BIG the musical

[AnythingGoes23]

Posted: 6/5/15 at 6:10am

Notice in the last few weeks Baz keeps saying some houses are waiting on a BIG musical? Emphasis on big..?

Well, its BIG the musical. The 1996 huge Broadway flop has been picked up, being re-worked and aiming for a West End opening next year. The show is talking to Palladium, Dominion and Palace. They seem to want a big theatre for their BIG show which is a big risk but they will get a good deal as there are a few big shows to fill the big venues... tired of the word big now?!

Rumour also is Dominion may get another familiar title show back, more bang than big!

West End needs more familiar title shows to bring back tourists and your more every day theatre going public... like or loave them, they take the money and fill the venues and not one new musical has come close to them in past few years and not because there is no support for new musicals, because they just haven't been good enough to appeal en-mass on any key level sadly.

 

[Spotlight61]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 10:02am

There's a very good book about this failed musical by Barbara Isenberg entitled Making It Big - Diary of a Broadway Musical.

I know that Mike Ockrent had very high hopes for this show but what was happening behind the scenes both creatively and in terms of business, made this whole adventure a nightmare.

Personally, I found this book unputdownable. A truly fascinating read and an amazing behind the scenes insight into the making of a Broadway show.

Let's hope if it is 'Big' that is coming here, then they have learnt from their very big mistakes of the past.

I also feel the west end is ready for another outing of Chitty.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/9/15 at 3:30pm

I found much to like about the original Broadway production and I quite enjoyed it.  The audience reaction was very positive and enthusiastic.  It was later VERY heavily revised (both book and score) for the US tour and the result was an ugly lifeless dud that bore virtually no resemblance to the original production.  I'm hoping the West End is using the original for their source material.  It really only needs to replace one number (It's Time) and clean up/revise some clunky and dated lyrics.  My biggest problem with Maltby and Shire is that Maltby's lyrics rarely live up to Shire's melodies.

 

[alterego]

Posted: 6/12/15 at 3:11am

I agree with your comments about Maltby/Shire Mr Matt.