Tonight, after playing 13 previews and 102 regular performances, [title of show] closes on Broadway. It is no secret how I feel about this show, I was even fortunate enough to be able to run an ad of their's on my site for the several weeks. Though it is closing, this is no sad occasion. Today we celebrate how amazing it is that this show got to Broadway in the first place, and that it was able to run as long as it did. While you may think that three months is not long, the history books are filled with stories of shows that played less than two weeks and even with shows that opened and closed on the same day. So when a little musical that began at the New York Musical Festival, then moved Off-Broadway, then had a short semi-scripted series on the internet moves to Broadway we celebrate! We celebrate the fact that these fantastically talented people got a completely original and authentic show up and running just because they decided that they would. We celebrate that these people and their show serve as a reminder that Broadway does have open doors and the community will be welcoming. But most of all, we celebrate the fact that these people’s dreams came true.
I hope that this show lives on in regional theatre, community theatre and high school theatre because at the end of the day, it deserves to. Kids growing up and already grown-up adults need to know that they can accomplish what they put their mind to, even if they feel that they are “Two Nobodies in New York.”
Most of all, this show deserves to be celebrated because at it’s core, it’s about having the courage to express yourself without judging yourself and not caring what other people think. And that’s nutrition for everyone.
My hat is off to Hunter, Jeff, Susan and Heidi. You did it!
And for old time's sake:
Ourboros, Motherfuckers!
The snake's all: Yo, my butt tastes like chicken!
© 2008 MD TOTAL all rights reserved.
Showing posts with label broadway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label broadway. Show all posts
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
FIFTY.
Pop the champagne! This marks Soccerboy in LA’s fiftieth post! Everybody at MD TOTAL is feeling pretty proud of what’s been accomplished here since July Eleventh! Even I didn’t imagine I would have had that much to say in two months, much less publish it for the world to see. I will admit it’s an extremely fun process that is wonderfully difficult.
This magazine is published five times a week on average. Some weeks are all seven days, and some weeks have consecutive days off. Generally, I figure out what I’m going to write about, write it, rewrite it, edit, rewrite again, edit again and publish all on the same day. As an artist, I rely on a strong process to get this accomplished. Some features require more time for me to establish a point of view, so I chew on those ideas, writing for a few days at a time before I publish them. I will say this: it is surprising even to me what features take a long time to get out of me. Luckily, I have a process. Though I must say, the best part about reaching Fifty is that I get to thank you.
Thank you for reading this magazine! :)
It’s great that you guys show up at all, and that you feel comfortable enough to join in on the discussion. It’s fulfilling. Speaking of, now would be a good time to give a shout out to our readers in Rhondda! And Panang! I never dreamt that Soccerboy in LA would be read as far as Wales and Thailand, but dag y'all… Thanks for showing up! And tell a friend to drop by! [shameless plug] New Visitors are always welcome!
We’re nearing the end of the second cycle, and it’s a crazy/amazing feeling just to be here and know that we’re moving forward! Cycle Three is looking to be pretty cool and should take us through the New Year. We’re working on some things that are pretty exciting if I say so myself. The feel will be the same and the recurring features will still recur, we’ll just get some new ones as well. That’s all I can say!
Pop the champagne and celebrate Soccerboy in LA’s Fiftieth Feature and give a toast to your good sense for reading it!
Keep it Real.
© 2008 MD TOTAL all rights reserved.
Member of the Boxxet Network of Blogs, Videos and Photos
This magazine is published five times a week on average. Some weeks are all seven days, and some weeks have consecutive days off. Generally, I figure out what I’m going to write about, write it, rewrite it, edit, rewrite again, edit again and publish all on the same day. As an artist, I rely on a strong process to get this accomplished. Some features require more time for me to establish a point of view, so I chew on those ideas, writing for a few days at a time before I publish them. I will say this: it is surprising even to me what features take a long time to get out of me. Luckily, I have a process. Though I must say, the best part about reaching Fifty is that I get to thank you.
Thank you for reading this magazine! :)
It’s great that you guys show up at all, and that you feel comfortable enough to join in on the discussion. It’s fulfilling. Speaking of, now would be a good time to give a shout out to our readers in Rhondda! And Panang! I never dreamt that Soccerboy in LA would be read as far as Wales and Thailand, but dag y'all… Thanks for showing up! And tell a friend to drop by! [shameless plug] New Visitors are always welcome!
We’re nearing the end of the second cycle, and it’s a crazy/amazing feeling just to be here and know that we’re moving forward! Cycle Three is looking to be pretty cool and should take us through the New Year. We’re working on some things that are pretty exciting if I say so myself. The feel will be the same and the recurring features will still recur, we’ll just get some new ones as well. That’s all I can say!
Pop the champagne and celebrate Soccerboy in LA’s Fiftieth Feature and give a toast to your good sense for reading it!
Keep it Real.
© 2008 MD TOTAL all rights reserved.
Member of the Boxxet Network of Blogs, Videos and Photos
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Billy the Kid
October First is coming up fast, and nobody knows it more than the three kids who will be playing the title role in the new Billy Elliot musical that begins performances on Broadway that evening. Yep, the role is so demanding, that they’ve got three kids rotating through the performances throughout the week, so that none of them will ever have to do two shows back to back. Back in the day, The Tap Dance Kid had a demanding role for an early teen as well, who was in almost every scene but he only got one performance off. Oh well, it was the early 80s.
Employing three actors for the same role is a big reason why this show is the most expensive musical in Broadway history. How expensive? It has a capitalization cost of $18 million. That might not sound like a lot compared to feature films, but chew on this: Wicked was previously the most expensive record holder at $14 million and Billy Elliot costs about three times as much as the film it was based on. By the first performance the three kids will have been in rehearsals for four months, plus two months before that just to get fit for the role. (Let me tell you from experience, singing and dancing onstage for nearly three hours takes stamina.) Once the rest of the cast arrived, they basically had to rehearse the show three times, once for each Billy. Just imagine what tech week will be like when it takes three weeks. The thought makes me shudder. And all of those Billies need keepers and tutors. Dang.
On top of that, Universal and Working Title (the show’s producers) have paid for renovations to the Imperial Theatre to meet their staging demands. Since they don’t have access to the theatre and their huge cast needs to be close together, they have rented out an entire Off-Broadway theater just for rehearsals. Plus another rehearsal space at a nearby studio! All this is fine, I personally think this show will make its money back eventually. But I do have two questions.
What happens when your teen playing the lead role goes though puberty and his voice changes?
What does an $18 million musical really mean for musicals to come?
© 2008 MD TOTAL all rights reserved.
Employing three actors for the same role is a big reason why this show is the most expensive musical in Broadway history. How expensive? It has a capitalization cost of $18 million. That might not sound like a lot compared to feature films, but chew on this: Wicked was previously the most expensive record holder at $14 million and Billy Elliot costs about three times as much as the film it was based on. By the first performance the three kids will have been in rehearsals for four months, plus two months before that just to get fit for the role. (Let me tell you from experience, singing and dancing onstage for nearly three hours takes stamina.) Once the rest of the cast arrived, they basically had to rehearse the show three times, once for each Billy. Just imagine what tech week will be like when it takes three weeks. The thought makes me shudder. And all of those Billies need keepers and tutors. Dang.
On top of that, Universal and Working Title (the show’s producers) have paid for renovations to the Imperial Theatre to meet their staging demands. Since they don’t have access to the theatre and their huge cast needs to be close together, they have rented out an entire Off-Broadway theater just for rehearsals. Plus another rehearsal space at a nearby studio! All this is fine, I personally think this show will make its money back eventually. But I do have two questions.
What happens when your teen playing the lead role goes though puberty and his voice changes?
What does an $18 million musical really mean for musicals to come?
© 2008 MD TOTAL all rights reserved.
Monday, July 21, 2008
[insert phenomenon]
At this moment I am speechless and proud of people whom I have never met, for the first time in ages. I heard about a show that these musical theatre writers were posting on youtube. Now, these aren’t established Broadway folks, they're newcomers who wrote a show about writing a show and taking it to Broadway. They were accepted into the NY Musical Theatre Workshop and then had a sold out run Off-Broadway. All the while, they were making changes and tweaking the show so it got better. And here’s when the two writers decided to start making ten minute shorts about their process to get to Broadway to upload to their site and youtube.
Now, to recap: There is a show on YouTube chronicling this show’s trip to Broadway. The show they are chronicling is about the very same writers writing a show and trying to get it to Broadway. This show is akin to the snake that eats its own tail.
Ouroboros, motherfuckers!
The snake’s all: Yo, my butt tastes like chicken!
But wait, it gets curious-er and curious-er. Because of the YouTube show, they attracted producers interested enough to secure a move to the Great White Way! Now that’s viral marketing! (are you listening, 20th Century Fox??!!) They decided to tell the world who they were and that the rest would fall in line. I am on board completely. And I strongly suggest that you check out “The [title of show] show” on YouTube. Start with episode one, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Last week, on July 17 [title of show] opened on BROADWAY at the Lyceum Theatre! If you are in the tri-state area, get your ass to the Lyceum because this show is special. Otherwise, make a pilgrimage to New York to see this show!
© 2008 MD TOTAL all rights reserved.
I am.
Now, to recap: There is a show on YouTube chronicling this show’s trip to Broadway. The show they are chronicling is about the very same writers writing a show and trying to get it to Broadway. This show is akin to the snake that eats its own tail.
Ouroboros, motherfuckers!
The snake’s all: Yo, my butt tastes like chicken!
But wait, it gets curious-er and curious-er. Because of the YouTube show, they attracted producers interested enough to secure a move to the Great White Way! Now that’s viral marketing! (are you listening, 20th Century Fox??!!) They decided to tell the world who they were and that the rest would fall in line. I am on board completely. And I strongly suggest that you check out “The [title of show] show” on YouTube. Start with episode one, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Last week, on July 17 [title of show] opened on BROADWAY at the Lyceum Theatre! If you are in the tri-state area, get your ass to the Lyceum because this show is special. Otherwise, make a pilgrimage to New York to see this show!
© 2008 MD TOTAL all rights reserved.
I am.
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