Falsettos to Return to Bway Fall 2016

[Valentina3]

"Josh Radnor as Mendel." 

 

"

How about NPH and David Burtka as Marvin and Whizzer? Definitely has enough star/name power to bring the audience :)

[FindingNamo]

Neil's next Everest would probably be originating a lead role.

[RippedMan]

Does Neil read "Jewish" or would people be all up in arms about it? 

 

And I'd LOVE to see Butz back on Broadway. 

[SomeOtherMe]

I doubt she'd do it, but what about Idina Menzel as Trina? She's Jewish, looks the part and her "Holding to the Ground" could be great.

[WinstonSalem]

GPS, you seem to assume I didn't live through and wasn't affected by the AIDS epidemic? That assumption is wrong. I was a BFA Theatre major in the mid- to late 80s, and I lost friends, teachers, and colleagues over the following 15-ish years. But I still question whether Falsettos' book will hold up. I saw Rent on Broadway in '96 and was moved to tears. I saw another excellent production in 2012, and it felt very dated. Same with The Normal Heart. One thing Ryan Murphy did very successfully with the HBO production was give the story the sense of immediacy it needs. It is much harder to achieve that onstage. I guess this is a problem all historic/event-based stories face: how to keep the story fresh and impactful rather than feeling dated and disconnected? But I'm not suggesting that these stories should not be told (or re-told). The Normal Heart's recent Broadway revival ran for 12 weeks and did pretty well. I expect Falsettos would have a pretty limited run as well, especially if they do try to cast names. Don't think I won't see it either way!

[GavestonPS]

WS, I made no such assumption about your personal experience. I was merely stating a fact and didn't mean to condescend. That being said,

 

1. The issue of "datedness" only applies to Act II anyway. Act I and the problem of "wanting it all" are universal and as much with us today as ever. Married men still function on the "down low", still come out of the closet late in life, and still struggle with the families they feel compelled to leave.

 

2. As for Act iI, it may be true that AIDS isn't the automatic death sentence it seemed to be in 1989, but I think it still conjures enough fear in modern audiences that they can understand the second act. Are you asserting that all historical drama is hopelessly dated because we know how the history turned out? That will be sad news for fans of Shakespeare, Shaw, Schiller and Chekhov.

 

I don't understand your argument that film gives historical works a greater sense of immediacy, since on some level we know the film was in the can long before we got to the theater. It is live theater, if anything, that has the potential to make its action seem "right now", because it is happening right now regardless of when the play is set or when it was written.

 

I am very jealous that you will get to see the FALSETTOS revival. I don't know if they'll try it out here in Southern California. The only one of Finn's plays that did well out here was IN TROUSERS. God only know why.

[FindingNamo]

The book for Falsettos didn't hold together then, Winston, why would it hold up now?


Something's going round a virus has been found

[wish i were here2]

For some reason the idea of Matt Bomer as Whizzer popped into my head today. 

[imeldasturn]

wish i were here2 said: "For some reason the idea of Matt Bomer as Whizzer popped into my head today. 

"

It's not that odd, basically it's his role in The Normal Heart

[Call_me_jorge]

Robbie2 said: "

I believe Natasha Pierre is going into to the Cort

"

Didn't they already announce Natasha is going into the imperial.

[pupscotch]

I'd love to see Christian Borle as Mendel, and Stephanie J. Block as Trina (or Idina if she'll do it!). I can't think of anyone for Marvin, though I agree that Jonathan Groff or Matt Bomer would be great choices for Whizzer. But I'm most excited to see the kid they cast as Jason, because I always love to see talented kids jumpstart their careers on Broadway, especially in bigger roles like this!

[LizzieCurry]

Call_me_jorge said: "Didn't they already announce Natasha is going into the imperial."


Yes http://www.shubert.nyc/press/natasha-pierre-the-great-comet-of-1812-will-play-the-imperial/

[Cupid Boy2]

pupscotch said: "I'd love to see Christian Borle as Mendel, and Stephanie J. Block as Trina (or Idina if she'll do it!). I can't think of anyone for Marvin, though I agree that Jonathan Groff or Matt Bomer would be great choices for Whizzer. But I'm most excited to see the kid they cast as Jason, because I always love to see talented kids jumpstart their careers on Broadway, especially in bigger roles like this!"

Stephanie has been mentioning on Twitter that we can expect her back on Broadway soon, too.

https://twitter.com/StephanieJBlock/status/707588967613521921 

 

[Robbie2]

Call_me_jorge said: "Didn't they already announce Natasha is going into the imperial.

Yes, but I heard they were considering the Cort then the Imperial was offered to them.

As for Falsettos: any truth to the rumors that Jake Gyllenhaal, Roger Bart, Christian Borle, Stephanie J. Block and Lisa Howard are set?

[HoldMeBatBOy]

Damn...that cast sounds incredible 

[Wilmingtom]

I wouldn't consider Falsettos to be dated, it's a period piece.  

[Broadway Bob*]

Robbie2 said: "...any truth to the rumors that Jake Gyllenhaal, Roger Bart, Christian Borle, Stephanie J. Block and Lisa Howard are set?"

Roger Bart was Whizzer in the Graciella Danielle staging at Hartford. He would be too old for that now. With the three men listed I would have to assume Jake would be Whizzer as he's the only one young and "hot" enough for the role. My fantasy FALSETTOS cast always included Raul Esparza (depending on the day either as Mendel or as Marvin) and I've gone back and forth over the years between Cheyenne Jackson, Adam Pascal, and Kyle Dean Massey as Whizzer. Sometimes thought Norbert for Mendel. My fantasy Trina was always Julia Murney with Alice and Emily as the lesbians from next door. Not exactly sure looking at them listed now if they would be good choices but sometimes I like to speculate. LOL!

FALSETTOS was my first ever Broadway show (3/17/93 - I just had my 23rd anniversary!) and I've wanted it to come back so I could see it again FOREVER! I am uber-excited for this to happen!!!

[RippedMan]

With Jake involved wouldn't they easily make this a commercial run instead of with Lincoln Center? 

[elphaba.scares.me]

There aren't many actors I want to see less than SJB as Trina.  She'd be a great Dr. Charlotte though.

 

I want Leslie Kritzer as Trina, Cheyenne Jackson as Whizzer, and Annaleigh Ashford as Cordelia. Butz or Borle would be perfection as either Marvin or Mendel and I don't care who's who.

[TalkinLoud]

RippedMan said: "With Jake involved wouldn't they easily make this a commercial run instead of with Lincoln Center? 

Who is "they"? This is a Lincoln Center Theater production.

[Cupid Boy2]

RippedMan said: "With Jake involved wouldn't they easily make this a commercial run instead of with Lincoln Center? "

Lincoln Center became involved because the original group of producers struggled to find the financing to make this a commercial run. Therefore, I would assume a star of Gyllenhaal's caliber is not attached as of now.

 

[QueenAlice]

I doubt the entire cast is set yet; and I also somewhat doubt Jake Gyllenhaal is attached. Christian Borle and Stephanie Block seem to be consistent rumors (going way back to when the project was first announced) so I wouldn't be surprised if they are your Marvin and Trina.

 

I too wish that we were being given this revival by a director with fresh eyes. Imagine what Bart Sher, John Doyle, or John Tiffany might do with this material.  James Lapine will give us a production that looks like a rather dusty return of a tour that has been out on the road since 1993, buoyed by the strength of talented actors who will by their own merits make the production a must see.

[Cupid Boy2]

QueenAlice said: "James Lapine will give us a production that looks like a rather dusty return of a tour that has been out on the road since 1993, buoyed by the strength of talented actors who will by their own merits make the production a must see."

Do you know something we don't? We have received no confirmation of who's been cast or how Lapine is planning to direct this. 

 

[QueenAlice]

I know nothing except that the last few things I've seen James Lapine direct have not been good. Especially not good have been his revivals. Someone like Bart Sher is able to give us a fresh and effervescent perspective on something we think we are familiar with, but Lapine doesn't seem to have that vision. ANNIE was so wrongheaded in its approach. And the worst of all was his revival of his own INTO THE WOODS which now, come to think of it, was actually rather poorly cast, so perhaps I'm holding out too much hope for an ideally cast production of FALSETTOS.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

I too wish that we were being given this revival by a director with fresh eyes. Imagine what Bart Sher, John Doyle, or John Tiffany might do with this material.

I'm not sure if any of those choices would be a good match with Falsettos.

I know nothing except that the last few things I've seen James Lapine direct have not been good. The worst of all was his revival of his own INTO THE WOODS which now, come to think of it, was actually rather poorly cast, so perhaps I'm holding out too much hope for an ideally cast production of FALSETTOS.

It's so funny how that Broadway revival of Into the Woods won the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical, but nowadays, gets a lot of backlash. Did you see his Encores production of A New Brain last summer? If so, what did you think?

[QueenAlice]

The best person to direct FALSETTOS is Sam Gold, but I understand after FUN HOME why he wouldn't want to do it. 

 

INTO THE WOODS winning revival, in my opinion had more to do with wanting to honor Stephen Sondheim and the work itself (which lost best musical to PHANTOM, to the embarrassment of many). There was also a big backlash that year against the megahyped Trevor Nunn OKLAHOMA! which had been so wonderful in the UK but didn't transfer well to Broadway.

 

But I (and many others at the time) thought that revival of INTO THE WOODS was terrible and a missed opportunity. It had none of the magic or inspiration of the original production, and I think James Lapine just had no second vision for the material (why didn't he just revive his perfect original staging?).  I think in particular, he was haunted by the brilliance of the original cast, and perhaps not wanting to 'duplicate' their unique quirkiness  - he ended up instead with what I considered to be a really mediocre ensemble. 

 

My concern - sight unseen, of course - is that Lapine will have similar problems with FALSETTOS.  It's a simpler show - so maybe he won't feel the burden of re-invention; but I think its very hard not to be haunted by the perfect work you've already done once before (with the perfect cast).

 

I don't think FALSETTOS is dated, but I do think it needs a strong perspective that understand the context of the piece and how it now fits into contemporary perspective. I am not at all convinced Lapine is the man to best do that. I just worry we will get a production that is 'fine' and the material deserves better than that. But of course I will be more than happy to be proven wrong because I love the show and want it to succeed.

 

I did not see THE NEW BRAIN. That is closer to FALSETTOS in tone and size, so if that was extremely well done, there might be hope.