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Bull Durham in Atlanta

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RaisedOnMusicals
#1Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 9/7/14 at 2:37am

Has anyone heard anything about this new musical, which opened in Atlanta Sept. 3? Or better yet, seen it? I know they'd like to bring it to Broadway but are waiting to see how it fares down there. It runs until Oct. 20. The script is. Y the same person that wrote the movie script, which gives me hope, but I don't know much about the composer, and so far as I can tell, the director has never helmed a musical before now, which conversely gives me pause.


CZJ at opening night party for A Little Night Music, Dec 13, 2009.

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Jeffrey Karasarides
#2Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 9/7/14 at 9:05am

Please keep in mind that it can be difficult for screenwriters to transition into theatre, specifically when adapting their own material (Patricia Resnick/9 to 5, Bruce Joel Rubin/Ghost, John August/Big Fish, etc.)...

Updated On: 9/7/14 at 09:05 AM

BamaEd
#2Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 9/7/14 at 3:01pm

I am planning to go sometime this month because 1) I already live in Atlanta 2) World premiere seems special 3) Loved the movie 4) Know someone in it.

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RaisedOnMusicals
#3Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 9/7/14 at 7:24pm

I'll look forward to hearing your thoughts about the show.


CZJ at opening night party for A Little Night Music, Dec 13, 2009.

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RaisedOnMusicals
#5Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 9/17/14 at 11:59am

A mixed review, for sure, but to me it reads as if there is enough to like to make trying to fix its flaws worthwhile. After all, there's a big difference between a "solid double" and a strikeout. Also, I think there was a generally favorable review from Variety.


CZJ at opening night party for A Little Night Music, Dec 13, 2009.

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yankeefan7
#6Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 9/17/14 at 4:04pm

IMO - I just don't think sports musicals work because they can't capture the on the field moments on stage properly. One of the best moments in the movie was when Costner told a batter what Robbins was going to throw to teach the rookie a lesson and the batter hits the pitch for HR and the banter between Costner and Robbins about it is classic. Also, athletes singing and dancing in the story line just does not seem right to me. If they want to do sports on stage, they should do it as a straight drama. BTW - I thought "Damn Yankees" was lame.

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Mr Roxy
#7Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 9/17/14 at 6:35pm

"Damn Yankees Was Lame"

This says it all . Sorry but you can no longer be taken seriously after that remark.


Poster Emeritus

DSamuels90
#8Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 9/18/14 at 5:59am

I saw it this past Tuesday night. I knew nothing of the film going in, so I don't really have anything to compare it to besides other musicals, just FYI.

I was really excited to get to see Melissa Errico & Will Swenson live. Naming names would be mean, but suffice to say one of them seemed bored throughout the first act, and woke up a little in the second. But by then I already didn't care about that character any more, so the little boost didn't help much. Some of my friends who saw the show earlier said this wasn't the case when they saw the show, so *maybe* it was just a side effect of coming back from a day off. Maybe.

The show itself: uneven. I enjoyed 3 numbers, but even right after the show I couldn't have hummed a single tune. None of the music stuck with me, though the curtain call tried to make the song "Winning" into an encore, complete with bat-ography which some of the cast seemed nervous about (I guess it was a new-ish element?).

The first act drags, and I found myself getting fidgety halfway through. The really, really awful "A Heaven For You" didn't help. In fact, Jimmy & Millie's entire subplot was so glossed over, it probably could have been cut. The script needs a LOT of work. Every scene serves as a setup for another song. The only problem is there's rarely any reason for the characters to start singing. Some of the transitions are what you'd expect a parody of musical theatre to be: slow, meaningful question - chord - song.

And then it just...ends. Stops, really. All the plot lines are neatly (well, almost) tied up, and blackout. I don't mind a quiet ending, but the finale to a musical should at least have some kind of crescendo. If not musically, at least emotionally.

In an article about the show for the program, the writers cite Gypsy as "sort of a model for us because it's a great piece of architecture...It's tuneful, immediate, easy to follow - and at the same time so impactful."

If Gypsy was their goal, they've struck out. If they can shave the fat off Act I, create some real tension between the romantic leads, create some real characters for Jimmy & Millie, bring in someone who knows how to weite a musical to craft better transitions into the songs...maybe then it will be a decent show. As it is now, I would hate to see it come to NYC only because of what the critics & web forums would do to it.

Things I liked (because there's always something): ensemble has amazing energy, and not one of them ever seemed to be delivering less than 100%. "Don't Think, Just Throw" as one song that actually helped the plot keep moving. John Behlmann, especially when he was stripped down to his briefs & bound to Melissa Errico's bed. And...the opening to Act II, a hilariously staged slow-motion fight titled "The Cocksucker Ballet."


If anyone has questions about the show, I'll do my best to answer them. I can't remember any of the music, but visually it's still pretty solid in my head.


--- S.D.G. (formerly "SweeneyPhanatic")

Christoph
#9Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 9/18/14 at 4:37pm

"The Cocksucker Ballet"! Who wouldn't want to see a musical with such a song title? I am still rolling on the floor over that one. It doesn't sound like this one is destined for Broadway any time soon, or at least without some trimming and re-writing. A shame because although I am not a sports movie fan, Bull Durham was one of the few exceptions that I really quite enjoyed and I was a bit curious about Melissa Errico and Will Swenson's takes on the lead roles. I don't know John Behlmann, but from his pics he seems a lot easier on the eyes than Tim Robbins, who was at his goofiest in the film. I take it they omitted the dream sequence where he is pitching in his jockstrap and garter belt for the stage version? That might have given Act I a needed jolt.

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RippedMan
#10Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 9/18/14 at 5:15pm

I find Errico and Swenson to be pretty boring leads in general. He was great in HAIR, but has proven to be pretty uninteresting.

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yankeefan7
#11Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 9/18/14 at 5:52pm

So you have never thought something popular to most people was lame? It is called an opinion and everybody is different. I am quite sure there are shows I and other people have loved that you might think was awful, differences make the world go around.

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yankeefan7
#12Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 9/18/14 at 5:58pm

DeSamuels90 - I wonder if they have any of the good baseball sequences from the movie because after all it is a baseball show. I mentioned one in my earlier post and there was the classic meeting on the mound where they discuss what to get for a wedding gift instead of the normal baseball stuff that normally goes on, was quite funny in the movie.

DSamuels90
#13Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 9/19/14 at 3:24am

I can't compare Errico & Swenson to their movie counterparts, but not having seen the movie. Between the two, Errico was the disappointing one for me. Maybe it was an off night, or maybe that's just her style. In this case, I only have albums & one not legal video to draw on for reference. Lovely voice, but there was nothing behind her eyes from square one (yes, I was close enough to see her eyes -- the theatre is surprisingly intimate). She perked up in Act 2, but thanks to Act One's length it was too late. Yes, I do realize this is me naming names, as I'd meant to avoid earlier. Oh well. I'm a nobody from Georgia. They're professionals. I'm sure our nonexistant relationship will be fine.

There's no dream sequence, but now I wish there had been! There's a funny scene given to the garter, and after that we can just assume he keeps wearing it.

yankeefan7: The number I mentioned earlier called "Don't Think Just Throw" is a baseball game. The staging worked brilliantly, moving the bleachers around to provide different angles on the game andto allow Annie & Crash to sing their words of wisdom to [what's his name; I'm sick in bed and the program is far far away, downstairs, so apologies for less details this time] from almost every possible side. If this show does get to move to Broadway, I could see a turntable helping this number even more.

And the scene you described was "The Cocksucker Ballet." Second act opens during a game. There's a time out, conversation about the wedding gifts happens, and somehow Crash alls the umpire a cocksucker. Slow-motion fight "ballet" ensues, with the team manager moving through the guys, clearly thinking hard about something. The "ballet" ends with him down center proclaiming candlesticks as an ideal present.


--- S.D.G. (formerly "SweeneyPhanatic")
Updated On: 9/19/14 at 03:24 AM

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themysteriousgrowl
#14Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 9/19/14 at 7:55am


Sounds more like DULL BOREHAM!


CHURCH DOOR TOUCAN GAY MARKETING PUPPIES MUSICAL THEATER STAPLES PERIOD OIL BITCHY SNARK HOLES

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yankeefan7
#15Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 9/19/14 at 12:17pm

"And the scene you described was "The Cocksucker Ballet." Second act opens during a game. There's a time out, conversation about the wedding gifts happens, and somehow Crash alls the umpire a cocksucker. Slow-motion fight "ballet" ensues, with the team manager moving through the guys, clearly thinking hard about something. The "ballet" ends with him down center proclaiming candlesticks as an ideal present. "

How did that scene go over in the show? It was very funny moment in the movie and it helps to know baseball to get the full effect of the comedy.

DSamuels90
#16Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 9/21/14 at 2:51pm

The scene & "ballet" were VERY well received. We've got the Braves, so I don't think there's anyone in Atlanta who would have trouble with some baseball humor. That scene made me glad I didn't leave at intermission.


--- S.D.G. (formerly "SweeneyPhanatic")

bigbelterbaby
#17Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 2/9/15 at 6:07pm

wondering what the status of Bull Durham musical is ?!? anyone know anything / Broadway plans ?


Hesione Hushabye thinks it tastes like ashes.

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Phillypinto
#18Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 7/30/15 at 10:17pm

im assuming they are still trying to come to broadway. They are doing a lab in October. Marc Bruni is now directing. 


http://www.backstage.com/casting/bull-durham-80570/


Use my fabulous TodayTix code: JEYCY

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bwayrose7
#19Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 1/14/16 at 10:12am

Looks like this show is still moving forward in some capacity: https://www.instagram.com/p/BAciHqjhUZi/

 

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Jshan05
#20Bull Durham in Atlanta
Posted: 1/14/16 at 1:09pm

From what I've read, I'm not too keen on seeing this one. I hope they make whatever changes needed and they keep Will Swenson involved...he's a fantastic talent!