Shuffle along casting

ChiTheaterFan
#1Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 10:02am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-News-Billy-Porter-Brian-Stokes-Mitchell-and-More-Join-Audra-McDonald-in-Musical-Revival-SHUFFLE-ALONG-20150809 


 


 


This is so exciting!!!! Billy Porter was really the best thing about kinky boots (which wasn't my favorite show) so I'm excited to see him in this!!

Updated On: 8/9/15 at 10:02 AM

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Jeffrey Karasarides
#2Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 10:04am

So is Shuffle Along going to be considered a revival?

ChiTheaterFan
#3Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 10:09am

I wondered about that too. The previous descriptions just said it was a musical with the score of the original show but was actually about the making of it. Now this description says its BOTH the original musical plus additional details about how it was made. I'll be curious to see how it works out. 


It says a new book so does that mean new musical?  I'm not sure how this works. 

Updated On: 8/9/15 at 10:09 AM

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adamgreer
#4Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 10:24am

Wow!! What a cast!!!

MNC77
#5Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 10:38am

Curious to see what categories they'll all be in for Tonys. If they are all featured this will be a crazy crowded year in that category.

Broadwaystar2
#6Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 10:57am

It will be considered a NEW musical. It's not "Shuffle Along". Its "The Making Of Shuffle Along.........." I can't remember the entire title.

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BWWMatt
#7Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 11:09am

The full title is "Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed."

Jarethan
#8Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 11:19am

The last show that had this impressive a cast and crew was...A Woman on the Verge, which I thought was awful (probably exacerbated because I was so disappointed)so you never know.


That said, I cannot wait to order tickets for this one.  i would even order full price in advance.

ChiTheaterFan
#9Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 11:44am

"It will be considered a NEW musical. It's not "Shuffle Along". Its "The Making Of Shuffle Along.........." I can't remember the entire title."


 I just find it curious that the original descriptions just described it as a musical about the making of the musical. Now this new article says it "presents both the 1921 musical itself, and additionally details the events that catalyzed the songwriting team of Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, and librettists F.E. Miller and Aubrey Lyles to create this ground-breaking work."


so the new description suggests that it actually is shuffle along but with some additions. 


I'm not saying it won't be a new musical. I'm just interested that now they say they actually are presenting the musical itself but also adding to it. 


A bit of an odd concept to me but I don't care--it's still on my must see list for spring. I'll be interested to see how it plays out. 

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tazber
#10Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 11:50am

This is by far and away my most anticipated show of the season.


 


....but the world goes 'round

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HogansHero
#11Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 11:55am

It is possible that Mr. Rudin, always angling to rack up Tonys, is re-positioning this to be a revival. Why would he do that? 


Shuffle along casting

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oncemorewithfeeling2
#12Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 12:08pm

Two words describe this cast for me:


Oh.My.


Billy Porter and Audra were nice news, but Brian Stokes Mitchell AND Joshua Henry? This just became an excellent afternoon.

RW3
#13Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 12:15pm

They just need to take my money now.

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somethingwicked
#14Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 12:25pm

If they're contextualizing parts of the actual show with new material about its creation, I can't imagine a world where they get away with ruling it a revival. That framework changes the entire scope of the piece.


That said, with this team, this is already a can't-miss event.


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.

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JBroadway
#15Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 12:47pm

Wow, incredible cast. This Broadway season is exciting me more and more. A few days ago there was a thread about "who do you want to return to Broadway?" and one of the people I said was Brian Stokes Mitchell. Looks like I got part of my wish! 

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Glittergrrl
#16Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 1:11pm

Just take my money!

They had me at Audra. Done. After seeing Violet, I pledged to see anything Joshua Henry ever does. He is amazing. I am so so in.

Broadwaystar2
#17Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 2:06pm

And considering its a brand new book by George C. Wolfe. I don't see how this constitutes as a revival. 

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ggersten
#18Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 2:09pm

Could Hamilton be TommyTuned?

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David2
#19Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 2:25pm

In the Broadway.com article it says "the show which bills itself as a revival".

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somethingwicked
#20Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 2:28pm

Scott Rudin may want to position the show that way to avoid competition with HAMILTON, but based on how it's been described, they'll never get away with it.


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.

Mr. Nowack Profile Photo
Mr. Nowack
#21Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 2:31pm

Many revivals come in with new books.


However if the Gershwin rehashes can be deemed new musicals I don't see why this wouldn't be.


Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated

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jnb9872
#22Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 4:19pm

Without knowing anything about the original SHUFFLE ALONG or this new production, only going by what's written, I can see how they might actually succeed in getting to be a Revival.


As Mr. Nowack points out, a new book is usually allowed for a Revival. Significant alterations to CABARET, YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN and PORGY AND BESS (among others) didn't stop them. CANDIDE and ANYTHING GOES, shows that have had multiple different iterations, also have been nominated as Revivals. 


However, those also maintained a fidelity to being identified as the same show, just with alterations. ONE MAN TWO GUV'NORS petitioned and failed to be a Revival, which was much more questionable since the material was all-new and only based on THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS. 


The thing that seems in debate here is how much of this is the original material of SHUFFLE ALONG, and how much of is the story of the original production. The title and original description surely seemed to indicate something new. But what if the majority of the text is the original material? Is there anything in the bylaws akin to the Original Score rule about 51% of the content must be original to qualify?


Words don't deserve that kind of malarkey. They're innocent, neutral, precise, standing for this, describing that, meaning the other, so if you look after them you can build bridges across incomprehension and chaos. But when they get their corners knocked off, they're no good anymore…I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.

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jnb9872
#23Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 4:24pm

Also, to stay on topic: good grief that casting is loaded with talent!


Words don't deserve that kind of malarkey. They're innocent, neutral, precise, standing for this, describing that, meaning the other, so if you look after them you can build bridges across incomprehension and chaos. But when they get their corners knocked off, they're no good anymore…I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.

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JoseLee_
#24Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 5:04pm

This is giving me Nine Revival vibes. STELLAR cast.. but it won't last long on broadway. I feel like Spring Awakening, The Color Purple, and Hamilton are taking ALL the audience from all the upcoming shows after/near them.

Actriz2
#25Shuffle along casting
Posted: 8/9/15 at 9:38pm

With the Hamilton men and now Stokes, Porter, Henry and Dixon, could the Featured Actor in a Musical category potentially be 100% black?