Peter and the Starcatcher West End?

[Princeton Returns]

From Whatsonstage.com

Peter and the Starcatcher, currently playing on Broadway, is heading for London, according to today’s Daily Mail. The ply won five gongs at this year’s awards, for sound, lighting, costume and scenic design, as well as Best Featured Actor for Christian Borle. Based on the 2006 novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, it’s adapted for the stage by Jersey Boys book writer Rick Elice. The play provides a backstory for the character Peter Pan, and serves as a prequel to JM Barrie's Peter and Wendy. Peter and the Starcatcher is directed by Alex Timbers and Roger Rees, who – as we reported earlier today – will be treading the West End boards himself in September in his one-man show What You Will.

[Phantom of London]

I could see it coming over, wouldn't be that expensive to stage.

But hope it doesn't.

[rjm516]

I loved loved loved this show. I just don't know how it would do here.

[ClapYo'Hands]

I'd love it if Christian Borle came over but it could end up being somebody like John Barrowman.

[Phantom of London]

Christian borle couldn't wait to jump ship on Broadway, once he landed his Tony.

[MusicalBoy]

^ You're right POL, how DARE he leave the show at a pre-approved time after his contract was over in order to film the second series of his TV-show...

[wealllovechicken]

I could actually see this happening and doing quite well at the National.

[Princeton Returns]

Ahhh I wonder of this is what the National has quickly lined up to replace the cancelled Count of Monte Christo over Christmas

[Jonwo]

Starcatcher would get lost on the Olivier stage but I think it could work at the Lyttelton.

[Phantom of London]

^ You're right POL, how DARE he leave the show at a pre-approved time after his contract was over in order to film the second series of his TV-show...

Exactly, too many stars are driven by fame, rather than saying loyal to theatre, they either want to use it for a launch pad to get into television or a pop career.

jonwo you are right Starcatcher would look hopeless in the Olivier, maybe Venus In Fur or Other Desert Cities.

[Jonwo]

Television pays a lot more and exposes you to a wider audience and given the choice, most actors will pick TV over theatre. There was always some doubt whether Christian Borle would reprise his role of Black Stache when Peter transferred to Broadway due to his Smash commitments but luckily there was a gap that allowed him to do so.

[rjm516]

Actually a lot of stage actors do tv because that's the only way to make a decent living. Maybe you should hold the judgment until you look into Broadway salaries.

[Princeton Returns]

Wow POL that's judgemental opinion. They are actors, and like many people they want to progress their career. You're basically saying stage actors should only do stage and film actors only do film. If that were the case you wouldn't have some of the fine stage and film performances of Judi Dench, Ian Mckellen, Sheridan Smith, Maggie smith and so on

It's not like he is doing some tacky reality tv show, he auditioned and got a prt in a theatre themed tv series drama which could have flopped, but didn't and he is now back for the second season

I swear sometimes you post things just to be controversal

[Phantom of London]

I am not trying to be controversial, the actors you use as examples are good ones and ones I have a lot of respect for, as they have shown a lot of respect for the stage by repeatingly coming back to tread the boards and of course actors need to do TV work as it pays excellently and gives them bigger exposure for more work. Judi Dench, Ian Mckellen, Sheridan Smith and Maggie Smith are national treasures and above critism especially from me

What I am trying to mean are stars that use the stage as a springboard for better things and do not intend to come back ever, maybe poor examples and there are probably better ones who I cannot think of at the moment are actors like Laura Michelle Kelly, who after doing Mary Poppins in the West End wanted to launch a pop career, Idina Menzel who hasn't done much since leaving Wicked and others who seem to forget where they come from and have no intention of coming back. The ones that turn there back on theatre, that is my bone of contention.

I have no issues with acting profession wanting to do television work. they need to do television work to make up for the times when they isn't stage work and this goes for minor actors too.

I wonder if Josh Gad, Andrew Rennels who have just left Book of Mormo to do TV projects, or have they smelled the coffee.

[Kad]

Christian Borle didn't have to do the Broadway production at all, do you realize that? The fact he committed even a few months was, I think, a testament to his dedication to the show... which he had been involved with for years.

You need to save your soapbox for issues that are actually issues.

[Phantom of London]

I didn't realise that, no.

but it would be stupid to do the San Diego try out and off Broadway and not do Broadway, seem s silly to leave after the show has just opened.

[ClapYo'Hands]

POL, with all due respect, I reccomend getting your facts straight before broadly stating such controversial opinions.

[sparepart973]

Laura M. Kelly has been on Broadway doing Mary Poppins for a while now, and will be in the UK again for a play before going back to Broadway.

Idina Menzel has done plenty. She's been a guest star on Glee, singing one of the most well known theatre anthems ever ("I Dreamed a Dream"), and in a show that is very relevant to musical theatre. She's also been very active doing concerts, which have a lot of showtunes. She's also done the anniversary concert of Chess at RAH.

People like Idina might not be doing much theatre because there isn't anything suitable for them? She is one of the most famous/highly paid musical actresses and she probably is never going to replace anyone, and only originate roles. FYI she IS still connected with musicals and is working on a workshop of a musical called IF by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (the Next to Normal guys).

On another note, I think it actually IS better for actors to enter TV and film because people with cross-dicipline capabilities are always desirable. Also, think of it from a producer's point of view. People who enter TV and make a name and image for themselves from television might have a better chance of landing a part in a Broadway show because of their appearances on TV and film.

[TIGGOSAURUS]

To get this thread (sort of) back on topic, I have to say I'd LOVE to see P&TSC transfer to London. I saw it downtown at NYTW and again on Broadway and it is one of my favourite 'plays with music' of those I've seen. A lot of that is down to the imaginative staging which is very reminiscent of Nicholas Nickleby. I think it would go down a storm in the West End, particularly near Christmas and at the right (intimate) venue.

As for Christian Borle, surely he's paid his dues as a theatre actor? I've seen him in several Broadway shows and after he landed a part in Smash he could well have turned down P&TSC - all credit to him for sticking with it. It's nowhere near as easy for US actors to juggle TV/film work with theatre commitments as it is for their UK-based counterparts. For a start you're talking about switching between East and West Coasts. And US TV series tend to run for 18-22 episodes compared with 6-10 in the UK.

Personally I think this show could work just as well without any star names - it has pedigree and a degree of familiarity which could help to sell it regardless. This and 'Once' are my two most-hoped for Broadway to West End transfers.

[bdn223]

You give Borle **** for only staying through June 30th, when the entire Death of a Salesman only worked for 8 week?!?!? Come on!!! Borle didn' even have to do the Broadway transfer, but he felt an obligation not only to the show but also to the cast since it is such an ensemble piece. He was never billed above the title, and was never in any of the ads aka "Staring Christian Borle of TV's Smash" only if you were a fan of his, or a diehard smash fan, would you of even known he was in Peter.

[winston89]

Phantom

I do get where you're coming from. However, Borel is a very bad example of this. He had always wanted to do the show on Broadway and felt very strongly about the work. However, there was awhile where it was going to look like he couldn't do the show because of his work on Smash. Therefor, he was able to do it for a very limited run and would have rather done that then not do the show at all. It wasn't like he just took the Tony and ran. He would have left when he did, Tony or not.

[D2]

"Christian borle couldn't wait to jump ship on Broadway, once he landed his Tony."

And if he didn't win, you probably would have posted that he couldn't wait to "jump ship" because he'd lost. So clearly, even though he won, he can't win with you.