Not Everything Should Be a Movie: Jekyll & Hyde Version

With the uber successful film adaptation of LES MISERABLES keeping everyone's attention on the musical theatre world, it is no surprise that in its wake many movie musical adaptations have been announced. Matt Stone & Trey Parker, creators of South Park, announced this month that they are starting a film production company (mostly to create a BOOK OF MORMON movie adaptation). And just today, it was announced that the rights have been purchased to turn JEKYLL & HYDE into a movie.

Frank Wildhorn's musical, which had a lot of success on Broadway when it first debuted, is on a national tour with American Idol's Constantine Maroulis and Deborah Cox, and will return to Broadway this spring. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the musical, especially with stunt casting like this, and it made me think: What's better? Hollywood making more movie musicals, even if they aren't the best, or focusing on big hits and strong musicals? (Also, bets that Hugh Jackman plays Jekyll/Hyde and Anne Hathaway has the female lead?)

Les Mis was so successful because it is a great musical (one of the world's most popular) done with an all-star cast by an amazing director and creative team. Can the same be said of a movie musical of JEKYLL & HYDE? A mediocre musical, with decent but not great brand recognition, and so far no known casting of creative team. I don't think so.

As a huge fan of musical theatre, I'm glad to see Hollywood embracing it, but I think there need to be limits because I don't want to see everything made into a movie. What's going to be next? A movie adaptation of LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL?

Gertner Joins Creel for BOOK OF MORMON Tour

Jared Gertner, currently playing Elder Cunningham in Book of Mormon on Broadway, will join Gavin Creel in the national tour cast of the show, playing his Broadway role. Creel was previously announced to play Elder Price.

Cale Krise (Fat Camp), will take over the role on Broadway as his Broadway debut starting tonight (6/26).

The rest of the tour cast includes: Samantha Marie Ware as Nabulungi, Grey Henson as Elder McKinley and Kevin Mambo as Mafala Hatimbi. The ensemble will include: Mike McGowan,Derrick Williams, Jon Bass, Jacob ben Widmar, Colin Bradbury, Josh Breckenridge, JR Bruno, Michael Buchanan, JoNathan Cullen, Bobby Daye, Talitha Farrow, Phyre Hawkins, Mykal Kilgore, Daniel LeClaire, Antyon LeMonte, Douglas Lyons, Kimberly Marable, Laiona Michelle, Kevin Michael Murphy, Michael Schwitter, Jeffrey David Sears, Marisha Wallace, Bud Weber, Christian Dante White, and Jamaal Wilson.

Gavin Creel Set for BOOK OF MORMON Tour

Gavin Creel (Hair, Thoroughly Modern Millie) is set to play Elder Price in the upcoming first national tour of BOOK OF MORMON!

No other casting for the tour has been announced yet. The tour starts in Denver this summer.

This is AMAZING NEWS! And if I wasn't already planning to see the national tour, I would be now!

REVIEW: The Book of Mormon on Broadway

On March 11th (I know I'm running behind), I went to see THE BOOK OF MORMON after buying tickets in October. Well, I can say, even with Ben Schrader filling in for Josh Gad as Elder Cunningham, this show was WELL WORTH THE WAIT!

As someone who knew every word to the cast recording by heart, I still was surprised with the hilarity and humor and absolute perfection of the score and book. Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Bobby Lopez have crafted what was definitely one of the best musicals I have ever seen. I enjoyed that there were more little musical interludes not included on the recording and the book was hilarious. The one thing I will say is I did not think that the show was as risque as people made it seemed and I think all of the difficult subjects were handled well and respectfully.

I also really liked how much deeper the storyline was than I expected based on the recording. I think a message really can be garnered through what everyone goes through, especially the Elder Price storyline.

Technically, the show was awesome with a really intricate but simple set and a lighting design that really helped promote the storyline. The costumes were also amazing.

The one thing I was not expecting that really wowed me was the dancing. Based on the score, I was not expecting the level of dance that was portrayed on stage and Casey Nicholaw did an above and beyond job choreographing this show.

While all of the actors were amazing, Andrew Rannells just really wowed and shone through all the amazing performances. Rory O'Malley and Nikki M. James were great too, but Rannells just blew the show out of the water, hitting every note and moment perfectly. Ben Schrader did a respectable job in his first weekend understudy-ing Josh Gad as Cunningham, and while overshadowed by the rest of the cast (I think because he was just not as comfortable with the role yet), he was a good Cunningham.

All I can say is...GO SEE THIS SHOW!!

Kennedy Center Announces 2012-2013 Season

The Kennedy Center has announced it's upcoming season!!! It includes national tours of War Horse, Book of Mormon, Anything Goes, and Million Dollar Quartet. It also will include productions of Jekyll & Hyde and Irving Berlin's White Christmas.

Finally, there will be an original production of THE GUARDSMAN.

This is an exciting season and I hope to see most of it!

BOOK OF MORMON and THE KING'S SPEECH Set for West End

The highly popular musical THE BOOK OF MORMON and THE KING'S SPEECH, the basis for for the 2010 Oscar-winning film, are set to open on the West End in the near future. The Book of Mormon is set to open in the spring of 2013 with no casting yet announced.

THE KING'S SPEECH is set to transfer to the West End's Wyndham's Theatre on March 27 of this year after a UK tour. The successful play is also set to transfer to Broadway this fall.

Both big name shows are sure to be huge successes.

BOOK OF MORMON Wins Grammy

The cast recording for the BOOK OF MORMON won the Grammy Award last night for Best Musical Theatre Album, beating the revivals of Anything Goes and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

A Grammy is just one award BOM can add to its growing list of accolades.

Also, for the first time, Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells also received Grammys as "featured vocalists" on the cast recording.

I am by no means surprised and think they definitely deserved it!