The Upcoming Minsky's at the Ahmanson

So here's the next one on the slate worth looking at. They are doing a pre-Broadway run at the Ahmanson in Los Angeles beginning in January. I'll be watching it closely. This is off the CTG website:

A BRAND NEW MUSICAL!

Minsky’s is a big, racy, new musical comedy set in a time when entertainment was about legs and laughs, and you had to push the limits to keep the customers buying tickets. A rollicking backstage story, set in Prohibition Era New York City, that peeks into a world populated by comedians, con men and seductive, sexy women; a world reigned over by the king of burlesque himself, Billy Minsky — until the day he falls in love and the cops come banging on his door.
Writer Bob Martin and Director/Choreographer Casey Nicholaw (both of The Drowsy Chaperone fame) join forces with the legendary composer Charles Strouse (Bye Bye Birdie, Applause, Annie) and acclaimed lyricist Susan Birkenhead (Jelly’s Last Jam) for this world premiere.

The Big Broadway Show is Back - 9 to 5, West Side Story, Shrek, and Billy Elliot

9 to 5... what a way to make a living... Ain't it the truth. After seeing the show I came away thinking it will do well on Broadway. Very strong title, well staged and choreographed, good performances and productions values. This is a BIG show and it delivers what a Broadway show should, an entertaining evening. You see where you $110 bucks went... Is it inspiring, No. Will it get super reviews and word of mouth, I don't think so... but the tourists not sure about what to see will be drawn to it and with Dolly behind it, it will sell tickets. It just depends on what the net is for how long it will remain open.

I really do believe "small" shows on Broadway are going to find it a challenge to stay open in these economic times. Many might find that exactly opposite what you would expect. Smaller shows, smaller budgets and operating expenses. But shows like Wicked, South Pacific, and the upcoming Shrek, Billiy Elliot, and West Side Story all deliver a BIG BROADWAY SHOW. When you're asking for Joe Plummer's 110 bucks, they better get 110 bucks worth of costumes, orchestrations, sets and dance numbers. With that in mind, it will be up to the producers to find ways to make these BIG shows stay budget friendly, and that will be the trick.

Dolly and her producers are probably changing their tune now to, "Broadway, what a way to make a living!"

I Hate Great Potential

Went to the opening of Girl's Room on Saturday night. I have seen this show in various forms of development and it has consistently improved each time. It has reached the point now that with the performances given by Carol Lawrence, Donna McKechnie and direction by Lynne Taylor-Corbett it provides an enjoyable night in the theater. But it does make me want for more. The word that comes to mind is POTENTIAL. While I've always believed this show has great potential, I now believe it will never achieve the status of, "this show provides an exceptional theater experience." It has all the makings, but when you stir it all up and put it in the oven, you get a pie that tastes good, but won't win the coveted blue ribbon. And that is the struggle.

Over the past several years, the thing that keeps me intrigued about this business is that it is so difficult. It is so difficult to get everyone on the same page and somehow make that great script on the page become the award winning show on the boards. So many things can go wrong. Actors can help or hurt. Doug Sills' performance in Scarlet Pimpernel took an average show at best and made it fun to watch (and be in), while a new independent movie I saw recently had some of the best actors out there giving some of their worst performances ever! Same thing with designers and directors - they can help or hurt but ultimately, all the planets have to line up perfectly to hit it out of the park. But when they all do line up, it makes you want to stay in the business just from the goose bumps you get watching it all unfold before you. The last time I saw this happen was when I saw Wicked out here at the Pantages. Every part of that production lined up. The sets told the same story as the costumes and the orchestrations helped the amazing performers soar to new heights, and the story made sense from beginning to end. And I have to ask, "How did they do that?" And I guarantee any of the creators or producers involved probably don't have a clue. But somehow they were able to make that show with great potential, become "an exceptional theatrical experience."

Off to see 9 to 5 and The Women this weekend. Curious to see if the planets are lining up in those theaters.

Dreampeddler Productions Invited to Present at Keiretsu Forum SoCal

I am very excited to announce that Dreampeddler Productions has been invited to present to the Keiretsu Forum on Friday, September 26th at the Queen Mary. Keiretsu is an association of Angel Investors.

Come join Dreampeddler Productions and 10 other quality entrepreneurial companies for a great event!

Keiretsu Forum SoCal
Venture Forum

http://www.k4forum.com/

Friday, September 26, 2008

7:30am - 6:00 pm

The Queen Mary

Britannia Room

Long Beach, CA

Agenda 7:30am
Registration with Breakfast & Networking

8:15am
Good Morning Welcome with Connie Koch, President Keiretsu Forum Southern California, Sponsors for K4 SoCal, and Nolan Bushnell, recognized as "The Father of the Video Game Industry" and so much more.

9:30am
Group I
Company Presentations

10:40am
Morning Break

11:00am
Group II
Company Presentations

12:10am
Member/Guest Introductions

12:30am
Member Discussion on Participating Companies

1:10pm
Lunch with Connie Koch and Tony Amaradio of Select Portfolio Management on Financial Portfolo Managment, How Does Angel Investing Fit In? Investment of K4 Dollars

2:40pm
Investor Education with Crowell & Moring
When Angels Go International - Strategic Considerations for Investors and Entrepreneurs As Their Companies Expand Abroad

3:20pm

Partner Presentations Performance IQ Success Formulas F.I.R.S.T. Wellness Mastery Empowerment

4:20pm
Afternoon Break

4:45pm
Group III
Updates from "Past Participating" Entrepreneurs

5:15pm
K4 SoCal members share Angel Investing 101 with a panel of Keiretsu Forum members, including Ian Adlington, a global investor member with Keiretsu Forum SoCal... How does the International Membership of Keiretsu Forum support entrepreneurial growth in SoCal?

6:30pm
Champagne Reception with announcement of....
Winning Entrepreneurs of Best of Show
Silent Auction Winners
Raffle Drawings
AND....
A Birthday Celebration for Yours Truly...

Cost: Members: $100.00 Non-Members: $250.00

Email rsvp@k4socal.com with the event(s) you wish to attend.

Contact Keiretsu

270 Bristol, Suite 200Costa Mesa, California 92626

714.444.1414

Keiretsu Forum is an investment community of accredited private equity investors, venture capitalists, and corporate/institutional partners. Members invest in high-quality, diverse investment opportunities. The community is strengthened through its involvement in social and charitable activities.

Theater Investment and this Crazy Economy

Check out this article (audio available) from NPR describing the ability to raise funds for shows in this challenging economy.

Here's the start...

September is the traditional start of the new Broadway season, and with high fuel prices, a weakish dollar and a general economic downturn, you might expect people in the industry to be skittish about future prospects.

What, them worry?

There is some bad news: A revival of Godspell, starring American Idol finalist Diana DiGarmo, was supposed to begin performances this month, but a major investor withdrew financing, and the production has been postponed indefinitely.

The producer blamed the slowing economy — but within a day of the cancellation, the theater had another booking: a revival of David Mamet's Speed- the-Plow. (go to their website to read or hear the rest)...

ACE - The New Musical

I am following this show with great interest that just opened at the Signature Theater in Washington, DC. It got a terrific review in Variety. Check it out.

Vanities at Pasadena Playhouse

For tickets click here.

Saw the show on Thursday night. I have always enjoyed the play - I very much remember the HBO version in the early 80s with Annette O'Toole and was even considering remounting a version of it last year before I heard they were doing a musical version of it.

From a development standpoint, since the play has been so successful and settled, the challenge is to see where (or if) you can insert musical numbers that do not interrupt the flow of the story. They are still feeling their way with this version but are definitely on the right track. By the end of this run, they will have a very good idea as to what works really well and what adjustments need to be made.

It is definitely worth seeing even at this stage of the process. The performances of the three ladies, Lauren Kennedy as Mary, Sarah Stiles as Joanne and Anneliese van der Pol as Kathy are all very good, especially Sarah Stiles in a very comedic turn.

I look forward to seeing how the show does in its next step and will be rooting for it to make it to Broadway!

Dreampeddler