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| re: Why no revivals of Ain't Misbehavin' and Sophisticated Ladies? | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 12:09 am EST 01/03/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Why no revivals of Ain't Misbehavin' and Sophisticated Ladies? - jbronsto 05:04 pm EST 01/02/19 | |
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| Actually, I wonder if Billy Porter might be an interesting choice, maybe for Andre DeShields' original track? Very different, but I can imagine him doing those songs. But indeed, I do think it's much more of an ensemble show than a "star" show (was Nell Carter already a "star" by that point, or was that really after?). That original cast was wonderful not just because of their individual talents, but so much because of the way they played together so well. Clowns in the very best sense of the word, who could then absolutely break your heart in pieces with that stunning arrangement of "Black And Blue." I've been at the piano for 2 productions of the show (subbing in both times) and both times had the time of my life playing that score. But really nothing for me beats that original production, and thank god it's been preserved on video for posterity. |
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| re: Why no revivals of Ain't Misbehavin' and Sophisticated Ladies? | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 05:21 am EST 01/03/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Why no revivals of Ain't Misbehavin' and Sophisticated Ladies? - Chromolume 12:09 am EST 01/03/19 | |
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| Nell had only done two short lived Broadway flops prior. SOON & DUDE. She sang the title song in DUDE which is a guilty pleasure for me. I'd say she wasn't a star when BEHAVIN opened in 1978 but before that show even closed, she had been handed her own TV show "Gimme A Break" in 1981. So I'd say BEHAVIN launched her into a star. After hearing her sing "Mean To Me," Hollywood came calling quick! | |
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| re: Why no revivals of Ain't Misbehavin' and Sophisticated Ladies? | |
| Posted by: jbronsto 12:59 am EST 01/03/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Why no revivals of Ain't Misbehavin' and Sophisticated Ladies? - Chromolume 12:09 am EST 01/03/19 | |
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| I understand the idea of Billy in that track. However Andre is the bass in the show. And he is also the dancing male track. It is most curious that none of the crop of musical theatre stars have played any of these roles on their way up. Not Brian Stokes Mitchell or Norm Lewis. The closest we have had was the production at Bucks County a few years ago that featured Darius and Aisha De Haas and Brandi Chavonne Massey (who was also in one of the productions I MD’d this year...but curiously in an entirely different role). It isn’t that the talent isn’t there to do the show it is that the star roles of the current age ask for wildly different skills than the five parts in Ain’t Misbehaving. | |
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| re: Why no revivals of Ain't Misbehavin' and Sophisticated Ladies? | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 05:22 am EST 01/03/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Why no revivals of Ain't Misbehavin' and Sophisticated Ladies? - jbronsto 12:59 am EST 01/03/19 | |
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| Massey is so f-ing good. I loved her "White Boys" in the Encores HAIR. | |
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