ENO 2020 Musical

[Phantom of London]

The ENO haven’t announced there 2020 musical?

I know there is a long sit down for Hairspray (which is marvellous) but understand this is being put on by commercial producers. Did hear a while back they were looking to do Martin Guerre? (Marvellous score, never seen the show, but would love to.)

Has the ENO musical been cancelled after the flops that were Man of La Mancha and Chess?

[mrbarnaby]

Erm .. it’s Hairspray.

Martin Guerre will be revived by another London theatre soon..

[Phantom of London]

Okay is that a ENO production? Or is it like On Your Feet and Bat Out Of Hell and done by commercial producers?

[princeton]

The GradeLinnit/ENO co-pro agreement was for five years - which began in 2015 with Sweeney Todd and ended this year with Man of La Mancha.

Hairspray is a commercial hire - rather like On Your Feet and Bat Out Of Hell.

[Theatre Fan]

Dec 7, 2019 23:06:31 GMT mrbarnaby said:

Erm .. it’s Hairspray.

Martin Guerre will be revived by another London theatre soon..

OoOoooOo?? X

[Deleted]

Dec 8, 2019 0:07:20 GMT Theatre Fan said:

Dec 7, 2019 23:06:31 GMT mrbarnaby said:

Erm .. it’s Hairspray.

Martin Guerre will be revived by another London theatre soon..

OoOoooOo?? X

Matthew Warchus directed a workshop for the Old Vic so it's possible it could be that.

[Someone in a tree]

Judging by the planning of recent opera seasons I wouldn't be surprised if we have the odd musical programmed in-house like they did with Street Scene, Pacific Overtures On the Town, Candide and of course the delightful Kismet.

My fair lady and South Pacific could work well in this barn of a theatre.

[Someone in a tree]

ENO like most other UK opera companies announce the next season in the Spring time... So it's not just Hitler and Gemrnay that benefit from Springtime 😉

[Phantom of London]

Dec 7, 2019 23:25:26 GMT princeton said:

The GradeLinnit/ENO co-pro agreement was for five years - which began in 2015 with Sweeney Todd and ended this year with Man of La Mancha.

Hairspray is a commercial hire - rather like On Your Feet and Bat Out Of Hell.

So with the co-production between GradeLinnit/ENO expired, can we now say it was good why it lasted?

[Someone in a tree]

Dec 8, 2019 18:33:43 GMT Phantom of London said:

Dec 7, 2019 23:25:26 GMT princeton said:

The GradeLinnit/ENO co-pro agreement was for five years - which began in 2015 with Sweeney Todd and ended this year with Man of La Mancha.

Hairspray is a commercial hire - rather like On Your Feet and Bat Out Of Hell.

So with the co-production between GradeLinnit/ENO expired, can we now say it was good why it lasted?

I didn't feel it was a good partnership due to some sloppy casting and poor productions. I didn't see La Mancha but caught all the others, Sweeney, BT aside was good (he can't act) but as for the rest... Meh. Very poor fayre when you consider what our regionals produce on much less money. Granted very different type of house but still they looked lame and shoddy.

[operagrump]

It’s surprising that there hasn’t been more commentary about this. There were a number of ideas around this partnership. Firstly commercial revenue. Secondly, a legit way to keep the company (notably chorus and orchestra) on the main stage. So what are they going to be doing for six months of next year??

[alece10]

Disagree with comments about the past productions being "poor fayre".
I saw them all apart from Man of La Mancha and really enjoyed them.
Granted I was sat in the balcony for Sweeney Todd so couldn't see anything but for Chess and Sunset Boulevard I sat in stalls and dress circle. Actually saw them both twice.

[Deleted]

Dec 8, 2019 18:43:31 GMT operagrump said:

It’s surprising that there hasn’t been more commentary about this. There were a number of ideas around this partnership. Firstly commercial revenue. Secondly, a legit way to keep the company (notably chorus and orchestra) on the main stage. So what are they going to be doing for six months of next year??

According to this - www.eno.org/news/english-national-opera-reaches-a-settlement-with-equity/ - the chorus have been on a 9 month contract (August to April) since 2016, and "During the months of May – July, when the company performs outside of its home venue, ENO Chorus members will be offered work on a first refusal basis"

Presumably the August start is to cover the rehearsal period for the season which generally starts in October. The musicals were generally April to June, I think? So presumably this would come under the work offered on a "first refusal basis" presumably as freelancers?

I can't find any details of whether the orchestra are on a similar contract.

[Phantom of London]

Don’t know about orchestra contracts, but surprised they’re there on a seasonal basis.

Thought the idea of this partnership was do get the ENO out of a financial black hole, after they were being pushed very slowly under a bus.

I enjoyed all the musicals, thought Sunset Boulevard was brilliant, apart from the man hanging over the orchestra pit.

[Deleted]

They started incredibly strong with Sweeney and Sunset, and credit to them, they followed it up with a R&H musical too. But they peaked with Sunset and it set a bar they couldn’t seem to reach again. Carousel was fairly average and poorly cast which was a huge shame, as Sweeney and Sunset had turned the ENO musical into ‘must see’ annual event... that very quickly became uneventful.

I still think there’s potential but they needed a longer term plan. An annual ENO musical, a limited three month run with a big star name attached, with big name musical has a place in the west end.

I loved Sweeney with Emma Thompson and Sunset Boulevard with Glenn Close was utter perfection. Real event theatre. They should have then done Oklahoma (Jake Gyllenhaal?), My Fair Lady (Colin Firth? Lea Michelle?) then maybe West Side Story (Tom Holland?)

Dreams, naturally ha.

[Being Alive]

Dec 9, 2019 11:42:32 GMT @kevinuk said:

They started incredibly strong with Sweeney and Sunset, and credit to them, they followed it up with a R&H musical too. But they peaked with Sunset and it set a bar they couldn’t seem to reach again. Carousel was fairly average and poorly cast which was a huge shame, as Sweeney and Sunset had turned the ENO musical into ‘must see’ annual event... that very quickly became uneventful.

I still think there’s potential but they needed a longer term plan. An annual ENO musical, a limited three month run with a big star name attached, with big name musical has a place in the west end.

I loved Sweeney with Emma Thompson and Sunset Boulevard with Glenn Close was utter perfection. Real event theatre. They should have then done Oklahoma (Jake Gyllenhaal?), My Fair Lady (Colin Firth? Lea Michelle?) then maybe West Side Story (Tom Holland?)

Dreams, naturally ha.

Oh my GAY imagine Jake as Curly 😍😍