that he used to work as a bartender at the Palace Theatre. He even delivered singing telegrams - he must love or maybe he can sing - LOL!

His introduction to official Broadway was through the plays he has written ( "A Few Good Men" and "The Farnsworth Invention"), so he has been involved in the aborning process for creative stage work, except they were not musicals.

I am still hoping this will have a happy ending


Jo

[mamaleh]

Many times new book writers or other creatives are called in during the gestation of a musical. While Sorkin's absence will be missed, I'm hopeful that his blueprints, so to speak, will provide enough of a guide for those finishing the project.

Ellen