Houdini

[jo]

Ellen,

It seems that Hairspray and Catch Me If You Can ( both directed by Jack O'Brien) had their tryouts in Seattle.
Wicked, not directed by O'Brien, held their workshops in the West Coast, with some at Universal Studios which co-owned the rights. It held its first public performance at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco.

Maybe the Old Globe ( which caters to classic and other plays) cannot be used for staging a show with spectacle like HOUDINI is expected to be, but I guess the Pacific coast would be a safe bet ( could be the Curran, if Carole Shorenstein Hays had her way )


Jo

[mamaleh]

O'Brien's THE FULL MONTY had its world premiere at the Old Globe in 2000. As I recall, it had some lighting pyrotechnics during the climactic number (or else it might have been shut down, LOL).

But the somewhat belligerent street bums aside, I certainly wouldn't mind the Curran (agreed, nor would Hays). Of Seattle, San Diego and San Francisco, I have family only in S.F. The fewer hotel nights, the greater number of show tickets, eh?

Of course, we're getting ahead of ourselves. But I'd be very surprised if a West Coast venue was not in the offing.

From a purely selfish standpoint, I wonder whatever happened to the days of New Haven or Philly tryouts. Then again, it's only right that those not in a commutable distance from B'way get their prolonged dose of Hugh on stage, too.

We should start a poll: where's the tryout to be? Start guessing now.

Ellen

[jo]

Or Boston-town -- that was one of the tryout towns a very long time ago


Jo

[ruby]

"Hugh is as beautiful on the inside as he is on the outside . " Not Houdini.

[mamaleh]

Yes, many shows--including my all-time favorite musical, FOLLIES (the original production)--tried out in Boston, notably at the Colonial Theater. Among the others that previewed there: OKLAHOMA! CAROUSEL, PORGY AND BESS, ANYTHING GOES, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, BORN YESTERDAY, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, PROMISES PROMISES, etc. Quite a lineup!

I never saw a show there, though I wanted to. Closest I got: Once I was a passenger in a car that drove past its facade.

Ellen

[jo]

Maybe it is just fanciful speculation but I am getting the feel that this show is going to be as theatrical as Phantom of the Opera. I have always thought that I have never seen a more "theatrical" show than Phantom -- whether it is the production design ( sets, costumes, props, including the elephant and the use of the proscenium, that underground level rising to the top), the musical score ( all that soaring operatic music and the choral harmony of the Masquerade staging), the staging ( I was gasping when the I first saw the Phantom rowing the boat in that smoke-filled underground river, the vanishing act at the end -- everything!). It does not appeal to the emotion as much as Les Miserables did -- but appeals more to the senses!

Will HOUDINI bring back some of what is lacking in new shows on Broadway? Maybe it is the sense of the historical and its inherent theatricality... and not contemporary themes that I am mostly missing. I would really like this show to be very celebrated and for Hugh to be in one of the most triumphant theatrical performances!

But...it is such a long wait!

Jo

[birchie]

Very happy to be reading the updates and learning that Houdini is still in the works and that Hugh is still attached!
I agree, Jo that it could be a very theatrical presentation and could be staged spectacularly! I wonder if they will try to include the water chamber or whatever it was called!!?? Maybe I can win the lottery between now and 2015 so I can actually go see it. I also hope & pray that they have the foresight to film it, whether I'm able to go or not. I'd love to have it preserved and be able to watch it anytime I want at home!
Sue

[jo]

Glad to see you back, Sue.

Re the water torture-act or whatever it is called -- I think I read that this was his most famous escape act.

However, I am not sure that including an act ( even if Hugh can eventually do it) daily which would expose him to a lot of water can work. He may catch a cold or a sore throat, at the very least, or even a temperature or other forms of respiratory infection -- and that may not work fine with singing on stage for more than two hours daily. Have you noticed that during runs of his Broadway shows when cold weather sets in, how Hugh wears something around his throat and on his head to make sure he can protect his singing voice?

Of course, I do not know how the secret of washing one's hair ( ala Nellie Forbush) in South Pacific onstage, daily, works and not affect the actress's performance

I am speculating here - LOL - maybe he can do a few stuff that would be easy to do onstage. Then maybe film the water torture act and other spectacular acts and show the filmed sequences instead - but work it in a way so that it looks like it is happening on the stage at the very moment? Although from insights shared, the show is not going to be all spectacle but a deeper look into the person, the character!

If you can see a seamless disappearance of the Phantom ( at the end), a seamless transformation of the Beast ( Beauty and the Beast) at the climax, and other magical stuff onstage -- maybe there will be a few tricks up the sleeves of the creative team?

Jo

[broadwaygal]

This is great news about Houdini! As far as the out-of-town tryout, I would prefer San Francisco again,
but my first choice would be Boston, but as Ellen said, producers don't have out-of-town tryouts there
anymore. BTW, Ellen, I've been to the Colonial Theater twice, I saw the tryouts of Moon Over Buffalo
and Fosse there. The theater was closed for a few years and I understand that it's reopened now.

Actually, there have been several out-of-town tryouts in Chicago in recent years, such as The Producers,
and most recently, Kinky Boots. So Chicago is another possibility.

Cheryl

[mamaleh]

I've never been to Chicago. If it tries out there, that would be a great reason to see the "city of big shoulders" and "hog butcher of the world."

I didn't know the Colonial was back. I just remember passing by and thinking it beautiful.

Lots of time to speculate as to location. Fun!

Ellen

[carouselkathy]

San Diego would be geographically convenient!

Regarding the water torture chamber....This might be tricky and physically stressful. Hugh might want to do it anyway, since he's the type of guy that will zip line across Sidney Harbor. However, isn't the story more about Houdini's obsession with exposing fraudulent mediums?

[mamaleh]

Yes, that's what O'Brien and Hugh have been saying is the emphasis. But I have a feeling they believe--and rightly so--that today's audiences have to be reminded of the razzle-dazzle showmanship that was Houdini. What better way than to feature a couple of his most famous escapes?

Ellen

[birchie]

Jun 21, 2013 9:30:56 GMT -5 mamaleh said:

Yes, that's what O'Brien and Hugh have been saying is the emphasis. But I have a feeling they believe--and rightly so--that today's audiences have to be reminded of the razzle-dazzle showmanship that was Houdini. What better way than to feature a couple of his most famous escapes?

Ellen

That was what I was thinking too, Ellen. While the story will focus on him and his personal crusade, they would have to show what he was famous for. Love the way you put it: "the razzle-dazzle showmanship"...and of course who better to portray that than Hugh?!?!?

Jo, I thought they could build an illusion to the trick without actually using water. As you mentioned, there have been some spectacular illusions done on stage so they could create something very memorable.
Sue

[jo]

Sorkin is supposed to be working on another Broadway musical ??!!!

broadwayworld.com/article/Aaron-Sorkin-Writing-Book-for-New-Broadway-Musical-20130621I

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, earlier this year, Aaron Sorkin withdrew as librettist of the upcoming Broadway production Houdini, starring Hugh Jackman. Now in a recent interview with Vanity Fair, he revealed that he's deveoping another musical for Broadway. When jokingly asked if he'd ever write dance sequences into his television scripts, Sorkin resopnded: " Well, I'm going to be doing a Broadway musical, and there will be plenty of extended dance sequences."

When asked more about the project he continued, "I'm going to tell you . . . just when we're allowed to announce it. You'll be the first to know. I can't say anything else about it, though."

I wonder if the real reason for dropping out from HOUDINI was a falling out -- aka creative differences with Schwartz or maybe O'Brien...or some issues with chief producer Rockwell??

Will we ever know? It caused quite a havoc - a delay of at least a year from opening on Broadway! And for fans of Sorkin, it dampened interest in the show.

Jo

[jo]

Here's a cynical retort on BWW re why Sorkin dropped out of Houdini, but will write for a new musical --

behindthescenes2



Houdini
Posted: 6/21/13 at 05:38pm

Not enough drug and alcohol budget for the show

Maybe he was not able to keep up with the schedule commitments then?

Jo

[jo]

Ellen and all you lucky West Coast people


If this buzz is true, posted on BWW --

somethingwicked

Houdini
Posted: 6/21/13 at 10:15pm

I've heard rumors of an out of town tryout in San Francisco in the fall of 2014 in advance of a spring 2015 opening on Broadway, which matches up with the timeline laid out by Jack O'Brien in the interview linked earlier in this thread.

Jo

[mamaleh]

Sounds like a rumor to be watched--with maybe a future, "Hi, sonny-boy. Guess who'll be visiting for a while."

Ellen

[jo]

Developing a musical and getting it ready for the stage, especially on a Broadway stage, is a very long process especially if the end-product is an original concept and not of the jukebox-musical variety.

There are some interesting excerpts/writeups on the the development of WICKED, also composed by Stephen Schwartz and how it was made ready for Broadway ultimately --

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked_(musical)

The book, lyrics, and score for the musical were developed through a series of readings.[9] For these developmental workshops, Kristin Chenoweth, the Tony Award–winning actress whom Stephen Schwartz had in mind while composing the music for the character,[14] joined the project as Glinda. Stephanie J. Block originally read the role of Elphaba before fellow performer Idina Menzel was cast in the role in late 2000. In early 2000, the creators recruited New York producer David Stone who began the transition of the workshop production into a full Broadway production. Joe Mantello was brought in as director and Wayne Cilento as choreographer while Tony Award–winning designer Eugene Lee created the set and visual style for the production based on both W. W. Denslow's original illustrations for Baum's novels and Maguire's concept of the story being told through a giant clock.[14] Costume designer Susan Hilferty created a "twisted Edwardian" style through more than 200 costumes, while lighting designer Kenneth Posner used more than 800 individual lights to give each of the 54 distinct scenes and locations "its own mood".[14] By April 2003, a full cast had been assembled and the show readied its public debut.[14]


On May 28, 2003, the first public performance of Wicked was held at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco, as the start of SHN pre-Broadway tryouts. After officially opening on June 10, 2003, it ran there for the month and finished on June 29, 2003. Audience reaction was mostly positive and although critics tended to compliment the aesthetic and spectacle of the show, they disparaged the state of its book, score and choreography.[15] Dennis Harvey of Variety commented positively of the "sleekly directed", "snazzily designed" and "smartly cast" production yet still disapproved of its "mediocre" book, "trite" lyrics and "largely generic" music[16] while Karen D'Souza of the San Jose Mercury News wrote that "Style over substance is the real theme in this Emerald City."[15]

Noting mixed response, the creative team started making extensive changes, tweaking it before its transfer to Broadway.[14] Winnie Holzman stated, "Stephen [Schwartz] wisely had insisted on having three months to rewrite in-between the time we closed in San Francisco and when we were to go back into rehearsals in New York. That was crucial; that was the thing that made the biggest difference in the life of the show. That time is what made the show work."...[17]

I was trying to get a feel of how long it may possibly take to get HOUDINI ready for rehearsals and previews on a Broadway stage and thought the process for WICKED might serve as an indication.

Btw, the process started when Stephen Schwartz acquired the rights to adapt the novel for a stage production in 1998, with Marc Platt as producer for Universal Studios which owned the film rights and getting Winnie Holzman to write the book... The show finally opened on Broadway in October 2003!

Some interesting references to The Boy From Oz - TBFO opened for previews on Broadway in October 2003. Stephanie J. Block who worked on the developmental aspects of WICKED as Elphaba became Liza Minnelli in the Broadway TBFO, after she lost the role to Idina Menzel. TBFO and WICKED competed for Best Musical TONY but lost out to AVENUE Q. WICKED continues to be the top grossing Broadway show, even after almost 10 years from opening on Broadway while TBFO closed as soon as Hugh's contract expired.

What seems to be different in the processes is that the show director Jack O'Brien has been involved early on, before the material has been written ( musical score and book). We do not know if the book will pick up from the work of Sorkin or if Ives will do a fresh version. O'Brien seems also fairly confident about the inclusion of the magic elements, which will add spectacle( and presumably some major interest) to the show.

Jo

[lucky]

Very interesting article.

I wonder if they already decided the casting. We know there are 3 female parts (the spiratulists) and maybe the role of Bess Houdini. What more roles could there be?

Is the cast of the out of town try out alsways the same as in the Broadway opening later?

[jo]

During development and workshops of WICKED, Stephanie J. Block sang the role of Elphaba. She was replaced by Idina Menzel when the show went on tryout and when it opened on Broadway. Idina would eventually win a TONY for Best Actress in a musical for the role. Stephanie went on to play the role of Liza in The Boy From Oz. There was much speculation then of her disappointment of not getting the Elphaba role as original creator on Broadway. Although much later on, she was cast as replacement for the role of Elphaba on Broadway ( not directly after Idina).

Changes do happen in casting. I doubt that it would affect the male lead for Houdini

One interesting incident -- when the revival of Sweet Charity happened a few years back, the lead star Christina Applegate had a bad accident with her ankles during the out-of-town tryout and someone else was tapped to play the role ( her understudy). The show was in danger of not opening on Broadway supposedly because of lack of interest...Christina persevered and wore short boots to camouflage her bound ankles. During the TONYs that year ( 2005, hosted by Hugh) there was an opening skit where it showed how she fell off the stage to spoof her accident.

Another interesting episode, although a much older one. Patti Lupone originated the role of Norma Desmond for Sunset Boulevard in London and was supposedly promised to transfer with the show on Broadway. In LA, the show was also staged, with Glenn Close as Norma. Nobody knows what really happened but ALWebber decided to open the show on Broadway with Glenn Close...maybe on the back of better reviews ( Frank Rich did not like the Lupone performance) or was it because Glenn was a Hollywood name? There was an acrimonious parting of ways between Webber and Lupone - resulting in a major financial settlement. Glenn won a TONY for her Norma Desmond!...Very recently, there is news that Patti has once again sang songs from SUNSET ( " As If We Never Said Goodbye") in a concert in London. I wonder, has there been some olive branches sent out?

Three leading ladies ( or support roles) for Houdini - I wonder if Peter's three leading ladies in TBFO might be tapped for Houdini? Interesting prospect, though!

Jo

[mamaleh]

It was generally acknowledged that Frank Rich's negative NY Times review of LuPone precipitated her firing. But I got a kick out of LuPone's memoir, in which she writes that she got even for being let go from SUNSET BOULEVARD by winning a big settlement. As a result, her Connecticut home has what she calls her "Andrew Lloyd Webber Memorial Swimming Pool."

Stephanie must have felt slighted, too. Hugh, of course, was nominated for and won a Tony (Leading Actor/Musical) for TBFO. Both Isabel Keating and Beth Fowler were nominated for Featured Actress/Musical, but Stephanie was not.

That's show-biz.

Ellen

[jo]

LOL - I heard about the swimming pool funding

There was much $$$ at stake -- if I am not mistaken, Sunset Boulevard still holds the record for the largest advance in Broadway history ( even in terms of unadjusted-for-inflation numbers), at $ 37 million. Ironically, it did not prosper financially like PHANTOM OF THE OPERA ( of which I had just seen an ad advertising another staging in Asia, saying that close to 147 million people have seen the live production across the globe - more than double the vaunted Les Miserables stage audience) - and because of its (SB) expensive staging ( and maybe Webber charged the Lupone settlement against it - LOL) was supposed to have lost money on Broadway?

Will HOUDINI cost a lot to stage? As it stands, the development costs must already be on the high side ( since it has been on the cards from way back - I remember asking Hugh at the stagedoor about it in 2009, during A STEADY RAIN, and he said it was being rewritten -- presumably from the initial work done by Elfman et al) -- although I have no idea who bears the initial costs of development. David Rockwell, lead producer ( and incidentally set designer) and his group must have deep pockets. Rockwell has a very prominent architectural firm on both coasts so there must be deep personal funding from his side?

I wonder if Hugh's involvement is beyond that of performer? He did say he is excited about Houdini also because he is seeing a new musical being born - something he has not been a part of in the past...I also wonder if Schwartz has been promised major royalty rights - I heard that Wicked has already made him a very rich man -- so hopefully, Houdini will be more of an appeal to his artistic nature.

If there are spectacular magic tricks, the eventual weekly nut will likely be on the high side.

Lol - it such a long wait, all we can do is speculate at this point smiley-gen165

Jo

[carouselkathy]

Right now, I'm the weekly nut on the high side because school is out. giggles

[mamaleh]

Yay! Enjoy your summer vacation, Kathy.

Ellen

[alma]

Jun 22, 2013 22:25:20 GMT -5 carouselkathy said:

Right now, I'm the weekly nut on the high side because school is out. giggles

I know the feeling, Kathy!

It seems like the summer stretches out sooo long before us, but it goes by in a flash! May it be full of rest and relaxation and at the same time beautiful experiences and excitement for you!



Alma