Revival of a Musical 2014

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/5/14 at 11:03am

I was just thinking about this as I was organizing some playbills this morning. The only musical revivals on the calendar for this season are Les Miserables, Cabaret (which will surely be ruled ineligible for Best Revival, Best Director, Best Actor, and the design categories), Violet, and Hedwig (both of which though never having appeared on Broadway will probably be ruled revivals under the classics rule). So essentially we'll have three eligible revivals for the Tony between Les Mis, Violet, and Hedwig? Those are some slim pickins. Did I miss anything? Are there musical revivals that haven't announced yet but are planning to open?

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 1/5/14 at 12:21pm

I don't thinkCabaret will be ruled ineligible for Best Revival (though pretty much a sure bet on those other categories you listed). The revival of A Chorus Line was a recreation of the original production and was eligible, and the same with the 1995 revival of Hello, Dolly (which, to get technical, could be considered the third revival of the show, all of which were recreations of the original production).

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 1/5/14 at 12:26pm

Why didn't you the new production that's coming to Broadway?

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/5/14 at 1:03pm

The revival of A Chorus Line was a recreation of the original production and was eligible

Yes, but that was at least a revival of the original production. Cabaret is a revival of a revival. This exact production already won the Tony for Best Revival.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/5/14 at 1:04pm

And P.S. even if it still is eligible, that doesn't change my point at all. It's lame that there are so few original productions of revivals this season.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 1/5/14 at 2:13pm

re "lame" - one could suggest that having a bunch of revivals is what's lame. It seems to me what folks should be focused on is the overall quality of shows coming in, not whether they are new or revivals. Although I do feel the current slate of revivals seems more like a case of business decisions trumping artistic ones.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/5/14 at 2:24pm

I respectfully have to disagree with you. There should be a mix of revivals and new shows. Revivals expose a range of shows never seen by younger generations to new Broadway audiences. For instance, I'd never seen Finian's Rainbow until the recent revival (I'd only heard the score), and I found it so interesting to see the viewpoints of the writers in 1947. I think revivals serve an important role in keeping theatre history alive. Does that mean everything needs to be revived and often? No. I don't need to see another production of Gypsy until I'm 80. But give me a Mame or a Sugar or a Mack & Mabel. There are things I would love to see since they're shows I've read about but of which I've never seen professional stage versions.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 1/5/14 at 4:19pm

We can certainly agree to disagree, but let me throw in a couple of additional thoughts. I don't disagree that there is value in revivals of those shows that are deemed "important," or "worthy," but I'm not convinced why they invariably need to be on Broadway. To me, the justification for a revival ought to be that there is a reason to do it, that it has something to convey that's special. I don't think that's behind very many musical revivals; I think most are about money. Which in turn is what Broadway is about. So we get revivals most often because they are "vehicles" or because they were done elsewhere and have something special to sell themselves.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/5/14 at 6:26pm

But why shouldn't some quality revivals be on Broadway just because some others are looking for money? I would argue that most of our revivals the past few years have been about artistry rather than making a buck. Drood, Pippin, Follies, Porgy and Bess, Anything Goes, Finian's Rainbow, and Ragtime are just a few off the top of my head from the last few years that came to Broadway without a bankable name in tow. What are these "most" to which you refer? And who cares if there are productions elsewhere that are successful that choose to transfer here? Isn't that a good thing that these quality productions are getting further exposure?

[NewSynchopation]

Posted: 1/5/14 at 8:27pm

I'd say Violet would take it if it weren't Roundabout doing it.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 1/5/14 at 9:00pm

Why would Roundabout as producer hurt it's chances?

[LMcC95]

Posted: 1/5/14 at 10:15pm

Anything Goes Sutton Foster
Follies Bernadette Peters
Porgy and Bess Audra McDonald

[HogansHero]

Posted: 1/5/14 at 10:23pm

bjh--
well, every show you mention started at a non-profit (and in the case of the 2 Roundabout shows, ended there). So that's half of the "most" I am talking about. So it seems to me that if you want revivals, the place to look is at the pipeline, not Broadway. Commercial Broadway does not really initiate revivals except as star vehicles (How to Succeed, Hedwig, etc.) and there are not that many of those. I'm afraid it's naive to think that shows are going to come to broadway without an analysis based on money. folks don't usually invest millions of dollars based on artistic merit alone.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/5/14 at 10:36pm

NewSynchopation, after the raves VIOLET got at City Center, I'd say they have a pretty great starting point to build a full production from. I don't see why or how Roundabout will hurt its chances of being a critical success. Updated On: 1/6/14 at 10:36 PM

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/5/14 at 11:57pm

I don't care where the productions start. I have no problem if these revivals come "from the pipeline" as you say. Whether or not they end up on Broadway is the topic at hand. I'm not saying that producers should open a revival cold here in New York. You wouldn't do that for most new shows either. I was merely expressing the fact that it's a shame there are so few revival projects finding their way to New York. That's all.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 1/6/14 at 12:29am

I understand. I'm just saying that I think the question is, what's in the pipeline, because if the shows are not being made somewhere else, what we are going to see is limited to what the roundabout (and maybe LCT) decides to do, augmented by a star vehicle every so often. In revivals, Broadway is largely reactive, so if it's not being created by some regional theatre, it doesn't exist.

[NewSynchopation]

Posted: 1/6/14 at 1:08am

OK. Looked up some reviews for Violet and changed my mind. I just don't love what Roundabout has recently done (BIG KNIFE) other than Anything Goes, so I wasn't so optimistic.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/6/14 at 8:03am

That's fine HogansHero, but again, that wasn't the discussion. I'd be happy with some good LCT or Roundabout revivals this year too. I don't care where they are from or if they are in subscription houses. I'm simply saying that this is a weak year for revivals when you stack it up to previous (and especially recent) years. No need to turn the discussion into something it isn't.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 1/6/14 at 10:37am

People like to bring up THE BIG KNIFE and PICNIC (which I kind of liked, actually) as examples of how staid and boring Roundabout is, but they also did two of my very favorite productions of last season (EDWIN DROOD and TALLEY'S FOLLY) which get conveniently forgotten to suit one's purpose. They, like most large companies, are up-and-down. C'est la vie.

As for this (interesting, truly) discussion about the "pipeline" I think it's lost its thread from the original comment, which should be reiterated: ideally, it matters less to this consumer if the productions across Broadway are new or old than if they are inspired/satisfying than if they are tired/flat. It matters not to me if they are from non-profits (except that I might be more excited, as non-profits habitually produce work I am more appreciative of) or if they are star vehicles (if done well, a star turn can be truly thrilling). It matters more if they have a strong vision, execute it ably with excellent performers and designers and put on a great show, whether it's the first or forty-first time I've seen the material.

Also, if only three shows end up qualified, I wonder if the Tonys would do a de facto nomination for all three or what it would take for one of them to not get nominated...

Updated On: 1/6/14 at 10:37 AM

[bjh2114]

Posted: 1/6/14 at 10:47am

THANK YOU! And thank you for putting so eloquently what I was clearly struggling to convey.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 1/6/14 at 10:49am

I see it in this thread and I've seen it elsewhere- there is no chance of Les Mis winning by "default". Violet and Hedwig are both promising productions.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 1/6/14 at 11:03am

Even though I'm still rooting for Les Miz to win because the new production that's coming I've got to see on tour a couple times, and it's pure definition of reinvention as we've seen from past revivals (Chicago, Cabaret, Nine, Company, South Pacific, Hair, La Cage aux Folles, Anything Goes, Porgy & Bess, Pippin, etc.), that's one reasons revivals should be exciting, seeing a fresh new take on classic material.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 1/6/14 at 11:30am

jnb-
first, answering your question, yes, all 3 (or 4) would be nominated automatically. regarding what matters to you, again, I understand what's being said but it is in the nature of a non-sequitur, and that is why I keep pointing it out. When we know that these revivals rarely spontaneously combust on Broadway, if you want to bemoan the lack of more offerings, you must look elsewhere. If there are no regional of off-B shows in the pipeline, then the sum total of revivals is likely to be 4 or less in any year: 1 star vehicle and 2-3 shows from roundabout and occasionally LCT. To not focus on the pipeline, then, is sticking your head in the sand. This work necessarily has to be made somewhere, and if it is not, then the result is all but predetermined. It's like saying you love okra, and can't find it at the market. If the farmers are not planting okra, your focus on the market is not going to get the food on your table.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 1/6/14 at 12:10pm

Hi Hogan, thanks for your response, but while I understand what's being said it is in the nature of a non-sequitur. I don't bemoan the lack of more offerings. I pay attention to the pipeline. If I bemoan (and I didn't think I was) I bemoan the lack of vision and purpose many revivals (and new shows alike) each season will inevitably provide and, thus, disappoint.

[Dessie]

Posted: 1/6/14 at 12:35pm

Others mentioned:
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Gigi
Hello dolly
My fair lady
On the 20th century