On Your Feet

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 5/25/15 at 4:27pm

Haven't heard much about this lately.

Is there much buzz in NYC about this yet?

I've always been a fan of the MSM and Gloria Estefan, but not sure how interested I'd be in dropping dime for a ticket to see their story. I guess maybe I've read so much about them and do know a lot of their story that it just doesn't grab me at this point.

I do like upbeat shows though with good music and dance, so I'll wait to see how it fares in reviews.

[asmith0307]

Posted: 5/25/15 at 4:35pm

They are just about to start previews in Chicago next Tuesday, so expect more press soon. They do have a YouTube series documenting the process as well. 

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 5/25/15 at 4:48pm

Okay, thanks.  Will keep an eye out.

[ebontoyan]

Posted: 5/25/15 at 4:57pm

I got tix for the Chicago preview last week of June! Love Gloria's music, I'm actually excited for this show...I'll report back then

[Different Drum]

Posted: 5/25/15 at 5:03pm

Let's see... A recently hatched $17MM vanity jukebox musical with predictable plot and monosyllabic songbook; two vastly inexperienced leading actors; and a principal demographic that is not known for its support of the theatre. Sounds like a winning formula.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/25/15 at 5:27pm

Great post which is right on target.

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 5/25/15 at 6:23pm

Which gets me thinking.

I know there have been a lot of shows made about the lives of other people, but how often does someone say 'I'm going to write a Broadway musical about my (our) life'?   Not necessarily  talking about musical/revue type shows like "The Dancer's Life" with Chita.  Or the Bea Arthur one.  But non-Broadway people.

 

[ggersten]

Posted: 5/25/15 at 7:00pm

Motown.  Written by Berry Gordy.

Ray Davies has a "story by" credit on Sunny Afternoon.

Marvin Hamlisch denied that "They're Playing Our Song" was his story....

All That Jazz was not a stage musical...but

[CukorLover]

Posted: 5/26/15 at 12:57am

Hey, if Mama Mia can make it, i wouldn't discount this show just yet.

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 5/26/15 at 2:40am

ABBA was behind the production, but it wasn't a story of their life right?  I saw it a long time ago and don't really remember much about it except it took place in Greece.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 5/26/15 at 4:17am

Jersey Boys made it, so did Beautiful.

[Mr Smith]

Posted: 5/26/15 at 6:06am

"Jersey Boys made it, so did Beautiful."

 I am sad person Jersey Boys is the best musical I saw

[Dave13]

Posted: 5/26/15 at 1:07pm

Count me in as being excited to see it. I grew up in Miami, so I am probably not the typical audience that you would expect on Broadway that would see it. 

That said, I am concerned about how long of a run this will enjoy. I could see this being a smash hit, or become a major disappointment. 

Certainly, I would put this in the same class as Beautiful and Jersey Boys. However, the success of the show will depend on the popularity of the music and if fans of the music will be strong enough to support a Broadway musical.  

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 5/26/15 at 2:45pm

I love both Broadway music and Gloria Estefan's music - i don't see those two things as being incompatible.

[newintown]

Posted: 5/26/15 at 2:59pm

I wouldn't have thought that the life of Carol King would have been dramatically interesting, either - famous, successful, and rich before the age of 20, with the only conflict being a cheating husband and transition from writer to writer/performer. But there you have it - a big hit.

What I know of Estefan's life seems equally drama-free; her father was a bodyguard to brutal dictator Batista; I would imagine that the show, if it deals with Batista at all, will whitewash him as a benevolent democrat. She has been married to the same man since she was 20, with no reported issues. She was injured badly in 1990, but recovered within a year, even without an addiction to pain killers that would have been dramatically noteworthy.

So who knows? Maybe this mild story of almost non-stop great success will also please the crowds.

Updated On: 5/26/15 at 02:59 PM

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 5/26/15 at 5:22pm

So? There's no law that says every single story has to be dramatic.

[newintown]

Posted: 5/26/15 at 5:47pm

How are you defining "dramatic?" It may not be the same way I am. In this context, I would define it as "displaying theatrical storytelling elements of interest, with character, conflict, development of both, and perhaps a beginning, middle, and end."

I would think that more people seek that in their commercial theatre experience than don't. But maybe not.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 5/26/15 at 6:37pm

If it's all down to the popularity of the music, I do like ABBA and the Four Seasons considerably more than Gloria Estefan. But then if all you needed was popular music, Motown should have run much longer. 

[ggersten]

Posted: 5/26/15 at 7:01pm

popular music is no guarantee - RIP Hot Feet; The Times They Are A Changin' and Come Fly Away

[Dave13]

Posted: 5/26/15 at 7:09pm

"If it's all down to the popularity of the music, I do like ABBA and the Four Seasons considerably more than Gloria Estefan. But then if all you needed was popular music, Motown should have run much longer. "

I think Motown is a perfect example of a show with a lot of promise, but was poorly done. Just because a show has good music, it still needs to have a good story behind it and be well done. Beautiful and Jersey Boys are well done, and have great music. I loved both, and could see them over and over again. Interesting enough both lead actor/actress won best Actor/Actress for their role in those shows, along with the shows receiving other Tony Awards. Motown didn't do so well with the Tonys. 

I had high hopes for Motown, but was disappointed with the show. Not sure I liked anything about the show. You couldn't pay me to see it again. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/27/15 at 10:24am

I saw a video of them rehearsing and it looked like they were in New York, but aren't they doing the show in Chicago? Why can't they find a rehearsal space here?

 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 5/27/15 at 12:52pm

"I saw a video of them rehearsing and it looked like they were in New York, but aren't they doing the show in Chicago? Why can't they find a rehearsal space here? "

Isn't it common to rehearse in NYC then just go out of town for the run? At least when plans are firmly set for a New York opening later.