Bombshell Benefit Concert

[darquegk]

Well, we all knew or hoped it was inevitable. I wonder how much of the original television cast we will see, and if they will be presenting a semblance of book, the way they did for Hit List. Given that the presentation of that show wound up being unexpectedly well received, perhaps this will finally determine if Bombshell works onstage or not.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

What a cool piece of news! I always disliked the concept of Bombshell (a Marilyn Monroe musical just doesn't make sense in my opinion) but I did enjoy the songs. I'm glad they're doing this and I hope tickets won't be too expensive...

[henriquefho]

can't believe this is real!!!!!

[CarlosAlberto]

a Marilyn Monroe musical just doesn't make sense in my opinion..

Why not? There have been many historical figures that have had musicals created around them or their lives.

Fiorello H. La Guardia, Leo Frank, Eva Peron, Jesus Christ, Gypsy Rose Lee, Imelda Marcos as well as numerous U.S. Presidents...to name but a few. So why not Marilyn Monroe?

[gcal]

Finally, we'll get to see the Shadow Marilyns onstage!!

[rjm516]

This is the happiest news.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

You're absolutely right Carlos, but I just don't think Marilyn's story is one that could be properly told onstage, is all.

[Liza's Headband]

....Why?

[jacobsnchz14]

Anybody's story can translate to the stage... it's just how it's constructed by book and music/lyrics. I have respect for all the writers who write stuff like this and theatricalize someone's life cause it's no easy task that's for sure!

[haterobics]

I'm trying not to be excited until they announce pricing...

[Liza's Headband]

Honestly, that doesn't really seem to stop you from buying tickets to basically everything.

[haterobics]

Heh, I skip a lot of things because of pricing.

[Starship]

Exciting! I hope they're doing Bombshell though and not Smash/Hit List.

[haterobics]

Well, the press release did say "a one-night-only concert presentation of BOMBSHELL - The Marilyn Monroe musical." So, that doesn't seem to be in question.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

I can't really explain why I feel that way. Maybe it's knowing how it's going to end and therefore finding it hard to root for the Marilyn character? But I am really not sure. Either way- I will probably try to get to this.

[Liza's Headband]

Can't that be said of really any movie, musical, or other literary adaptation based in history? Whether it be a person or event, the "end" or conclusion is usually already known by the audience.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

That's 100% true...and maybe I am figuring out why I have a problem with this one...is the way this adaptation treats its source material. I feel that the best historical adaptations don't sugarcoat the real story. Obviously you add and omit things for dramatic flow purposes, but the core of what happened is very much there. When I heard "Cut Print Moving On" from Smash, it felt to me like Bombshell was setting up Marilyn to be some kind of redeemed underdog and that her story is an inspirational one. Which, in my opinion, it is not...

I hope I'm making some sense...

[Sutton Ross]

I WAS IT WAS TOMORROW!!!!

[haterobics]

Based on seeing Hit List at 54 Below, I don't think these really hold up well as cohesive standalone shows, so I wouldn't go too deep trying to sort them out. Not to mention, even in the context of the show they were cutting, adding, and moving numbers. So, they aren't all going to fit together well...

[darquegk]

I thought HIt List worked better at 54 Below than it did on the show, because things were not necessarily "as they were on TV." Changes were made, primarily to book and distribution of songs. Was it seamless? Not exactly, but you could say that of any musical that begins as a concept album and not as a libretto with songs that support it.

The use or disuse of book for Bombshell will be interesting, because the TV show experimented with so many ways of telling Marilyn's story, without ever cohesively showing us exactly HOW they ended up doing it. It moved from a highly conceptual "shadow Marilyns" to a straightforward representational style, but with elements that suggested Norma Jean and Marilyn as distinct personalities.

It took me until seeing the book to "Hit List" to realize that both shows were the same plot: the tale of a small-town girl with relatively good looks and relatively malleable talent, turned into a stylized and highly artificial pop-star symbol by ultimately uncaring media machines, struggling to keep up with the act and ultimately dying of it.

[TFMH18]

I wonder who in the cast will be involved. Is it too presumptuous to say Megan Hilty is inevitable? (I for one will not consider buying a ticket if she is not).

[darquegk]

We know it won't be McPhee. She is both too busy and not the one primarily featured or well showcased by Bombshell. I would assume Hilty would do the concert barring any bigger engagement, but you never know.

[qolbinau]

Megan Hilty performing "Don't Forget Me" live will be an event!

Hopefully Bernadette can stop by and sing her songs, too.

[somechrysanthemumtea]

hope its recorded!

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

I'm with qolbinau. If they get Bernadette Peters to be part of this it will be really something. What's the venue again?