'They' (that vague, all-mighty pronoun) = Spike Lee, who is what is moving this project.
"Passing Strange" is one of the freshest, sharpest, most enjoyable new musicals of the decade and though I strongly suspect seeing it on tape will diminish the impact it had live more than most shows, it rightly deserves preservation.
Posts: 2105 | Location: New York, New York | Registered: August 08, 2003
Yeah, I dunno if it's worthy... it just won the NY Critics Award and Drama Desk Award for best musical.
Also, the fact that it is a bit like a concert may make it easier to film than a larger show... often big shows do not translate on film because the stage pictures created for the theatre are not always easily captured on film.
The fact that it is not doing that well financially also plays into the decision. Shows that are gonna run forever are almost never filmed since they want people to have to pay the big bucks to see them. It is usually struggling shows that agree to be filmed and seen on television so they get a larger audience than they ever had on stage... "Company" revival, "The Light in the Piazza", "Gray Gardens", etc.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: pacinofan,
Posts: 13416 | Location: Phoenix, AZ | Registered: February 02, 2003
Originally posted by pacinofan: Yeah, I dunno if it's worthy... it just won the NY Critics Award and Drama Desk Award for best musical.
Also, the fact that it is a bit like a concert may make it easier to film than a larger show... often big shows do not translate on film because the stage pictures created for the theatre are not always easily captured on film.
The fact that it is not doing that well financially also plays into the decision. Shows that are gonna run forever are almost never filmed since they want people to have to pay the big bucks to see them. It is usually struggling shows that agree to be filmed and seen on television so they get a larger audience than they ever had on stage... "Company" revival, "The Light in the Piazza", "Gray Gardens", etc.
Not to sound like a jerk about it being worthy, it only won those awards probably because In the Heights was up for them last year and couldn't compete this year.
I would love for them to film all the shows that appear on broadway with the original cast to be broadcast or put on dvd somewhere down the road. I would love to have a dvd of the original cast of rent or Wicked or one of the amazing shows from the past.
Originally posted by pacinofan: Yeah, I dunno if it's worthy... it just won the NY Critics Award and Drama Desk Award for best musical.
Also, the fact that it is a bit like a concert may make it easier to film than a larger show... often big shows do not translate on film because the stage pictures created for the theatre are not always easily captured on film.
The fact that it is not doing that well financially also plays into the decision. Shows that are gonna run forever are almost never filmed since they want people to have to pay the big bucks to see them. It is usually struggling shows that agree to be filmed and seen on television so they get a larger audience than they ever had on stage... "Company" revival, "The Light in the Piazza", "Gray Gardens", etc.
Not to sound like a jerk about it being worthy, it only won those awards probably because In the Heights was up for them last year and couldn't compete this year.
I would love for them to film all the shows that appear on broadway with the original cast to be broadcast or put on dvd somewhere down the road. I would love to have a dvd of the original cast of rent or Wicked or one of the amazing shows from the past.
The reviews for "In the Heights" were much more mixed than those for "Passing Strange". Many critics found "Heights" entertaining overall but complained about the hokey book. A lot of the reviews were in the *** rather than **** range. "Passing Strange" got almost all stellar reviews and was able to beat another highly acclaimed musical, "Adding Machine", for the NY Critics and Drama Desk top prizes.
Posts: 13416 | Location: Phoenix, AZ | Registered: February 02, 2003
Not to sound like a jerk about it being worthy, it only won those awards probably because In the Heights was up for them last year and couldn't compete this year.
No, "Passing Strange" would have won regardless. As pacinofan has said, it's inarguable that it reviewed much better than "In the Heights". You can check out www.didhelikeit.com, which collects all the major print reviews from current Broadway shows and compares them.
You'll also see that "Xanadu" reviewed better than "In the Heights".
Posts: 2105 | Location: New York, New York | Registered: August 08, 2003
Not to sound like a jerk about it being worthy, it only won those awards probably because In the Heights was up for them last year and couldn't compete this year.
No, "Passing Strange" would have won regardless. As pacinofan has said, it's inarguable that it reviewed much better than "In the Heights". You can check out www.didhelikeit.com, which collects all the major print reviews from current Broadway shows and compares them.
You'll also see that "Xanadu" reviewed better than "In the Heights".
Alright, well who knows what would have happened, but I don't think that Passing Strange would have won those awards if In the Heights was in the running. As for the Adding Machine losing, it was off-broadway, a major strike against a show when it comes to awards, because we all know that most off-broadway shows don't do well with the Drama Desk awards.
Not to sound like a jerk about it being worthy, it only won those awards probably because In the Heights was up for them last year and couldn't compete this year.
No, "Passing Strange" would have won regardless. As pacinofan has said, it's inarguable that it reviewed much better than "In the Heights". You can check out www.didhelikeit.com, which collects all the major print reviews from current Broadway shows and compares them.
You'll also see that "Xanadu" reviewed better than "In the Heights".
Alright, well who knows what would have happened, but I don't think that Passing Strange would have won those awards if In the Heights was in the running. As for the Adding Machine losing, it was off-broadway, a major strike against a show when it comes to awards, because we all know that most off-broadway shows don't do well with the Drama Desk awards.
The NY Critics Award is chosen by CRITICS so their reviews are important when judging what will win that award. "In the Heights" got good but not great reviews from most critics and was nowhere in the running with "Spring Awakening" for best musical last year. There is no reason to believe it would have been in the running this year, should it have been eligable, for the NY Critics' prize when it got good reviews while "Passing Strange" & "Adding Machine", several off-Broadway shows have won the NY Critics prizes for play and musical, got great reviews.
I'll admit that "In the Heights" may very well have won the Drama Desk against "Passing Strange" and "Adding Machine" as "Heights" is a more commercial show and that means something to the Drama Desk voters.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: pacinofan,
Posts: 13416 | Location: Phoenix, AZ | Registered: February 02, 2003
Not to sound like a jerk about it being worthy, it only won those awards probably because In the Heights was up for them last year and couldn't compete this year.
No, "Passing Strange" would have won regardless. As pacinofan has said, it's inarguable that it reviewed much better than "In the Heights". You can check out www.didhelikeit.com, which collects all the major print reviews from current Broadway shows and compares them.
You'll also see that "Xanadu" reviewed better than "In the Heights".
Alright, well who knows what would have happened, but I don't think that Passing Strange would have won those awards if In the Heights was in the running. As for the Adding Machine losing, it was off-broadway, a major strike against a show when it comes to awards, because we all know that most off-broadway shows don't do well with the Drama Desk awards.
The NY Critics Award is chosen by CRITICS so their reviews are important when judging what will win that award. "In the Heights" got good but not great reviews from most critics and was nowhere in the running with "Spring Awakening" for best musical last year. There is no reason to believe it would have been in the running this year, should it have been eligable, for the NY Critics' prize when it got good reviews while "Passing Strange" & "Adding Machine", several off-Broadway shows have won the NY Critics prizes for play and musical, got great reviews.
I'll admit that "In the Heights" may very well have won the Drama Desk against "Passing Strange" and "Adding Machine" as "Heights" is a more commercial show and that means something to the Drama Desk voters.
I was only talking about the Drama Desk voters, you know that they have a bias. I just wish that they would film more shows, even if it was to put it out later after the shows closed. Like I would love to have a dvd of the original casts of Wicked, Rent and so many other shows...
Spike Lee has failed to save Broadway musical Passing Strange, it will close in New York the day after the director films it for a TV special.
Last week it was revealed the film maker would spend $2 million (GBP1 million) shooting the show, about a young black musician who travels to Europe.
The play won a Tony Award this year but has suffered poor box office sales, and it was rumoured that Lee's intervention was intended to boost the show's profile.
But producers have announced performers will take their last bow on 20 July, reports Daily Variety.
Lee's filmed version is expected to appear on a cable TV network later this year.
