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Post by firefingers on Oct 27, 2016 17:48:41 GMT
Not sure if it is a transfer of the Broadway production in any way, but the Broadway director Michael Blakemore is attatched for this production of Cy Coleman's (Sweet Charity, On The Twentieth Century, Barnum, City of Angels) The Life. Running at Southwark Playhouse from late March for a bit over 5 weeks. Plans are for a transfer, but pretty much everything at Southwark has that plan. I believe Amy Anzel is producing, but that may be misremembering.
I adore the score of this, for those who don't know it, watch this:
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Post by mallardo on Oct 27, 2016 18:17:01 GMT
I love Cy Coleman but The Life is not his best work. I don't think he ever quite came to grips with the grittiness of the story. His music treats the streetwalkers as if they were the girls of the Fandango Ballroom, which they are decidedly not. Nevertheless, a Must See.
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Post by ali973 on Oct 27, 2016 18:38:19 GMT
OMG I love this score SO much! 90s? Sassy sex workers? Cy Coleman? YES PLEASE!
Sharon D Clark in Lillias White's role, please.
BTW
Thank you for sharing
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Post by JJShaw on Oct 27, 2016 19:44:28 GMT
wow! interesting on broadwayworld they've been chatting about The Life, saying that is wouldn't be a piece to be revived anytime soon so this is surprising news!
I know a handful of the songs but i love Colemans work so I'm excited, once again Southwark Playhouse coming out on top with exciting and new productions of shows!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2016 20:29:42 GMT
I love the score for this, but it cant seem to decide what the tone is. One minute their singing about how hard their life is, then they're saying its their choice to do it and they're celebrating it at the Hookers Ball.
Still, so many great songs in the show to look forward to. I really like 'A Piece of The Action'
Hopefully they can't go wrong with cheap hooker clothes, can they??
There may well be another musical following this into the Southwark Playhouse for a month, but the deal has yet to be finalised.
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Post by showgirl on Oct 27, 2016 20:59:08 GMT
Mine will probably be a lone voice as there seems to be an endless appetite here for musicals, but I wish this venue would return to doing more plays - some of them have been great, yet so long has the current series of musicals lasted that I can't recall when I last saw a play in the main house.
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Post by westendwendy on Oct 27, 2016 21:10:24 GMT
Oh I do hope this is true.
The music is super and it needs a revival (along with Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Funny Thing happened, Baby and Mame)
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Post by firefingers on Oct 27, 2016 22:27:32 GMT
Mine will probably be a lone voice as there seems to be an endless appetite here for musicals, but I wish this venue would return to doing more plays - some of them have been great, yet so long has the current series of musicals lasted that I can't recall when I last saw a play in the main house. The future plan is to have two Playhouses, a 2 space (similar capacity to now) back under London Bridge station for plays and occasional chamber musicals, with a new 300 seater just down the road from the current Elephant and Castle space for musicals. |
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Post by firefingers on Oct 27, 2016 22:29:42 GMT
Oh I do hope this is true. The music is super and it needs a revival (along with Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Funny Thing happened, Baby and Mame) Would I lie to you, WEW? Auditions are next week. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2016 23:27:09 GMT
Oh god. WHY?!
This and Side Show, Southwark seems to be the place where shows that no-one else wants go!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2016 0:01:18 GMT
Oh god. WHY?! This and Side Show, Southwark seems to be the place where shows that no-one else wants go! Southwark is the place where they produce Broadway musicals that otherwise wouldnt get a commercial production in the West End. It's not that no one wants them, they just might not succeed in a larger house. If they didnt do them, then its unlikely that we'd see them at all. |
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Post by macksennett on Oct 29, 2016 19:56:16 GMT
Love the score of The Life - and Cy Coleman wrote some great shows. I'll definitely be seeing this.
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Post by theatremadness on Nov 3, 2016 23:31:31 GMT
Sharon D Clarke (nice one ali973!!) from 25th March |
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Post by gra on Nov 3, 2016 23:56:33 GMT
Arts Ed are performing The Life this week
I'm going tomorrow.
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Post by ali973 on Nov 4, 2016 5:48:53 GMT
Ha! She'll kill it! Can't wait!
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Post by Mr Snow on Nov 4, 2016 7:24:58 GMT
Will try and go.
Can anyone provide any insight into how Southwark can afford to put musicals on? Must be MUCH more expensive to stage than a play?
Small venue too?
(PS I'm delighted they do pull it off)
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Post by ali973 on Nov 4, 2016 7:38:29 GMT
Until when is the run?
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Post by Mark on Nov 4, 2016 9:08:45 GMT
Sharon is AWESOME! Another show where I'll be able to use my pay as you go membership.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2016 9:14:03 GMT
Will try and go. Can anyone provide any insight into how Southwark can afford to put musicals on? Must be MUCH more expensive to stage than a play? Small venue too? (PS I'm delighted they do pull it off) Southwark rarely produce in-house. They rent it out to producers like Paul Taylor Mills and Danielle Tarento who put the shows on. I gather their break-evens are painfully high! |
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Post by firefingers on Nov 4, 2016 13:49:18 GMT
Will try and go. Can anyone provide any insight into how Southwark can afford to put musicals on? Must be MUCH more expensive to stage than a play? Small venue too? (PS I'm delighted they do pull it off) As MrMusicals said, the shows are produced by external companies who hire the space. Paul Taylor Mills for Side Show/In The Heights/Bat Boy/Carrie, Danielle Tarrento for Allegro/Grey Gardens/Grand Hotel, Katy Lipson for Toxic Avenger/Promises Promises etc. They afford doing it so cheaply by paying badly and trimming the fat. In my experience, an actor can expect to be paid about 25% of what a similar role would garner on the West End stage. Better than some, but most actors will be working a day job on top of a show at Southwark. Money is saved in other areas, like a shorter rehearsal period compared to the West End, and lower quality construction of sets and costumes because they only need to last 6 weeks instead of possibly years. Staffing is also lower, such as having a backstage team of 4 when in the West End it would be easily double. Equipment for lighting/sound etc is often reaching the end of it's useful life so can be hired in on the cheep. Oh, and the ushers are volunteers which saves a few quid. |
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Post by dazzerlump on Nov 4, 2016 18:36:12 GMT
Nicola Hughes for Queenie please!
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Post by ali973 on Nov 4, 2016 19:00:36 GMT
I'd rather someone who is a very very good singer than Ms. Hughes, who normally nails the acting, but is a so-so singer I think.
Can we get Gloria Onitiri? There's a huge age gap between her and Sharon D Clarke to be BFs though.
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Post by gra on Nov 5, 2016 0:38:13 GMT
Arts Educational production of 'The life'tonight stunning!
Such a powerful piece with brilliant band,and great performances.
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Post by staygee on Nov 6, 2016 16:02:14 GMT
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Post by PalelyLaura on Nov 9, 2016 14:48:09 GMT
Saw the Arts Ed production last night, absolutely loved it and gave it a standing ovation (something I VERY rarely do) - booked before I found about the Southwark production but to be honest this will be a hard act to beat - I loved the score and the story but the performers themselves were fantastic too.
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