Havana, Bonnie & Clyde, or The Count of Monte Cristo

[ErinDillyFan]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 3:09pm

Will any of Frank Wildhorn's recent musicals make it to broadway?

I guess I should add a fourth: Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure Updated On: 1/26/10 at 03:09 PM

[Annas_Priest]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 3:11pm

We can only pray... NO

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 3:25pm

As much as I love Wildhorn, I think it would be a pretty brave/foolhardy venture to want to produce a Wildhorn show on Broadway. Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Civil War and Dracula all flopped on Broadway. If I were a Broadway producer, I would almost consider his shows a financial liability.

[sweetTb'way]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 4:45pm

Mark my words....and I know it's a bold prediction.....

"Wonderland" WILL make it to Broadway. Not sure when, but it will.

As for the others, no idea.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 4:53pm

Bonnie & Clyde was beyond brilliant with a surprising twist for a Wildhorn show in that the book by Ivan Menchell was actually good! This show deserves to be on Broadway, but will, unfortunately, have a tough time finding any investors with Wildhorn's name attached. Since history loves to repeat itself this will inevitably cause years of revisions and then the show that ends up on Broadway will bare little resemblance to the show that played in La Jolla and will probably flop miserably in New York.
Updated On: 1/26/10 at 04:53 PM

[umgeoboy]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 5:00pm

I agree with CATS that Bonnie and Clyde was a great show and had a well written book. But the subject material will keep it from broadway...which is sad! I am glad I flew to SD to see it when I did.

On the other hand, Wonderland will reach Broadway (IMO). I have seen the show a few times in Houston and the writers/producers have high expectations for this show. It is a fun show with a lot of energy.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 5:17pm

Recent press seems to indicate that WONDERLAND is more likely to go on tour than it is to move to Broadway.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 5:18pm

I'm sort of surprised Waiting for the Moon stalled. I remember the score getting good reviews.

[umgeoboy]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 5:34pm

Waiting for the Moon did get decent reviews and some award nominations. The theatre that it premiered at no longer exists which may have contributed to something. Also, it was supposed to ahve another premier in NC that feel through...who knows? It was a good show that just needed some fine tuning.

According the people that be, there are currently no definitive plans for Wonderland after Houston. They are still negotiating and figuring out the next move.

[philly03]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 7:27pm

Waiting for the Moon was produced in part with the Lenape Valley Performing Arts Center...which still exists. Unfortunately they do not produce new works really anymore, seem to be in big need of some cash flow and have been having mostly concerts (just saw Linda Eder there!). It's also...in a highschool, it's bizarre!

Wonderland seems to either be heading for tour (what I've been hearing as well - especially since it would appear the creatives want to mimic the Jekyll & HYDE creative process!) or Broadway, but not this season. This project has been in the works for YEARS (legitimate years, not one of those "oh we've been working on it since 1999" but they've be continously working on it from 2007 onward, when it announced it's world premiere in Tampa).


Count of Monte Cristo has no big plans that I'm aware of, wouldn't be surprised if that finds itself on Broadway eventually! Really like this score, some great music!

Bonnie & Clyde won't be Broadway bound. It's to be assumed the production (whcih for a typical Wildhorn production could be described as rushed and last minute) was created so that it would be out before the new movie remake, and several other musical versions could be produced.

Rumor has it HAVANA!'s current producers have plans to bring it to Broadway next season. True? Not sure, and considering a synopsis still hasn't been posted and only about 4 songs are published, it's hard to say how good of an idea that is! I'd say this sounds like the second best (behind WONDERLAND) for chances of getting to Broadway. They had discussions with producers back in 2000 to bring it to Broadway with Linda Eder in the leading role of Natalie.

Re: Waiting for the Moon - many reviews disliked the way the story unfolded and was constructed, often just randomly leaving information out (I remember one was something about an illness Zelda had that she'd be taken medication for until Act II when they randomly brought it up!). Score was pretty good, some very good lyrics, some bizarre ones, but good. The awards were the Barrymore Awards...aka Philadelphia theatre awards, and I'm honestly not sure how big of a deal they'd be (Similar to Tale of Two Cities' 10 Sarasota Theatre Awards...).

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 8:01pm

As a Wildhorn fan, he might want to try one of the smaller shows Off Broadway. It might be easier to get financing than if he tried Broadway

No matter how good the show is, the critics will hate it.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 8:09pm

CAMILLE CLAUDEL is the only halfway decent score he has ever written, and that show is totally MIA. I also like a few songs from SVENGALI. The rest of the shows are complete and utter trash.

P

[pennypingleton1994]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 8:49pm

I really hope that Bonnie and Clyde has another carnation. I loved the show, and I hope it does well. It's brilliant.

[philly03]

Posted: 1/26/10 at 8:56pm

Ah I forgot that one PGenre. That is my favourite Wildhorn score actually.

Unfortunately that piece was undeniably written for Linda Eder, so perhaps that is one reason why that has not been brought back since the two split. Also, it apparently was projected to cost a lot of money (didn't see it at Goodspeed, so can't comment on any of that!) to put up!

[dented146]

Posted: 1/27/10 at 1:56am

I feel parts of Bonnie and Clyde were fabulous. But I also felt that several of the negative reviews were spot on about certain problems with the book. The flow and creativity in the second act were very special; as were many of the musical numbers. But the first act was slow and not nearly good enough for Broadway.

It needs work. It may have great potential but I bet Wonderland has had a hundred times the creative effort.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/27/10 at 2:36am

Bonnie and Clyde may have had a few little problems in the first act, but I worry about Frank trying to make any changes to it as his shows tend to get worse every time he tries to "fix" them instead of getting better.

[sweetTb'way]

Posted: 1/27/10 at 12:48pm

Judging from the changes between Tampa & Houston, "Wonderland" is definitely benefiting from creative effort. Not quite there yet but lots of promise as a family fun, eye candy, catchy score kind of musical.

Be assured that this show will hit Broadway by spring 2011 if not fall of 2010.