Pre-Broadway Run of "Roman Holiday" in San Francisco
Pre-Broadway Run of "Roman Holiday" in San Francisco
#1Pre-Broadway Run of "Roman Holiday" in San Francisco
Posted: 3/23/16 at 1:52pm
I'm thrilled to bits. I was already making plans to go to SF in the summer time. Now, I have an even better reason to do so. https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/ROMAN-HOLIDAY-Musical-to-Receive-Pre-Broadway-Premiere-in-San-Francisco-NEVERLAND-More-Set-for-SHNs-2016-17-Season-20160323
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
Updated On: 3/23/16 at 01:52 PM
Lilly7
Stand-by Joined: 7/7/15
#2Pre-Broadway Run of
Posted: 3/23/16 at 2:16pm
The musical, which combines the plot of the 1953 film with the music of Cole Porter, has been in development for years — an early version was staged at the Muny in St. Louis in 2001, and a reworked version at the Guthrie Theaterin Minneapolis in 2012.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/artsbeat/2016/03/23/musical-adaptation-of-roman-holiday-is-broadway-bound/?_r=0&referer=
Has anyone seen the previous versions?
#3Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 2:21pm
Huh, I didn't know they were using Cole Porter songs. At least those are fun! tried watching the movie once three years ago or so, I fell asleep during it.
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."
#4Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 2:24pm
Why Cole Porter? Are there Cole Porter songs in the movie? (I've never seen it so I'm genuinely asking.)
Updated On: 3/23/16 at 02:24 PM
#5Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 2:55pm
As a huge fan of the movie, this seems odd. No, no Cole Porter songs are in the movie. I think it could work, definitely, depending on which songs they decided to go with. I wonder who they'll cast for the lead. An unknown or a previously established Broadway lady?
They/them.
"Get up the nerve to be all you deserve to be."
KnewItWhenIWasInFron
Leading Actor Joined: 6/23/14
#6Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 3:06pm
I wonder how this differs from the "Roman Holiday" musical they did at the Guthrie in 2012, which was also meant to be a "pre-Broadway" run. I know Jerry Zaks saw that one, to gauge interest, and did not become involved.
#7Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 3:10pm
This story lends itself to a musical treatment, but I wish it was an original score. This doesn't need to be a jukebox musical.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#8Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 3:10pm
I think a new fresh face would be appropriate since I don't think Audrey Hepburn was a star before she appeared in the film.
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."
Updated On: 3/23/16 at 03:10 PM
#9Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 3:20pm
The more I think about it, Cole Porter is the wrong style and voice for these characters. It sounds "off" to me, like they're trying to wedge popular period songs into a story without regard for whether or not they suit it.
Frothy, witty, and sophisticated are not adjectives I would use to describe this story about a princess who escapes her life and ends up spending a day incognito with a reporter on the streets of Rome. If anything, it should be earthy and honest and simple ... that's what she would be craving. Now if the reporter went to the palace and spent his day with royalty, I would say a Porter score could fit nicely.
I wish Adam Guettel had taken a shot at this.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Tom5
Broadway Star Joined: 9/23/11
#10Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 3:25pm
I think the best integration of a Porter score with a movie was with "Evil Under the Sun" which starred Peter Ustinov and Diana Rigg among others. The careful integration of the music with various scenes was brilliant and inspiring.
broadwaysfguy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/14
#11Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 3:32pm
This is Christmas early for me
the producers are the brothers that did beautiful
Cole porter has written some of the worlds most beautiful and clever songs
and while anything goes and kiss me kate
Are both great I don't feel either fully delivers Coles best in a single show
without knowing anything other that the story the songs and the producers and what they did with beautiful I'm very encouraged
#12Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 3:34pm
Adam Guettel would be fantastic for this. What a shame. Are there any simple Cole Porter songs that could be integrated to fit Princess Ann? I can't think of one, let alone a whole scores worth.
They/them.
"Get up the nerve to be all you deserve to be."
#13Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 3:38pm
Highlights from the production at the Guthrie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gki_QBhDEkw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WiMvl97LJ8
#14Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 3:41pm
I wish this was a musical version of the cartoon THE ROMAN HOLIDAYS. Now THAT was a great show, brah.
#15Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 4:48pm
Knowing nothing of the movie except the mouth of truth scene I'm actually intrigued by those Guthrie clips. Aside from that first song from High Society (I think?) the rest of the songs sound new to me.
broadwaysfguy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/14
#16Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 4:58pm
this link to the guthrie production has a few more video links and links to reviews
http://www.guthrietheater.org/plays_events/plays/roman_holiday
VintageSnarker
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
#17Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 5:20pm
" Huh, I didn't know they were using Cole Porter songs. At least those are fun! tried watching the movie once three years ago or so, I fell asleep during it."
You're kidding, right? It's one of my favorite movies. I was excited at first until I heard about the Cole Porter score. I agree, it doesn't fit. Part of the reason the movie works so well is the gender balance. It's half romance and the female protagonist coming into her own. And it's half this more serious story about the reporter and politics and responsibility. And the ending is heartbreaking but so fitting. If you make a frothy romantic comedy, you lose what makes it so special.
broadwaysfguy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/14
Ranger Tom
Leading Actor Joined: 7/6/14
#19Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 6:17pm
Very happy about this - especially that it will play in the City and close by. I can live with the Cole Porter connection but would rather have an original score.
broadwaysfguy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/14
#20Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 6:58pm
My sources provided this:
Here is the program with the 2012 Production Musical Numbers (obviously subject to change and revision.)
Some fantastic songs and I can really see this being great. More obscure songs mixed in than i thought they would do. 18 numbers from 13 lesser known shows, film, tv and an unproduced show.
"Wouldnt it be fun" is a terrific song from Alladin that was the last song Cole wrote...
I have to watch the movie now thinking about these songs. my biggest reaction to the songs is I'd love to see a stronger finale than a reprise of Experiment, because I think the relationship was much more than just an experiment for the princess.
ACT I
Overture
Once Upon a Time .PRINCESS (Ever Yours unproduced)
I’m Throwing a Ball Tonight .JOE, ENSEMBLE (Panama Hattie)
Experiment .COUNTESS, PRINCESS (Nymph Errant)
Why Shouldn’t I? .PRINCESS (Jubilee)
You Do Something to Me .JOE, ENSEMBLE (Fifty Million Frenchmen)
Let’s Be Buddies .JOE, PRINCESS (Panama Hattie)
Look What I Found .JOE, PRINCESS, ENSEMBLE (Around the World in Eighty Days)
Wouldn’t It Be Fun? .IRVING, PRINCESS, JOE (Alladin)
Most Gentlemen Don’t Like Love .FRANCESCA, PRINCESS (Leave it to Me)
Ridin’ High .JOE, PRINCESS, ENSEMBLE (Red, Hot & Blue)
ACT II
Entr’acte
A Picture of Me Without You .JOE, PRINCESS, IRVING (Jubilee)
Use Your Imagination .PRINCESS, JOE (Out of this World)
Just One of Those Things .FRANCESCA, MALE QUARTET (Jubilee)
Easy to Love .JOE (Born to Dance Movie)
Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye .PRINCESS, JOE (Seven Lively Arts)
I Sleep Easier Now .COUNTESS (Out of this World)
Night and Day .JOE (Gay Divorce)
Experiment (Reprise) .PRINCESS (Nymph Errant)
#21Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 7:05pm
Why the hell is Audrey Hepburn singing Ethel Merman songs!
Who took that meeting?
(Oops, sorry. New day at BWW.com: I'm sure it will be fabulous!)
#22Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 8:49pm
I saw the version of this that went up at the Guthrie in 2012, and my god was it boring. I hope they've made a lot of changes to the material, but their biggest struggle may be finding someone with as much charm and elegance as Hepburn - few fit the bill.
KnewItWhenIWasInFron
Leading Actor Joined: 6/23/14
#23Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 9:28pm
Agreed. Not much good about that production which was ugly, slow and seemed to kinda wish it were "My Fair Lady."
jo
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#24Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 9:49pm
One of my favorite movies!
I know it is not going to happen, but how about Keira Knightley and Hugh Jackman ?
But maybe in a film remake - it can happen 
broadwaysfguy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/27/14
#25Pre-Broadway Run of Roman Holiday
Posted: 3/23/16 at 10:58pm
Laura Osnes did the reading in 2012
and is perfect for this
I think sierra boggess could also pull it off very well
