Prince & Stroman to co-direct PARADISE FOUND

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 9:12am

Hal Prince and Susan Stroman will co-direct PARADISE FOUND, which will go into rehearsal April 12 for a 7-week run at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London. Production will then transfer to Broadway. John Cullum, Mandy Patinkin, Shuler Hensley, Judy Kaye and Emily Skinner are expected to star.

"Paradise Found" is based on the novel, "The Tale of the 1002nd Night," by Viennese author Joseph Roth. Musical will have a book by Richard Nelson; and a score by Johann Strauss II, with lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh. Score will be adapted by Jonathan Tunick.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118008923.html?categoryid=19&cs=1

[HollyGolightly2]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 10:55am

Is this why Prince isn't directing Phantom 2: There is no Point to this Return? I've been wondering what the reason is.

[wonkit]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 12:24pm

A score by Strauss? Two hours of syrup-y waltzes that everyone will hum along with?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 1:22pm

So, I guess Patinkin isn't doing LaCAGE.

[ggersten]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 1:27pm

There are clips of the production from several months ago in the television special, Mr. Prince, which was on Ovation.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 2:53pm

Oh the poor stage manager who has to deal with Patinkin and Skinner!

[Pgenre]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 3:04pm

I'm sorry, but it irks me to NO END the creative team he has put together for this. Tunick is a genius, but I'm not really familiar with his non-orchestration or his songwriting ability. And I'll even let Stro slide....

But Richard Nelson, who wrote THE WORST BOOK IN THE HISTORY OF MUSICAL THEATRE (CHESS-Bway) and ELLEN FITZHUGH, who's MUSCLE contains the WORST lyrics I have ever heard is the best he could come up with?! Hal Prince - the king of Broadway?! If that's the case, we have very dark days ahead of us.

And a jukebox score (Strauss ain't SMOKEY JOE'S but still...) to top it off.

And a cast that excites the Broadway nerd in me but which will spell doom at the boxoffice.

Call it LOVEMUSIK 2 and be done with it. NO ONE will see this on Broadway!

Who wants to bet it never gets out of the Menier?

I don't want to bash this, but every single sign points to FLOP.

I want Hal Prince to direct anything he wants, but this... THIS?

P

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 3:06pm

>I don't want to bash this<

And yet, you just did.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 3:08pm

I bashed the PROSPECTS, not the SHOW, Smaxie.

There will be plenty of time to bash the SHOW come Spring!

P

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 3:59pm

Maybe it will be good.

[MikeT73]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 1:24am

Hal Prince and Susan Stroman CO-directing? It's pretty rare to see two seasoned pros (especially considering one is a theater legend) share directing duties on a show, but that combination is definitely intriguing.
Updated On: 9/23/09 at 01:24 AM

[once a month]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 9:28am

I'm leery...think Grind, think Thou Shalt Not, Big, and even Young Frankenstein. There should be some good back stage stories....