I remember the fact that this production was all Manuel Puig ever saw of his novel as a musical he liked it and could see the potential, but the critics were looking at the show as a finished product which it wasn’t. It’s due a revival by sure
I saw this production at SUNY Purchase. It was a full blown production, almost like it was ready to launch right onto Broadway. It had it's problems but you could see they were working on it and you could sense the heart and emotional impact of what they were trying to achieve. As I recall the critics made the trip out from the city and panned it. Quite a different production finally made it to NY.
The debacle over Frank Rich and other critics insisting on reviewing KISS completely shut down the New Musicals workshop initiative at SUNY which was meant to have four productions (two later went to Broadway, My Favorite Year and Secret Garden). It wasn't for uber Canadian producer (and now much hated) Garth Drabinsky seeing potential in the material and offering the creators a chance to completely do a new production that it was saved.
@@kennethwayne6857 It was a much safer show and less oppressive (the prison cell filled the stage!) and Hal Prince spoke about how the movie within the show, with its own complex plot, would please traditional musical fans as it had scantily clad showgirls, tap dancing, etc... It's fascinating to see, but I think every single change they made was for the best.
The New Musicals project was completely ill conceived from the beginning. You can’t be for profit and charge exorbitant ticket prices and then pretend like you aren’t presenting a fully finished show that critics can’t review. It was a big act of hubris trying to pass the shows off as “workshops” and attempting to prevent critics from writing reviews.
It's fascinating to see a clip of the original concept. Bless Hal Prince and Kander & Ebb for not giving up. Bringing Terrance McNally on board and reimaging it worked!... Brilliantly!
Literally listened to this today, beginning to end. It's fascinating to see this world premier production and realise how much it really did change between productions. I rhink i only know Kevin Gray from his time in Les Mis/Miss Saigon? Having seen it in London numerous times during its run, it's run, its difficult to see it being done any other way now. The projections were stunning! Chita wasn't even nominated for the Olivier Award for her performance in the show!
Good lord, they all sound fantastic! In a strange way, this video makes me long for the days when out-of-town tryouts were the norm. Can you imagine how different a show like "New York, New York" might have become had it had the chance to play another city before coming to the Big Apple?
This was soooo interesting - getting a peek into the first version of the show. I just finished reading Hal Prince's book, "Sense of Occasion" where he goes into some detail about this and then what they did to (eventually) make it a huge success!
Welp. I wish I could say I liked this, but I can't. They sing great, but that's about it. Really happy they went back to the drawing board, because it came back one of my favorite ever musicals.
There also was a ten minute segment on this production for the A&E Breakfast with the Arts program, with clips (funny they seem to go out of their way NOT to mention it has a gay protagonist.) th-cam.com/video/mqyV_WTKt20/w-d-xo.html Garth Drabinsky is a terrible man, but Hal Prince has said the show was dead after the critics debacle, it was only the fact Drabinsky, wanting to produce original big budget musicals, saw potential in it and offered them a big budget to completely reconceive it that it was saved.
Absolutely---Garth was responsible for this show coming back to life. The Purchase version had many fine songs, but it did not work; the Livent version turned the show into something thrilling and award-winning.
@@auroraspiderwoman5886 Completely agreed. (Drabinsky deserves all the hate he gets, but he really did do a lot of great stuff in that era--Ragtime, which was his conception and he then auditioned and hired the creative teams, being the big example.) I'm just so glad that 12 year old me got to see Chita in the Kiss tour in Vancouver. And love seeing this video which is fascinating--you can tell how this approach just didn't work.
That woman is amazing.
I remember the fact that this production was all Manuel Puig ever saw of his novel as a musical he liked it and could see the potential, but the critics were looking at the show as a finished product which it wasn’t.
It’s due a revival by sure
I saw this production at SUNY Purchase. It was a full blown production, almost like it was ready to launch right onto Broadway. It had it's problems but you could see they were working on it and you could sense the heart and emotional impact of what they were trying to achieve. As I recall the critics made the trip out from the city and panned it. Quite a different production finally made it to NY.
I have a friend who saw it and preferred this version.
The debacle over Frank Rich and other critics insisting on reviewing KISS completely shut down the New Musicals workshop initiative at SUNY which was meant to have four productions (two later went to Broadway, My Favorite Year and Secret Garden).
It wasn't for uber Canadian producer (and now much hated) Garth Drabinsky seeing potential in the material and offering the creators a chance to completely do a new production that it was saved.
@@kennethwayne6857 It was a much safer show and less oppressive (the prison cell filled the stage!) and Hal Prince spoke about how the movie within the show, with its own complex plot, would please traditional musical fans as it had scantily clad showgirls, tap dancing, etc... It's fascinating to see, but I think every single change they made was for the best.
The New Musicals project was completely ill conceived from the beginning. You can’t be for profit and charge exorbitant ticket prices and then pretend like you aren’t presenting a fully finished show that critics can’t review. It was a big act of hubris trying to pass the shows off as “workshops” and attempting to prevent critics from writing reviews.
It's fascinating to see a clip of the original concept. Bless Hal Prince and Kander & Ebb for not giving up. Bringing Terrance McNally on board and reimaging it worked!... Brilliantly!
Actually, Terrence McNally was there from the beginning and wrote this version as well as the one that came to Broadway.
Wow! This was so much different that the final production we've seen.
Always a treat to see Kevin Gray. Thanks for sharing!
Musical theatre history in the making❤
Literally listened to this today, beginning to end. It's fascinating to see this world premier production and realise how much it really did change between productions. I rhink i only know Kevin Gray from his time in Les Mis/Miss Saigon? Having seen it in London numerous times during its run, it's run, its difficult to see it being done any other way now. The projections were stunning! Chita wasn't even nominated for the Olivier Award for her performance in the show!
Going in to see Chita and Harvey F. right now. Great timing!!
I was there too and thought it was a great coincidence when this was uploaded!
Good lord, they all sound fantastic! In a strange way, this video makes me long for the days when out-of-town tryouts were the norm. Can you imagine how different a show like "New York, New York" might have become had it had the chance to play another city before coming to the Big Apple?
This was soooo interesting - getting a peek into the first version of the show. I just finished reading Hal Prince's book, "Sense of Occasion" where he goes into some detail about this and then what they did to (eventually) make it a huge success!
Rest in Peace, Kevin Gray.
Listen to this chapter in Chita’s new audiobook. ❤❤❤
Oh the gays are eating good today 🥰
Oh WOW
😍FABULOUS!!!
Welp. I wish I could say I liked this, but I can't. They sing great, but that's about it. Really happy they went back to the drawing board, because it came back one of my favorite ever musicals.
wwwwwwoooooaaaaaahhhhhhhh
There also was a ten minute segment on this production for the A&E Breakfast with the Arts program, with clips (funny they seem to go out of their way NOT to mention it has a gay protagonist.) th-cam.com/video/mqyV_WTKt20/w-d-xo.html
Garth Drabinsky is a terrible man, but Hal Prince has said the show was dead after the critics debacle, it was only the fact Drabinsky, wanting to produce original big budget musicals, saw potential in it and offered them a big budget to completely reconceive it that it was saved.
Absolutely---Garth was responsible for this show coming back to life. The Purchase version had many fine songs, but it did not work; the Livent version turned the show into something thrilling and award-winning.
@@auroraspiderwoman5886 Completely agreed. (Drabinsky deserves all the hate he gets, but he really did do a lot of great stuff in that era--Ragtime, which was his conception and he then auditioned and hired the creative teams, being the big example.)
I'm just so glad that 12 year old me got to see Chita in the Kiss tour in Vancouver.
And love seeing this video which is fascinating--you can tell how this approach just didn't work.
Wow. Prince could not find any Latino leads for this show? So typical.
At least they are fixing that in the film adaptation.