The Music Man : Show Development and Promotion

[jo]

Sutton Foster had a one-on-one with Paul Wontorek of Broadway.com --

www.facebook.com/Broadway/videos/665223690899338/

At 3'59" -- he asks her about The Music Man


Jo

[jo]

She says they did about 2 1/2 week of sort-of-a-workshop --

*They did some singing and dancing, etc, with director Jerry Zaks and choreographer Warren Carlyle.
(I have a feeling that there will be a greater emphasis on the dancing aspect for Hugh and Sutton, not usually seen in the original stage and film production and revivals)

*She also said that she thinks there is room for rethinking the role of Marian ( which Paul described as a bit more passive).

*Funny how she said she was paralyzed and terrfied at the start of the session ( lol- was she too much in awe of Hugh)...but she paid him the highest compliment eventually ( in the interview).

Jo

[jo]

People continue to think that THE MUSIC MAN will be instrumental in bringing back the lights of Broadway!

From ATC Admin Ann ( not exactly a fan of Hugh )

re: there's truly no way to know what will happen or how or when...

Posted by: Ann 08:45 am EDT 03/20/20
In reply to: there's truly no way to know what will happen or how or when... - Chazwaza 11:16 pm EDT 03/19/20

Music Man could be a huge way to reopen Broadway.

.

[jo]

As the environment seemed to have become bleaker, including what's happening to New York ( the seat of the UN/Wall Street/Broadway) and of course the bright lights of The Great White Way which have gone dark --


I have been thinking about this -- why The Music Man might just be the right vehicle to relight Broadway --

*It is a lovable musical, set in small town Americana -- that will appeal to the hearts of everyone! Even overseas audiences will likely find similar characters and small town settings in their own homeland.

*Can you imagine how "76 Trombones led the Big Parade!" will tug even more with all Americans who are coming out of a crisis.

*Hugh and Sutton are down-to-earth and much-loved talents and to see them showing off their triple-threats will be pure enjoyment! They are Broadway Babies of the highest brilliance in the theatre firmament!

*Seeing a spectacular show with familiar music, after the doldrums of a long, bleak crisis ( hopefully towards the end of such a crisis), will be such a treat for the senses!

Bring it on -- Rudin, Zaks, Carlyle...Jackman & Foster


Jo

[jo]

Interesting discussion on the casting of Sutton instead of Kelli

(Note: This is in relation to the appearance of Kellin in the Rosie O'D's fundraising event for the Actor's Fund)

www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat_new/d.php?id=2483054

Please follow the responses.

[jo]

The show is still on!

An update from Warren Carlyle --


pagesix.com/2020/03/25/hugh-jackman-starring-the-music-man-revival-still-on-schedule/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Hugh Jackman-starring ‘The Music Man’ revival still on schedule
By Cindy Adams
March 25, 2020 | 8:23pm



When the Great White Way’s up again and traffic’s backed to Pittsburgh again, Broadway will outshpritz the Milky Way again.

It’ll be stars such as award-winning actor Hugh Jackman, award-winning director Jerry Zaks, award-winning actress Sutton Foster, award-winning choreographer Warren Carlyle, award-winning designer Santo Loquasto, in what is sure to be the award-winning “The Music Man” revival.

Carlyle, who just did Jackman’s Madison Square Garden revue: “Our opening’s fortunately not now, so we’re not panicking because we’re scheduled for October.

“We’re just prepping as much as we can. Working the computer, working the phone, planning out whatever we can manage to rehearse. What else can you do?”

Born in Britain, where his mother still is, Carlyle’s dream was the USA. A patriotic American citizen, all he ever wanted was to live and work here. During today’s crisis, inside his apartment building, near the elevator, is a table for packages. Anonymously, he buys and places boxes of cereal, cans of soup, tins of food, packages of noodles — for the elderly or needy.

Forget Tonys for choreography. Warren Carlyle deserves a food award.

He mentions October which is the Official Opening Date! Will the previews be able to go on, as originally scheduled to start on September 9?

Let's cross our fingers that everything goes well with the show preparations and expected dates to brighten up Broadway once again!


Jo

[luzie]

Mar 25, 2020 20:30:13 GMT -5 jo said:

..... During today’s crisis, inside his apartment building, near the elevator, is a table for packages. Anonymously, he buys and places boxes of cereal, cans of soup, tins of food, packages of noodles — for the elderly or needy.

Forget Tonys for choreography. Warren Carlyle deserves a food award.

Awww, what a kind-hearted, caring guy. This is true neighborly help and much more needed than all this #stayhome that everyone is tweeting now in the belief that tweeting this # is the ultimate.

[jo]

It looks like there is some confidence that Broadway will be able to host shows when the leaves turn red and gold.

Roundabout Theatre has postponed its offerings due out this spring to the fall season.

www.playbill.com/article/roundabout-to-open-debra-messing-led-birthday-candles-and-caroline-or-change-on-broadway-in-the-fall


Caroline, Or Change will be in competition with The Music Man for Best Revival for the Spring 2021 TONYs.

Ironically, in 2004, it also competed with another Hugh Jackman musical, The Boy From Oz, for the Best New Musical in the 2003/2004 season.


Jo

[jo]

A BWW post ( for whatever it's worth -- although many insider info posts on BWW seem to be generally reliable) :

novel idea
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#31

Posted: 3/27/20 at 9:21am
There was a closed door meeting two days ago with the Broadway League and the earliest a show will be able to begin running again or open was discussed as being mid-July. Broadway will not have an official date to re-open until restrictions are lifted limiting large groups of people. It will NOT be up and running by mid-April or mid-May

*I wonder what kind of probability have they assigned to that date?

*Assuming this is a reasonable estimate - rehearsals for The Music Man will not likely be delayed ( July-August)


Jo

[jo]

Given the developments ( including some speculation that the virus might return after a summer break) --

BWW prediction on the chat board --

AnnieBlack
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Posted: 3/31/20 at 7:11am
I'm expecting that Music Man will probably be delayed a year at this point...


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Posted: 3/31/20 at 8:29am
AnnieBlack said: "I'm expecting that Music Man will probably be delayed a year at this point..."

Something tells me that Rudin is going to wait as long as he can to put off Music Man. Remember, at the beginning of all of this, he lowered ticket prices just to get more people into the theatre. If anyone is going to try to open a show as soon as the Broadway embargo is lifted, it'll be him.


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Stephen75
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Posted: 3/31/20 at 10:41am
I do think MM has the potential to be a big, fuzzy hit that could be really helpful in bringing back Broadway. If anyone can do it, it can be Jackman.

I also imagine Mockingbird would be safe?

Assuming the worst, i.e., a postponement -- maybe not a full year, but open it in spring 2021?

This is of course purely speculative -- no basis for the guessing game


Jo

[jo]

The Music Man is a show that will resonate because it deals with small town America, of a much more pleasant time -- and to hear the iconic "76 Trombones" --that may even generate a standing ovation! Because if the show has opened and people are there - it will be a shared moment of triumph after what America ( and the rest of the world) has gone through!

EDIT:

My reply on BWW on the topic --

jo
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Posted: 3/31/20 at 11:06am
If conditions permit...and they can open THE MUSIC MAN, at the very least during Thanksgiving Week -- that is going to resonate very much with audiences. The show is a classic and well-loved musical which focuses on small-town America, at a much happier time! I can just imagine what the audience reaction will be if they start singing/playing "SEVENTY SIX TROMBONES"! A very triumphant feeling, after what America might have gone through, by that time!

A response --

JayElle
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#186

Posted: 3/31/20 at 6:53pm
Jo, wrote in part: "If conditions permit...and they can open THE MUSIC MAN, at the very least during Thanksgiving Week -- that is going to resonate very much with audiences...I can just imagine what the audience reaction will be if they start singing/playing "SEVENTY SIX TROMBONES"! A very triumphant feeling, after what America might have gone through, by that time!"

Saw the D.C. Kennedy Ctr MM production Feb. 2019 w/Norm Lewis, Jessee Mueller, & Rosie O'Donnell, & more. 76 Trombones blew the roof off with the audience when all theater exit doors opened and in came the Univ of Maryland marching band playing it..in uniform with trombones, bassoons, and more.

Just before they did, the cast faked the audience out trying to play that song w/kazoos. Norm Lewis blew his whistle, doors opened, and in marched the Univ band. Was extraordinary. Doubt Rudin would ever or the musician union would allow it.

That would be just for the sheer spectacle!

This time, the reaction will likely include a strong sentiment of thanksgiving for all that the country would have undergone by that time.

Hope things end more happily than what gloomy predictions have hinted at.

Jo

[jo]

People are getting nervous about the prospects of the bright lights returning to Broadway!


One hopeful prediction by someone on BWW ( who knows what the basis is ) --

Leave it to Hugh Jackman to win back Broadway and its fans. He will probably win a Tony next year to boot, and maybe even host the ceremony as well (like he did in '04). That would make some good cash and hopefully put more butts in those seats.

Haha - we Jackman fans have to be healthy ( physically and financially) and in full force to see MusicMan-a-lot!

Music-a-lots!

How does that sound


Jo (Oz-a-lot)




PS: Or MusicMates maybe

[jo]

On the subject of the "time-honored" tradition of stagedooring

Posted on BWW --

BillyComet
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#28

Posted: 4/4/20 at 10:40pm
This board has become so depressing recently!
Let’s be honest... it’s gonna be a while, but it’s gonna start happening again. Every day there’s a new celebrity out for a walk in LA during quarantine with paparazzi STILL following them! You try telling people not to wait for Hugh Jackman when Music Man eventually starts.
(This is coming from someone who doesn’t think the stage door is necessary or required, but come on! People will always be people).

[jo]

Everything seems to hang on a balance --

Some discussions on BWW --

alex814
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#204

Posted: 4/2/20 at 8:20pm
IAMREADING said: "AnnieBlack said: "I'm expecting that Music Man will probably be delayed a year at this point..."

What would this mean for Beetlejuice? Could they extend their stay at The Winter Garden?"

I was wondering this also. Beetlejuice could theoretically extend or just close and focus on touring in 2021.
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Kad
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#205

Posted: 4/2/20 at 9:39pm
For a scenario to include Music Man being delayed a year, there would need to be doubts about whether theaters would even be open by the fall, and if that's the case, Beetlejuice is still closed.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
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Kimbo
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#206

Posted: 4/3/20 at 3:28am
Kad said: "For a scenario to include Music Man being delayed a year, there would need to be doubts about whether theaters would even be open by the fall, and if that's the case, Beetlejuice is still closed."

The reason why it's more complicated than this (which I'm surprised nobody has mentioned) - and why such a scenario is possible - is that Sutton was supposed to start filming the seventh season of her TV series Younger in March, to begin airing this summer (along with Debi Mazar, currently recovering from COVID-19, as well as Hilary Duff, etc.). Obviously when the Music Man dates were announced no one could foresee this, and everyone obviously assumed production on that would have long since ended by the time rehearsals were scheduled to begin in August - but now they'll be lucky if they even start filming by then. (And that's assuming Hugh Jackman has finished his new sci-fi action film opposite Thandie Newton, and has no further obligations there.)

Anything is possible, obviously... but since A) the common consensus is that film and TV production will be able to resume filming before mass audiences are allowed to convene and live theater is up and running, and B) in situations like this where there's an "act of God" the previous and ongoing commitment to the TV film or project is usually in "first position" ahead of the stage project – it's hard to imagine those won't take precedence whenever business gets back to usual, no matter how long they take to complete. (Sutton, for example, certainly can't film her TV series, in which she's in nearly every scene, while she's doing 8 shows a week, let alone in rehearsal, and there's no way TV Land is going to happily keep that cast on ice till end of 2021 or early 2022 after Sutton's contract on Broadway is up - after which time Younger would have been off the air for nearly 3 years. And that's assuming Jackman wasn't also scheduled to squeeze in yet another film in the next 5 months before returning to Broadway.)

The ramifications of this crisis are obviously echoing far and wide across all sectors of the entertainment industry, and the juggling and rejiggering when business resumes is going to be enormous and unprecedented. But with regard to The Music Man, it's easy to see the 2 leads, if not several others, now contractually unable to begin the production on the scheduled start date... and, as others have suggested, if audiences are skittish anyway about coming back to live theatre, it's not hard to see Scott Rudin welcoming such a delay. So just as the opening of nearly every major movie from this spring and summer has now been pushed back to next spring and summer, with regard to this one show I wouldn't in the least be surprised to see The Music Man similarly postponed till spring at the earliest, and very possibly moved to next fall. In which case, with their sets and costumes right where they left them in early March, Beetlejuice might not only be able to stay right where they are after all, but actually have the Shuberts providing -incentive- to keep them open, so as not to have one of their prime musical houses empty for a full year. Strange times.
Updated On: 4/3/20 at 03:28 AM
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jo
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#207

Posted: 4/3/20 at 6:59am
Hugh Jackman was recently interviewed ( mid-March) by People.com at the Montblanc Event, of which he is a brand ambassador. From the People.com article --

"Describing that he is currently in “early rehearsals,” Jackman says, “Sutton Foster and myself have just been in a room for the last two or three weeks just sort of learning the dance and singing and reading the script and getting started on it.”

Sutton Foster was also recently interviewed by Paul Wontorek and echoed a similar update.

www.facebook.com/Broadway/videos/665223690899338/

At around 8'40".

*She says they did about 2 1/2 week of sort-of-a-workshop --
*They did some singing and dancing, etc, with director Jerry Zaks and choreographer Warren Carlyle.
*She also said that she thinks there is room for rethinking the role of Marian ( which Paul described as a bit more passive).

Cindy Adams also got an update from Warren Carlyle on what they have been doing to prepare for the show.

pagesix.com/2020/03/25/hugh-jackman-starring-the-music-man-revival-still-on-schedule/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

"Carlyle, who just did Jackman’s Madison Square Garden revue: “Our opening’s fortunately not now, so we’re not panicking because we’re scheduled for October.

“We’re just prepping as much as we can. Working the computer, working the phone, planning out whatever we can manage to rehearse. What else can you do?” "



Hugh completed production filming of the romantic sci-fi thriller co-starring Rebecca Ferguson ( T.Newton has a support role) in the third week of January, as scheduled. It is called REMINISCENCE with a Black List script written by Lisa Joy-Nolan who is also directing the movie. She is connected with the TV series Westworld with husband Jonathan Nolan who is coproducing it with Michael de Luca.. The movie is now in post-production ( per IMDB).

The other day, his Australian best mate, Gus Worland, shared online about an advocacy they are both pushing, As they are regularly in touch, he also mentioned that Hugh said he expects to be busy in about 3-4 months ( July-August, which are the planned rehearsal dates for The Music Man) and would have to be learning his lines and musical numbers.

I can't recall where I read it, but Hugh has also said that he has nothing planned between now and The Music Man, in terms of other projects. His new movie BAD EDUCATION premiered at the Toronto Festival last year and received wide praise but its film distribution rights were bought by HBO at a record festival price and will be shown as part of their original programming this month. REMINISCENCE will be a Warner Bros project supposed to be released in 2020 but given the current situation may be pushed to next year?

Of course nobody knows how and when the health crisis will resolve, but barring any unforeseen circumstances, it looks like the creative and lead acting teams are prepping for the show as best as they can given the current situation.
Updated On: 4/3/20 at 06:59 AM
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[jo]

Cont.

Kimbo
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#748

Posted: 4/5/20 at 9:34pm
220Basswood said: "SmoothLover said: "ljay889 said: "Company’ producer strives to keep it together

"Producers quietly are saying they won’t be back until June or July.""

We are looking at a much longer period than that. Possibly well into next year..."



I wonder if people who purchased tickets to shows like The Music Man and Company will have their seats changed by the theater to the same general area or, if the prices have gone up since the original purchases weremade, the theaters/telecharge will require the customers to purchase new tickets at the higher rate. I'm inquiring because I bought The Music Man tickets on September 19th and the tickets for center orchestra seats in that region have gone up.

"


No doubt the theaters will require everyone to repurchase (logistically too impossible otherwise to reschedule potentially months worth of ticketholders) - but if they use the opportunity to try to get people to buy at a higher price, I say, good luck to ‘em. Whenever Broadway DOES reopen, I think it’s safe to say there will be plenty of seats, and likely discounts, available for Every Single Show.


(And by the way, though I was contradicted earlier on this thread or another one, I still say it’s not looking at all likely to me that The Music Man even opens on schedule this fall. Sutton Foster is contractually bound to shoot the next and possibly final season of Younger whenever this social distancing relaxes - it was supposed to start shooting last month for a premiere later this summer... so unless something changes, and fast, I don’t see how she’ll be ready to start rehearsals in August. Of course, they can recast with someone like O’Hara or Benanti and try to proceed without her... but my guess is that Jackman would prefer to wait for her and that, if Broadway comes limping back sometime this fall with older theatergoers staying at home, Scott Rudin will have absolutely no problem with that. He’s not gonna want this revival to be a test balloon for whether or not older patrons of Broadway are ready to come back to the theater, regardless of who’s starring in it.)
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jo
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#749

Posted: 4/6/20 at 12:47am
Kimbo said:
(And by the way, though I was contradicted earlier on this thread or another one, I still say it’s not looking at all likely to me that The Music Man even opens on schedule this fall. Sutton Foster is contractually bound to shoot the next andpossibly final season of Younger whenever this social distancing relaxes - it was supposed to start shooting last month for a premiere later this summer...so unless something changes, and fast, Idon’t see how she’ll be ready to start rehearsals in August. Of course, they can recast with someone like O’Hara or Benanti and try to proceed without her... but my guess is that Jackman wouldprefer to wait for her and that, if Broadway comes limping back sometime this fall witholder theatergoers staying at home, Scott Rudin will have absolutely no problem with that. He’s not gonna want this revival to be a test balloon for whether or not older patrons of Broadway are ready to come back to the theater, regardless of who’s starring in it.)"

Kimbo - You have made some points to consider but we all are in conjecture at this point. I did not contradict you per se - I simply reposted what was publicly posted or from public knowledge, re what Hugh, Warren and Sutton have updated as to what they were doing re The MusicMan progress. But towards the end I did acknowledge that nobody knows how and when the health crisis will resolve... but that the creative and acting team seem to continue prepping for the show … and may take advantage of when or if an opportunity to open comes along.


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Kimbo
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Posted: 4/6/20 at 1:16am
jo said: "Kimbo - You have made some points to consider but we all are in conjecture at this point. I did not contradict you per se - I simply reposted what was publicly posted or from public knowledge, re what Hugh, Warren and Sutton have updated as to what they were doing re The MusicMan progress. But towards the end I did acknowledge that nobody knows how and when the health crisis will resolve... but that the creative and acting team seem to continue prepping for the show … and may take advantage of when or if an opportunity to open comes along."


Fair enough, and sorry if I misconstrued what you said earlier. As far as people prepping for the show - whether it's Assassins having weekly music rehearsals, or Company staying in touch over Zoom, I just don't think it holds much water since as you say, there's no way of knowing right now whether shows will be able to resume in June or in January... it's helpful I'm sure for the cast, but not really indicative of if or when the rest of us will ever see those casts perform. But I'll bow out quoting Sutton's most recent interview for "Live at Five" where, when asked whether Music Man would still open on its current schedule, she said she was "hopeful". Hope... that's about all any of us can have right now, but you're right, that should still count for a lot.

Long and short of it --

NOBODY KNOWS!

But I would imagine a very savvy and astute producer like Scott Rudin ( he did steer HELLO, DOLLY!, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD to major box office successes...and even the newly opened WEST SIDE STORY has shown initial success despite the controversies surrounding it) -- will be preparing for a few options - from the most pessimistic to the most optimistic! Probably a matrix testing a few possibilities

He does not have the financial worries that other productions may be encountering ( or at least, his producing team can help out - other than him, he has 2 known billionaires as producers - David Geffen & Barry Diller) even if he must be working within a certain development and marketing budget, apart from proposed operating expenses.

And Rudin is known to love the theatre and Broadway! Most recently he arranged a reprise of the production of TO KILL A MOCKINBIRD for a free and successful staging for 18,000 middle school kids at Madison Square Garden!

Hugh does not have any announced film projects …. and if worse comes to worse, he may have committed already to stay till Sept 2021. Re Sutton - the BWW poster Kimbo makes a big deal about her commitment to her TV show. First, it's not as if the show is such a major hit, with major sponsor tieups. Given the operating environment, who knows how many shows will be axed for this year's run? It is doubtful that her show will take precedence - just my guess, but still...


Jo

[jo]

Broadway will continue to be closed and may reopen only on June 7 ( per NY Times article, including possible implications) --

www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/theater/broadway-shows-canceled-june-coronavirus.html

Excerpts --

The Broadway League, a trade association representing producers and theater owners, said the 41 Broadway houses would remain shuttered at least through June 7. But industry leaders widely expect the theaters to remain closed longer — many say that a best-case scenario is reopening following the July 4 weekend, and that it is possible that the industry will not reopen until after Labor Day.

Official press release --

BROADWAY THEATRES EXTEND SUSPENSION
THROUGH JUNE 7, 2020

(New York, NY) – April 8, 2020 – In accordance with guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and under the continued direction of Governor Andrew Cuomo, Broadway shows in New York City will extend the current suspension of all performances through June 7, 2020.

“Our top priority continues to be the health and well-being of Broadway theatregoers and the thousands of people who work in the theatre industry every day, including actors, musicians, stagehands, ushers, and many other dedicated professionals.” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League. “Broadway will always be at the very heart of the Big Apple, and we join with artists, theatre professionals, and fans in looking forward to the time when we can once again experience live theatre together.”

Those holding tickets for performances through June 7, 2020 will receive an e-mail from their point of purchase with information regarding exchanges or refunds. Any customers holding tickets through June 7, 2020 that have not received an e-mail by April 12^th should reach out to their point of purchase for information regarding exchanges or refunds.

It is not easy to speculate on what happens to The Music Man schedule. The worst case scenario from the NYTimes article is for Broadway to reopen right after Labor Day. That coincides with the start of previews for The Music Man.

Given that it is the external factor ( the control of the health threat and the willingness of audiences to take the risk of attending shows) that may dictate what is to happen, it may be difficult to second-guess the implications on The Music Man project.

Maybe it is best to just wait for an official announcement from the producers ( Scott Rudin et al)?


Jo

[jo]

Excerpts from the video call conference ( see Bad Education/Jackman Family threads) --

Jackman had planned to take six months off in any case before his new Broadway show, The Music Man, was scheduled to open in October.

"I had done a concert tour last year around the world and I had spent a lot of time away from the home, more than usual. So I had already planned for this time. I am actually enjoying it, to be with the family, to be simple, to be quiet."
But keeping on working is important for him - even in self-isolation and not knowing if the show will go on.

He said: "I would be lying if I said I am not dancing in my living room a little bit. We did a little bit of a workshop back in February, so I know what some of the dances are going to be. I am still doing singing lessons and singing every day.

"I was with the musical director today on FaceTime for an hour going through the whole score. So it's clear to me that a little bit of work keeps me sane. Also, eight shows a week in a musical, you have to be in top shape. We start rehearsals June 29 hopefully. I thought I have got to be ready for that."

Given the current time, it is a bit worrisome that they are planning to start rehearsals in 2 1/2 months time. Hopefully, there will be pragmatic and careful thinking on how the revival project will proceed, given the potential impact of a physically rigorous show on health...unless things improve significantly! If you have read the account of Moulin Rouge's Danny Burstein ( who was infected along with Aaron Tveit and other cast membbers) or the status of another gravely ill Broadway actor ( Nick Cordero), I hope they do heed what the health and government authorities are saying about the outlook for the NYC community ( which is the hardest hit in the world)...One other aspect is how people will react to going to see a live show given how and when the health crisis is resolved?

Of course we hope and pray that things get better...and there will be some normalcy returning to our lives soon!

Jo

[jo]

I just watched this Kennedy Center Tribute to Barbara Cook --



It featured Broadway's top leading ladies ( including Sutton Foster) singing musical tributes to her.

At 7'50", Audra started singing the song most identified with Barbara --

Unexpectedly, I teared up a bit (Sniff!)-- it was " 'Til There Was You" -- a song which we do not know when we will hear again on a Broadway stage, given the current health crisis in NYC and the rest of the world!


Jo

[jo]

Ramping up Hugh Jackman's musical profile, as a prelude to the revival staging of THE MUSIC MAN! Let's hope it happens and at the same time the health crisis goes on its steep downward curve.


newyorktheater.me/2020/04/16/h-is-for-hugh-jackman-a-movie-star-with-a-broadway-musical-heart-proof-in-videos/

Did they miss anything from NYC or screened in NYC?

Hmm... the Carousel Concert - Carnegie Hall is on the fringe of the Broadway theatre boundaries.


Jo

[mamaleh]

I don’t know if I’d call his “Take Me to Broadway” (SMALL TOWN GIRL movie) hopping Tonys opening “infamous”—more like unique, surprising and maybe mystifying to those who didn’t understand the reference.

Yes, I think his CAROUSEL was worthy of listing, especially since that was his NYC musical debut! Pretty noteworthy, I’d say.

I liked seeing the breakdown of his Tonys medley. I was fortunate enough to be at the Tonys dress rehearsal that morning when they tested that number. It went through the roof! So even though Hugh said the song and dance was intended only for the rehearsal audience, I think the producers (White Cherry Entertainment) just wanted to be sure of the number’s appeal and greenlighted it after we gave it whoops and hollers of approval.

Ellen

[jo]

Thank goodness you all cheered for it!

Because I was at the 2005 TONYs at RCMH

This is a very clear clip of that fabulous number --

]Tony Awards broadcasts

2005 Medley

Song snippets:
(0:32) “I Won’t Dance” from ROBERTA (1935), music by Jerome Kern; lyrics by Dorothy Fields
(0:50) “Never Gonna Dance” from SWING TIME (1936), music by Jerome Kern; lyrics by Dorothy Fields
(0:54) “You’re Just in Love” from CALL ME MADAM (1950), music and lyrics by Irving Berlin
(1:01) “Never Gonna Dance”
(1:03) “Broadway Melody Ballet” from SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (1952), music by Nacio Herb Brown; lyrics by Arthur Freed
(1:11) “I Feel Pretty” from WEST SIDE STORY (1957), music by Leonard Bernstein; lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
(1:18) “Never Gonna Dance”
(1:20) “But Not for Me” from GIRL CRAZY (1930) music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin
(1:30) “Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry” from THE FLEET’S IN (1942), music by Victor Schertzinger; lyrics by Johnny Mercer
(1:35) “Shall We Dance” from SHALL WE DANCE (1937), music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin
(1:43) “I Won’t Dance” (see above)
(1:45) “Do I Hear A Waltz?” from DO I HEAR A WALTZ? (1965), music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
(2:02) “Begin the Beguine” from JUBILEE (1935), music and lyrics by Cole Porter
(2:08) “Shake Your Booty” (1976) by KC and the Sunshine Band
(2:22) “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart” from THUMBS UP! (1934), music and lyrics by James F. Hanley
(2:41) “Sing” (1971) from SESAME STREET, music and lyrics by Joe Raposo
(2:47) “Begin the Beguine” (see above)
(2:54) “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” from FOLLOW THE FLEET (1936), music and lyrics by Irving Berlin
(3:04) “I Won’t Dance”, “Never Gonna Dance” and “Broadway Melody Ballet” (see above)
(3:08) “Oklahoma!” from Oklahoma! (1943), music by Richard Rodgers; lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
(3:11) “Top Hat” from TOP HAT (1936), music and lyrics by Irving Berlin
(3:17) “I Feel a Song Coming On,” from EVERY NIGHT AT EIGHT (1935), music by Jimmy McHugh; lyrics by Dorothy Fields
(3:27) “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat” from GUYS AND DOLLS (1950), music and lyrics by Frank Loesser
(3:29) “Don’t Rain on My Parade” from FUNNY GIRL (1968), music by Jule Styne; lyrics by Bob Merrill
(3:36) “Broadway Melody Ballet”
(3:44) “Let Me Sing and I’m Happy” from MAMMY (1930), music and lyrics by Irving Berlin
(4:00) “That’s Entertainment” from The Band Wagon (1953), music by Arthur Schwartz; lyrics by Howard Dietz

[jo]

Not-so-Bright man just won't let it go

[jo]

The Winter Garden -- the place that connects three shows! Long ago past, recent past, hopeful future!

CATS
BEETLEJUICE
THE MUSIC MAN

[jo]

A little update on what's happening to the show ( as part of a Variety feature on BAD EDUCATION) --

“I speak with [producer] Scott Rudin every other day and we’re due to start rehearsals on June 29 and that hasn’t changed,” Hugh Jackman, who is set to star in the production with Sutton Foster, says on Wednesday’s episode of the Variety and iHeart podcast “The Big Ticket.” “Our first preview is September 15. But of course, we’ll have to see what happens. But at present, that’s still the plan.”

Jackman, who has won two Tonys and hosted Broadway’s biggest night four times, notes that 16 productions were supposed to open in time for 2020 Tony eligibility before COVID-19. The Tonys have been officially postponed with no word yet on whether they’ll be cancelled altogether or presented in some other way.


“What most people don’t understand is that it probably [takes] seven years to get to their first preview,” Jackman says. “I know what it takes to get a musical up and running and going, the amount of work that goes into it. It’s just devastating.”

Has the date of the first preview been reset --

Or is this just a faux-pas on Hugh's part


On a serious note, since he talks to Rudin every other day - maybe he knows more about the situation than can be publicly stated. Rudin has a very wide net of contacts in entertainment world ( and also maybe outside) since he is a very prolific producer not only on stage but also in film...and he is supposed to be a very hardworking, very meticulous producer.


Jo

[jo]

BWW's reactions to what Hugh has said about the (still) unchanged rehearsal/preview dates ( as originally announced) vary from the incredulous to simply questions on whether he has other projects to attend to that have also been stymied by the health threat.

My reply --

jo
Send PM
Broadway Legend
joined:5/15/03
Hugh Jackman Says MUSIC MAN Still On Schedule for September
#17

Posted: 4/23/20 at 8:19pm
Hugh was lucky to have completed filming the Lisa Joy-Nolan romantic sci-fi thriller REMINISCENCE in January 2020. It is now in post production. Warner Bros has just announced its theatrical release date for April 16, 2021. In interviews, Hugh has said that he has no other projects this year and that he has a 15-month (presumably including rehearsals) commitment to TheMusicMan. He has said that part of his homebound activity is doing some facetime-assisted work on the musical score of the show with the music director ( Patrick Vacariello), practicing dance steps that he, Sutton, and Warren Carlyle covered in a 2 1/2 week workshop in February... and doing promo work ( from a distance) for his new movie coming out. He said he even found time to do an online class on the subject of film.

Btw, his movie which was a hit at Toronto called BAD EDUCATION premieres on HBO on April 25, 2020.

Nothing has been announced by project proponents or by himself on what he might be doing after the yearlong performance commitment to The Music Man.

Re TheMusicMan - from his various interviews when asked about the Broadway-bound project, he has said that at the moment the schedule is ( still) unchanged. It was not a categorical statement that everything will happen as planned. He has qualified it by saying "We'll see what happens" and "hopefully" . All it seems he is saying is that they continue to prepare so they will be ready to be at the starting block if and when the situation allows the reopening of Broadway.