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| Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? | |
| Posted by: KCforBway 02:26 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| So I admire much of what Musical Theater Heritage does here in Kansas City. But I have to question their latest production of Oklahoma! I saw an early preview of the revival at Circle in the Square back in March and loved it. Now I'm getting emails and mailers from Musical Theater Heritage about their "reimagined" version with a small bluegrass band. It sure seems to me that the director of this production saw the St. Ann's version and is doing a "rip-off." Am I overreacting to this? I haven't seen the production here yet - and probably won't since I am questioning the whole approach this company is taking. Now these MTH shows are more "concert" presentations. So I wouldn't anticipate the production copying some of the audacious staging by Daniel Fish, but it sure seems that the radical change in the musical direction and orchestrations seems to come directly from the current NYC show. Do I assume that R&H Organization has approved? |
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| Link | https://musicaltheaterheritage.com/portfolios/oklahoma/ |
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| re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? | |
| Posted by: timmyinkc 03:28 pm EDT 06/25/19 | |
| In reply to: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? - KCforBway 02:26 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| Hello! Someone alerted me to this post and as I directed the production of OKLAHOMA! in question, I thought I'd pop over and address your concerns. I can tell you that our production bares little if any resemblance to the current NY revival for the simple reason that I have never seen it. Sure our production is approached with contemporary sensibilities and the costuming is certainly modern; however, that approach was in an attempt to make a 76 year old musical more relatable to contemporary audiences. Truth be told, we've had several patrons, who have seen the current revival, attend our show and report that the two are "night and day" different. We’re using the orchestrations that were sent to us by R&H, which include updated orchestrations and libretto from when they restored OKLAHOMA! back in 2012. You can read all about it on R&H’s website. In fact our band is nothing like the band on Broadway which features electric guitar, steel guitar, mandolin, accordion — of which we have none. We use piano, cello, bass, guitar, banjo, percussion, and violin — the charts of which R&H provided us. All that to say, if you'd like to come and see for yourself, I will be more than happy to set up 2 complimentary tickets for you. You can reach me at tim@mthkc.com It sounds like you've been to MTH several times before and we thank you for your support and patronage. All my best, Tim Scott Executive Artistic Director MTH Theater at Crown Center |
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| re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? | |
| Posted by: tjkcmo 12:19 am EDT 06/22/19 | |
| In reply to: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? - KCforBway 02:26 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| It's kind of par-for-the-course for this company. Their "Into the Woods" a couple years ago was "inspired" by the Fiasco production. Virtually every bit of staging and design was a recreation. | |
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| re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? | |
| Posted by: whereismikeyfl 06:24 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? - KCforBway 02:26 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| If you look at the trailer, it does not seem to owe anything to the current Broadway production. The idea of using more country instrumentation in the orchestrations is an obvious way to go with this material, so it is believable that two different companies could have the same idea independently. But then again, Fish first did Oklahoma in 2013, so.... |
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| re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? | |
| Posted by: kidmanboy 06:46 am EDT 06/22/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? - whereismikeyfl 06:24 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| Nothing to owe? Looking at the photos the costuming and the casting of Jud seem suspiciously similar... | |
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| re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? | |
| Posted by: garyd 09:07 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? - whereismikeyfl 06:24 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| First workshop production was in 2007 | |
| Link | https://www.bard.edu/news/releases/pr/fstory.php?id=1169 |
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| re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 07:47 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? - whereismikeyfl 06:24 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| The idea of using more country instrumentation in the orchestrations is an obvious way to go with this material, so it is believable that two different companies could have the same idea independently. I can vouch for this - as a musical director, I have talked with directors (before the current production happened) who thought this might be an interesting idea. But, you indeed would want to seek permission from the R&H Organization in order to do it. |
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| "But, you indeed would want to seek permission from the R&H Organization in order to do it." | |
| Posted by: Dawson 08:10 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? - Chromolume 07:47 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| Based upon current events, it seems that the R&H organization is very flexible as to what they will approve! | |
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| re: "But, you indeed would want to seek permission from the R&H Organization in order to do it." | |
| Posted by: ryhog 09:03 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: "But, you indeed would want to seek permission from the R&H Organization in order to do it." - Dawson 08:10 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| That may be the case, but it also may depend who you are and what your pedigree is. And I can almost guarantee that the flexibility can become as stiff as my hamstrings if it is brought to their attention post hoc. "Ask, and ye shall receive." and all that. | |
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| re: "But, you indeed would want to seek permission from the R&H Organization in order to do it." | |
| Posted by: Singapore/Fling 09:13 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: re: "But, you indeed would want to seek permission from the R&H Organization in order to do it." - ryhog 09:03 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| Exactly. They have proven to be open to experimenting in very controlled situations, and then allowing that experiment to continue if it proves successful. Such as is the case with the Tony-winning production currently on Broadway, which began life at an out of town, avant-garde festival with limited ambitions. | |
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| re: "But, you indeed would want to seek permission from the R&H Organization in order to do it." | |
| Posted by: Ann 09:48 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: re: "But, you indeed would want to seek permission from the R&H Organization in order to do it." - Singapore/Fling 09:13 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| And then there's the 1999 animated The King and I. | |
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| re: "But, you indeed would want to seek permission from the R&H Organization in order to do it." | |
| Posted by: Singapore/Fling 10:44 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: re: "But, you indeed would want to seek permission from the R&H Organization in order to do it." - Ann 09:48 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| Ha! | |
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| re: "But, you indeed would want to seek permission from the R&H Organization in order to do it." | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 09:55 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: re: "But, you indeed would want to seek permission from the R&H Organization in order to do it." - Ann 09:48 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| ...which, if I recall, Ted Chapin has apologized for. ;-) | |
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| re: "But, you indeed would want to seek permission from the R&H Organization in order to do it." | |
| Posted by: Ann 07:36 am EDT 06/22/19 | |
| In reply to: re: "But, you indeed would want to seek permission from the R&H Organization in order to do it." - Chromolume 09:55 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| Ha, I didn't know that. | |
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| Animated 'King and I': I whistle an unhappy 'toon | |
| Last Edit: WaymanWong 12:07 am EDT 06/22/19 | |
| Posted by: WaymanWong 12:02 am EDT 06/22/19 | |
| In reply to: re: "But, you indeed would want to seek permission from the R&H Organization in order to do it." - Chromolume 09:55 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| If you've never seen the 1999 atrocity that is ''The King and I,'' ShogunGino of the Infamous Animation channel eviscerates it in his recap (below). In its efforts to be a kid-friendly animated movie, this ''King and I'' includes a sea serpent, a pet monkey and a royal black panther. It also takes giant liberties rewriting the story: ditching Lun Tha (and replacing him with Prince Chululongkorn), and slapping on a happy ending that includes a hot-air balloon. Worst of all was the film's idea of comic relief: Master Little, a buck-toothed buffoon of a racist sidekick to the Kralahome. The cast included Martin Vidnovic (as the King) and Miranda Richardson (as Anna, though Christiane Noll sang for her). David Burnham, who sang as the Prince, told me: ''I only saw [this 'King and I'] once. I couldn't bear to watch it again.'' |
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| Link | 'The King and I' (1999): Infamous Animation, Ep. 6 |
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| re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? | |
| Posted by: robert_j 06:12 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? - KCforBway 02:26 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| Well, it is Kansas City. They’ve gone about as fur as they c’n go. | |
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| re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? | |
| Posted by: BroadwayMarley 06:17 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? - robert_j 06:12 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| I hear that everthing's up to date there. | |
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| re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? | |
| Posted by: garyd 05:49 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? - KCforBway 02:26 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| Hmm, what "recently revised libretto" are they talking about ? Also, the included video clip looks suspiciously close to the current BW revival, complete with a gun. | |
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| re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? | |
| Last Edit: Chromolume 06:00 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 05:59 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? - garyd 05:49 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| Hmm, what "recently revised libretto" are they talking about? It's not "recently revised" (your term) it's "recently RESTORED" (the wording on the show's site). And this is legit - it's the recent work of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization to get both the libretto and the score/orchestra parts to be as close to the originals as possible. This is the material that everyone now receives when they do the show, and it has nothing to do with the concept of the current Broadway revival. |
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| Link | Info on the music/text restorations |
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| Thanks... | |
| Posted by: garyd 08:47 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? - Chromolume 05:59 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| I obviously did not read closely enough or, at least and more possible, my eye saw restored and my mind read revised. Appreciate the information regarding the restored libretto. I was not aware. | |
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| re: Thanks... | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 10:03 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: Thanks... - garyd 08:47 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| my eye saw restored and my mind read revised. I can totally understand that, ;-) |
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| re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? | |
| Posted by: Ann 02:43 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? - KCforBway 02:26 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| When a company gets the rights to produce a show like this, do they agree to use provided orchestrations? I wonder if this (countrifying the score) hadn't been done before. | |
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| re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? | |
| Posted by: Kermutt 03:39 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? - Ann 02:43 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| I've never heard of a theatre being able to use different orchestration - unless the contract they signed allows for that. I can't imagine this group isn't going to be sent a Cease and Desist. I'm certain a tour is in the works - they'd never have let a regional company do their version this early. | |
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| re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? | |
| Posted by: Kjisgroovy 02:53 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? - Ann 02:43 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| I really don't know... but that art of a bird flying across the plain looks a good deal like the Broadway art. | |
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| re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? | |
| Posted by: Ann 03:04 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? - Kjisgroovy 02:53 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| I thought it was a production of a new parody show "KLAHOMA!" | |
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| re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 04:31 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Oklahoma! in Kansas City - is this a rip-off of the current Broadway production? - Ann 03:04 pm EDT 06/21/19 | |
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| Agreed! For all their cleverness, it does look like they forgot the first O. | |
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