West End and Broadway musicals in Oz
Wed, 18 July 2007, 11:18 amBishop25 posts in thread
West End and Broadway musicals in Oz
Wed, 18 July 2007, 11:18 amI can't claim credit for this post. I thought it was so good that I have ripped it from anopther site. Credit must go to posull78 (actual identity unknown)
Was looking at the musicals that have opened or are to open on the west end and broadway and was thinking what ones who haven't graced our shores will make it to Australia at all....
Broadway - originated/whats on[u]
110 in the Shade (unlikely)
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (NOW RUNNING - SYDNEY)
Avenue Q (2008/09 in Sydney and Melbourne)
A Chorus Line (unlikely as we had revival in last 10 years)
The Colour Purple (unlikely - too hard to cast here)
Curtains (doubtful - maybe STC/MTC)
Drowsy Chaperone (rumoured to tour to Oz - unlikely following London failure)
Grey Gardens (unlikely)
Hairspray (still possible - if movie is success)
Jersey Boys (unlikely - not enough interest in four seasons)
Legally Blonde (love to see this - will depend on Broadway success)
The Little Mermaid (likely, depend on broadway success and not until at least 2010)
Spamalot (CONFIRMED - MELBOURNE NOVEMBER)
Spring Awakening (Likely, but sounds like off the agenda for now.. maybe 2009 STC/MTC)
Wicked (CONFRIMED - MELBOURNE MID 2008)
Xanadu (Likely due to Aussie connection - depend on Broadway success)
Young Frankenstein (Likely, probably 2009/2010)
West End - originated/whats on[u]
Bad Girls the musical (wont ever happen here.. no fan base for Tv show)
Billy Eliott (CONFIRMED - SYDNEY NOV 2007)
Blood Brothers (done Australia twice already - unlikely again)
Buddy (done Australia - unlikely again)
Cabaret (done too recently - unlikely again for at least 10 years)
Desperately Seeking Susan (possible, not until at least 2009/2010)
Dirty Dancing (done Australia - probably come back within 5 years)
Fiddler on the Roof (Australian tour just complete)
Gone with the Wind (unlikely - suprised if this last a year when opening in London next year)
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (wouldn't be surpised if this appears here again soon - through reality TV show!)
Les Miserables (possible again - reckon after Phantom tour we will see this revived again)
Little Shop of Horrors (unlikely to see here again soon)
Lord of the Rings (unlikely as staging is too expensive)
Mamma Mia (likely revival in 5 years time)
Marguerite (new Boubill and Shoenberg opening next year - definite no)
Mary Poppins (2009 Melbourne or Sydney)
The Phantom of the Opera (CONFIRMED RETURN - JULY 2007 MELBOURNE)
Parade (opens at Donmar - please please please Kookaburra or STC?MTC do this)
Sound of Music (watch out for 2008 reality TV show casting this one in Oz)
We Will Rock You (Australian tour complete)
So from what we see now, three new musicals are confirmed for next 12 months Billy Elliott, Spamalot and Wicked. Revivals of The Phantom of the Opera also confirmed.
So potentials are probably only Avenue Q, Spring Awakening and Mary Poppins and if a TV network gets behind it we will see Sound of Music or Joseph cast by public vote.
What do others think? What would you like to see in Australia from the above list?
Where are the Oz musicals
Thu, 19 July 2007, 12:32 pmThere aren't many. I remember the "Short History of Australia" debacle. There's Jon English's "Paris" which seems to be gradually building up. There was the magnificent "Boys Own MacBeth" (By the way my cast recording LP didn't survive the return trip from the UK so I'm trying to replace it if anyone has one.) While I was living in Tas someone did a musical of "For the Term of His natural Life" and what has happened to the musical of "Eureka" is that still around. The only Aussie musical that gets regular runs that I know of is the seminal "Sentimental Bloke."
I'm sure I've missed some.
I know it costs millions to get a full scale musical to the stage and producers in this country probably don't have the money to risk on completely untried work but you'd think you'd see more.
Is it just money or is there something else that stops us from producing new musicals?
Maybe this should be a thread of it's own.
Any thoughts?
And I know that a lot of "legitimate" theatre people look down their noses at musicals as populist trash but think about shows like "Showboat", "Hair", "Rent" and many others that have illuminated social issues and societal changes. It can be a very valuable tool.
And as an afterthought I'm sorry that "The Drowsy Chaperone" failed in London I haven't seen the show but I have the soundtrack and I love it.
Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing.
www.tonymoore.id.au
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