WHT 'First Wives Club' Broadway musical ?

[David10086]

Years ago, there was talk of bringing the movie 'The First Wives Club' to Broadway as a musical. A number of actresses were bounced around to star, and I do remember Olivia Newton-John was 'being wooed' (yes, ONJ!)  as well as Stockard Channing. As for the third wife, I had heard Tyne Daly's name mentioned as a definite, and even Delta Burke. I  know many other Broadway and movie actresses were mentioned as well.  IIRC, the premiere was to be in LA and then move to Broadway after some out-of-town tryouts.

I haven't heard much in the past few years, though I believe they were having out-of-town tryouts in some cities. Has this also fallen by the wayside, or is it still in the pipeline for B'way?  Any news on who they're trying for these days to star ?

By the way, I did read ONJ's memoir last month and she does mention she's been offered a number of acting projects over the years, but doesn't name any (and she mentions she'd rather be performing with her concerts where she has more freedom, rather than locked into a movie project or theater project where she has to 'commit to  so many months'

Thanks for any info !

[fashionguru_23]

There was a production at Old Globe in San Diego years ago. Then there was a rewritten version a couple of years ago that played Chicago. Both weren't so hot.

[n2nbaby]

It was a hilarious, god awful mess. There is a great bootleg on YouTube and I’m glad it was preserved. It has to be seen to be believed.

This thing isn’t ever coming to New York. It’s dead.

[David10086]

Thanks for the info guys and gals  ! Did either of you see it ? Did anyone on this forum see it ?

 

[n2nbaby]

I didn’t see it (live) but it was a hoot. So, so, so bad. There was definitely a review thread from when it was in Chicago!

[BalconyClub]

From the get go in Chicago, it was a rough night. The artwork on the front curtain was light years away from what was printed on the Playbill cover.

[ABB2357]

Believe it or not, this summer is the 10th anniversary of FIRST WIVES CLUB at the Old Globe! How time flies, although my two experiences seeing it were unforgettable (the less said about the Chicago run the better, where it went from being a magnificent disaster to a merely bland and unmemorable one).

Here are a few hilarious threads with reports and memories. If I find any others, I'll post them as well:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1101587

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1034487

[mar6411]

Oops - I see I was not the only one with the idea to search.

n2nbaby's comment about a review thread brought back memories so I did a search.  Interesting - lots of threads about the many iterations.  These are just a few - the most current.  I was surprised how many there were.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1101587#4931041

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1080591#4635780

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1074292#4558804

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1034487#4632447

[ABB2357]

FWC was a very popular topic on the boards back in the day! It's a "favorite" of mine and I maintain that if the San Diego iteration had come to Broadway, it would have been a Carrie-level flop legend.

[David10086]

ABB2357 said: "Believe it or not, this summer is the 10th anniversary of FIRST WIVES CLUB at the Old Globe! How time flies, although my two experiences seeing it were unforgettable (the less said about the Chicago run the better, where it went from being a magnificent disaster to a merely bland and unmemorable one).

Here are a few hilariousthreads with reports and memories. If I find anyothers, I'll post them as well:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1101587

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1034487"

OMG, thank you for these links! I'm dying of laughter reading these. I can't believe a show could be this bad...no wonder ONJ didn't mention it by name in her memoir. Smart enough to be completely removed from it!  Please people - share some stories ! 

[David10086]

ABB2357 said: "FWC was a very popular topic on the boards back in the day! It's a "favorite" of mine and I maintain that if the San Diego iterationhad come to Broadway, it would have been a Carrie-level flop legend."

I must say, I love your posts the best!  I can not stop laughing! 

Thank you for the funny posts! 

[MrsSallyAdams]

The 2015 Chicago version was vulgar. They started with the screenplay, then added crass jokes like Bette Midler's character peeing herself, Diane Keaton's character wearing an ugly cheer-leader outfit to seduce her husband and one of the husbands wearing an unflattering thong.

The first act was repetitive. Each wife (The talented Faith Prince, Carmen Cussack and Christine Sherril) caught their husband cheating and sang a boring power ballad. Lots of people left at intermission but I decided to hold out. The second act "improved" as the revenge plot took focus. The gay sidekick and mistresses got bland comedy numbers. One husband sang a weird car commercial number where the chorus boys danced in red Football uniforms.

I've read the mistresses were played by one actress originally. Here they were split into three. Morgan Weed did best in the SJP role because the character was already written as crass and didn't receive "enhancing" from the book writers.

They couldn't get the rights to "You Don't Own Me" so they included endless reprises of "I'll Be There" by the Four Tops. If they'd made the whole evening Motown numbers they could have gone the Mama Mia jukebox route.

More reviews: https://www.theatreinchicago.com/first-wives-club/7287/

[zainmax]

I saw it in Chicago, and, while it was enjoyable, it wasn't anything great. Morgan Weed was a stand-out, and it was my first time seeing Carmen Cusack.

I can confirm that the show is dead.

[IdinaBellFoster]

I am still RED-DAY for this musical.

[gleek4114]

I was too young to have seen it in San Diego, but I made a special trip to see it in Chicago. I knew the lore of the show’s previous run, and figured seeing Faith Prince and Carmen Cusack would be worth it no matter what. I enjoyed the show for what it was, but it has become (and will stay) one of those “you were either there or you weren’t” shows.

[devonian.t]

Too banal to be "Carrie-level".  More like Good Vibrations level.

[pc1145N]

I saw it in Chicago. The "highlight" was seeing Faith Prince and Carmen Cusack live. Other than that it was a cringeworty evening that could have been done better by a mid level high school troupe.

[BeNice]

I saw it in San Diego and Chicago. Brad Oscar and Sarah Chase were great in their roles at Old Globe but both prods never matched the movie in wit, drama, or entertainment. Too bad. Seems like a great idea on paper.