The Mad Ones (previously "Samantha Brown") at 59e59

[JBroadway]

I did a search and couldn't find a thread on this yet. I'm really excited for this! "The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown" has been re-named, and now it's receiving (I believe) its first major NYC production. I'm assuming the new title is a nod to the Jack Kerouac quote. 

http://www.59e59.org/moreinfo.php?showid=289

I wonder if this will be considered a new musical or a revival for awards purposes. Do the Drama Desks,  Lortel Awards, etc. have the equivalent of the "classics rule"? The show has existed for the better part of a decade, but has it been "in development" the whole time (a la The Visit)? It's been produced regionally, and several of the songs (particularly "Run Away With Me"   have become standards in the MT/cabaret world.

In any case, I'm very curious to see it. I fell in love with the show when I was a senior in high school, and the show really spoke to me on a deep level - more so than many comparable coming of age stories. I don't know if it will have the same effect on me now, but the show is close to my heart, and I'm excited to see what they've done with it. 

[AC126748]

I wonder if this will be considered a new musical or a revival for awards purposes. Do the Drama Desks,  Lortel Awards, etc. have the equivalent of the "classics rule"? 

Since the show has never had a single run in New York, it would 100% be considered a new musical.

[Alex Kulak2]

I saw the recording of it on YouTube when it was Samantha Brown. I'm curious to see how it's changed.

[neonlightsxo]

Yeah it's not just the first major production in NY, it's the first production.

I've always loved the music. The problem at Goodspeed IMO was the book. 

[musikman]

I didn't see the show at goodspeed but I can tell you the book has gone through some major revisions and rewrites, and they're continuing to work on it.  

[nkayyy]

Very cool! "Run Away With Me" is such a great song, and I'd be interested to hear a full cast recording.

[notalwaysontime]

So sad right now, Bandstand and Great Comet close a month before my new york trip and this starts a month after. I mean there's plenty of good shows to go see, but I would have LOVED to see this.

[AC126748]

I find Kerrigan and Lowdermilk's career trajectory really interesting. For a time in the early/mid 2000s, it seemed like they were THE young musical theater songwriters in New York, the next big thing, lots of interest around them, etc. And then it just kind of never happened. They've written a lot of music but have had very few productions in New York. 

[neonlightsxo]

As a fan, I have to wonder if that was a book(s) issue, AC...

The songs are great and stand alone. Maybe the books are the problem. 

[AC126748]

Having seen Samantha Brown when it was done at Goodspeed in 2011, I would say there's some truth to that. The show itself just wasn't coming together in any meaningful way. And while some of the music was really good, there was plenty that wasn't memorable, and some songs didn't really seem to serve the show. Perhaps it's a case of needing an actual librettist rather than trying to do it yourself. We'll see with this production.

More globally, it just surprises me how much of a nonstarter their career has been. I guess they've remained in the musical theater consciousness through cabarets and concerts, but they've written a whole lot of shows that just haven't gotten produced. And they've been dwarfed by a lot of composer/lyricist teams who started after them (hi Pasek and Paul). Not that any of this is out of the ordinary, but there was just so much buzz around them when they were starting out, it just has always been really intriguing to be how they never took off in terms of getting their actual shows produced.

[musikman]

http://www.playbill.com/article/newsies-ben-fankhauser-krystina-alabado-and-more-to-star-in-the-mad-ones-musical

[asmith0307]

Fankhauser singing "Run Away With Me"? Yeah, I'll go. 

[RndmAnswrs4RndmQstns]

I'm so excited! I loved Samantha Brown and it'll be really fun to see Emma Hunton and Ben Fankhauser.

[JBroadway]

Interesting that the article says "An additional cast member will be announced at a later date." Emphasis on "AN." They specified that it was one more cast member, as opposed to the usual "additional casting." The original show had both of her parents as key characters. Will she only have one parent in this version? If so, I'm guessing it'll be her mom. I can see them cutting "My dad is a statistician" but not "I Know My Girl." That would mean "I Wouldn't Change Anything" would probably be a solo rather than a duet, which could work, but the usual duet arrangement is very beautiful. 

[AC126748]

I received a press release about the casting which said "the role of Samantha's mother is TBA," which leads me to believe the father role has been cut. 

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

I really like this casting. I have a weakness for this show, so I'm happy too see it continue to flourish. This and Tales from the Bad Years are just simple, relatable stories.

[MadonnaMusical]

JBroadway said: "I did a search and couldn't find a thread on this yet. I'm really excited for this! "The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown" has been re-named, and now it's receiving (I believe)its first major NYC production. I'm assuming the new title is a nod to the Jack Kerouac quote.

http://www.59e59.org/moreinfo.php?showid=289

I wonder if this will be considered a new musical or a revival for awards purposes.Do the Drama Desks, Lortel Awards, etc. have the equivalent of the "classics rule"? The show has existed for the better part of a decade, but has it been "in development" the whole time (a la The Visit)?It's been produced regionally, and several of the songs (particularly "Run Away With Me"   have become standards in the MT/cabaret world.

In any case, I'm very curious to see it. I fell in love with the show when I was a senior in high school, and the show really spoke to me on a deep level - more so than many comparable coming of age stories. I don't know if it will have the same effect on me now, but the show is close to my heart, and I'm excited to see what they've done with it."

New. It has never been licensed, it's always been in development... hence the new title I think. 

[carolinaguy]

I wonder if the title change is to avoid confusion with well-known TV travel host and QVC spokesperson Samantha Brown?

[AC126748]

carolinaguy said: "I wonder if the title change is to avoid confusion with well-known TV travel host and QVC spokesperson Samantha Brown?"

Or maybe it's because THE UNAUTHORIZED AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SAMANTHA BROWN is an incredibly clunky title.

[ArielSara2]

Just got notified that the first preview (tomorrow) was cancelled and my tickets are being refunded. I'm going to buy later in the run. I haven't seen anything further about this.

[wish i were here2]

I wonder why it was cancelled. D:

[AmeliaBedelia]

I couldn't find specifics about why the first preview was cancelled, but I did find a tweet from Kerrigan and Lowdermilk on Twitter (https://twitter.com/kaitandbrian/status/927727257027796992) explaining it is due to an unforeseeable medical issue. Hope everyone's OK. 

Also, props to Kait for being incredibly nice and offering to meet up for drinks with the distraught fan who is in town just for one night to see the performance that has now been cancelled.

[Emmaloucbway]

Jay Armstrong Johnson has joined the cast for this week while Ben Fankhauser is on vocal rest


https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/THE-MAD-ONES-Cancels-First-Preview-Off-Broadway-Ben-Fankhauser-on-Vocal-Rest-20171107

[wish i were here2]

Gasp! Guess I'm seeing Jay Armstrong Johnson tomorrow! :O

I hope Ben is okay though!

[RippedMan]

Def. a vocal improvement in my book.