Stage Notes
Paul Wontorek
Broadway.com 09/03/04
http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=41594&CT=49
Call me a cockeyed optimist, but doing these season previews gets me excited about the multi-million theatrical ventures that we'll all be sitting through over the coming months. But you may look at the list and say, "What the hell is he thinking?" After all, there are only two brand-new plays on the schedule (compare that to seven last fall--and no, I'm not even counting Bobbi Boland!) and five one-person shows, most of which are in the Vegas-y "evening with" style. And let's not even talk about new musicals--there are just three arriving before spring, and it's not the most confident batch in town (Little Women booked seven weeks of previews!). Still, despite it all, I do get excited looking through all of the opening night dates scheduled into my Blackberry. Hopefully reading over my little fall preview below, you will, too!
* * *
Good Vibrations
Eugene O'Neill Theatre
Starts December 4, Opens January 13
E-MAIL
ME WHEN TICKETS ARE ON SALE!
The Pitch: The latest song catalog musical, this time focusing on the
laid-back hits of the Beach Boys—songs like “Surfin',” “Surfin' USA”
and “Surfer Girl.” Not surprisingly, the show takes place on a beach, where
a group of small-town teens deal with love and loss under the California sun.
“Wouldn't It Be Nice” to go back to those days of youth and relive all the
“Fun, Fun, Fun” of high school? That's what producers are hoping audiences
will think about this new tuner (direct from a trial run up at Vassar this
summer), staged by Urinetown (and Dance of the Vampires--shhh…)
choreographer John Carrafa.
The Main Attraction: You can't escape the appeal of a stageful of
fresh-scrubbed newcomers for family audiences. Especially if American Idol
runner-up Justin Guarini re-signs with the show (Wait—wasn't he just in
a beach musical?!)
The Forecast: Will audiences flock to a beach musical in the dead of
winter? The familiar songs will help. Nice reviews would help more.