Was Streisand the first to sing the Sunset Blvd songs to the public?- Page 2
Was Streisand the first to sing the Sunset Blvd songs to the public?
#25Was Streisand the first to sing the Sunset Blvd songs to the public?
Posted: 5/9/12 at 12:26pmI often re-read this portion of her book because it's just so juicy. Mildred Plotka, I didn't even think of getting the audiobook!
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#26Was Streisand the first to sing the Sunset Blvd songs to the public?
Posted: 5/9/12 at 1:06pm
"Were Paige or Streisand unable/unwilling to open the show?"
Paige was unknown in NYC. Streisand wouldn't have done the show for any price. She wants control of everything she works on.
Patti was the logical choice because she was known both in London and Broadway. Of the other choices, Betty Buckley was a bit too "cray-cray" to create the role. Once the role was defined, then she could come in as a replacement.
Andrew Lloyd Weber had to tread carefully because he had already created a firestorm by bringing his wife in Phantom of the Opera and then using her as a replacement in Aspects of Love. The leading lady had to be someone Broadway approved of.
But he once again created a firestorm by opening the show in LA rather than Broadway. And surprised people by casting Glenn Close whose singing ability was always questionable.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#27Was Streisand the first to sing the Sunset Blvd songs to the public?
Posted: 5/9/12 at 1:06pm
"Were Paige or Streisand unable/unwilling to open the show?"
Paige was unknown in NYC. Streisand wouldn't have done the show for any price. She wants control of everything she works on.
Patti was the logical choice because she was known both in London and Broadway. Of the other choices, Betty Buckley was a bit too "cray-cray" to create the role. Once the role was defined, then she could come in as a replacement.
Andrew Lloyd Weber had to tread carefully because he had already created a firestorm by bringing his wife in Phantom of the Opera and then using her as a replacement in Aspects of Love. The leading lady had to be someone Broadway approved of.
But he once again created a firestorm by opening the show in LA rather than Broadway. And surprised people by casting Glenn Close whose singing ability was always questionable.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
AngelorPhantom1359
Understudy Joined: 12/25/11
#28Was Streisand the first to sing the Sunset Blvd songs to the public?
Posted: 5/9/12 at 8:58pm
Castlestreet,
The reason why ALW has never said anything about Patti is because he had a gag order placed on him as a part of her settlement that he couldn't talk about her performance anymore.
And to be honest, if I was publicly humiliated for a year straight and told what a terrible performer I was, how someone else would be better in my part, and that I was going to be fired I would still be pretty bitter about it. Further more, she only brings him up when someone else (an interviewer) does.
Leadingplayer
Broadway Star Joined: 5/12/03
#29Was Streisand the first to sing the Sunset Blvd songs to the public?
Posted: 5/9/12 at 9:29pm
"And to be honest, if I was publicly humiliated for a year straight and told what a terrible performer I was, how someone else would be better in my part, and that I was going to be fired"
who said that to Patti? her inner voice I think.
ALW had no choice but to let her go. Frank Rich ruled Bway at the time. He loved Glenn, hated Patti....Patti had to go. Theatre parties and group sales bookers were threatening to pull their ticket orders if Lupone was the star.
I don't think Patti ever understood the role. She played Norma like a victim and not the scheming prima donna she was.
Plus Patti was never the first choice anyway. Streep, MacLaine, and even Liza were his first choices. Streep said no, not sure what happened with MacLaine, and Liza was too erratic.
#30Was Streisand the first to sing the Sunset Blvd songs to the public?
Posted: 5/9/12 at 9:44pm
AngelorPhantom,
I get that he had the gag order, but that applied to both sides, and she hasn't kept her end of the bargain.
Also, she goes after him over things not even related to Sunset, i.e. calling him a drunk, that he has a drug problem- which last I knew was deflamation...
Now again, I happen to enjoy a lot of what the guy has written, I also thinks he acts like an ass- all I'm saying is that the more she continues to run him into the ground each and every chance she gets, and he never says a bad word about her- just starts to make her look bad.
And this is coming from someone who, while she was far from my favorite Norma, I happen to adore Patti LuPone- but whats fair is fair.
Leadingplayer was right- the critics were awful to her, Webber mishandled the situation- but he never told her she was awful, or couldn't sing/act- he gave her part away because the fate of a $12 million musical on Broadway was in the balance- and the NY Critics already said- we don't like her in the part.
