What happened to the "Best Little Whorehouse" revival?

[DAME]

Posted: 5/27/19 at 1:03pm

Wasn't Rob Ashford and some big headlining name attached? 

 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Breaking-Brand-New-Production-of-THE-BEST-LITTLE-WHOREHOUSE-IN-TEXAS-Coming-to-Broadway-Rob-Ashford-to-Direct-20140807

Updated On: 5/27/19 at 01:03 PM

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 5/27/19 at 1:31pm

From what I heard, this project was derailed specifically because they couldn’t find a “big headlining name” for it. Chenoweth did a reading but only after at least a half a dozen other women turned it down, and I’m not sure either her camp or the producers really thought she was right for it. It’s also a tricky show to sell in the midst of the #metoo movement though, I think personally that the musical presents female empowerment in a much stronger way than most pieces of musical theatre.

[DAME]

Posted: 5/27/19 at 1:35pm

QueenAlice said: "From what I heard, this project was derailed specifically because they couldn’t find a “big headlining name” for it. Chenoweth did a reading but only after at least a half a dozen other women turned it down, and I’m not sure either her camp or the producers really thought she was right for it. It’s also a tricky show to sell in the midst of the #metoo movement though, I think personally that the musical presents female empowerment in a much stronger way than most pieces of musical theatre."

I am in total agreement.   I actually think this is a very good time for it.  

[A Director]

Posted: 5/27/19 at 3:57pm

Queen Alice and DAME -

What female empowerment?  It empowers women to be whores?  Is that what you are advocating?

"Girl You're A Woman" my ass!

[kingfan011]

Posted: 5/27/19 at 4:17pm

I'm not familiar with the show or movie. Is it just bad and dated?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/27/19 at 4:26pm

kingfan011 said: "I'm not familiar with the show or movie. Is it just bad and dated?"

The original 1978 Broadway production was Tony Award nominated in all the major categories including Best Musical and the male and female leads won Tony Awards.  It was made into a successful film adaptation starring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds and has been a regular fixture in regional and community theater and had a successful revival tour starring Ann-Margret as well as an Actor’s Fund concert staging.

Highly unlikely its considered a bad musical.  

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 5/27/19 at 4:54pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "The original 1978 Broadway production was Tony Awardnominated in all the major categories including Best Musical and the male and female leads won Tony Awards. It wasmade into a successful film adaptation starring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds and has been a regular fixture in regional and community theater and had a successful revival tour starring Ann-Margret as well as an Actor’s Fund concert staging.

Highly unlikely its considered a bad musical. "

 

I think Kingfan was asking if the subject of the show itself has aged poorly, not if the show was successful. Just because it wins awards or was successful doesn't mean the text can't age poorly. It's like the boards on here around Kiss Me Kate or Carousel aging poorly (which I should note I'm unfamiliar with so I can't give my opinion om the content, just that there has been debate around if the show stands currently). Talking about those shows are probably best for around board, but that's what Kingfan is asking for, would TBLWiT work with current audiences?

[DAME]

Posted: 5/27/19 at 5:28pm

A Director said: "Queen Alice and DAME -

What female empowerment? It empowers women to be whores? Is that what you are advocating?

"Girl You're A Woman" my ass!"

First of all.. there is nothing really wrong with being a whore.  The stigma attached to it that existed then,  obviously by your comment exists now.  So in that regard nothing has changed .   The show is fun and sweet and I would love to see a new first class production.

Updated On: 5/27/19 at 05:28 PM

[b741ma]

Posted: 11/15/19 at 5:59pm

Queen Alice

I'm not too familiar with the show but I watch a youtube chanel that talks about different Broadway musicals and they did a video on The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. From what they said it seems to me like some parts of the show have aged very well while other parts haven't so much. On the one hand it presents a positive representation of sex workers, highlights the injustice of prostitutes being punished for their work while the men who benefit from their service get off scott-free, and in one of the show's most important subplots, a woman escaping her sexually abusive father regains her sexual autonomy by working as a prostitute. I don't think that any of those elements have aged badly. In fact I think they've aged pretty well for today. I know a lot of supporters of the #metoo movement who are all for destigmatizing sex work and sex workers and I'd think they'd appreciate a show about women taking control of their own sexuality and the double standards that sexuality is subjected to in our society.

However on the other hand, other aspectss of the show haven't aged very well. Miss Mona does threaten to kick out her girls if she catches them in bed with another lady. That might not go over so well in today's time. But we revive potentially problematic musicals all the time (DoTheDood referenced Kiss Me Kate and Carousel) and sometimes old musicals are revived with small changes made. Sometimes to fit in better with the times or sometimes just to present a new way of telling the story (I personally like this as it is kind of interesting to see different visions for the same show). In the case of the first reason, it can be as simple as removing an outdated line or song or as complex as writing a whole new book and only using some of the songs. Whether or not this is right or not is a subject for another discussion but if producers are really worried about the more outdated elements of Best Little Whorehouse all they would have to do is tweak a few lines.

Although I don't know much about The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas I'm fascinated by the true story it was based on and the little snippets of songs I've heard from the show sound great, so I am hoping for a Broadway revival.

[markypoo]

Posted: 11/15/19 at 8:13pm

Anyone here see the tour with Ann-Margret?
Comments? Opinions?

[DAME]

Posted: 11/15/19 at 9:21pm

markypoo said: "Anyone here see the tour with Ann-Margret?
Comments? Opinions?"

Yes.  She couldn’t sing.  She couldn’t move .  But  it was fun.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 11/15/19 at 11:22pm

markypoo said: "Anyone here see the tour with Ann-Margret?
Comments? Opinions?"

Her mobility was a huge issue on the tour. I know she had been in a motorcycle accident right around the time the tour launched, so I don't know if that was what was causing it (I also seem to recall mention of rheumatoid arthritis), but she spent a good majority of the show in a wheelchair. Her sultry, lounge-crooner voice was also very ill-suited to the score. As Dame said, it was fun, especially seeing a legend such as herself live, but I couldn't help but wish that whatever producer had decided to build this tour around her had picked a better vehicle. 

(I actually think that she would have made a wonderful Desiree in A Little Night Music back in the 80s or early 90s, and would be a fascinating Madame Armfeldt now)