Falsettos to Return to Bway Fall 2016

[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.

[Cupid Boy2]

Jeffrey Karasarides said: "Did you see his Encores production of A New Brain last summer? If so, what did you think?"

I saw it and was impressed. I loved the casting and the simplicity of Lapine's direction. It moved along at a nice clip and felt fresh and exciting.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

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

Plus, as it has been discussed before, Sam Gold really does not have a great track record when it comes to revivals.

[QueenAlice]

Have we ever seen a musical revival from Sam Gold?

 

At any rate, I'm glad to hear the good report on THE NEW BRAIN.  Mr. Lapine's staging of LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE had similarities to his work on FALSETTOS (and didn't feel very fresh in my view) but we will hope for good work.

[Valentina3]

Did anyone notice Jonathan Groff has a few mysterious months open now, before and after shooting the new Netflix show? ^_^

[FiddleMeThis]

Which months? I don't think they correspond.

[LizzieCurry]

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/31/falsettos-revival-casts-its-leads-christian-borle-andrew-rannells-and-stephanie-j-block/?smid=tw-share

[Valentina3]

Aaaaaaa THIS IS AWESOME

[bjh2114]

THIS. CAST.

[barbraboy19902]

Dear Jesus this cast made me scream out loud!! I'm headed to NYC in March 2017...they'll still be around then....right???

[Crazy NooNooHead]

LizzieCurry said: "http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/31/falsettos-revival-casts-its-leads-christian-borle-andrew-rannells-and-stephanie-j-block/?smid=tw-share"

I apologize in advance to everyone who sees this production the same day that I do. Bring kayaks and life jackets or risk drowning in my tears.

[A Canadian in NYC]

My trip in November is shaping up quite nicely! Elated to hear this news :)

[Call_me_jorge]

sorry I didn't see the previous post.

[LizzieCurry]

I know! It's almost as if someone has posted a link already. Guess you were blown away.

[mamaleh]

I'm a great admirer of all three performers--especially Block & Borle--and love to see them in anything and everything.  But one thought struck me on seeing the casting news:  This show deals heavily with Jewish and other themes; I associate it with Mandy Patinkin, Chip Zien, Randi Graff, etc.  Ethnic-blind casting?   Or is every M.O.T. actor tied up in FIDDLER? 

[Tag]

Rannells will be on Seth Meyers tonight for those interested.  Promoting Girls I'm assuming, but this could be mentioned.

[HogansHero]

mamaleh said: "I'm a great admirer of all three performers--especially Block & Borle--and love to see them in anything and everything.  But one thought struck me on seeing the casting news:  This show deals heavily with Jewish and other themes; I associate it with Mandy Patinkin, Chip Zien, Randi Graff, etc.  Ethnic-blind casting?   Or is every M.O.T. actor tied up in FIDDLER? "

I'm surprised by the enthusiasm for the casting. My initial reaction was that it was uninspired, and you are of course right that it is also off.

[rjm516]

OMG this is so freaking exciting!!! Love it! 

[PalJoey]

 

Stephanie J. Block, Christian Borle, and Andrew Rannells. 

Wow.

 

[Phantom of London]

Great cast and I agree  wow.

However is Falsetto a niche musical like Sideshow? Critically acclaimed but the masses stayed away, could be same case here.

If this does have legs then you would have to say it has a great shot at taking the Tony.

I got a feeling that a resident first night critic 'WhizzerMarvin' will be there on the first night!

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Dear God, YESSSSSSSSSS

[Call_me_jorge]

LizzieCurry said: "I know! It's almost as if someone has posted a link already. Guess you were blown away."

What did I do to you? I said sorry.

[QueenAlice]

I guess I'm a little taken aback by the comment about the casting not being "Jewish enough."  What would "Jewish enough" look like? I've never thought about the Jewishness in the play as an ethnic issue; and I'm sure if you went to a Manhattan synogogue you would see plenty of people who look "as Jewish" as Stephanie and Christian.

Surely, we aren't at a point where we have to stereotype what someone of a particular religious belief looks like (and what they don't look like).

 

And isn't the character of Whizzer a gentile? Or am I remembering the text wrong?

[BroadwayConcierge]

Dying to hear what Whizzer thinks about this news!

[WhizzerMarvin]

Whizzer is half Jewish- otherwise it would be Three Jews in a Room Bitching instead of four!

 

I really like all three of these performers. I'll admit that they're not the first three names that sprung to my mind when the show was announced, but I imagine they will give great performances nonetheless. 

[QueenAlice]

Of course that's right. I guess I need to listen to the cast recording again. It's been years.

 

But I stand by my point that no matter what their heritage is in real life, Christian Borle, Stephanie Block, and Andrew Rannells don't really look any more or less Jewish than Michael Rupert, Alison Frasier or Stephen Bogardus who played the roles originally.