Here's what Charles McNulty had to say for the LA Times: But the time has come to assess the work, not the hullabaloo surrounding it. So much emphasis has been placed on the technological hurdles, the notion that 'Spider-Man' is trying things that have never been attempted before in a Broadway house. What sinks the show, however, has nothing to do with glitches in the special effects. To revise a handy little political catch phrase, 'It's the storytelling, stupid.' And on that front, the failure rests squarely on Taymor's run-amok direction.
This is, after all, her vision, and it's a vision that has been indulged with too many resources, artistic and financial. The production, lacking the clarity that's born out of tough choices, adds when it should subtract, accelerates when it should slow down. Taymor's inventive staging of 'The Lion King' was a victory for the craft and commerce of theater alike. But the investors of 'Spider-Man' have inadvertently bankrolled an artistic form of megalomania.
Here's what Chris Jones had to say for the Chicago Tribune:'After the $65 million spent, the endless delays, the injuries, the cast changes, the incessant spinning of stories on the Web, Julie Taymor's 'Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark' now has to be willing to stand in the light. Deck chairs can be rearranged forever.
Here's what Jeremy Gerard had to say for Bloomberg:'Preview number 65 was no improvement over number 30. In fact, it was worse. After all this expenditure of talent and money, 'Spider- Man' is probably unfixable because too much has gone into making humans fly, which is not what they are good at. It imitates poorly what the 'Spider-Man' movies do brilliantly with computer graphics -- and without putting live actors in jeopardy.
Here's what the Washington Post had to say:If you're going to spend $65 million and not end up with the best musical of all time, I suppose there's a perverse distinction in being one of the worst.
What's apparent after 170 spirit-snuffing minutes in the Foxwoods Theatre - interrupted by the occasional burst of aerial distraction - is that director Julie Taymor, of 'The Lion King' fame, left a few essential items off her lavish shopping list:
TVLine is reporting that Will & Grace star Debra Messing has just been cast to co-star in the upcoming NBC pilot SMASH, in which she'll 'play Julia, the musical's good-natured cowriter who is slow to embrace the commercially-iffy subject matter.'
BroadwayWorld.com has learned that multiple critics from major newspapers have indeed purchased tickets in recent days to SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark, and amongst those expected to publish reviews in tomorrow's newspapers will be The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times and The New York Post. Early word is that the reviews are expected to be negative.
These reviews will be timed to hit after tonight's performance which was, until the most recent delay, scheduled to be the show's opening night.
As previously reported by BroadwayWorld, NBC has picked up a new pilot entitled SMASH, which is about 'a group of people who come together to put on a Broadway musical.' New details have emerged about the show.
Theater Talk, the series devoted to the world of the stage, is co-hosted by Michael Riedel, Broadway columnist for the New York Post and series producer Susan Haskins.
Gingold Theatrical Group -- which made history as the first company ever to present every play (including full-length works, one-acts and sketches) written by George Bernard Shaw -- continuedits fifth year of PROJECT SHAW with George Bernard Shaw's beloved classic ANDROCLES AND THE LION, starring a cast of New York theater journalists -- on January 24 at The Players Club. David Staller produced and directed. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you photo coverage below.
Theater Talk, the series devoted to the world of the stage, is co-hosted by Michael Riedel, Broadway columnist for the New York Post and series producer Susan Haskins.
Theater Talk, the series devoted to the world of the stage, is co-hosted by Michael Riedel, Broadway columnist for the New York Post and series producer Susan Haskins.
Gingold Theatrical Group -- which made history as the first company ever to present every play (including full-length works, one-acts and sketches) written by George Bernard Shaw -- continues its fifth year of PROJECT SHAW with George Bernard Shaw's beloved classic ANDROCLES AND THE LION, starring a cast of New York theater journalists -- on Monday, January 24 at 7pm at The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park South) in Manhattan. David Staller produces and directs.
Following a developmental workshop at the Vineyard in the fall of 2009 and a series of concert readings last summer by New York Stage and Film Company and the Powerhouse Program at Vassar, the musical ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER - with lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, music by Burton Lane, a new book by Peter Parnell based on the original book byAlan Jay Lerner, and reconceived and directed by Michael Mayer - was supposed to next receive a production at the Vineyard Theatre. Now, reports Michael Riedel in the New York Post, the show will instead head straight to Broadway in the Fall of 2011, starring Harry Connick, Jr. There's no word on who will play his co-star, a role played by Anika Noni Rose at Vassar.
Theater Talk, the series devoted to the world of the stage, is co-hosted by Michael Riedel, Broadway columnist for the New York Post and series producer Susan Haskins.
Theater Talk, the series devoted to the world of the stage, is co-hosted by Michael Riedel, Broadway columnist for the New York Post and series producer Susan Haskins.
Gingold Theatrical Group -- which made history as the first company ever to present every play (including full-length works, one-acts and sketches) written by George Bernard Shaw -- continues its fifth year of PROJECT SHAW with George Bernard Shaw's beloved classic ANDROCLES AND THE LION, starring a cast of New York theater journalists -- on Monday, January 24 at 7pm at The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park South) in Manhattan. David Staller produces and directs.
Variety reported back in July that that the biographical musical about composer Florence Greenberg by Million Dollar Quartet producer and book writer Floyd Mutrux is being prepped for a 2011 Broadway opening. Entitled Baby, It's You, Variety reported that the musical is aiming to open in the winter of 2011, co- directed by Mutrux and Sheldon Epps. Mutrux and Epps also collaborated on the Pasadena Playhouse production in November of 2009. The show premiered at the Coast Playhouse in Los Angeles prior to its Pasadena run.
Now, in today's New York Post, Michael Riedel reports that the show is now aiming to open this Spring at the Broadhurst Theatre. He reports that Beth Leavel is in negotiations to play the lead role of Lorence Greenberg.
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The January-May lineup of national tours, Lea Salonga, 'Chicago Theatre Rock Stars,' Davenport's, a Mary Martin surprise, more....
Theater Talk, the series devoted to the world of the stage, is co-hosted by Michael Riedel, Broadway columnist for the New York Post and series producer Susan Haskins.
