I was just listening to John Sanders (Ned Ryerson in "Groundhog Day") on the Broadway Bullet podcast, and he made an interesting point about the 2016/2017 season. (Worth listening to his unedited interview!)
Many new musicals were avoiding opening last season, to avoid competing with "Hamilton." "Waitress" and "School of Rock" are chugging along for now, but otherwise, not much was able to survive the "Hamilton" juggernaut.
Next season, many shows were avoiding opening against "Frozen," which (regardless of reviews), will surely be the toughest ticket in town.
Thus, many shows shoehorned themselves into the 2016/2017 season, and we had 12 new musicals (11 with original scores, to boot) open. And none of them received devastating reviews and closed immediately.
Add to that the long-running shows (that keep amounting) that draw in the tourist crowds, and you can see how it has been a tough season for a new show to stand out.
I'm saddened by the closing of "Groundhog Day." I was hoping it could last at least through the holiday season, especially with the press from Bill Murray's visits lately. I was so inspired by "Groundhog Day." It is one of the most meticulously directed pieces of musical theatre I have seen. The score is witty, tuneful, touching. I laughed and cried. I thought about my own life choices for a few days afterwards. It's the Cast Recording I listen to most often lately. "Playing Nancy" is sure to be a cabaret staple for years to come. Andy Karl is fantastic, but the INCREDIBLE ensemble of Punxatawians is full of quirky, delightful characters that you slowly come to know and love, just as Phil Connors himself does.
I'll be making another visit before Sept 17, and I really encourage those of you on the fence to check it out. |
