Riedel on Stephen Schwartz's new show

[10086sunset]

Posted: 10/6/16 at 5:37pm

http://nypost.com/2016/10/06/theater-owners-are-vying-for-wicked-composers-newest-musical/

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 10/6/16 at 6:15pm

Hmmm.

 

I'm personally intrigued, but I HIGHLY doubt audiences are going to be enticed by the synopsis.

[10086sunset]

Posted: 10/6/16 at 7:30pm

The title needs to be changed...

[jo]

Posted: 10/6/16 at 8:14pm

Call it LOGAN -- sorry, bad joke

 

But even Imogene Lloyd Webber  ( whose Dad's work was directed by Nunn and starred Jackman - Sunset Boulevard in Australia) says the trio " would epitomize the dream team".

 

https://www.broadway.com/buzz/186254/legendary-director-trevor-nunn-eyes-hugh-jackman-for-stephen-schwartzs-schikaneder/

 

But early days --  can this be mounted on Broadway by spring 2017?

 
 

Updated On: 10/6/16 at 08:14 PM

[10086sunset]

Posted: 10/6/16 at 8:24pm

^LOGAN, love it jo...

[jo]

Posted: 10/6/16 at 8:33pm

Updated On: 10/6/16 at 08:33 PM

[jo]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 2:10am

Stephen Schwartz talks about SCHIKANEDER --

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5CLYcqbfyo

Updated On: 10/7/16 at 02:10 AM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 2:55am

Sounds cool!  But not a hit!

[SweetLips]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 4:53am

From what I have seen and heard-can't wait to hear more.

Jackman can't sing those notes if he is to be considered for the part I have seen on here.

The title is no worse than the names of some people appearing on Broadway now. It's called 'listen and learn'--the main character wasn't born with the name Smith but Schikanader.

Imagine Disneyland if Walt was born Schikanader.

Updated On: 10/7/16 at 04:53 AM

[chewy5000]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 5:02am

I ain't taking my kids anywhere near a place named"'Schikanederland", thank you very much.

[NYCLOVER]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 5:14am

With Pippin and Wicked getting hated in Britain was there a work positively reviewed in the UK? 

[jo]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 5:42am

I  came across this site, with some important details on the musical and its development.

https://www.musicalschwartz.com/schikaneder.htm

Included is a clip ( sung in German) of one of the songs from SCHIKANEDER ( "Shee-ka-nee-der"   )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=43&v=mfB3NEME27s

I thought it reminded me somewhat of PHANTOM OF THE OPERA -- which was a dramatic story about people who sing in the opera and the menacing man who hounded the production. Of course it is a completely different story...but the grandeur mentioned for the opening scene, the European setting, the use of operatic-sounding notes for some songs, and the background love story evokes the Phantom musical.  Nobody ever heard of the story of the Phantom ( unless you read the book by Gaston Leroux) and eventually the musical until Michael Crawford mesmerized us with his portrayal  in London and Broadway ( but not necessarily because he has a glorious voice).  One thing though, having heard only one or two songs ( in German), I am not sure how well the musical score can measure up to Lloyd Webber's romantic score. Maybe?  

On the other hand, the mention that it is a romantic comedy, hewn along the lines of KISS ME KATE, can make it more accessible to musical theatre audiences.

We'll see -- at least it presents something quite unusual and different from new stage musicals these days?



 

 
 

Updated On: 10/7/16 at 05:42 AM

[gypsy101]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 6:03am

that title is absolutely atrocious. Almost as bad as Sousatzka. No offense to producers, but audiences are not going to see a show on Broadway if it has a title they can't pronounce.

Updated On: 10/7/16 at 06:03 AM

[Peter2]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 8:11am

Ha, as an opera lover long familiar with the name Schikaneder, I wa going to say that I don't see why the title is a problem, but then I watched the video jo posted and noticed Schwartz himself mispronounces it! (The bigger problem for some American audiences may be that the name is too close to Schicklgruber.)

 

Does anybody know if a recording is forthcoming? They're selling tickets through next summer, so it'll be around for a whole.

Updated On: 10/7/16 at 08:11 AM

[devonian.t]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 9:00am

Everone said the title would kill Les Miserables, Les Liaisons Dangereuses and Moulin Rouge, to name but a few.

People cope.

[John Adams]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 9:58am

SweetLips said: "From what I have seen and heard-can't wait to hear more.

Jackman can't sing those notes if he is to be considered for the part I have seen on here.

The title is no worse than the names of some people appearing on Broadway now. It's called 'listen and learn'--the main character wasn't born with the name Smith but Schikanader.

Imagine Disneyland if Walt was born Schikanader."

Agreed, especially with the bolded part of your comment. Also with devonian.t's comment, "People cope".

It's only 4 syllables like, "Terminator". It's pretty easy to create a mnemonic device like She can eat 'er. Maybe the name will become abbreviated to only the syllables we CAN pronounce, as happened with 'Les Miz' (Sheik? Schick? Chic?). When all else fails, we can just guiltlessly bastardize the name like we Americans usually do. No matter what the course, I doubt the name will effect ticket sales.

I'm hoping there will be a German release of the OC album prior to the show opening in the US. I enjoy collecting and listening to scores in foreign languages that match the setting of the show (i.e. Le Miz in French). I think a release prior to a US opening would create better word of mouth, too.

Updated On: 10/7/16 at 09:58 AM

[macnyc]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 10:02am

I bet they do change the name for the U.S. premiere.

 

 

Updated On: 10/7/16 at 10:02 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 10:05am

People went to The Mother****er with the Hat, so...

[SweetLips]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 3:18pm

gypsy101 said: "that title is absolutely atrocious. Almost as bad as Sousatzka. No offense to producers, but audiences are not going to see a show on Broadway if it has a title they can't pronounce.

Sorry gypsy101..but that's called L.A.Z.Y and you can't/shouldn't speak for all 'audiences'---some might actually want to learn new things as they go through life.

Will call is 'Sousa' [is that American enough?] for you to cope with.

All in fun..........SL

"

 

[brian1973]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 4:03pm

To be fair, a large percentage of Americans can't pronounce anything correctly anyway.

It is a terrible title though. This ain't gonna be the new Wicked.

gypsy101 said: "that title is absolutely atrocious. Almost as bad as Sousatzka. No offense to producers, but audiences are not going to see a show on Broadway if it has a title they can't pronounce.

 

"

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 4:04pm

If it's good they'll go. 

[brian1973]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 4:09pm

I've seen it...and it's not good. The score is lovely and the set is fabulous...but that's it. It's as dull as anything story wise.

 

RippedMan said: "If it's good they'll go. 

 

"

 

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 5:51pm

I hope it plays the Nederlander!  I wonder if people thought the title would doom Amadeus to failure as well.  Or how about Urinetown?  Or Kinky Boots?  And it's not as if an easier/more commercial title geared for Americans will count for anything.  Leap of faith, High Fidelity, Sister Act, Lennon, Young Frankenstein...

[kdogg36]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 6:02pm

brian1973 said: "To be fair, a large percentage of Americans can't pronounce anything correctly anyway."

No. Their native dialect is just a little different from yours.

 

[jo]

Posted: 10/7/16 at 9:11pm

Peter2 said: "Ha, as an opera lover long familiar with the name Schikaneder, I wa going to say that I don't see why the title is a problem, but then I watched the video jo posted and noticed Schwartz himself mispronounces it! (The bigger problem for some American audiences may be that the name is too close to Schicklgruber.)

"

What would be the correct pronunciation? Thanks.