| Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | GrumpyMorningBoy 11:20 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| I'm still kicking myself that I didn't wake before dawn to see MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN in Central Park... The world's known that she can sing since IRONWEED at least -- but aside from some rumors of a Meryl EVITA, I can't find any credible reporting that she'd really considered a major film or stage musical before MAMMA MIA. Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? Does anyone know if she ever seriously considered starring in a Broadway musical? And... have there been other film musicals she would have done at earlier stages of her career? Has she ever said? - GMB | |
| reply to this message | | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | LegitOnce 08:59 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - GrumpyMorningBoy 11:20 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| The brief answer is that Streep became a film star fairly quickly, with Kramer vs. Kramer when she was still in her late 20s. She was enormously in demand for at least 10 years after that, and it would have taken a herculean effort to clear her schedule enough to do a real Broadway run of a musical, i.e., a year-long contract. Meanwhile, there just weren't all that many quality movie musicals being made during the 1980s. Can you imagine Streep in Can't Stop the Music, Xanadu, Footloose or Annie? | |
| reply to this message | | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | PlayWiz 11:45 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - LegitOnce 08:59 am EST 11/22/14 |
|
| |
| If there was a musical to be made during that time, I sure as hell wanted to see and hear Barbra Streisand, Julie Andrews or Liza Minnelli do it rather than Meryl Streep, who was known more for being a dramatic actress. I'm glad Ellen Greene did "Little Shop of Horrors", though apparently Streisand was interested at one point; she probably might have channeled her character in "All Night Long" and pulled it off. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| 1981 Alice In Wonderland | |
| Posted by: | John_Patti 07:55 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - GrumpyMorningBoy 11:20 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| I can still see her in some type of overalls. | |
| Link | Streep As Alice |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: 1981 Alice In Wonderland | |
| Posted by: | tandelor 09:26 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | 1981 Alice In Wonderland - John_Patti 07:55 am EST 11/22/14 |
|
| |
| I just reviewed it for Library Journal as part of the Broadway Archives box set release. It is pretty dated, but Streep is remarkable in it. Her voice is good, but nowhere near what we have just seen and heard in the Into the Woods trailer. Of course Swados is no Sondheim. Who is? | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| She auditioned for the Broadway EVITA. | |
| Posted by: | Delvino 07:29 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - GrumpyMorningBoy 11:20 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| She was hoping for, long before she was considered for the film. Glenn Close auditioned for it, too, though that is not commonly known. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | bobby2 02:58 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - GrumpyMorningBoy 11:20 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| Did musicals only really return to favor in 2002 with Chicago? She jumped on board in 2008 with Mama Mia. Can't really think of any in between that she could have done. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | pierce 02:54 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - GrumpyMorningBoy 11:20 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| She sang two songs in Mike Nichols' Postcards from the Edge (1990) | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | PatrickHSF 12:54 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - GrumpyMorningBoy 11:20 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| She should be Norma in the film version of ALW's Sunset Blvd. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | Page 10:10 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - PatrickHSF 12:54 am EST 11/22/14 |
|
| |
| Meryl would be wonderful as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard on stage or screen. Great choice! | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | broadwaymyway 05:27 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - PatrickHSF 12:54 am EST 11/22/14 |
|
| |
| That would really push poor Glenn Close over the edge. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | garyd 11:33 pm EST 11/21/14 |
| In reply to: | Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - GrumpyMorningBoy 11:20 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| She was waiting for Harvey and Cyndi to musicalize "The Seven Docents of Myrtle". | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | portenopete 05:39 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - garyd 11:33 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| Whether it's spellcheck or your own slip, but thank you for giving one of the most weirdly-named plays an even weirder name! I laughed at the idea of Myrtle being enough of an attraction she required seven docents to explain her! | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 06:12 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - portenopete 05:39 am EST 11/22/14 |
|
| |
| All is explained in the linked thread. | |
| Link | Cheaper by the Docent |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 11:28 pm EST 11/21/14 |
| In reply to: | Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - GrumpyMorningBoy 11:20 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| She starred in a Broadway musical in 1977. See link. | |
| Link | Happy End |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| But why no musicals after she became famous... until recently? | |
| Posted by: | GrumpyMorningBoy 02:21 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - AlanScott 11:28 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| That production of HAPPY END was news to me! But my intent behind the question still stands... why didn't she do musicals (onstage or on screen) in a major production after she'd achieved major fame? Does anyone know of any attempts to bring her back to Broadway in the 1980's or 1990's in a major starring role in a musical? - GMB | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: But why no musicals after she became famous... until recently? | |
| Posted by: | portenopete 05:41 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | But why no musicals after she became famous... until recently? - GrumpyMorningBoy 02:21 am EST 11/22/14 |
|
| |
| Because she probably knew she'd be pigeonholed. Look at Patti LuPone. Juilliard graduate, terrific actress, but after EVITA she was a goner. A spectacular career, mind you, and legend status, but no one is going to remember LIFE GOES ON or DRIVING MISS DAISY or THE OLD NEIGHBORHOOD. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: But why no musicals after she became famous... until recently? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 02:34 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | But why no musicals after she became famous... until recently? - GrumpyMorningBoy 02:21 am EST 11/22/14 |
|
| |
| I remember a rumor that they approached her to replace Peters in the original production of Into the Woods, hoping that she might be willing to jump in for a short run. But it was just a rumor, might not have been true. Actually, I'm not even positive it was a rumor. I think I may have simply thought at the time that it would have been a good idea, and later got confused and thought it was a rumor that I really heard. But the simple fact is that once she became a movie star, she did very little stage work. And when she did do it, it was always for short runs. She was not willing to commit to a long run. So even if you wanted her to star in a musical you were writing or producing, and even if she was actually interested, it would have been a bad idea financially to cast her if she was only willing to do a very short run. And when she occasionally did venture back onstage, it was to the Delacorte for Chekhov (directed by Mr. Nichols) and Brecht. And for most of the period during which she has been a star, there haven't exactly been a whole lot of movie musicals. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | WaymanWong 01:39 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - AlanScott 11:28 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| Here's audio of Meryl Streep giving an interview about ''Happy End'' from 1977. | |
| Link | Meryl Streep: ''Happy End'' interview (1977) |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| "Remember that name!" | |
| Posted by: | Ann 09:13 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - WaymanWong 01:39 am EST 11/22/14 |
|
| |
| That was great. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 11:58 pm EST 11/21/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - AlanScott 11:28 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| I saw her in Happy End. She was great. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 12:00 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - lowwriter 11:58 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| Yes, she was brilliant. Completely transformed the production when she took over. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | garyd 11:41 pm EST 11/21/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - AlanScott 11:28 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| And she sang "Surabaya Johnny". Pretty well, actually. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 12:02 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - garyd 11:41 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| Her "Surabaya Johnny" was good. Her "Sailors' Tango" was great. Too bad she didn't perform on the Tonys. I've heard two different stories about why, but I can remember only one of them. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | garyd 12:04 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - AlanScott 12:02 am EST 11/22/14 |
|
| |
| I don't know either story. Please share. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 12:21 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - garyd 12:04 am EST 11/22/14 |
|
| |
| The story I heard long ago was that when she didn't get a Tony nomination, she refused to perform on the Tonys. Although if anything, I'd think that might have made her want to perform there all the more. So I'm not sure that I buy the story. Wish I could remember the other one. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | garyd 01:26 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - AlanScott 12:21 am EST 11/22/14 |
|
| |
| Hmm. Interesting. Well, she would have been up against Martin's "I'm Still Here" (not that it has anything to do with why Streep did not perform) . Not to mention Loudon. I still like Martin's interpretation. She just sings the song trusting the lyrics and the music to convey the implied two distinct sections with very little "indicating". Well done. "Bilbao Song" came across a bit flat with Lloyd. It would have been wonderful to see Streep perform either of her big numbers on the broadcast if only to have a public record of either one. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 04:10 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - garyd 01:26 am EST 11/22/14 |
|
| |
| Yes, it certainly would have been great to have a record of either song performed by Streep. Do you mean that Streep would have been up against Martin as one of two ladies performing a big, dramatic solo? Or do you mean that she would have been in competition with Martin for a Tony? If you mean the latter, Martin was nominated in featured or supporting, while Streep would have been nominated in leading. It's too bad that they couldn't have had five ladies nominated that season. Clamma Dale had to be nominated. Loudon had to be nominated, even though the truth is she was in the wrong category. It's a supporting role. But there are times when the size of a role is irrelevant, and we all know that was one of them. McArdle had to be nominated because it would have been a terrible snub not to nominate her. Ernestine Jackson, who was wonderful, really luminous as Sarah Brown, perhaps did not have to be nominated in the way(s) that the other three ladies had to be. They should have been allowed to nominate all five. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | garyd 11:43 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - AlanScott 04:10 am EST 11/22/14 |
|
| |
| Yeah, I meant she would have been doing another dramatic solo. That telecast was rather top heavy with dramatic solos anyway. The theme was "survival' and most of the group of "hosts' sang big solo numbers. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 01:26 am EST 11/23/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - garyd 11:43 am EST 11/22/14 |
|
| |
| Oh, dear, yes. There were some ill-advised choices made for that year's Tonys. Forgot it was that year that Bea Arthur gave us "Don't Rain on My Parade." | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| Raining on Bea's ''Parade'' | |
| Posted by: | WaymanWong 03:07 am EST 11/23/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - AlanScott 01:26 am EST 11/23/14 |
|
| |
| Here's that clip of Bea singing ''Don't Rain on My Parade'' at the Tonys. Nearly the end, an overeager conductor comes in too early and drowns out her last word. (You can find the sassy Seth Rudetsky deconstructing this moment on YouTube.) | |
| Link | Bea Arthur: ''Nobody is gonna rain on my ...'' |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | bobby2 02:55 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - garyd 01:26 am EST 11/22/14 |
|
| |
| Did they do another number from Happy End that year on the Tonys? One without Meryl? Weird she wasn't nominated. What was the buzz as to why? | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| She appeared in a broadway musical at age 27 | |
| Posted by: | seeseveryshow 11:27 pm EST 11/21/14 |
| In reply to: | Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - GrumpyMorningBoy 11:20 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| Meryl Streep appeared in HAPPY END at the Martin Beck (now Hirschfeld) Theatre back in 1977. I don't know if it was a starring role though. | |
| Link | http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=4000 |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: She appeared in a broadway musical at age 27 | |
| Posted by: | bobby2 03:00 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | She appeared in a broadway musical at age 27 - seeseveryshow 11:27 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| So Shirley Knight did it off-Broadway? Why didn't she go to Bway with it? | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: She appeared in a broadway musical at age 27 | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 03:57 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: She appeared in a broadway musical at age 27 - bobby2 03:00 am EST 11/22/14 |
|
| |
| Shirley Knight never opened in it. See the linked history of the production. Or did you already read it and is that why you're asking? She was having trouble in the role. My memory is that Michael Feingold said that some nights she sang well but her acting was off, and other nights her acting was good but her singing was off. She's a great actress, but the night I saw her, neither her acting nor her singing was really what was needed. | |
| Link | Happy End history |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: She appeared in a broadway musical at age 27 | |
| Posted by: | bobby2 04:07 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: She appeared in a broadway musical at age 27 - AlanScott 03:57 am EST 11/22/14 |
|
| |
| I hadn't read that. I just checked iobdb and Knight was listed there instead of Streep. Weird, you'd think they'd list Streep since she opened it. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: She appeared in a broadway musical at age 27 | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 04:16 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: She appeared in a broadway musical at age 27 - bobby2 04:07 am EST 11/22/14 |
|
| |
| Yeah, that page is fucked up. They list the director who was fired. They list Knight. And they list Theatre Four, where it never played. They also list the date of the first preview as the opening, which was commonly done back then for productions like Chelsea's (short runs for a subscription company). But especially in this case, it's inaccurate. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| It was the starring role, yes (nm) | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 11:29 pm EST 11/21/14 |
| In reply to: | She appeared in a broadway musical at age 27 - seeseveryshow 11:27 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| nm | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: It was the starring role, yes (nm) | |
| Posted by: | writerkev 11:57 pm EST 11/21/14 |
| In reply to: | It was the starring role, yes (nm) - AlanScott 11:29 pm EST 11/21/14 |
|
| |
| And there was also "Alice in Concert" at the Public. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
All That Chat is intended for the discussion of
theatre news and opinion
subject to the terms and conditions of the Terms of Service. (Please take all off-topic discussion to private email.)
Please direct technical questions/comments to webmaster@talkinbroadway.com and policy questions to TBAdmin@talkinbroadway.com.
[ Home | On the Rialto | The Siegel Column | Cabaret | Tony Awards | Book Reviews | Great White Wayback Machine ]
[ Broadway Reviews | Barbara and Scott: The Two of Clubs | Sound Advice | Sound Advice Upcoming Releases CDs/Books/DVDs, etc. | Off Broadway | Funding Talkin' Broadway ]
[ Broadway 101 | Spotlight On | Talkin' Broadway | On the Boards | Regional | Talk to Us! | Search Talkin' Broadway ]
Terms of Service
[ © 1997 - 2014 www.TalkinBroadway.com, Inc. ]
Time to render: 0.395375 seconds.