PRINCE OF BROADWAY Holds Presentation with LaChanze, Skinner, Boggess & More

[macbeth]

I'm glad to hear that this one is back on track-ish. If Hal Prince can't line up $, we have big problems. I'm surprised though that he hasn't just put money in himself.

[LizzieCurry]

Link to story: http://broadwayworld.com/article/PRINCE-OF-BROADWAY-Presentation-Held-Today-with-LaChanze-Skinner-Boggess-More-20121016

And wow!

[Trish2]

It was a pretty special event i must say !!!! LaCanze was fantastic !

[tking001]

When this be presented again or was it a one time presentation?

[Trish2]

There were two showings today: 1pm & 4Pm

As for future presentations, I'm not sure. But it is slated for Fall 2013 according to lead producer Tom Viertel.

[EricMontreal22]

I assume they did the standards we expect, but any song list? Or idea about what the actual concept for the show is?

[theatreguy]

A song list was posted on All That Chat:

Jason Robert Brown played the overture ( he also arranged it brilliantly) which preceded the following songs intertwined with a "talking Hal" caricature:

1) All I Need Is One Good Break Company)
2) Tonight at 8 (Josh Grisetti)
3) Willkommen (David Pittu)
4) So What? (Caroline O'Connor)
5) Free (Richard Kind & Josh Grisetti)
6) Broadway Baby (danced by Amanda Kloots-Larsen)
7) Now You Know (Emily Skinner)
Buenos Aires (Sierra Boggess)
9) My Friends (Shuler Hensley & Caroline O'Connor)
10) Can't Help Lovin' that Man (LaChanze)

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=2099957

[Trish2]

Eric,

Believe it or not, there was not much in the way of how it is going to be conceptualized. I'd imagine they're saving that for a future presentation. They're still getting the financials in order ( and after this Rebecca debacle i can only imagine the apprehension of first time investors) but they seem to be on track.

As of today, it was a Hal Prince animation (narrator of sorts) that started the piece off, but eventually gave way to number after number. I'm sure that gimmick will be more fleshed out for the full scale production, but for today it gave you a taste. Included in the projections were that of the set and costume designs.

The song list and performers for today:

All I need is One Good Break ( Company)
Tonight at 8 ( Josh Grisetti)
Willkommen ( David Pittu)
So What ( Caroline O'Connor )
Free ( Richard Kind& Josh Grisetti)
Broadway Baby ( danced by Amanda Kloots-Larsen)
Now You Know ( Emily Skinner)
Buenos Aires ( Sierra Boggess)
My Friends ( Shuler Hensley & Caroline O'Connor)
10) Can't Help Lovin' that Man ( LaChanze)

Considering the small size of the space, it was like having our own mini-concert of some of Broadway's best !

[RippedMan]

What were the costume/set ideas?

[Younger Brother]

Is this a musical based on Hal Prince's life using songs from musicals, or just a celebration of the work he has done? As in.. will Emily Skinner be playing herself or a character?

[Wilmingtom]

^ My understanding is that it's a retrospective ala Jerome Robbins' Broadway. Can anyone confirm?

[CaseyBrent41]

That's confirmed....it was a great presentation....Jason Robert Brown's overture for me at least was a highlight. Jazzy arrangement of popular songs from all of his shows combined in a very creative easter egg way.

Caroline O' Connor, and LaChnze were standouts.....the set designs are based on the original productions' designs....some designs are used multiple times such as parade and kiss of the spiderwoman jail cell. I wish they did more of that as opposed to different sets....i wish they were more built on top of each other.

[EricMontreal22]

That;'s interesting if they are using designs based on the original--but Stroman will be doing new choreography? I'm still completely baffled by the concept :P

[Trish2]

There was no mention made of original staging or otherwise. i think many of us in attendance were wondering that very same thing. The only choreography in the presentation was Amanda Kloots-Larsen doing a very mediocre jazz dance to Broadway Baby. It seemed out of place as it didn't tie into any theme or serve the presentation in any way. I look forward to what evolves with this piece regardless.

[EricMontreal22]

As do I. Thanks for your detailed accounts, Trish!

[Trish2]

You're welcome Eric !

[RippedMan]

Wouldn't the point of the show be to showcase the original staging? I mean, Prince is a big time Broadway director. It's not like he actually "created" the shows, he directed them. Shouldn't we see the direction he did?

[EricMontreal22]

Yes, Ripped, and that's precisely what we've all been debating about the strangeness of this project. Jerome Robbins, expensively, did do pretty much exactly that. Fosse didn't, but it was more about his choreography than direction so that made sense, whether you liked it or not.

But to just sing songs from Prince's shows, with new Stroman choreography, seems.. Odd. Yes, he was more often than not instrumental in shaping his shows from very early on in he writing stages, but he didn't write the music.