FM Musical - in the works!

[Livia]

Theatermania

Broken Watch Theatre Company Dedicates Michael Weller Theatre
By: Michael Portantiere

Michael Weller (left) with members of
the Broken Watch Theatre Company
at last evening's dedication ceremony
(Photo © Michael Portantiere)
Last evening, playwright Michael Weller participated in a ceremony dedicating the new Michael Weller Theatre. Located at 311 West 43rd Street on the sixth floor, the venue is the home of the Broken Watch Theatre Company, whose members voted to name it after Weller in acknowledgment of his body of work and his efforts as a mentor of emerging theater artists.
In a speech given just before Weller cut a ribbon to dedicate the theater, Broken Watch executive director Leo Lauer said in part: "Over the last 30 years, Michael Weller's works have been performed on and off Broadway and in all the major playhouses in the U.S. and abroad. He has worked in television and in film, even receiving an Academy Award nomination. You name it, he's done it. But as great as those accomplishments are, that's not the only reason we're here tonight.

"Broken Watch met Michael in the summer of 2002 when he gave us the rights to revive his play Split. We were thrilled -- and shocked -- when he agreed to attend rehearsals and to give 'whatever help you may need,' as he said. At the time, we were a small, unknown company, but not only did he trust us with his words, he encouraged us to risk and to soar...[After the production was over], he introduced us to playwrights whose voices he believed should be heard, counseling us when major decisions had to be made and singing our praises to whoever would listen.

"As [our company] grew, he was there every step of the way with answers and enouragement. More importantly, he was doing the very same for other young professionals through his mentor project at the Cherry Lane and his love and support for the Hypothetical Theatre Company, to name only a couple. For this alone, a theater should be named after him -- but that's only a small part of what he has given to the theater world. He's given himself through his words, his heart, his friendship. We are humbled to work each and every day with his name hanging above us."

Accepting the honor, Weller said in part, "I'm overwhelmed. I became a playwright in a theater very much like this one....[Theaters like this one allow you to take chances. My great hope is that one day, somebody who starts a great career will look back, and when they're asked where were their plays done, they'll say, 'I started at the Weller.' "

Among Weller's best-known plays are Moonchildren, Split, Loose Ends, Buying Time, and Spoils of War. His credits as a screenwriter include Hair, Ragtime, and Lost Angels. In addition, he was a writer/producer of the TV series Once and Again and developed two pilots with director Michael Pressman, with whom he is currently developing a new series titled Nassau County. His latest play, About Moomtaj, had its world premiere last September at the New Rep in Boston. Weller is currently collaborating on the creation of two musicals; one is based on Boris Pasternak's novel Dr. Zhivago and the other will use the songs of Fleetwood Mac. With Angelina Fiordellisi and Susann Brinkley, Weller is co-founder of the Mentor Project at the Cherry Lane Theatre. He has also worked closely with several emerging theater companies as an advisor.

The first production of the Broken Watch Theatre Company in the newly named Michael Weller Theatre is The Safety Net by Christopher Kyle, directed by Martha Banta and featuring Jason Pugatch, Eva Kaminsky, Mark Setlock, Tinashe Kajese, Maren Perry, and Peggy Scott in the cast.

[golddustwoman77]

Wow! I think that would be totally terrific. Not very many rock groups have been celebrated in this way. I look forward to all the details! Thanks for posting that, Livia.

[Jyqm]

Originally Posted by golddustwoman77

Wow! I think that would be totally terrific. Not very many rock groups have been celebrated in this way. I look forward to all the details! Thanks for posting that, Livia.

Am I missing some blistering irony here? "Not very many rock groups have been celebrated in this way?" Queen? ABBA? Billy Joel? The Smiths? That abysmal John Lennon project that got universally panned and just closed after fewer than 50 shows? Not to mention The Who's Tommy from about ten or fifteen years back. Hell, I don't think they even let you join the Broadway Hacks Society these days if you're not working on crapping out some piece of garbage that recycles the songs of a 70s rock group. Lord knows it's easier than writing your own. It's the hottest trend in what has become a truly creatively bankrupt genre of entertainment.

[Neb-Maat-Re]

Originally Posted by Jyqm

Not to mention The Who's Tommy from about ten or fifteen years back.

To be fair, the songs from Tommy always went together in an attempt to tell a story (as opposed to a bunch of songs from different albums over different years featured in other shows) and it was first staged as a musical production in the West End in the early 70s.

Other than that, I tend to agree with you.

[Lindsey Jr.]

Originally Posted by Livia

Theatermania

Broken Watch Theatre Company Dedicates Michael Weller Theatre
By: Michael Portantiere

Michael Weller (left) with members of
the Broken Watch Theatre Company
at last evening's dedication ceremony
(Photo © Michael Portantiere)
Last evening, playwright Michael Weller participated in a ceremony dedicating the new Michael Weller Theatre. Located at 311 West 43rd Street on the sixth floor, the venue is the home of the Broken Watch Theatre Company, whose members voted to name it after Weller in acknowledgment of his body of work and his efforts as a mentor of emerging theater artists.
In a speech given just before Weller cut a ribbon to dedicate the theater, Broken Watch executive director Leo Lauer said in part: "Over the last 30 years, Michael Weller's works have been performed on and off Broadway and in all the major playhouses in the U.S. and abroad. He has worked in television and in film, even receiving an Academy Award nomination. You name it, he's done it. But as great as those accomplishments are, that's not the only reason we're here tonight.

"Broken Watch met Michael in the summer of 2002 when he gave us the rights to revive his play Split. We were thrilled -- and shocked -- when he agreed to attend rehearsals and to give 'whatever help you may need,' as he said. At the time, we were a small, unknown company, but not only did he trust us with his words, he encouraged us to risk and to soar...[After the production was over], he introduced us to playwrights whose voices he believed should be heard, counseling us when major decisions had to be made and singing our praises to whoever would listen.

"As [our company] grew, he was there every step of the way with answers and enouragement. More importantly, he was doing the very same for other young professionals through his mentor project at the Cherry Lane and his love and support for the Hypothetical Theatre Company, to name only a couple. For this alone, a theater should be named after him -- but that's only a small part of what he has given to the theater world. He's given himself through his words, his heart, his friendship. We are humbled to work each and every day with his name hanging above us."

Accepting the honor, Weller said in part, "I'm overwhelmed. I became a playwright in a theater very much like this one....[Theaters like this one allow you to take chances. My great hope is that one day, somebody who starts a great career will look back, and when they're asked where were their plays done, they'll say, 'I started at the Weller.' "

Among Weller's best-known plays are Moonchildren, Split, Loose Ends, Buying Time, and Spoils of War. His credits as a screenwriter include Hair, Ragtime, and Lost Angels. In addition, he was a writer/producer of the TV series Once and Again and developed two pilots with director Michael Pressman, with whom he is currently developing a new series titled Nassau County. His latest play, About Moomtaj, had its world premiere last September at the New Rep in Boston. Weller is currently collaborating on the creation of two musicals; one is based on Boris Pasternak's novel Dr. Zhivago and the other will use the songs of Fleetwood Mac. With Angelina Fiordellisi and Susann Brinkley, Weller is co-founder of the Mentor Project at the Cherry Lane Theatre. He has also worked closely with several emerging theater companies as an advisor.

The first production of the Broken Watch Theatre Company in the newly named Michael Weller Theatre is The Safety Net by Christopher Kyle, directed by Martha Banta and featuring Jason Pugatch, Eva Kaminsky, Mark Setlock, Tinashe Kajese, Maren Perry, and Peggy Scott in the cast.

OMG this sounds great!

[Sahara]

My God!! That's incredible!! I wonder will it ever get off the ground ... I hope so! I have no idea how they'd fashion a storyline around the songs, though, they're all so different ... hmm. We'll wait and see....

[Gailh]

Originally Posted by Sahara

My God!! That's incredible!! I wonder will it ever get off the ground ... I hope so! I have no idea how they'd fashion a storyline around the songs, though, they're all so different ... hmm. We'll wait and see....

Most musicals based on one person's or band's music have storylines so thin you could spit through them! Mama Mia etc.

But who cares? The songs are great - the dafter the plot the better!

Gail

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by Gailh

Most musicals based on one person's or band's music have storylines so thin you could spit through them! Mama Mia etc.

But who cares? The songs are great - the dafter the plot the better!

Gail

I LOVED Mamma Mia - I danced in the aisles with the cast afterward and along with the rest of the audience. I then had my picture taken with the cast. What FUN!!!!!!!

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I LOVED Mamma Mia - I danced in the aisles with the cast afterward and along with the rest of the audience. I then had my picture taken with the cast. What FUN!!!!!!!

Personally, I thought they should have done a musical for Muriel's Wedding instead of Mamma Mia. But that's just me.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

Personally, I thought they should have done a musical for Muriel's Wedding instead of Mamma Mia. But that's just me.

I liked both, though Muriel's Wedding was depressing and Mammia Mia was not.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I liked both, though Muriel's Wedding was depressing and Mammia Mia was not.

You thought Muriel's Wedding was depressing? I thought it was anything but.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

You thought Muriel's Wedding was depressing? I thought it was anything but.

Well, the whole thing with the mother was. I just felt so sorry for her.

But, other than that, the moviw was great and funny.

[Serrart]

Fantastic news Livia, thanks a lot! FM songs are perfect for a 'generational' musical, the producers had a great idea.

By the way, my favourite production with Abba's music remains Priscilla.

Romy

[shackin'up]

blerghhh...to each his own..no prob. But I feel a major vulcanic outburst coming up from my stomach when I think about it.

[danax6]

Interestingly enough, I went to London a couple of years ago to catch a play that starred Gillian Anderson, and it was a Michael Weller play. So I can honestly say I am familiar with his work (and I don't even like theatre!).