Desperately Seeking Susan Musical Disaster

[Blackoutpete]

I was the unlucky Yank who wrote the West End musical adaptation of the Madonna movie which used the hit songs of Blondie. It closed after a month. Whoops! So I wrote a solo comedy show about the experience, and now that true tale will be told with the help of Christina Bianco, Adam Feldman, Alison Fraser and more. If you love musicals, you'll wanna be at the show on May 19. Use discount code TOMATO and save $5. Info at www.seekingtheexit.com.

[Dolly80]

Well no wonder it flopped ..

“I was the unlucky yank who write the..”

[Blackoutpete]

Hahahah! This is what happens when I post before yoga.

[antonijan]

Yankee or Yanker

[gypsy101]

i used to have a copy of a live audio recording (it must have been a bootleg i guess? but the audio was very high quality so maybe not) and thought the performances were fun but i was mostly confused as to like... why it existed? like, why the songs of blondie with that movie? was the only connection that they were both from the 80’s? i’ve only seen the movie one time but didn’t remember blondie even being on the soundtrack. maybe a score using madonna songs would have made more sense since she was the star of the film, but i guess that probably would have been to expensive to acquire the rights.

[CATSNYrevival]

Madonna songs for a Madonna movie? Too obvious!

[BrodyFosse123]

The only Madonna song that appears in the 1985 film is “Dress You Up.” The film was released at the very beginning of Madonna’s career, before she even had a handful of hit songs.

[TotallyEffed]

BrodyFosse123 said: "The only Madonna song that appears in the 1985 film is “Dress You Up.” The film was released at the very beginning of Madonna’s career, before she even had a handful of hit songs. "

No.

[BroadwayNYC2]

I do think the plot fo the movie holds promise for a musical adaptation with an original score. This unfortunately was not it. 

[Miles2Go2]

TotallyEffed said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "The only Madonna song that appears in the 1985 film is “Dress You Up.” The film was released at the very beginning of Madonna’s career, before she even had a handful of hit songs. "

No."

It was “Into the Groove.”  Not “Dress You Up.”  

[geoffreyC]

at least you can laugh about it now

[antonijan]

Did they find Susan?

[DeNada]

This was a truly bad show (DSS, not the author's evisceration of it which I know nothing about!).  The travelators... the ear-splitting sound... Andy Blankenbuehler at his overchoreographed, posiest worst... the nonsensical use of Blondie songs - the bit in the second act which solely existed to sing Maria where the maid cut loose...

Ouch, it was terrible.

[Blackoutpete]

The recording is available via the show website on the Soundcloud icon www.seekingtheexit.com

[Blackoutpete]

Yes! The intent was not to write a Madonna jukebox musical but a Blondie musical.

[Blackoutpete]

That is incorrect. The only Madonna song in the movie (and a snippet of which appeared in the musical) is Into the Groove.

[Blackoutpete]

Oh, yes. And that's why I wrote a comedy show about the experience! Ya gotta laugh after the pain subsides.

[Blackoutpete]

Sorry you had such a bad time. It was a challenge, that's for sure. My show about the show attempts to illuminate all that went wrong without placing blame on any creative in particular. We were all on different pages.

[gypsy101]

Blackoutpete said: "Yes! The intent was not to write a Madonna jukebox musical but a Blondie musical."

yes but my question is why was that the intent? it doesn’t make sense to me

[Blackoutpete]

gypsy101 said: "Blackoutpete said: "Yes! The intent was not to write a Madonna jukebox musical but a Blondie musical."

yes but my question is why was that the intent? it doesn’t make sense to me"

It was my intent to create a Blondie musical. I was inspired by the film DSS and upon studying the film and the songs of Blondie, it seemed to be a perfect match. And then producer after producer and even a Tony-winning director (the original one) seemed to feel the same way. After three intense workshops, it went into rehearsals and began to fall apart.

 

 

[songanddanceman2]

Well I'm just gonna jump in and say that I produced the Manchester, UK performances of 'Desperately Seeking the Exit' and for any fans of theatre or just great storytelling and comedy this is a must see. This play is a genuine treat.

I also liked Desperately Seeking Susan the Musical apart from the direction, choreography and a cast member, oh and the set

[perfectliar]

BrodyFosse123 said: "The only Madonna song that appears in the 1985 film is “Dress You Up.” The film was released at the very beginning of Madonna’s career, before she even had a handful of hit songs. "

By the time Susan was released, she had 8 singles. Two were #1 on the charts and three others were top 10. Seven of the eight were top 10 on the dance charts.

So no.

[TotallyEffed]

Brody makes things up all the time.

[BrodyFosse123]

Brody makes things up all the time.

[GhostXmasPast]

Today’s stop in the way back machine.

https://youtu.be/hbGvv-IXO1Y

Avoid if you have aversion to strobes, cliches, crowds dancing with their hands above their heads, or Blondie in general.