The Ahmanson Theatre has just announced their 2012-2013 season, so I guess I should comment on the season offerings:
- “Seminar” (Oct. 10-Nov. 18). A transfer of the Broadway production of Teresa Rebeck’s comedy about a group of young novelists who are criticized and sedued by a bullying editor. Stars Jeff Goldblum. I hadn’t heard of this before; I’m not sure I’m that interested. Probably not ticketing.
- “Anything Goes” (Nov. 27-Jan. 6) the touring version of the current Broadway production. This one will star Rachel York in the role of Reno Sweeney.I’ve only see Anything Goes once before–it was the first production we saw at Cabillo Music Theatre. Good music, and the production should be good. Will probably ticket.
- “Backbeat” (Jan. 16-Feb. 24). This is a new musical in development about how the Beatles became the Beatles. The musical focuses on Stuart Sutcliffe, the so-called “fifth” Beatle who died in 1962. The show ran in Glasgow, Scotland, and in London recently and is scheduled to open in Toronto in July… and will supposedly transfer to Broadway from the Ahmanson. The score features the rock classics such as “Money,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Twist and Shout,” “Good Golly Miss Molly,” “Please Mr. Postman,” “Rock ‘n’ Roll Music” and more. This is potentially interesting. Will probably ticket.
- “End of the Rainbow” (March 12-April 21). Peter Quilter’s play with music charting the final days of singer Judy Garland. In the show, concert sequences are meshed with private-life scenes involving Garland, her husband and her accompanist. The L.A. premiere will again star two-time Olivier Award winner and current Tony Award nominee Tracie Bennett as Judy Garland. Tony Award winner Terry Johnson will again direct. This has gotten good reviews in the New York run. Will probably ticket.
- “Fela!” (April 25-May 5, 2013). The 2010 Tony Award-nominated Best Musical biography of Nigerian musician and activist Fela Kuti. Bill T. Jones directs and choreographs. It has a book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones, music and lyrics by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, additional lyrics by Jim Lewis, additional music by Aaron Johnson and Jordan McLean, and was conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel. This was just at the Ahmanson in December 2011 as the replacement for “Funny Girl!”. I saw it then; I have no desire to see it again.
- “The Scottsboro Boys” (May 21-June 30, 2013). The provocative musical about a grim chapter in American justice. In the Depression, a group of African-American teenagers were jailed for a crime they did not commit. The musical satire — with a score by John Kander and Fred Ebb and book by David Thompson — is offered in the form the defunct theatrical convention of the minstrel show. This had a short life on Broadway, and is currently in a revised staging in San Diego–and I was annoyed I couldn’t get down to see it. Definately will ticket.
In general, a so-so season. The only show I’m really excited about is “Scottsboro Boys”, with the “Anything Goes” revival as a runner up. The tours coming into the Pantages were also so-so, with the only excitement being “The Book of Mormon”, “Catch Me if You Can”, and “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”. … that reminds me, however… I must see if I can get “Follies” tickets for this weekend, and it’s about time to go to the box office to get “Book of Mormon” tickets.
Music: The Wiz (1977 Original Broadway Cast): The Feeling We Once Had
