Those who think it may be too soon for a revival really need to see this particular production. As the critics (including Ben Brantley) pointed out, it's a radical reinterpretation of the piece that makes it feel like a completely different show. I hope they book an intimate theater because it's incredibly bare bones.
This should be a very exciting Broadway debut for Jennifer Hudson.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
I was lucky enough to see John Doyle's production in London. It was unbelievable. It was waterworks during the terrific Cynthia Evericho's "I'm Here". The production had the feel of an old photograph, and it's amazing what can be done on a bare wood blank stage, and a couple of chairs. I'm curious which broadway house this will go into. The meneir chocolate factory is so small and intimate, definitly brought a bigger emotional impact to the piece.
Apparently, she really wants to achieve EGOT status. If she gets a Tony, she'll certainly try very hard to find a role on TV to get her an Emmy. I didn't think the show would be revived this soon. She's an incredibly talented artist and I've had the pleasure of meeting her at a book signing. She was so sweet.
Not interested in this terrible show or in her at all...thanks for saving my money and time! :)
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
I'll agree. too soon. The show will only last as long as Hudson's in it.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
I cannot wait! I missed the original production, and the score is kind of a guilty pleasure. And her singing "I'm here" is so powerful. I cannot wait!!! I'm surprised it's coming over as a commercial production and not at Roundabout or something.
For those of you not interested in seeing Jennifer Hudson and/or a revival of THE COLOR PURPLE, I have a tip for all of you that really works for me when I'm not interested in a particular show or performer:
DON'T GO SEE THE SHOW!
It's real easy and it saves you a whole lot of grief, whining and complaining in the long run!
I actually think this is a show and score that's somewhat under-appreciated. I enjoyed myself each of the 4 times I saw the show (with 4 different Celies, incidentally).
Hudson sounds like a great choice and I would be very excited to see her on Broadway.
My only concern is what I assume would be the reduced orchestra, but that's to be expected with these Menier revivals.
Updated On: 1/9/15 at 12:17 PM
I, too, thought the book and score for this show were both really dreadful, blaring out the most famous moments from the movie, and adding nothing new or significant to the piece. It was a bald-faced attempt to cash in on nothing more than the film's popularity. The lyrics are generic to the point of invisibility, the music ditto. Total mediocrity - so it should do pretty well among the tourists who often devour mediocrity (strange that they choose not to devour some mediocrities, like Bullets Over Broadway; that would be an interesting thing to explore - what Kind of mediocrity is most palatable to Americans?).
I don't remember the size of the orchestra exactly, maybe 7 to ten piece. I just remember, they were off to the side side of the stage. If you have issues with the book, a half hour was cut from the book. And some things were reworked. However, I still tell everyone that this a is a phenomenal production.
I can't get too excited by this. I didnt like the show the first time around, despite some good performances and the handful of good songs. I still cry at the film when Shug goes to church and when Nettie finally comes home. The musical had to speed through so much that at the end, i didnt much care about the characters, even Celie.
And as much as i loved that performance vocally at Oprah's Kennedy Center Honor, it proves to me that Jennifer is simply not a very good actress.
But, I've been surprised before.
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