It seems like a lot of folks posting on this site have strong feelings about Davenport-- much of them unfavorable. I didn't see GETTIN' THE BAND... and the chatter about it was negative enough that I didn't really want to (people kept comparing the experience of it to the experience of watching shows like ROCK OF AGES, which I loathed). After reading about the show, its evidently high run rate and the overall costs associated with mounting it on Broadway, I'm a little mystified by why he didn't do this as a scaled down Off-Broadway production that could have run a long time and could have convinced regional theaters to consider. I've certainly seen enough PUMP BOYS, COTTON PATCH GOSPEL, etc, to believe a smaller scale GTBBT would have appealed to a lot of local producers.
That said, I really respect Davenport and his willingness to take risks and put himself on the line. He helped get GROUNDHOG DAY and Deaf West's SPRING AWAKENING to Broadway, and they remain two of the best experiences I have had in a theatre. He clearly wants to see new work happen, and hew voices emerge. I wish him lots of success in the future. |
