THE SANDMAN musical (Oberacker/Taylor)

[Fan123]

Posted: 12/1/17 at 5:34pm

I think this show by the creators of BANDSTAND (Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor) has been around for a few years; a recent reading might indicate that they're angling for a more major US production. Just wondering if anybody has seen an incarnation of this show and/or has any opinions on it? It's based on some of E.T.A. Hoffmann's stories.

A demo cast recording with Mary Testa and Patrick Page can be downloaded: https://thesandmanmusical.com/.

A trailer from a past Danish production: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TaAWP784LY

A 2013 interview with the creators: https://namt.org/2013/09/festival-countdown-get-to-know-the-sandman/

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/2/17 at 8:07pm

I went to the October reading in NYC  and thought the score was quite ambitious and wonderful. Its storytelling is somehow evocative of Elfman's Nightmare Before Christmas (If far darker). Goes without saying that it's nothing like Bandstand. But a haunting piece.  Oberacker's work is especially vivid, and Julia Murney played the lead at the reading and took the roof off.  

With elements of Frankenstein and even, oddly (wild thought, iconic film, not show), Metropolis, the fantastical finally becomes real by the poignant end. One song, Still Here Inside, (listen to the demo) is maybe the underlying metaphor of the whole show, summing up the ways you capture the ineffable.  About death, grief, the terror of raising -- and being -- a child. 

That said, no real idea of its commercial prospects. It's that dark. 

Updated On: 12/2/17 at 08:07 PM

[Fan123]

Posted: 12/4/17 at 2:59am

Hmm, colour me intrigued. Thank you for the insights. It does indeed sound very dark; in the 2013 interview the creators cite the show's borderline-unsuitability for children as a strength, but I imagine that potential producers wouldn't see it that way. I guess the show's prospects might slightly increase if Disney's Nutcracker film next year provides a big signal boost to all things Hoffmann, but that's drawing a long bow. We'll see.

[Fan123]

Posted: 3/25/20 at 3:38am

A passing line in this recent article (mostly about 'Bandstand' ) mentions: "Another musical of theirs, 'The Sandman', will soon get a full production in Las Vegas this fall." Obviously the probability of that actually happening is uncertain in the current situation; but it's interesting to know that this might be in the works at some stage.

https://dailygazette.com/article/2020/03/12/musical-bandstand-comes-to-proctors

 

(Edit: off-topic, but it's sad to see that the Fredericia Theater in Denmark, whose past production trailer I linked above, has recently declared bankruptcy. Sounds as though it was a combination of coronavirus difficulties and other issues: https://www.kxan36news.com/fredericia-theatre-is-declared-bankrupt. I've never been there, but have heard about them for having done interesting-sounding things in the past: this show, LIZZIE and THE PRINCE OF EGYPT.)

Updated On: 3/25/20 at 03:38 AM

[hak5]

Posted: 3/25/20 at 4:55pm

I read the thread title and thought is was a show based on Neil Gaiman's graphic novel series.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 3/25/20 at 5:43pm

Where in Vegas?

[dragstravaganza]

Posted: 5/18/21 at 11:44am

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT: [e-mail]

 

MAJESTIC REPERTORY RETURNS

WITH AMERICAN PREMIERE OF THE SANDMAN

BY BROADWAY WRITERS OBERACKER AND TAYLOR

 

LAS VEGAS - Since 2016, Las Vegas's award-winning Majestic Repertory Theatre has been home to a very diverse group of theatre artists: actors, writers, directors, and designers. Majestic’s work - particularly in immersive and experiential productions - has been featured in national and global media, including The New York Times, USA Today, CNN, Good Morning America, and more.

 

Like many arts organizations around the world, however, Majestic was severely impacted by the COVID pandemic. The doors closed in March 2020, and although they have been experimenting with distanced performances, they plan to return to full indoor productions in Fall 2021.

 

To mark that special occasion, they will produce the American premiere of THE SANDMAN - a new musical by the writers of the Tony-winning Broadway musical BANDSTAND, Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor, directed by Majestic Artistic Director Troy Heard.

 

Drawn from the more nightmarish fantasy of E.T.A. Hoffmann, author of The Nutcracker, comes a new and darkly comic musical tale – THE SANDMAN. When the family of an ingenious German clockmaker engages a new nanny to care for the children, a series of bizarre and unnatural events begin to unfold. As the Strauss family is thrust ever deeper into chaos, the sinister forces at play are revealed – forces from which only the children may be able to save them.

 

Producing THE SANDMAN is an opportunity for the award-winning theatre company to make an impactful return to live production in their 99-seat storefront in the heart of the Las Vegas Arts District.

 

The writers selected Majestic Repertory Theater for their American premiere because of its reputation for tackling daring, new works. Originally slated for Fall 2020, Majestic Rep is excited to finally bring this Little Nightmare Musical to gleefully ghoulish light. Casting will be announced shortly.

 

Performances of The Sandman will begin October 27, 2021, at Majestic Repertory Theatre, 1217 S. Main Street, Las Vegas, NV, 89104. Tickets will go on sale in September at www.majesticrepertory.com.

 

[Fan123]

Posted: 6/17/21 at 6:10am

Taylor and Oberacker talk about the show in this video:

https://vimeo.com/548503059

[willep]

Posted: 6/17/21 at 8:28am

hak5 said: "I read the thread title and thought is was a show based on Neil Gaiman's graphic novel series. "

Me too, I was very intrigued. Still am, but it was a slight disappointment haha