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| 6 Tony winners in cast | |
| Posted by: mikem 10:46 am EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: More MUSIC MAN casting - FrenchDip 09:39 am EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| I wonder if 6 Tony winners in the cast is a record. I remember that Young Frankenstein had four (Bart, Foster, Hensley, Martin). I have to give Scott Rudin credit for not skimping when he puts his casts together. Hello Dolly also had a very strong supporting cast, even though he didn't need them to sell tickets. |
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| Had assumed Houdyshell was Mrs. Paroo | |
| Posted by: Delvino 10:56 am EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: 6 Tony winners in cast - mikem 10:46 am EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| But she's a comic delight, and Mrs. Shinn is a jewel. | |
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| Let's say Mrs. Paroo was 16 when Marian was born | |
| Posted by: aleck 04:12 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: Had assumed Houdyshell was Mrs. Paroo - Delvino 10:56 am EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| That means, since our current Marian will be 44 when the revival opens, that Mrs. Paroo was 50 when 10-year-old Winthrop was born -- unless they plan to make Winthrop into a college student to make the ages look appropriate. Baring that unlikely event and since Marie Mullen is 66 that means that Marian was born when Mrs. Paroo was 22 and Winthrop was born when she was 56. Can't wait to see the make-up and lighting effects. Or maybe they'll make everyone sit in the rear mezzanine. | |
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| re: Let's say Mrs. Paroo was 16 when Marian was born | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 01:12 am EDT 09/06/19 | |
| In reply to: Let's say Mrs. Paroo was 16 when Marian was born - aleck 04:12 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| The ages of actors do not matter! It’s the performances by the actors that matter. I was on a TV show where I was supposed to be the baby but in reality, I was older than all but one of them. And that was TV. Onstage, actors can play all sorts of ages. Sutton will be fantastic, I’m sure. | |
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| re: Let's say Mrs. Paroo was 16 when Marian was born | |
| Posted by: Ann 04:26 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: Let's say Mrs. Paroo was 16 when Marian was born - aleck 04:12 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| We all know who Winthrop's mother really is. | |
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| The real scandals are Mrs. Paroo and that the Shinns hired a surrogate | |
| Last Edit: AlanScott 04:53 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| Posted by: AlanScott 04:52 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Let's say Mrs. Paroo was 16 when Marian was born - Ann 04:26 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| Decades ago I used to joke about that, but it really makes no sense (and I know you're just joking, or at least I think you are). Harold implies that Marian is around 26. The published script gives her no age, but it does say that Mrs. Paroo is 40, and that Winthrop is 10. If Marian is around 26, then Mrs. Paroo was around 14 when Marian was born. Pert Kelton was 50 when the original production opened, and of course several years older when the movie was shot, and she certainly reads her age. Eddie Hodges was 10 when the original production opened, but Ronnie Howard was probably 7 when the movie was being shot. But we were supposed to suspend disbelief, and it's clear from the ages in the script that Willson surely never intended to suggest that Marian was really Winthrop's mother. Besides, if that was the case, everyone in town would know it, and the gossipy ladies would find a way to let Harold know it. And no one ever talks about the Shinns. Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn is 50 (or so the script says) and she has one daughter of 16 and another who is younger. Helen Raymond was 79 (!) when the original production opened, if I can trust the date of birth for her that's online, and yet audiences were supposed to believe she had a daughter of 16 and another who was younger. And Hermione Gingold was 62 or so when the movie was being made, but people don't question how Eulalie could have such young daughters. Maybe she and the Mayor hired a surrogate. :) |
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| And, of course, Barbara Cook was 30 | |
| Posted by: aleck 05:32 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: The real scandals are Mrs. Paroo and that the Shinns hired a surrogate - AlanScott 04:52 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| re: The real scandals are Mrs. Paroo and that the Shinns hired a surrogate | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 05:22 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: The real scandals are Mrs. Paroo and that the Shinns hired a surrogate - AlanScott 04:52 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| I find this a really interesting discussion. Leaving aside for the moment whatever ages of the characters are or aren't specified in the script, I think it would all work out fine and be fully credible if Marian was around 26, Winthrop was around 10, and their mother was around 46. I suppose Marian could even be a couple of years younger than 25 and still be considered something of an "old maid," as people tended to get married very young in those days, but let's make her 26 just to be safe :-) | |
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| re: Let's say Mrs. Paroo was 16 when Marian was born | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 04:42 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Let's say Mrs. Paroo was 16 when Marian was born - Ann 04:26 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| We all know who Winthrop's mother really is. Eulalie, yes? ;-) |
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| Will Daniel Fish be directing? | |
| Posted by: aleck 04:37 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Let's say Mrs. Paroo was 16 when Marian was born - Ann 04:26 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| Yeah! Let's get an idea of what was REALLY going on in River City. Do you think that Marian had been a girl who had been "in trouble." Is that what Professor Hill was REALLY implying when he claimed that there was trouble right there in River City? |
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| re: Will Daniel Fish be directing? | |
| Last Edit: jo 12:17 am EDT 09/06/19 | |
| Posted by: jo 12:15 am EDT 09/06/19 | |
| In reply to: Will Daniel Fish be directing? - aleck 04:37 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| Revisiting the original announcement of the revival of TheMusicMan, via HollywoodReporter, provides some interesting insights on how this production is going -- "These are great American works of art that deserve to be put on stage with as much love as you can give them," Rudin told The Hollywood Reporter. "What I learned on Dolly was that there is an enormous hunger for them from the theatergoing audience. But the hunger I think is to see these Golden Age musicals done in a Golden Age way." "When you take on one of the 10 or so great, beloved titles, you're trying to do the urtext version of it," he continued. "That's what I think we did with Dolly and what we're going to do here. We're going to do it in a way that no one has ever seen it before. It's going to be big and beautiful and super-luxe and gorgeous and incredibly romantic, and very much in the world of why the show has lasted for 60 years." "When we did Dolly, my desire was to put 1964 onstage," said Rudin. "That's what we want to do here. We want basically to put onstage an experience that is our version of what we believe people felt when they walked in to the Majestic to see The Music Man in 1957, which is that blow-the-roof-off-the-theater, blow-the-doors-off-their-hinges musical-theater hysteria that only a handful of shows have ever generated. That's the job." The production plans for the revival did revolve around Scott Rudin's passion project objectives and Hugh Jackman's total interest in it. They were discussing the project for a number of years ( see above) before the final agreement ( especially on Hugh doing a full year's run). |
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| Link | https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hugh-jackman-lead-broadway-revival-music-man-1194075 |
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| re: Will Daniel Fish be directing? | |
| Posted by: mikem 11:52 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: Will Daniel Fish be directing? - aleck 04:37 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| The idea of Daniel Fish directing this production made me actually laugh out loud, so thank you, aleck, for that! I wonder what Fish's version of Hello, Dolly! with Bette Midler would have been like... |
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| Last Edit: stevemr 11:11 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| Posted by: stevemr 11:10 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: Will Daniel Fish be directing? - aleck 04:37 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| re: Will Daniel Fish be directing? | |
| Posted by: garyd 05:14 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: Will Daniel Fish be directing? - aleck 04:37 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| "Is that what Professor Hill was REALLY implying when he claimed that there was trouble right there in River City?" No, but it may be what he meant about "sadder but wiser". |
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| Isn't Marcellus usually a high tenor? | |
| Last Edit: PlayWiz 11:50 am EDT 09/05/19 | |
| Posted by: PlayWiz 11:49 am EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: Had assumed Houdyshell was Mrs. Paroo - Delvino 10:56 am EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| Shuler Hensley is not, so they're going in a different direction, different than the casting notice as well. He's also good friends with Jackman, going back to "Oklahoma!", so that may have been a consideration. | |
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| Isn't Marion usually a soprano? | |
| Posted by: BillyG 03:33 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: Isn't Marcellus usually a high tenor? - PlayWiz 11:49 am EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| They're going to have to change the keys for Sutton so they're going to have to change the keys for Shuler. I wonder who's doing the orchestrations. The original ones were iconic. |
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| re: Isn't Marion usually a soprano? | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 01:13 am EDT 09/06/19 | |
| In reply to: Isn't Marion usually a soprano? - BillyG 03:33 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| Sutton is a soprano | |
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| re: Isn't Marion usually a soprano? | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 04:34 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: Isn't Marion usually a soprano? - BillyG 03:33 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| They changed the keys for Chenoweth even though they didn't need to. (What a horrid thing that TV version was.) The original orchestrations were indeed iconic. This is true of many shows that when revived, right or not, seem to be given a complete musical makeover. Often for no crucial reason except that "new and improved" is always the flavor of the moment. |
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| re: Isn't Marion usually a soprano? | |
| Posted by: BillyG 05:41 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Isn't Marion usually a soprano? - Chromolume 04:34 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| You're absolutely right that the TV version of MUSIC MAN with Chenoweth and Matthew Broderick lowered Marion's songs for some crazy reason. Maybe they felt that a higher soprano's voice would sound too shrill on TV? lol A few years later, the HOLLYWOOD BOWL presented MUSIC MAN and I got to appear in the chorus. Chenowith recreated Marion, sang the songs in the original key and sounded GLORIOUS?!!! Eric McCormack recreated Harold as he had just played it on Broadway. My feeling is that Meredith wrote Marion as a legit soprano for a reason. She exemplifies culture, class and small town sophistication. Her character is a great contrast to the ladies of River City who are more belters. I think her songs won't pop as much when they are lowered. Can you imagine "Goodnight My Someone" or "Will I Ever Tell You" sung by a belter--which Sutton certainly is. Last year I saw Sutton replace Chenoweth at the Bowl for their Bernstein tribute. Sutton sang "Tonight" with Brian Stokes Mitchell and really struggled. She even admitted onstage she's not a soprano. Sutton was amazing this year as the Baker's Wife in INTO THE WOODS. WOW!! I just don't know why they didn't get Kelli O'Hara or even Chenowith as Marion for this new revival. We shall see. |
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| re: Isn't Marion usually a soprano? | |
| Posted by: PlayWiz 05:30 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Isn't Marion usually a soprano? - Chromolume 04:34 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| They probably changed the keys for Chenoweth because they thought people couldn't handle hearing a soprano's high notes (and Marion doesn't even go that high!). There aren't many legit classical voices on network tv anymore like when they used be featured regularly on "The Tonight Show", variety shows, etc. A recent car commercial featuring one of Mozart's "Queen of the Night" arias features a soprano so softened from intent of the fiery Queen's aria to almost sound like it's been computer-altered to sound like human muzak. So the powers that be do stupid things like lowering the only principal soprano in a show famous for having one (Barbara Cook, Shirley Jones), even when they have someone more than up to singing it as written. | |
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| re: Isn't Marion usually a soprano? | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 06:19 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Isn't Marion usually a soprano? - PlayWiz 05:30 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| A recent car commercial featuring one of Mozart's "Queen of the Night" arias features a soprano so softened from intent of the fiery Queen's aria to almost sound like it's been computer-altered to sound like human muzak. And, lowered a whole step. :-( |
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| re: Isn't Marion usually a soprano? | |
| Posted by: AlanScott 04:33 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: Isn't Marion usually a soprano? - BillyG 03:33 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| People keep saying that they are going to have to lower the keys for Sutton Foster, and perhaps they will, but just because we have not heard her sing as high as the role goes in the keys used originally does not mean she can't. Countless women can belt and also sing with what some folks call a "legit" sound above the staff. Again, I'm not positive she can and will, but she certainly has some head voice at her disposal — we've heard her use it — and it may be that the licensed keys would pose no problems for her. |
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| re: Isn't Marion usually a soprano? | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 01:15 am EDT 09/06/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Isn't Marion usually a soprano? - AlanScott 04:33 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| I would love it if they used the keys for Chenowetg on TV. We know Kristin has unlimited range but I liked a little belt in that number. | |
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| re: Isn't Marion usually a soprano? | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 04:40 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Isn't Marion usually a soprano? - AlanScott 04:33 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| And frankly, Marian is not an extremely high role. It clearly needs a more "legit" sound, but it's not Cunegonde. (The highest written note is the Ab at the end of "My White Knight," and although one expects to hear it, it's actually optional.) And even if Foster had trouble with the higher tessitura as written (the highest notes being lots of F's, a few F#'s, and a G in "Till There Was You"), I doubt they'd have to take things down all that far. | |
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| re: Isn't Marcellus usually a high tenor? | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 01:50 pm EDT 09/05/19 | |
| In reply to: Isn't Marcellus usually a high tenor? - PlayWiz 11:49 am EDT 09/05/19 | |
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| "Shipoopi" is Marcellus' only major solo number. No reason why it can't go into any key that works for the actor. Hackett sings it a step lower than Wolfington, and Casella in the revival used that same transposition down. I'm sure it's been done lower in other productions too. | |
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