Prince & Stroman Talk Finance, Flops And FOUND

Theatre legends Hal Prince and Susan Stroman, in an interview with The Times Online, discuss their opinions and frustrations on the state of musical theatre, their pasts and their directorial collaboration on Paradise Found, set to begin performances this week at London's Menier Chocolate Factory. 

In the interview, Prince and Stroman each reflect on the commercial challenges of mounting new, original musicals in the West End and on Broadway, rather than recognizable commodities like revivals, screen-to-stage adaptations or jukebox musicals. The two directors also consider the financial strain both oncreative teams and on audiences. 

On the rising prices of theater tickets Stoman explains: "They're only so high because musicals cost such a lot to put on...Finances are the big issue...It's what keeps investors from investing in younger, fresher talent. That's why you see so many revivals."

 Adds Prince: "I always say, don't spend more than $7 or $8 million [£4.8-£5.5 million] to make a musical because you have to pay back your investors. But $20 million is usual these days. The Pajama Game [Prince's first solo production, in 1954] cost $169,000, Damn Yankees [his second, in 1955], $162,000....Anything that is not easily pigeonholed is done for...Anything that you can't immediately say: ‘Oh, I love that movie with Meryl Streep, that should be a musical....I think we both believe the audience is hugely underestimated. They'd like to see something fresh, something which which they cannot instantly identify. The kids who put Obama in the White House are not on Wall Street. We're not like the producers who copy what was popular last year or guess what the audience wants. That comes from chasing money and a certain kind of arrogance."

For the complete interview, click here.

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PARADISE FOUND is a new musical under The Combined direction of Theater legend and 21-time Tony Award winner Harold Prince (the original productions of Cabaret, Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, The Phantom of the Opera, Company, Follies, Evita) and 5-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (Crazy For You, Show Boat, The Producers, Contact). This is their first collaboration since the landmark, Tony Award-winning revival of Show Boat. Following the New York rehearsal period, the production will open at London's acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory with performances running May 19 through June 26.

The cast and creative team of PARADISE FOUND boasts an impressive pedigree. Lead by Tony and Emmy Award winner Mandy Patinkin (Evita, Sunday in the Park with George, "Chicago Hope"), the cast stars Tony Award winner Shuler Hensley (Oklahoma!, Young Frankenstein), Tony Award winner Judy Kaye (The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, Ragtime), 5-time Tony Award nominee John McMartin (Sweet Charity, Follies, Grey Gardens), Tony Award nominee Nancy Opel (Urinetown, Toxic Avenger), Kate Baldwin (Finian's Rainbow, Wonderful Town) and George Lee Andrews (The Phantom of the Opera, A Little Night Music).

The cast also features Amanda Kloots-Larsen (Young Frankenstein), Lacey Kohl (Carousel, Cry Baby), Herndon Lackey (Parade, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Les Misérables), Daniel Marcus (Pal Joey, Urinetown, Adding Machine), Jim Poulos (Rent, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer), Martin Van Treuren (Candide at New York City Opera, How the Grinch Stole Christmas) and Pamela Winslow Kashani (Into the Woods, Beauty & the Beast).

Based on the novel The Tale of the 1002nd Night by Viennese author Joseph Roth, PARADISE FOUND features a Book by Richard Nelson (James Joyce's The Dead, Two Shakespearean Actors), Music by Johann Strauss II, Lyrics by Tony Award nominee Ellen Fitzhugh (Grind, Herringbone) and Music adapted and arranged by Oscar, Tony, Grammy and Emmy winner Jonathan Tunick (Titanic, Sweeney Todd, A Chorus Line, Nine).

The production will feature scenic design by Beowulf Boritt (LoveMusik, Spelling Bee, Rock of Ages), costume design by Tony Award winner Judith Dolan (Candide, Parade), lighting design by Tony Award winner Howell Binkley (Jersey Boys, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Memphis) and sound design by Gareth Owen (A Little Night Music). Music Director is Charles Prince (James Joyce's The Dead).

PARADISE FOUND is being produced at The Menier Chocolate Factory by special arrangement with New York producers Jeff Berger, Apples and Oranges Productions/Tim Kashani and Pamela Winslow Kashani, Tony Ponturo, Andy Sandberg and Whitney Hoagland Edwards.

Based on a true story, the highly comic and romantic musical PARADISE FOUND is befitting of an Arabian Nights tale. It all starts with the Shah of Persia, who is feeling low. To lift his spirits, he's off to Vienna with his Eunuch in tow for new adventures. The Shah promptly falls in love with the Empress of the Empire, much to the dismay of her husband, so a resident of the local brothel - who is a double for the Empress - is substituted for a night of passion. But she's in love with a Baron, who's having an affair with the Soap Manufacturer's Wife...

For tickets and information, visit www.menierchocolatefactory.com/paradise_found or call the Menier Box Office in London at 020-7907-7060.

 

Photo Credit:  Walter McBride