Riedel: INTO THE WOODS getting closer to Broadway

[ljay889]

Money is already being raised and the cast is already in negotiations for a Broadway run.
I wish he knew who is playing The Baker!

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/central_park_imported_forest_nlJW4z7bRHj2KZCjBnyebM

[RippedMan]

It just seems so pointless to move it to Broadway. I mean, isn't the whole point that it's OUTSIDE with real nature and life around it? What's the point of doing ANOTHER revival of it? Just because the narrator is a kid this time? I mean, please.

[beautywickedlover]

The St. James and Al Hirschfeld Theatre are indeed great shows for the musical to play at. Also, it would be a homecoming for the show to play at the Hirschfeld, where the original production played when it was called the Maritn Beck Theatre. I'm hoping Amy Adams will have time on her schedule to play the baker's Wife on Broadway.

"What's the point of doing ANOTHER revival of it?"

'Gypsy' and 'La Cage Aux Folles' were revived much sooner.

[RippedMan]

Gypsy was revived because of the Lupone.

La Cage was revived/transferred because of the scaled-down production.

This show was applauded because it was outside in the actual woods. So......what's the point of bringing into a traditional proscenium Broadway house? It loses all of its charm.

[ljay889]

It looses all of its charm.

*Loses
And how would you know that?

[ljay889]

double

[CATSNYrevival]

Maybe they'll lose the roof of the theatre.

[RippedMan]

Because the whole gimmick is it's OUTSIDE.

[FANtomFollies]

if the main thing that makes this production great is that it's outside, then i don't think it's a very good production.

[FindingNamo]

They said the exact same thing about the HAIR revival. And they were wrong then.

[E.Davis]

Namo you beat me to it.

[Matt2]

Hopefully who ever plays The Baker is more on par with Chip Zien and less like Mark Hadfield who played the role in the recent Regent's Park revival. He was just terrible- couldn't act, couldn't sing, and completely uncharismatic- a real triple threat. It's easy to forgive an actor who is limited vocally- as long as he/she can really act that part out. He just seemed so detached from the rest of the cast. I'm just going off of the recording from Digital Theatre. Maybe he was having an off night? I certainly hope so. If not, I don't know how he was cast.

[RippedMan]

I guess I never thought of the HAIR revival as having the outside-gimmick. I thought it was more about Paulus' direction.

[broadwaydevil]

I find it difficult to already say the show's only "gimmick" is that it's outside when rehearsals aren't anywhere near beginning and a major role is left to be cast.

[jdrye222]

Honestly, I have to agree with him about the Non-profit thing....

It has been something that has frustrated me about all the non-profits, not just the Public.

If they are paying crappy wages (comparatively), getting grants, and have non-profit status, they should not be allowed to produce things like ANYTHING GOES and BYE BYE BIRDIE (Roundabout), INTO THE WOODS and HAIR (The Public).... Lincoln Center is a mixed bag for me, but they do better, with shows like PIAZZA that come along and change the game and make it all worth it.

The Public in the park in the summer should be a really unique, special NY experience... There is NOTHING about INTO THE WOODS that suggests that... it's Sondheim's most mediocre show (in my opinion) and is done everywhere, and it isn't even really that relevant to our lives... yes, you can try to take some lessons and morals from it... but what importance does it carry, and why should a production be funded by grants and a non-profit company?

[Matt2]

Double Post

[IdinaBellFoster]

jdrye222 have you seen the production from Regents Park? This production almost reinvents the entire concept of the show.

[bwayfan7000]

I think that if the concept is clever enough (or I suppose more to the point: if the creative team is clever enough), they'd be able to make it work just as well in a theatre indoors as in the park. And, to echo what others have said, people thought HAIR would lose its appeal when staged indoors, but as soon as it opened at the Hirschfeld, few people even brought that up. I'm be excited to see this production, whether indoors or out.

[Kad]

"The Public in the park in the summer should be a really unique, special NY experience... There is NOTHING about INTO THE WOODS that suggests that... it's Sondheim's most mediocre show (in my opinion) and is done everywhere, and it isn't even really that relevant to our lives... yes, you can try to take some lessons and morals from it... but what importance does it carry, and why should a production be funded by grants and a non-profit company?"


In that case, why do anything by Shakespeare at all?

God knows we don't need another production of... well, basically any of his plays, which are done at every theatre across the nation at all levels. Except for, like, Timon of Athens... with good reason.

Into the Woods, despite your dislike of it, is a beloved work of theatre that moves audience members worldwide. It is, for many, among the first experiences in a theatre- as an audience member, as a performer, as whatever.


As for this particular production, I was particularly moved by it a great deal. And I watched it from the comfort of my living room, on my computer. I can only imagine the experience would be magnified seeing it live, indoor or outdoor.

As for Michael Riedel, once again I think his attacking of the Public is ridiculous, particularly since Joe Papp had an eye on Broadway, himself.

[AADA81]

My first thought when I read this thread's title was also that the point of THIS "Into the Woods" revival was producing it IN the woods, so to speak. So what's the point of a BW move?

I suppose it comes down to money / marketing. The producers must think that with the players on board and a positive response there's money to be made in a transfer. But this show is done A LOT in regional and community theater. And the last revival ran for 9 months and lost a bucket of money 10 years ago, even after winning the Tony. Unless there is a very unique take that warrants consideration, I don't see this being particularly successful. But it fits in with BW's current revival mania.

[EponineAmneris]

I hope it transfers. This is an amazing show and desereves to be on Broadway.

[After Eight]

"Into the Woods, despite your dislike of it, is a beloved work of theatre that moves audience members worldwide."

Only in the world of your imagination.

It's a terrible show. The only reason it's being done is the cachet of Sondheim's name.

[henrikegerman]

I love this show, it deserves a first rate revival.

Whether or not the Delacorte production is too outdoorsy to successfully transfer to a theater (frankly, that might have been the problem with ON THE TOWN, a delight in the park and a horror show on Broadway) might be a justifiable concern, but at this point it is also a completely speculative one.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Many other Regent's Park productions have transferred to traditional West End theatres with no problem. Crazy For You being the most recent. And it won the Olivier for best revival.

[Kad]

Oh, please, After Eight. If no one liked it, no one would do it. Plain and simple. Just because you loathe it doesn't mean the rest of society does.

[devonian.t]

Raul as the Baker?