Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
#1Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 4/30/10 at 8:07pmI read on Playbill that there is going to be a reading of THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN in the near future with Sutton Foster taking on the title role, and Craig Bierko as Johnny. I was just curious as to your feelings on this-- this could be more suited to Sutton than the leading role in ANYTHING GOES, I think.
#2Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 4/30/10 at 8:34pmBoth performers are well-suited to those roles I think. However, it is a TERRIBLE show. And really, nobody gives a %@$# about Molly Brown anyway.
#2Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 4/30/10 at 8:43pm
Well you are wrong Distinctive. I live in Denver and used to work for Historic Denver. Tell the thousands of people who walk through the Molly Brown House that nobody gives a %@$# about Molly Brown and I think you would hear that they do. I have spent a lot of time in that house. So maybe you don't care but there are those that do.
There was a reading here 2 years ago which I attended. It was directed by Kathleen Marshall (Who was there and spoke before the reading) and "starred" Marc Kusisch. it was the most popular ticket for the readings for the New Play Summit. They actually had to do it twice.
Just give the world Love.
#3Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 4/30/10 at 8:50pm
Interestingly, according to the Playbill article, it's been completely rewritten by Dick Scanlan, including unheard old songs from Meredith Wilson, and a book that only features the two characters:
" Scanlan said, "Michael Rafter is the music supervisor [as he is for Everyday Rapture], and, in that show, that's a very good job because we're only using part of the original score — and, for the rest of the show, we've gone into Meredith Willson's trunk.
"I'm the first person who has ever been allowed in that trunk, and I found piles of wonderful songs that nobody knows, so Michael Rafter's building those into a score that sounds like one unified score."
Scanlan has written a brand-new libretto that eliminates all of the other characters except for the two leads.
"There are similarities in the characters of 'J.J.' and Molly, but the lines that they are saying and the story they are in is different from the 1960 version," Scanlan said. Richard Morris wrote the original libretto. Willson is best known for writing book, music and lyrics for The Music Man."
EXCLUSIVE: Sutton Foster and Craig Bierko to Star in Molly Brown Musical Reading
emilyfaye48
Broadway Star Joined: 3/19/09
#4Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 4/30/10 at 9:02pmamazing! I hope it goes well
Without bread we'd just be hungry
but without theatre we'd be dead
ShowOff2008
Chorus Member Joined: 5/11/08
#5Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 4/30/10 at 9:03pmI think most of you have this all wrong. Yes, Sutton Foster is on the dorky side in person, in interviews, etc, but are you all forgetting Millie and Drowsy Chaperone..she was drop dead gorgeous-sexy, sassy, unlike the girl next door that she is in person because...guess what?...she's an ACTOR...this is what she does. It's always going to be a challenge, and hopefully it is because that's what acting is all about. I seriously don't understand why people someone imagine Sutton to get up there in Anything Goes with her jeans, no make up and long straight hair...NO. It's theatre, make believe, and please youtube Millie's or Drowsy's Tony performance to remind yourself. And listen to that belt.
ShowOff2008
Chorus Member Joined: 5/11/08
#6Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 4/30/10 at 9:06pmSorry this was meant for the Anything Goes post
#7Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 4/30/10 at 9:08pm
I'm seeing Sutton Foster tonight at the Kirk Douglas in LA. Anyone else going?
Center Theatre Group
#8Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 4/30/10 at 9:12pm
lull, you are correct, it was. Here is the article from the Denver Post regarding the reading here:
http://www.denverpost.com/theater/ci_11130214
Just give the world Love.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#9Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 4/30/10 at 9:20pm
A botched movie with a great star but a gutted score
This is ripe for a broadway revival.
Poster Emeritus
BWIDB Charlie
Broadway Star Joined: 5/6/04
#10Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 4/30/10 at 9:39pmFor what it's worth, the book changes are fascinating. The team involved absolutely intend to strengthen the material.
#11Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 4/30/10 at 10:09pmit has been a while since I attended the reading but Mr. Scanlon spent time with Mr. Wilson's wife and had access to material that wasn't used. I think it is talked about in an interview I did with Randy Weeks, the DCPA President. If I can find it, I will post it.
Just give the world Love.
#12Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 4/30/10 at 10:35pm
uncageg--
No disrespect to your hometown intended. I'm sure there are people who are interested in Molly Brown. I just don't like the show. It is SO cheezy and the score is just...ick. I did it in summer stock a couple years ago and it was three weeks of torture. But hopefully the revisions have done it some good.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#13Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 5/1/10 at 12:16am
All the supporting characters are eliminated? Did I read that right? So it's two hours of those two all alone on stage- he finds gold, they go broke, he finds silver, she's snubbed by high society, They go to Europe and are embraced by royalty, Johnny leaves her, she almost drowns on the Titanic and they make a triumphant reunion as the toast of Denver society and you never see anyone else?
Color me skeptical.
#14Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 5/1/10 at 12:32amNo problem Distinctive. But before you make a statement like that, just remember, there are posters from all over the United States on here with varying likes and dislikes with theatre and otherwise. If you don't like the show, just say so. You have every right not to like it. I am not crazy about it myself! I actually live about a 10 minute walk from the house.
Just give the world Love.
#15Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 5/1/10 at 9:01am
I can't imagine this as a two-character musical.
Nor do I want to.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#16Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 5/1/10 at 12:35pmAre tickets for the reading available to the general public? I didn't see a link in the Playbill article
'Our whole family shouts. It comes from us livin' so close to the railroad tracks'
#17Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 5/1/10 at 5:14pmYou can't sell tickets to a reading.
"Why do you care what people might say? Why try to fit into their design?" (Side Show)
#18Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 5/1/10 at 9:05pmKC, it was asked if they were available, not if they were for sale. Our tickets are available to the general public.
Just give the world Love.
chicagotheater
Swing Joined: 4/15/10
#19Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 5/2/10 at 12:10amyea and Bye Bye Birdie waas a great moment in Theater........get a life
romgitsean
Broadway Star Joined: 4/7/08
#20Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 5/2/10 at 1:19am
"You can't sell tickets to a reading."
I beg to differ. You can't sell tickets to an EQUITY reading. If I had a reading right now in my room, I could sell tickets.
Recent Broadway and Off-Broadway:: Carrie, Merrily, Ionescopade
Next On The List :: Clybourne Park, Once, Streetcar, BOM
Next On The List :: Clybourne Park, Once, Streetcar, BOM
#21Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 5/2/10 at 5:55amI saw the OBC of THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN back in 1960. Tammy Grimes was spectacular. The opening number, "I Ain't Down Yet", sung by Molly and her two brothers, is IMO one of the greatest opening numbers of any Broadway show. The first act continues in a very upbeat way with good songs and dancing. Unfortunately, the second act is a tremendous letdown, quite poorly written, both in terms of the book and the music. It limps to the finale, a reprise of the opening number. I don't see how they can do a reading without at least some of the other characters. Having the two brothers in the opening number is essential because Molly plays off of them. And if they eliminate the opening number, they are throwing the prize baby away with the bathwater.
"Madam Rose...and her daughter...Gypsy!"
#22Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 5/2/10 at 6:44pmTrue, but seeing as Sutton Foster is in this, it IS an Equity reading and clearly not in your bedroom.
"Why do you care what people might say? Why try to fit into their design?" (Side Show)
#23Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 5/3/10 at 12:40am
Please do not make fun of me for this:
What exactly is a reading?
#24Unsinkable Molly Brown reading w/ Sutton Foste
Posted: 5/3/10 at 4:13pm
It's a strange show, and a sometimes-hard-to-watch movie. Re: the above - the show is confusing, so I'm not surprised you remember the two guys in "I Ain't Down" as her brothers, but the characters are not her brothers, just local boys.
But a two-character version of this just sounds dreary, even with delightful performers.
