A Tale Of Two Tryout Cities
A Tale Of Two Tryout CitiesTwo of the 2007-08 Theatrical Season's most anticipated shows are opening this evening during their out-of-town tryouts: Young Frankenstein at Seattle's Paramount and The Little Mermaid at Denver's Center for Performing Arts Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
Both represent ultra high-profile, high-stake mega-million gambits on former big screen favorites revamped as big Broadway musicals.
For Mel Brooks, the pressure's on in the Pacific Northwest to prove that he's not a one-hit wonder for his Rialto adaptation of The Producers (Brooks' other three outings on the Great White Way were way back in the fifties and sixties).
Just across the Rocky Mountains, Disney Theatrical Productions is out to prove that magic can strike twice via the very property that completely reinvigorated its languishing animation division; now, Disney sorely needs a critical Broadway smash.
Although blogosphere chatter (including here) has already reviewed both shows in advance of the openings, now comes the first test from the mainstream media as they'll now be able to weigh-in with their first official reviews.
Any bets on what we'll hear?
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for The Little Mermaid tickets (Denver).
Click here for The Little Mermaid tickets (Broadway).
Click here for Young Frankenstein tickets (Seattle).
Click here for Young Frankenstein tickets (Broadway).
Related Stories:
Riedel's Deep Abby Normal?(August 17, 2007)
Young Frankenstein (The SOB Preview) (August 13, 2007)
Will These Eyes Meet? Hoping For Better Than 75% (August 10, 2007)
Is Mel Worth It? (August 4, 2007)
Little Mermaid Begins Tonight (July 26, 2007)
Little Mermaid: No Treading Water Before The Boards (July 21, 2007)
Thanks, Mel! (July 6, 2007)
What Motivates You To See A Broadway Show? (July 5, 2007)
That's Franken$$$$$TEIN! (June 29, 2007)
Cloris To Mel: Put Up Your Dukes! (June 13, 2007)
Pirate Queen Set To Abdicate Hilton Throne (June 6, 2007)
Billion Dollar Broadway Baby? Almost. (May 30, 2007)
Mel Brooks: "It Looks Like The Hilton Theatre" (May 25, 2007)
End Of Plank For Pirate Queen? (May 18, 2007)
Mermaid Casting Anything But Little (March 20, 2007)
It's Official: Mullally Cast In Young Frankenstein (March 9, 2007)
The Hits From Coast To Coast (March 8, 2007)
Whither Goeth Chenoweth? (February 27, 2007)
Producers Out, Young Frankenstein In (February 22, 2007)
That's FrankenSTEEN: Just In Time For Halloween (January 24, 2007)
Beauty Out On Broadway (January 17, 2007)
M-G-M: Movies-Going-Musical (January 3, 2007)
Young Frankenstein Workshop To Feature Monster Casting (October 11, 2006)
Disney Moves from Continent to Continent (May 22, 2006)
Labels: Broadway, Disney, Film, Mel Brooks, Musical, Opening Night, The Little Mermaid, Tryout, Young Frankenstein
posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Thursday, August 23, 2007
1 Comments:
Post Script: Interesting to note that although Misha Berson of The Seattle Times stated that "if you want any critical guidance, you're outta luck until the Aug. 23 opening," Variety's Liz Smith says, "Tonight they'll be opening "Young Frankenstein" in Seattle. No reviewers allowed just yet, but a big bash after at the Space Needle. The creator, Mel Brooks, the star Roger Bart and producers Laura and Bob Sillerman will be in their glory. We'll just let it rumble on to Broadway while we wave our flaming torches to welcome the monster."
Will we see a review tomorrow from Misha? Stay tuned!
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