Now THIS is a show I would love to see back on Broadway with a stellar cast and amazing set designs. It has such glorious music.
I won't pretend to know who would be the best cast. I just know it is long overdue! My favorite duet for Lily's Eyes will always be Anthony Warlow and Philip Quast. Yes, I know, very old school, but that me...very old school with a young heart.
I went to the opening night of the original production (as a guest of one of the producers). Daisy Eagan was a marvel (she would make a good Martha in a revival) and the rest of the cast excellent with the notable exception of Mandy Patinkin (he was SO miscast and his HAM acting and singing was a distraction from an otherwise beautiful show). The sets by Heidi Landesman were some of the most beautiful I've ever seen on a Broadway stage and Tharon Musser created her usual stage lighting magic.
"The sets by Heidi Landesman were some of the most beautiful I've ever seen on a Broadway stage and Tharon Musser created her usual stage lighting magic."
I was lucky enough to see the original tour, and though the sets probably were slightly scaled down, it remains one of the most physically gorgeous productions I've seen. (And of course the score is gorgeous. I wish Lucy Simon would write more--Iknow Zhivago hasn't exactly thrilled people in its California and Australian runs, but I'd love to hear a recording.)
I am DYING to see this show revived! Who do you think would play Mary, Dickon & Colin? Don't anyone dare say Lila Crawford for Mary. I think they should be unknowns.
THE SECRET GARDEN is one of my favorite shows, but it needed more tightening and stronger direction than it got, and the major critics were not kind. Still, the score is gorgeous, Jason Daniely and Will Chase would be amazing, and any number of wonderful sopranos could do Lily beautifully. I was always sorry that I didn't go out to see the Paper Mill production.
I love this show. The score is just stunning and it was just a wonderful production to watch. I still have the signed show card and sigh each time I see it. That being said, there is a glut of family shows right now with Annie, Lion King, Cinderella, Wicked, Matilda etc. If someone starts to plan this now, it a few season when some have gone it would be a perfect time. I'd also LOVE for them to to a concert staging for PBS to hear the score with a big big orchestra.