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?
Spring Awakening
Fri, 20 July 2007, 08:32 amI was in New York over new years and into January this year and was lucky enough to see a few shows.
The Drowsy Chaperone - fabulous sets and costumes. The characters were fun and the cast spectacular - hail to Beth and Sutton - I can see this show working well in Australia at both community and professional levels. There is scope for a large cast, but the professional production only has a chorus of 4. Personally am hanging out for the amateur rights so I can direct and/or chore this.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Can't wait for either the amateur rights to become available or for it to tour to Perth. I loved the show.
Company - The revival was ok. I love this show, but it has been done before in Perth. I would love to see some of his other shows done instead. Into the woods, Sweeney Todd, Passion, Saturday Night, Sunday in the park with George.
Avenue Q - I loved this show. We took my dad to see this for his 60th birthday and had third row seats for the sunday show (then we went to Sardi's for dinner - but that's a whole other story). We paid over $100US for our tickets but it was worth every sent. I got totally lost in the puppets at some point and the actors at others. I would love to see it a couple more times one to watch just the puppets and one to watch just the actors. This show would work wonderfully in Australia and with the simplicity of the set it will be easy to tour.
Last and certainly not least:
Spring Awakening - Knowing nothing of the story before I saw this - I was told by a friend who lives in NYC to see this so I did - I walked out not too sure what I thought of the show. But woke up the next morning with the opening song in my head. The more I listen to the music the more I love it. I know one of the cast members and think this is one of the best musicals I have seen. The setting in simplistic and effective, the lighting enhances the show and the basic costumes kept the age of the characters in perspective. In regards to the stage seating, I'm glad I saw the show from up in the gods the first time and would of loved to of had the time to go back and get stage seats. I was not at all surprised when it won as many Tony's as it did. The one that surprised me the most was Choreography. It was so simplistic and more like a stylised movement than dance. I am waiting for the amateur rights to direct this one.
On another note. There are alot of off broadway shows at the moment that would not necessarily work on a professional level here, but are fabulous for community. Such as any of the Forbidden Broadways, In My Life, Evil Dead the musical and my favourite Altar Boyz.
Altar Boyz is the story of a Christian Boy Band on the final night of their 'Raise the Praise' tour. The band, originally from Ohio, is made up of Matthew, Mark Luke, Juan and Abraham.
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