Ann Margret in "The Best Little Whore House in Texas" Question

[chenofan]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 11:56pm

Greetings all! So, I was wondering. Was this show planned for a broadway opening and did not make it OR was it just a touring production. If it was planned for Broadway - WHAT HAPPENED? It is much better that certain shows that have been there in the last couple of years. Anyone know anything? Thanks!

[morosco]

Posted: 8/10/05 at 11:59pm

I'm surprised it didn't make it. I thought the production was very entertaining. A lot of people will say Ann-Margret was miscast but I thought she was fine. Gary Sandy was excellent as the sheriff.

[chenofan]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 12:21am

She would be one to sell tickets too, I would think. She was also know for singing wasn't she? I thought she did alot of shows in Vegas? So, was it supposed to come to NYC?

[chenofan]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 1:10am

I wonder if Margo would know? Margo knows all! I love her! Hopefully she will take a gander at this and let me know! Please Margo

Updated On: 8/11/05 at 01:10 AM

[Marquise]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 1:30am

It was strictly conceived as a touring production. It was never meant to go to Broadway. I saw here in Miami. A-M and Gary Sandy were good. The ensemble cast was really impressive.

[chenofan]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 1:39am

I see. It seems strange it was not meant to move to Broadway. Do you think it would have done well? It must be one of the only touring shows that got recorded on CD. Did you enjoy it?

[DAME]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 1:41am

I enjoyed it inmensly when saw it in Costa Mesa. However; I don't think it was ever intended to go to broadway.

[chenofan]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 1:44am

Really? I wonder why. I know that Carol Channing haas said that producers make more money on the road. So that must be why. It is sad that it never got a chance. It is a funny and fun show. I was never able to see this production, a little too young at the time. I didn't think so but my parents did. Parents have a way of screwing things up for you - don't they! :)

[Marquise]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 1:48am

I enjoyed it. I never saw the original production I was really young then. I was only familiar with the show through the movie version and there are some major differences between show and film. Overall I did like it. Ann-Margret did a decent job, although her voice isn't what it used to be it suited her material fine.

I think it would have done well. Ann-Margret's a legend. She still has avery large fan base believe it or not. People young and old like her including the theatre queens. I think it would have had some success.

[DAME]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 1:50am

I think it did ok money on the road. While Ann Margaret was good..it really was a odd marriage of show and star. Just because this was never a show that was meant to be a star vehicle. So I guess the road needed a celebrity to make it work both times. The first national touring company of the show starred Alexis Smith.

[chenofan]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 1:52am

Was Alexis Smith in the original version of Follies too? Or am I going crazy?

[DAME]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 1:57am

Yes she was in Follis. but Alexis Smith was not in the broadway company of Whorehouse. Only the tour.

[chenofan]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 2:05am

I was not a big fan of her in Follies. I like Dee Hoty much better - in my opinion Dee can actually sing. Dame is that you in your ID?

[DAME]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 2:08am

ANd Dee Hoty did the lead in the sequel to Whorehouse. It was called "Best Little Whore House Goes Public". Anyone seenthis? It was a huge flop.

Oh and no.

[chenofan]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 2:11am

I never saw it but I have the CD. Sounds kinda campy but fun. I love Dee. She is soo nice and I've loved her in everything. Was great in Mamma Mia! Who is your icon of? The face looks sooo familiar...

[DAME]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 2:14am

It's Bryan Callen. He used to be on Mad TV and recently "Fat Actress"

[chenofan]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 2:17am

That is where I know him from. Thanks! Did you see Whorehouse goes public or have you ever heard it?

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 8:52am

I was cast in a production of Carousel a few years ago. One day the director came in and announced that she had seen The production of BLWIT with A-M the night before, and that the mega-mix reprise of every friggin song in the show left the audience so happy and giddy as they left that it was just the gimmick to brighten up the audience after OUR production.

A mega-mix curtain call for CAROUSEL????

Shortly thereafter the cast assumed the direction of the production. This is a common occurence in shows directed by this local hack. She is currently in charge of a production of Bye Bye Birdie in which the kids all dress as if they are in the period of the show, but Conrad Birdie is a punk rocker.

Must be nice to have friends in high places.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 9:48am

Well I think they need to convince Reba McIntyre to come back to broadway and have her be Miss Mona. You KNOW she's going to tear up the songs, and I think she has the right acting style to be a natural for Miss Mona.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 11:42am

Reba would make an awesome Miss Mona! I've often wondered why this show hasn't come back to grace the boards again.

I've done this show twice before and I loved every second of it. Talk about a fun, fun show to be in.

I saw the recent tour and enjoyed it. My only really big problem with the show was that the tempo's seemed to drag especially in "A Lil Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place."

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 11:48am

Ahhh. LOVE this show, our community theatre was thinking about this show, but living in a small town... it would NEVER sell, but yeah the show is just AMAZING.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 11:49am

I music directed Whorehouse in the late 80's and had a BLAST. I wrote new harmonies for a bunch of the songs (especially Hard Candy Christmas) and it was gorgeous. It's a wonderful show that should be back on the boards.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 1:01pm

I found the tour of Whorehouse to be quite bland. It was basically the original production restaged with one new song added for Miss Mona at the end, which was rather pointless and dull. The whole thing seemed rather stale and dated. Ann Margret slurred and stumbled her way through the showas if she came onstage directly from the local bar. She was the only cast member with a headphone mic because she spoke most of her lines through her teeth. Many of the songs were performed without flare or gusto, which is apparent on the cast recording (especially Twenty-Four Hours). Gary Sandy was fine, but the one standout was the wonderful Roxie Lucas as Doatsy Mae. Other than Roxie, the entire show was pretty much like a standard regional production recreating the original set and choreography. For Broadway, I would love to see some new life breathed into the show to make it fresh and fun again. Jerry Mitchell could definitely whip it into shape.

[DAME]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 1:19pm

Thats is a great idea. And you are right.. the tour did seem like a regional production. But I don't think it was ever intended to be of broadway caliber. I think they knew what their limitations were.

[junglered]

Posted: 8/11/05 at 2:23pm

I saw the "Whorehouse" tour a few years back when it played Atlanta. I am a fan of the music and enjoyed this show, but felt that Ann Margret WAS miscast in the role of Miss Mona. Ann doesn't have much of a voice left and she seemed to be in slow motion on the stage all night.