Confused about Shuffle Along- Page 2

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/29/16 at 2:56pm

Apparently there was a recording made and sent to Tony voters. It looks like it was taken from a soundboard recording of the show, but it's something...

[gypsy101]

Posted: 6/29/16 at 2:58pm

if anyone has said soundboard you know where to find me....

[gypsy101]

Posted: 6/29/16 at 3:01pm

really though, how could we live in a world where this cast doesn't get recorded? we're back to a time where basically every show receives a cast recording (those that usually don't in the past decade have been flop revivals). with a cast of 3 Tony winners (a total of 8 Tonys among them) and several more nominations, I'm just shocked they haven't announced anything.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/29/16 at 3:09pm

gypsy101 said: "whatever the show's merits are as a work of "art," the dancing was fantastic and I found the songs to be terrific as well. "

That's basically my point. A broad audience does not buy tickets just to see people singing and dancing unless it is someone like Audra. no one was paying to see Stokes. or Porter, et al, and not many were running to make sure they got tickets to see Rhiannon

[Steve C.]

Posted: 6/29/16 at 9:47pm

I too am sad that something couldn't be worked out to keep the show open. I think he closed it so fast before thinking of any options. I saw the show and yes, it's not perfect. I just think it would still appeal to audiences in many ways. Yes, it is like a history lesson but I was drawn into it by the performances.

They could have a rotating cast like "Chicago". Get Vanessa Williams, Patina Miller, Tracie Toms...I think that would sell tickets. Even perhaps cast the male rolls the same way. This great cast is one of a kind. The list of actors for the male rolls would be very much the same.

I do hope it is/was recorded. Also, this is a kid friendly ( and educational ) show that could do school performances once or twice a month.

I suppose it will be "gone but not forgotten". 

 

[Thelastven]

Posted: 6/29/16 at 11:40pm

HogansHero said: "@Thelastven "that should have been taken advantage of before jumping to closing"

what you are saying is that the producers should have expended money in the six figure range even though the weekly grosses and advances even with the known quantity of Audra still in the show suggested that the show was precipitously running out of steam. As always, it is very easy to spend OPM. Why don't you cut the prodution a check for $250k? I'm sure they would rescind the closing notice for a week if you did.

 

"

I expressed an opinion. That's what this is supposed to be all about. Not the constant need to tear people down. 

 

My OPINION is it's a shame that Rhiannon wasn't promoted. That's all. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 1:03am

Thelastven said: "I expressed an opinion. That's what this is supposed to be all about. Not the constant need to tear people down.  

My OPINION is it's a shame that Rhiannon wasn't promoted. That's all. "

Of course it's a shame she didn't get the chance to perform. No one is tearing anyone down here. You stated your opinion as to what they should have done and I asked you to process that opinion through the price tag for doing that. It's very easy to spend other people's money. 

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 1:23am

I had a thought recently about what could have been done differently to bring in better advances. If they brought in names for shorter runs--say 2-4 week--the way After Midnight did, do you think the post-Audra days wouldn't have been so bleak? I was envisioning people like Vanessa Williams, Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose, and even Rhiannon (as well as Ledisi). Draw people in with a big name and surprise! They enjoyed it and tell someone from their book club or gardening group about who finds out they'll see another name they recognize.

i know this isn't possible or would not have been financially sound for many reasons, but I couldn't help but think that different strategy may have made for nicer numbers.

[dissimilate]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 3:20am

gypsy101 said: "really though, how could we live in a world where this cast doesn't get recorded? we're back to a time where basically every show receives a cast recording (those that usually don't in the past decade have been flop revivals). with a cast of 3 Tony winners (a total of 8 Tonys among them) and several more nominations, I'm just shocked they haven't announced anything.

 

"

This is exactly what I've been thinking. If It Shoulda Been You and even off-Broadway plays Clinton the Musical and the Robber Bridegroom could receive a cast recording, why can't Shuffle Along? I'd assume that the people who'd buy those CRs would definitely buy a Shuffle Along CR with all that talent on it. Is it a cost of rights thing like American Psycho?

[gypsy101]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 6:19am

with these specific songs, I can't imagine them costing very much. hell, aren't most of them in the public domain by now? (I forget how the public domain works, but the original show opened on Broadway 95 years ago.) either way I don't feel like it would cost very much for the music rights.

[djoko84]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 7:27am

I see there are some dates this week Audra will not be performing. I'm going tonight. Does anyone know if she will be in tonight? I can't find anywhere where it says what days she'll be out.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 9:08am

gypsy101 said: "with these specific songs, I can't imagine them costing very much. hell, aren't most of them in the public domain by now? (I forget how the public domain works, but the original show opened on Broadway 95 years ago.) either way I don't feel like it would cost very much for the music rights.

 

"

All of your questions answered: http://www.pdinfo.com/public-domain-music-list.php

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 9:11am

djoko84 said: "I see there are some dates this week Audra will not be performing. I'm going tonight. Does anyone know if she will be in tonight? I can't find anywhere where it says what days she'll be out."

https://www.telecharge.com/Broadway/Shuffle-Along/Overview

Audra McDonald does not perform on Wednesday and Saturday matinees.
 

Not sure if there's other dates, but according to that she should be on tonight.

 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 9:12am

so I was right! if songs were published before 1922, they are in the public domain.

[FiddleMeThis]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 9:47am

Any discount codes on offer for this show?

[djoko84]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 9:50am

neonlightsxo said: "djoko84 said: "I see there are some dates this week Audra will not be performing. I'm going tonight. Does anyone know if she will be in tonight? I can't find anywhere where it says what days she'll be out."

https://www.telecharge.com/Broadway/Shuffle-Along/Overview

Audra McDonald does not perform on Wednesday and Saturday matinees.
 

Not sure if there's other dates, but according to that she should be on tonight.

 

 

"

Thanks so much! That makes sense now after seeing those dates listed on tdf for tickets to those performances.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 10:03am

gypsy101 said: "so I was right! if songs were published before 1922, they are in the public domain.

 

"

 

There are some notable exceptions, however, with the most recent being the Happy Birthday song. After many and many years, it was all sorted out last year and popped up again in the news a couple days ago: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Happy-Birthday-Lawsuit-Settlement-Public-Domain-384571981.html

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/30/16 at 11:52am

I'm kind of surprised a song list was never published in the Playbill.  I can understand not using it during previews when they were still tinkering with the show, but I think it does the composers a disservice for not having their songs listed.  I have some of them on the Eubie! cast recording.