Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Stephen Sondheim News

For 'Porgy and Bess,' removing happy ending is a happy ending

Washington Post (blog) - ‎23 minutes ago‎
A controversial adaptation of “Porgy and Bess” is losing its revisionist happy ending as it makes its way to Broadway, reports the New York Times. “The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess,” starring Audra McDonald and David Alan Grier, ...

Broadway's Porgy and Bess drops new ending after Stephen Sondheim complains

The Guardian - ‎33 minutes ago‎
The forthcoming Broadway production of The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess has dropped plans for a new happy ending, following public criticism from composer Stephen Sondheim. Director Diane Paulus, whose 2009 production of Hair transferred to the West End ...

'Porgy': No New Scene, Some Hard Feelings

New York Times - ‎16 hours ago‎
There will be no revisionist happy ending in the coming Broadway production of “The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess.” A new scene, in which the title characters have a final emotional encounter meant to deepen their love story, ...

The New Porgy and Bess Won't Be So Different After All

New York Magazine (blog) - ‎1 hour ago‎
The upcoming revamped revival of Porgy and Bess won't be as drastically different from the original show as previously thought. Stephen Sondheim can finally relax! (Just kidding, Stephen Sondheim will never relax.) Back in August, the creative team ...

PORGY & BESS to Drop 'New Final Scene' on Broadway

Broadway World - ‎17 hours ago‎
Back in August, a controversy arose from a New York Yimes article that explained director Diane Paulus' new vision for the ART production, and soon to be Broadway transfer, of THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS. Specifically in reponse to Paulus' new 'final ...

Second chances at the Cadillac Hotel

San Francisco Bay Guardian - ‎22 hours ago‎
"Oh Lawd, I'm On My Way": the cast of SF Recovery Theatre's Porgy and Bess. Never let it be said that the Cadillac Hotel's lobby is a stranger to people in need of a do-over in life. Muhammed Ali sparred in the gym that once stood here, Jerry Garcia ...

Tickets Now Available to See Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis in Porgy and Bess

Broadway.com - ‎Nov 14, 2011‎
The much-talked-about revival of Porgy and Bess will get the new year off to an exciting start on Broadway. Tickets are now on sale for the Gershwins' operatic musical, which will feature Norm Lewis and four-time Tony winner Audra McDonald in the title ...



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Tuesday, November 8, 2011

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Opening Soon on Broadway

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Closing Soon on Broadway

Addams Family - Dec 31
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Eyeing Broadway

  • Beauty (A modern retelling of Sleeping Beauty) - 2011-12 Season
    Directed by Tina Landau; Book by Tina Landau, music by Regina Spektor and lyrics by Michael Korie
  • Betty Boop (Based on the 1930s cartoon character) - TBA
    Book by Sally Robinson and Oscar Williams, music by David Foster and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead
  • The Bridges of Madison County (Based on the novel The Bridges of Madison County) - TBA
    Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and book by Marsha Norman
  • Brigadoon (Revival) - TBA
    Directed by Rob Ashford, Produced by Ostar Productions and Liza Lerner; Updated book by John Guare
  • Bring in On: The Musical (Based on the film Bring it On) - TBA
    Directed and Choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler; Music by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tom Kitt, lyrics by Amanda Green and book by Jeff Whitty
  • Bruce Lee: Journey to the West (Based on the martial arts character) - Fall 2011
    Directed by Barlett Sher; Book by David Henry Hwang and music and lyrics by David Yazbek
  • Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Revival of the Off-Broadway musical) - TBA
    Directed by Peter Askin; Starring John Cameron Mitchell
  • Leap of Faith (Based on the film Leap of Faith) - TBA
    Directed and Choreographed by Rob Ashford; Music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Glenn Slater and book by Janus Cercone
  • Love Never Dies (A sequel to The Phantom of the Opera) - TBA
    Directed by Jack O'Brien, Choreographed by Jerry Mitchell; Starring Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess, Summer Strallen, Joseph Millson and Liz Robertson; Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Gelnn Slater
  • MerryGoRound (About the moment between life and death) - Spring 2011
    Directed by Andy Belling; Starring Florence Henderson and Conrad John Schuck; 3D CGI animation by John Gaughan, lighting and set design by Redesign, Inc. and costumes by Bob Mackie; Music by Richard and Robert Sherman and book by Paul Butler; Produced by Jack Stein
  • Once (Based on the film Once) - Fall 2011
    Directed by Steven Hoggett; Score by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, Book by Enda Walsh; Design by Bob Crowley and musical direction by Martin Lowe; Produced by John N. Hart, Patrick Milling Smith, Fred Zollo, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson
  • Over Here (Revival) - March 2011
    Directed by Tony Stevens; Lyrics and music by Richard and Robert Sherman and book by Will Holt
  • Pure Country (Based on the film Pure Country) - 2010-2011 Season
    Directed by Peter Masterson, choreographed by Warren Carlyle; Starring Joe Nichols and Lorrie Morgan; Music by Steven Dorff, lyrics by John Bettis and a book by Masterson and Rex McGee; Set design by Derek McLane, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Kevin Adams and sound design by Acme Sound Partners
  • Zorba (Revival) - TBA
    Directed by David Levaux, Choreographed by Sergio Trujillo; Starring Antonio Banderas

CD Giveaway

Phantom of the Opera CDIn honor of Andrew Llyod Webber's sequel to Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies, we're giving away two copies of the original Phantom of the Opera highlights cast album. Enter to win!

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Broadway: The American Musical David Merrick

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David Merrick

David Merrick
Born: November 27, 1911
Died: April 25, 2000

One of the most colorful and controversial theatrical producers and impresarios in the post-World War II years, Merrick is said to have believed that his life began on November 4, 1954, the night a musical called "Fanny" opened at New York's Majestic Theater. After an early, insecure life as the son of a weak father and mentally disturbed mother, Merrick changed his name and trained as a lawyer before moving into the world of theater as an associate producer in the late '40s. His production of "Fanny" ran for 888 performances on Broadway, and was followed by a series of successful shows, including the musicals "Jamaica," "Destry Rides Again," "Take Me Along," "Vintage '60," "Irma La Douce," "Do Re Mi," "Carnival," "I Can Get It for You Wholesale," "Stop the World -- I Want to Get Off," "110 in the Shade," "The Roar of the Greasepaint -- The Smell of the Crowd," "How Now, Dow Jones," "The Happy Time," "Sugar," "Mack & Mabel," and "Very Good Eddie" (1975 revival).

"Fanny" rehearsal
Merrick at a rehearsal for the musical "Fanny."
Among his greatest triumphs were "Gypsy" (1959), "Oliver!," "Hello, Dolly!" (1964), "I Do! I Do!" (1966), "Promises, Promises" (1968), and "42nd Street" (1980). The latter ran for 3,486 performances, his most enduring Broadway production to date. Along the way, there were several failures, such as "Oh, What a Lovely War!" (1964), "Foxy" (1964), and "Pickwick" (1965). In addition, "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (1966) folded during previews, while "Mata Hari" (1967) and "The Baker's Wife" (1976) closed out of town. However, with his sheer determination and flair for publicity, Merrick managed to wring every ounce of possibility out of even the most ailing shows. One of his most famous stunts came in 1961 during the run of the disappointing "Subways Are for Sleeping." A member of his staff arranged for seven members of the public, with the same names as the leading New York drama critics, to be quoted in newspaper advertisements for the show ("7 Out of 7 Are Ecstatically Unanimous About 'Subways Are for Sleeping'," ran the copy). When it was published, each of these "namesakes" appeared opposite a rave quote that the Merrick organization had apparently culled from old reviews of some of Broadway's greatest hits. Such outrageous, but immensely profitable, behavior came to a temporary halt in February 1983, when Merrick suffered a debilitating stroke that seriously impaired his powers of speech.

Merrick was admired, feared, detested, and respected -- but never ignored.
After initially handing over the reins to others, in 1985 he regained control of his affairs, and subsequently presented an all-black revival of "Oh, Kay!" (1990), and a stage adaptation of the popular movie STATE FAIR (1996). The last of the great American showmen, throughout his career Merrick was admired, feared, detested, and respected -- but never ignored. His several Tony Awards and nominations included one for "Hello, Dolly!," and special Tonys in 1961 and 1968 "in recognition of his fabulous production record." On his 87th birthday Merrick retired as a producer, and was replaced at the head of his company by Natalie Lloyd, the only Asian-born American producer working on Broadway. Lloyd became Merrick's sixth wife shortly before his death in April 2000.

FURTHER READING:
THE ABOMINABLE SHOWMAN, Howard Kissell.


Source: Biographical information provided by MUZE. Excerpted from the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF POPULAR MUSIC, edited by Colin Larkin. © 2004 MUZE UK Ltd.


photo credits: Photofest and the New York Public Library

Key Shows
  • "Do Re Mi"
  • "Fanny"
  • "42nd Street"
  • "Gypsy"
  • "Hello, Dolly!"
  • "I Can Get It for You Wholesale"
  • "Irma La Douce"
  • "Oh, Kay!"
  • "Promises, Promises"
  • "State Fair"
    		•
    Watch the Interview
    Frank Rich
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    Related Artists
  • Carol Channing

  • Gower Champion

  • Jerry Herman

  • Michael Kidd

  • Joshua Logan

  • Ethel Merman

  • Donna McKechnie

  • Jerry Orbach

  • Harold Rome

  • Barbra Streisand

  • Jule Styne

  • Robin Wagner

    		•


    BROADWAY: THE AMERICAN MUSICAL Online is a production of Thirteen/WNET New York.
    © 2004 Educational Broadcasting Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

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