Does Little Dancer have a future?

[MCfan2]

Posted: 4/30/15 at 9:56am

I honestly can't understand what happened with this show. I was so swept away by it here in D.C. -- it truly had something special in my opinion, and I think in the opinion of many others who saw it. It was such a unique and beautiful show that really had something to say about the conflicts that women have always had to face (especially working-class women), but without being heavy-handed or preachy.

Then it just sort of . . . went away. There was word it was going to L.A., but that doesn't seem to have happened, last I checked.

I know the show got mixed reviews. I don't understand why they couldn't have fixed the problems (I did not see the problems the critics did, but say for the sake of argument that they were right and there were problems) and gone on with it. Gigi had more problems than Little Dancer did, but it went on to Broadway with no trouble.

There are many, many factors involved with these things, I know that -- theater availability and so forth. And I don't know whether the presence of other Paris-themed musicals currently on Broadway would help it or hinder it. But I'll be terribly disappointed if this show never makes it to Broadway -- and if we never get a cast album! I want that album so badly!! The music was so good.

Well, I don't know if anyone knows anything about what might happen with the show, though I would be very glad to hear it if anyone does. In any case, I guess I needed to vent about it, so thanks for letting me!

Updated On: 4/30/15 at 09:56 AM

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 4/30/15 at 11:21am

The revival of Ragtime was a critical success that lost all its money on Broadway.

The revival of Follies was a critical success that lost all its money on Broadway.

The revival of Side Show was a critical success that lost all its money on Broadway.

Gigi's fate is TBD, but it was a critical disappointment, got shut out of most major awards, and is doing modest business.

The string of success that the Kennedy Center had moving things to Broadway in the 90s is over. Way over.

My guess is that investors are wary of putting money into an original property, even if it had a successful run in DC.

Updated On: 4/30/15 at 11:21 AM

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 4/30/15 at 11:36am

I hope something happens! I was utterly speechless after seeing it (and kicking myself for seeing it so late in the run as to limit myself to only seeing it once).

[Demitri2]

Posted: 4/30/15 at 12:39pm

I saw both GIGI and LITTLE DANCER in DC and all I can say is it was so refreshing to see an original work with a brand new score. It saddens me to see rehashed revivals making it to Broadway while something like LITTLE DANCER does not. For me GIGI was the kind of theatre fare you saw years ago as a Los Angeles Civic Light Opera production. LITTLE DANCER's opening number was incredibly beautiful. Rebecca Luker truly has the voice of an angel. And even charisma free Karen Ziemba (who I've seen many times going back to CRAZY FOR YOU) impressed me with her role as the dancer's struggling mother. I left a fan of hers. Granted there are exceptions like AN AMERICAN IN PARIS rehashing familiar works with impressive choreography but I much prefer innovative theatre pieces like LITTLE DANCER which draw you into a whole new theatre experience. It saddens me that there isn't more support for this show.   

[tazber]

Posted: 4/30/15 at 12:43pm

The score is astonishing. Their best since Ragtime, imo.

Even though it's sadly off the radar, I'm always looking for developments in the news, on their websites, etc.

I can't imagine that they wouldn't mount the show again.

[JustBe23]

Posted: 4/30/15 at 12:43pm

I read a while back that it was doing an out-of-town at the Ahmanson this summer... dunno though. I adored it in DC, I'd love to see it hit Broadway.

Updated On: 4/30/15 at 12:43 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 4/30/15 at 12:49pm

Yea, they announced the LA production back in December. No word since then.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 4/30/15 at 1:07pm

I too wish I'd seen it twice, promisespromises2. Or even three times!

I guess we'll have to keep an eye on the Ahmanson and see what happens. Fingers crossed!

[philly03]

Posted: 4/30/15 at 1:20pm

I also loved this in DC, but could see where they need to trim up a bit (Honestly, if Karen Ziemba wasn't in this, would that character get all that stage time?). It's definitely one of my favorite scores I've heard in the past few years.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/30/15 at 1:38pm

It's still being worked on and will undoubtedly be seen again in the not-distant future.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 4/30/15 at 4:30pm

That's good to hear!!!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 4/30/15 at 4:31pm

Didn't the Follies revival actually (to my surprise) turn a profit?

Either way, it seems very very premature to get worried about the future of this show yet.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/30/15 at 4:34pm

Also: Gigi was not produced by the Kennedy Center.

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 4/30/15 at 5:19pm

According to Playbill, Follies did not recoup:

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/good-times-and-bum-times-broadway-revival-of-follies-exceeds-expectations-b-186780

[Buddy Plummer2]

Posted: 4/30/15 at 6:04pm

^I would say though, it hardly lost "all of it's money". And though unannounced, I wouldn't be surprised if the LA run recouped whatever was lost on Broadway.

Also, Gigi was a commercial production that used the Kennedy Center as a pre-Broadway tryout. Very different from regionally developed productions like Follies or Ragtime or Side Show that THEN made the leap.

Regardless of it's commercial track record, the Kennedy Center (like ART, Paper Mill, LaJolla, and many other regional theatres) still produces artistically successful work. As a name, it may now be a draw for audiences (but then again, what regional theatre is), but as an institution, it still has a name for artistic achievement.

Also, I wouldn't be surprised if Ahrens/ Flaherty were turning their attention towards "Anastasia" and it's world premiere next Spring, not to mention them probably waiting until after "Hamilton" sweeps through town. Honestly, for anyone looking to produce a new musical, this next year is going to be dominated by that one show.