Am I the only one who thinks this could do well? Pippin isn't exactly a totally unknown show, and apparently this is a stunning production. It may not be a smash hit, but I don't think it's necessarily going to be a flop. At any rate, I'm excited and would love to see it.
Cats - Godspell tried that same strategy and failed so I'm not sure if that's their best bet. This will have to be a case where the star is the show itself and if word of mouth continues to be phenomenal and it gets good reviews, I really think it could have a nice, healthy run, especially in a mid-size theatre. I'm so thankful they didn't opt for the Marquis as I had heard rumored.
^At the end of the day, I'm just crossing my fingers that this gets recorded, preferably by PS Classics. A complete recording with lots of dialogue is way overdue. I love the OBC cast, but the actual recording leaves a lot to be desired.
In my opinion Pippin is Stephen Schwartz's best score. Much better than Wicked and Godspell. Why all the negativity of this not doing well? First of all this is the first ever revival and from the word on the street it's an excellent production with a fresh take on the material. Also, the original was a sizeable, bonafide hit which enjoyed a lengthy run and is definitely one of the biggest musical hits from the 70's. So I fail to see how it can flop?? If Drood is staying afloat I'm sure Pippin will do just fine. I predict that it will at least run through the end of next holiday season. I for one am very excited about seeing this production. So glad it's coming.
For those who have ready seen this production, do you think it will work in the Music Box? Based on the photos I've seen of this show it looks like the stage is very wide and deep...
I wish I could be excited, but I just don't love this score. I don't think changing the concept into a circus is enough for me. But yay for actors and crew getting work!
They can market it as "by the same composer who brought you WICKED" and that should sell for a while, right.
The Loeb isn't a big space, I don't think they will have too many adustments to make. I think width will be more of an issue than depth -- but I think it should look awesome in there.
DE -- as already stated in this thread, that marketing didn't seem to help Godspell much. {shudder}
And yes, I'm sure Arden's tweet had much to do with it: there had been rumours/wishes that the production he was involved with a few years ago with the Deaf West Theater might transfer. As much as I'd pay large amounts of money to see Arden on stage in NY, methinks he's getting a little long in the tooth to play Pippin. IF it ever gets ANOTHER revival, he'd be FAR too old to be considered.
I'm glad this is transferring. Hopefully it does well enough to at least get a new cast recording, and I really hope it's with the current cast. They are amazing.
But is the Music Box theater the smallest on Broadway? The Loeb only held ~550 seats. While most shows have been almost sold out, 1000 seats might take some doing. Well, here's to wishing them all the best!
I'm excited too. I've always enjoyed my cast recording and have never seen the show, in any form other than some of the videos with William Katt on youtube. Plus, there appears to be some good eye candy in the chorus.
dramamama - Okay - looking at the grosses chart, looks like the Booth , Friedman, or Helen Hayes are closer in seating capacity to the Loeb. I'm guessing that the Music Box might've been the earliest available theatre for the transfer to occur quickly.
My thought is that this production seems to work well in a small theater. It felt more personal/intimate than other shows I've seen. Although sitting up close probably had something to do with that too. How much of that is taken into consideration when they know they are transferring to a theater almost twice the size? Will they adjust the staging to accommodate it? Or will it be fine the way it is?
Gator - This was my first live show of Pippin. I watched the Katt video a few times before I saw this production. If you even remotely enjoyed the Katt video, I think you will absolutely love this production.
I just wonder how this will do. Diane Paulus has, as was mentioned, success in the past with her revivals purely based on how well they do come awards season. Personally, I wasn't a fan of her "Porgy and Bess", but many were. Is anyone really clamoring for a revival of Pippin though? I agree that selling as "from the composer of Wicked" may help with the tourist crowd, but in my opinion Pippin just isn't a show that is as well known or exciting as others that have been revived in the past few years.
Maybe the production is so outstanding that none of that will matter, I haven't seen it or read reviews, but to me the idea of a Pippin revival is just so thoroughly uninteresting, but I've never been a fan of the show.
The original Broadway production played the Imperial which ironically happens to be right next door to the Music Box. The Imperial is much bigger than the Music Boox and it worked just fine there.
The rave in the Boston Globe is *loaded* with spoilers, including detailed descriptions of the little delights that catch your breath when you're not expecting them. Avoid if you would like to approach the circus with a sense of wonder.
If this wins best revival Paluas will have directed 3 of the last 4 revival winners...either she is a genius (which I am not denying) or well she is the only director willing to try and completly reinterpret "semi" classics
I'll give you Pippin, but I think Hair is a full-fledged classic, and Porgy and Bess is a pinnacle of American art.
I think HAIR is arguably an easier sell than Pippin. And HAIR had just come off a run in the park with such great reviews. Porgy had Audra, who is a modern day theater star. I'm not sure what Pippin has going for it? I mean, it's slightly well known, but I'm from the South and never seen anyone put on a production of it.
"I'm from the South and never seen anyone put on a production of it."
When you put it that way, it's clearly doomed.
OR, you could look at what Pippin does have going for it: great buzz on the heels of its Cambridge run, names recognizable to Broadway fans who are likely to get in early and spread the good word of mouth quickly, thrilling circus acts, and talented people who distract from the flaws of the book.
I dunno, I think people are overstating the appeal of the show itself. Yes, they are recognizable Broadway names in the cast, but not anyone that somebody from Kansas or Illinois or where is necessarily gonna have heard of.
Jesus Christ. The ripples outward COME from New York, not Kansas or Illinois. Maybe people should stop fretting about the business aspect and just decide if they want to see it or not. You know, own their own decisions and not worry about Kansans.
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Posted: 1/3/13 at 11:23pm