NBC Ain't Giving Up on Broadway

[AKarp2013]

Posted: 8/14/14 at 4:36pm

And I'm not complaining!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/14/14 at 4:37pm

ROBIN HOOD,' which could be destined for the stage if NBC execs ultimately get there way

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/14/14 at 4:54pm

Meh! I can't get excited about either project.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/14/14 at 4:56pm

'ROBIN HOOD,' which could be destined for the stage if NBC execs ultimately get there way, is expected to have upwards of 60 original songs, and "will reveal the history that launched one of the classic adventure heroes."

What is it, twelve hours long?? Or will each song last 30 seconds (see Mowtown)?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/14/14 at 4:58pm

The article says it will be ten hours long.

[Will42]

Posted: 8/14/14 at 5:25pm

They should do Follies instead.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 8/14/14 at 5:53pm

i wish they'd do a production of West Side Story with really good dancers/actors and Robbin's original choreography. I think that, if done well, could really be something special.

[Timmer]

Posted: 8/14/14 at 6:49pm

Both Follies and West Side Story are terrific ideas.

Let's see how these series play out. The networks used to develop musicals for TV. The TV musical of Our Town, with Frank Sinatra as the Stage Manager, gave us the song "Love and Marriage".

[James885]

Posted: 8/14/14 at 7:46pm

Both Follies and West Side Story are terrific ideas

I don't mean this to sound snarky, but do you really think that Follies is the kind of musical that would attract the number of viewers that NBC had for The Sound of Music? It seems like they're going for titles that have pretty wide appeal, so I wouldn't count on them doing Follies anytime soon.

[mikey2573]

Posted: 8/14/14 at 8:28pm

I know I am probably in the minority here, but I would love it if all this embracing of live TV musicals would bring back a live AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS, preferably with Audra McDonald as Amahl's Mother.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 8/14/14 at 8:36pm

I couldn't agree more, Mikey!

As for FOLLIES, even if it were a better known title in the flyover states, it isn't the sort of piece that works well on TV. Imagine 10 hours of Sally grieving for her lost love! Then imagine the soaring suicide rates!

FOLLIES, as staged, would make a lovely evening on PBS. There's little to be gained by doing it live. I hope someone will do it someday, a la INTO THE WOODS and PASSION. But without an existing production, I suspect the cost will be too great.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 8/15/14 at 12:30am

I think a TV movie version of Follies could be fantastic for HBO or Showtime. They could get some big names for this.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 8/15/14 at 2:55am

The story of Robin Hood certainly wouldn't be my first choice for a 10 hour miniseries, let alone a musical one, but I'm excited anyway! Hopefully the songs are good. Decent quality Broadway type music on network TV is always fine with me.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/15/14 at 9:34am

I question their choice of Robin Hood because the story is largely a male story. I think musical theater has passed beyond the singing, dancing gang member of West Side Story, so what are they going to do with the members of Robin's gang? Have them stand around and sing like in Les Miz? Robin Hood means action and swashbuckling.

And how will Marian fit into this? Some chirpy soprano songs while she watches Robin & his gang go off on their missions?

The subject matter just seems so limited for a musical.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 8/15/14 at 9:41am

Depends on what version of the story you're adapting.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 8/15/14 at 3:59pm

I'm more concerned by the pop songwriters chosen for Robin Hood who aren't particularly dramatic or, IMHO, good pop songwriters anyway. Blah--still a miniseries is an interesting idea, and has more potential than an open ended musical series. And yeah, there are plenty of versions of Robin Hood--even going back to the day--that take a high romance angle. It doesn't seem all that wrong headed for musical adaptation to me.

A 70s series with 70s music sounds like it could be fun, but not particularly like a dramatic musical.