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Post by chernjam on Dec 10, 2023 1:02:33 GMT
Don’t wish to be greedy, but I’m praying that if this cast recording does happen, then it’s complete and not just the fabled highlights. SECOND TO THIS |
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Post by chernjam on Dec 3, 2023 17:09:17 GMT
Michael Ball just talking to Nicole on his R2 show, asked her if there's going to be a cast recording. Her (hesitant) reply was "I think so" No mention of Broadway though, just going home to Hawaii. I know there's been wide spread almost confirmation on this thread that Broadway is happening, but after ALW's comments about broadway last week basically asking people to support arts in the West End rather than Broadway because it's impossible financially to recoup and that Broadway productions are basically becoming "vanity projects" I thought maybe this isn't coming to Broadway after all? Maybe as others said, it will have another limited run next year (with the cast recording coming out in between) |
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Post by chernjam on Dec 3, 2023 17:07:08 GMT
Michael Ball just talking to Nicole on his R2 show, asked her if there's going to be a cast recording. Her (hesitant) reply was "I think so" I'm cautiously optimistic... That's better than her saying "I haven't heard anything." or "No" |
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Post by chernjam on Dec 2, 2023 2:39:17 GMT
It’s not likely.. it’s happening. They have a NYC theatre and it’s going there early 2024 can you make them record the damn thing  |
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Post by chernjam on Dec 1, 2023 21:41:46 GMT
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Post by chernjam on Nov 25, 2023 21:32:33 GMT
I was watching a bootleg of this sequence the other day and the guy who has filmed it must have been so annoying to be sat next to. Every time there was a reference he put on a really false loud laugh and virtually shouted out each one.. "ooh turban HAHAHA...ooh chimp HAHAHA" Thank you for saying it Was losing my mind and getting further enraged that there's no news of a cast recording |
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Post by chernjam on Nov 24, 2023 15:48:54 GMT
...in other news, it looks like tickets are really selling now for West End. It's had multiple sell outs in the last week. Could that be the Evening Standard award bump or just the reality that there's only 6-7 weeks left
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Post by chernjam on Nov 24, 2023 15:46:18 GMT
Around the 2017 revival the chatter about the movie version had really piqued again, with supposedly a fantastic script and director attached, with Glenn giving updates. COVID was one of the main excuses for it getting derailed again and I haven't seen or heard a word from Glenn in a long time.
If they did attempt a film, I think Jamie Lloyd has just shown that there's more to the story than just recycling the original with music from ALW. Leaning into the fame/popularity aspects of things and some further reworking of the lyrics can make this even more something a bit more original "based" on the Billy Wilder film.
Whether Paramount has the vision and desire for such - no idea. The feline mess of Cats I'm sure is still lingering for many a movie exec
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Post by chernjam on Nov 20, 2023 21:30:29 GMT
I'll take any rumors like this at this point, if nothing else to keep pressure up for this to actually happen |
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Post by chernjam on Nov 17, 2023 0:25:58 GMT
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Post by chernjam on Nov 17, 2023 0:06:49 GMT
If I were making a bet, I'd predict that it will be next season on Broadway that this transfers. The producers are going to want to give it a chance for some awards, and this Tony Season is looking quite crowded with some heavy competition. Without announcing anything right away, seeing how things go with the Oliviers and if it gets some nominations/awards, that could start building buzz for a Spring 2025 opening and have it running in time for the Tony Awards (I'm thinking like the 2017 revival, Feb 2025, announce a limited run, extend it on the Broadway opening till the end of June)
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Post by chernjam on Nov 15, 2023 13:04:47 GMT
I quite agree about Young Norma... and the choreography for her still baffles me. But impressive core strength by any measure. Also just thought is this production an apotheosis for the Jamie Lloyd style? Is this peak stripped down? Where does he go from here with it? If Jamie Lloyd is as visionary as has been described, I would think he'd need to do something a bit different in subsequent productions to show he's not "type-cast" in his style. On another note, As Sunset has now re-entered my consciousness far more with reading about it every day I found myself watching on YouTube the "Sunset Blvd The Palace of Dreams" special that they did pre-Australian opening with Debra Byrne and a then very new-young Hugh Jackman. It was interesting to see and hear Trevor Nunn and Bob Appian talking about how they created and approached things and compare to what we hear and see with this new production. |
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Post by chernjam on Nov 14, 2023 20:17:40 GMT
So with this run now over half way through, have increasingly found myself wondering what, if anything, it's legacy will be. I think it's safe ish to say it's been a pretty big success and possibly an unexpected one. Certainly based on this non scientific thread we have 85% at 4/5 stars which I think is a higher level of enthusiasm that the early pages of the thread would have predicted. Also appreciated by critics and a definite buzz from the public. Many of my vaguely-but-not-specifically-into-theatre friends have either seen it and loved it or have booked to see it. And for ALW after the chaos of Cinderella/Bad Cinderella, Aspects of Love failing to set the world alight and some hit and miss concerts, it's been easily his best selling and acclaimed show this side of the coronavirus. First I wonder if there could be a future life for this production in the UK. Seems certain it won't be extending, likely it won't be transferring and highly likely there can't be another run here with Nicole if she is taking it to Broadway. I would love for a further run to be announced hot of the heels of this one but I do wonder if they could do it without Nicole. No criticism at all of the alternate, but you need only look at the relative sales to see how much of a draw Scherzinger is. I kind of think there must be someone else like her that could take this forward, but I can't actually name one! But then I am neither Jamie Lloyd nor a casting director. Does anyone think it could have a future life in the UK? The second thing I wondered is if there are any other post Phantom ALW musicals that could have such an extreme reworking into such a breathtaking, hitherto unimagined production. Are there any that could have the Jamie Lloyd treatment? I've been through them all in my head and sadly am not sure there are. In fact I think it's testimony to what an insanely good musical Sunset Boulevard is that it has worked so well in a version so radically different from the original. And in fact as a result really of this production I think Sunset (already high in my estimation) has risen a long way above all the other post Phantom stuff. Be interested to hear if anyone thinks there is anything that could be revitalised in this way? Pre Phantom I'd love to see Lloyd's Evita return. And I think he could definitely do Phantom itself but while the original is still there that's not really going to be on the table. I know it's not Jamie Lloyd, but after Starlight Express, I do think a new radical take on Cats would be interesting. As like Starlight and Phantom, the original production is so welded to the piece - be good to see something new. I mean it has been tried before but never on a huge West End scale. Be that Lloyd or a different director. So I guess in summary as a huge ALW fan I do hope this may pave the way for some more epic revivals. I must confess my hunch though is that there isn't much that could generate this kind of buzz. That said I have high hopes for the new Starlight production and as for the rest, time will tell. (Oh and in the meantime, have I mentioned I am desperate for a new Sunset cast recording.....?!) So on this side of the Atlantic and only being able to live vicariously through so many of you wonderful people out their in the dark... oops, Sorry - so many of your wonderful reviews and explanations of this production, BVM brings up some interesting points. For ALW I don't ever remember a revival of his ever having this kind of buzz and this re-imagination. Partially because his shows usually ran for so long that it was hard to think of them not being done the same way (The chandelier to the Phantom; the staircase to Sunset?) Partially because we know ALW is a bit of a control freak and has become more so in recent years. As for Sunset - I had hoped and it sounds like this "re-invention" could have legs for it. I'm thinking that when it transfers to Broadway they're going to be thinking long-er run and perhaps further casting to keep it running post-Nicole. Because Jamie Lloyd seems to have made the story more accessible tapping into the tragedy of Narcissism that is common in celebrity and those who crave it in our social media age. How there's a human being there who longs to be seen, known and loved and having succumbed to the applause and seen it disappear is lost. So his approach could in a sense become the new "standard" for approaching Sunset as subsequent productions kept trying to adhere to Trevor Nunn's approach on a much more frugal budget. Oh and a trailer is coming NOW? I mean, I'm all for it - and hope that means there's further announcements coming (cast recording, transfer, etc) because otherwise, with only less than 8 weeks to go, they really don't need it |
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Post by chernjam on Nov 13, 2023 17:57:58 GMT
For those who (like me) don't have the brochure check out sunsetboulevardwestend.com as they have updated the homepage with a new pic of Nicole with "Must End January 6th" listed
Man there better be "Broadway in 2024" "Cast Recording Available Soon" popping up there too
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Post by chernjam on Nov 11, 2023 21:17:20 GMT
Maybe post the link or email here? Make it very easy for people to ask for it? Here's the link to Really Useful: www.reallyuseful.com/contact/Here's the link to ALW's site (which I think is the same as RUG) www.andrewlloydwebber.com/contact/I agree with Burly - nicely ask on social media on the Jamie Lloyd socials, as well as the official ALW and Sunset socials Let's make this happen people  |
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Post by chernjam on Nov 11, 2023 19:48:29 GMT
I wouldn't take this as bad news... Lets be optimistic that there are not "confirmed plans" could mean there are discussions/negotiations going on.
Would just encourage fans like myself who agree that this really needs a new cast recording to go to reallyuseful.com (or andrewlloydwebber.com) scroll to the bottom where it says "GET IN TOUCH" and share your feedback. It seems like a no brainer to us, and for sure I don't know all the financial things surrounding this (and again, how Sondheim revivals are recorded seemingly everytime, I'll never know) I'm sure ALW is hoping that finally Sunset Blvd will have a run that returns its original investment and considered a financial hit and perhaps that's why they're gun shy to add another expense right now.
But seriously if they want to curtail people making illegal recordings, then give us a quality product we're only happy to purchase and listen to over and over again. The few clips of this cast singing that I've heard (before they disappeared) have made it really difficult to enjoy the World Premiere or American Premiere recordings anymore
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Post by chernjam on Nov 10, 2023 18:12:32 GMT
The hysterics on here... man oh man. Think back to when Glen was at the ENO for a month and got sick for three days and there was no chance of rescheduling, you found out when you got to the venue. And got a refund or went and enjoyed the show for what it was. There's no obligation to tell why Nicole can't perform that evening and my first thought was a funeral as well. I doubt highly she would blow off two-three performances for "another gig."
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Post by chernjam on Nov 2, 2023 16:36:21 GMT
out of curiosity - do they sell any recording at the Savoy? Was wondering if they had either Patti or Glenn recording. Seriously would have to be a letdown for people after that performance
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Post by chernjam on Nov 2, 2023 14:06:52 GMT
Can anyone confirm if the melody that Norma sings just before With One Look is used in The Woman In White? It feels very similar. Great now my head will be stuck with ALW ear worms all day "They threw away the gold of SILENCE When all they needed was this FACE of mine" sounds like something from WIW or close to it. I'm thinking that when the WIW sings "You see I am no ghost before you, I am flesh and blood" but that's not quite the same. |
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Post by chernjam on Nov 1, 2023 17:58:48 GMT
Honestly, how old was this guy "covering his ears" storming out? And stopping to tell the Usher it was a "pile of S * ( T" Whatever, his credit card cleared. Best he left if he was that cranky In the meantime, I just went to ReallyUseful.com to beg for a cast recording. Can't believe its come to that. I resisted pointing out how practically every Sondheim revival seems to get a new recording and there's nowhere near the market in demand for 5 different of "Passion" that there would be for this cast's Sunset Good work! How did you contact RUG chernjam? I shall do the same. Anyone that knows me can probs stop reading now as I am about to bang on about the same thing for the millionth time but why oh why are RUG era London revival cast recordings so few and far between, as in virtually non existent. I think (someone correct me of I am wrong) but Starlight Express (original and 1993 "new") and Phantom (OLC and RAH 25th) are the only London productions RUG have recorded twice! As you say Sondheim gets recorded every 5 mins. And Cameron is excellent at recording his revivals. Les Mis 25th, Miss Saigon Prince Edward, Oliver Drury Lane, Mary Poppins with Zizi and Charlie - all recorded! Funnily enough I follow things in Vienna pretty closely and VBW manage to record almost everything whether new or revival. Had an e-mail yesterday that Amadeus the new Falco musical will have it's CD out soon, very soon after opening. They have made an incredible 4 Elizabeth CDs with all the revival casts! And of course they produced a stunning complete CD of Cats a couple of years ago - my fave Cats recording in existence! So yeah - let's for the love of God have this insane production of Sunset recorded! Hey BVM - I went to reallyuseful.com and scrolled to the bottom of the web page, under the Contact us section. I got a generic response today which I took as more hopeful since when I bothered them in the summer about re-recording Aspects it was more personalized saying "there were no plans at the moment but that they would pass it along." After hearing an unauthorized version, while I still love Aspects as a score and some of the new cast were wonderful as were the orchestrations, it didn't seem worth it. As limited as the unauthorized clips have been of Nicole AND Rachel are, they're absolutely thrilling. I can't listen to Patti or Glenn at all anymore |
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Post by chernjam on Nov 1, 2023 1:42:18 GMT
Man in the row in front walked out after With One Look. You could see he was hating it as he never applauded and during the applause for this song he had his ears covered. He told the usher on his way out that he thought the show was a "pile of s**t". 2 other people in front of me also didn't return after the interval. Guess it is still dividing people but you would think a few weeks into the run people would read up a bit before especially as the tickets aren't cheap. Bought the colour brochure which is absolutely beautiful and worth the money I think and also bought a very classy notebook for £12 but don't think I will use it. Just looks nice on the table. Anyway I am planning another visit or two before it closes probably with Nicole as her performance is rather iconic. Honestly, how old was this guy "covering his ears" storming out? And stopping to tell the Usher it was a "pile of S * ( T" Whatever, his credit card cleared. Best he left if he was that cranky In the meantime, I just went to ReallyUseful.com to beg for a cast recording. Can't believe its come to that. I resisted pointing out how practically every Sondheim revival seems to get a new recording and there's nowhere near the market in demand for 5 different of "Passion" that there would be for this cast's Sunset |
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Post by chernjam on Oct 31, 2023 22:46:46 GMT
There's a great little behind the scenes video from that 1992 presentation, recorded by the man who directed it at Sydmonton. Who do people recognise in it? Nick Colicos, Caroline O'connor, Michael Bauer is definitely Cecil B Demille, not Max as I thought it was. Andrew MacBean has been sharing some real gems on his youtube page (including this one^) would love to know what he thinks of the new Sunset |
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Post by chernjam on Oct 28, 2023 19:28:31 GMT
I sort of figured this was the case anyway. Also, it sounds like it was going to be more split in the beginning, and that she initially walked away when it was 1 show a week, but they managed to talk her back round. Really good episode of In The Frame podcast that she's on this week talking about it. That's really unfortunate to read. Norma does seem to bring out the Diva out of even the best of actresses. Considering the tickets sold for Nicole vs. Rachel, maybe she should've had a bit more humility and simply brought the best she could to it, (as she has so far) and built some further word of mouth? I mean I wasn't even that aware of Nicole as a "star" (not sorry, not really paying attention to "Pussycat dolls" or any "pop" stuff) until hearing her cover of "Memory" and learning she was an international name. Hadn't even heard of Rachel Tucker until this thread. One of Sunset's flaws has been the need for a star in the lead role. From the sounds of this production, they've been able to accomplish that while also re-inventing the show to make it possible to cast women who might not have the "gravitas" of a Patti LuPone, Glenn Close or Elaine Paige but are "stars" in their own right could make it not just work, but soar. |
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Post by chernjam on Oct 26, 2023 22:14:29 GMT
Saw Andrew LW in the dress circle bar this evening. I had to nip out just before the interval as I was bursting for the loo, and he was there trying to get in discreetly for the end of the first half. Told him it's a great show to which he said "thank you very much, I'm glad you're enjoying it". Wish I'd had my sharpie and programme to hand... Wished you could have asked him when/if they're doing a cast recording of this. I sent a message to Jamie Lloyd's company hoping to get some good news |
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Post by chernjam on Oct 24, 2023 2:08:10 GMT
Saw Rachel tonight. WOW. She’s just a completely different Norma than Nicole is, which fascinates me. Usually a standby or alternate isn’t allowed to have their own totally separate take on a character but that’s exactly what she does here. I don’t want say I like one over the other because they’re such total departures from each other. I will say Rachel is more “classic” Norma while still being very contemporary. It’s a different contemporary than Nicole without the tongue pops, twerking and “yaaas’ing” but modern day, nonetheless. I felt she, especially toward the end, allowed herself to go places Nicole didn’t (at least the last time I saw her in previews) but I’m seeing her again tomorrow night and can’t wait to see how she’s evolved. I told my friend that it seemed Rachel listened to how long every other Norma before her held the note during AIWNSG and said “hold my beer” - it was thrilling. So someone recently shared that Dreamgirls recorded their revival cast recording live at the Savoy theatre. This gives me great hopes that: 1 - we will get a new full-cast recording of this revival 2 - they add two bonus tracks of Rachel singing With One Look and As If We Never Said Goodbye I mean, come on... |
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