What the Bloody Hell is Clinton the Musical?

The news that Clinton the Musical is definitely set to run off-Broadway has prompted me to ask this week on the Simon Morris blog; what the bloody hell is Clinton the Musical?

Clinton the Musical Set for Off-Broadway Premiere.

Imagine this. A slightly tired Simon Morris is on his laptop. He’s surfing around until he sees ‘Clinton the Musical Set for Off-Broadway Premiere’ on Google. What would he do? Of course he clicked it.

This actually happened. I clicked through and discovered an article which revealed that Clinton the Musical is set to open at the New World Stages (off-Broadway) on 9^th April. At this point I found myself asking one question. What the bloody hell is Clinton the Musical?

Plot Synopsis: Clinton the Musical

A million thoughts ran through my head. Is it a musical about Bill or Hillary? Is it about Monica Lewinsky or Hillary’s failed bid for President in 2008? Is it even about the Clintons at all? It would be accurate to say I was definitely intrigued.

It turns out one of my ideas was sort of right. Monica Lewinsky is involved. Kind of. Clinton the Musical tells the story of the two sides of Bill Clinton’s personality. The wholesome, intelligent one and the randy, charming one. The musical uses these separate characterisations of Bill Clinton to analyse his time in the White House.

Who is Bill Clinton?

Once I discovered the plot, I actually found myself drawn in by the idea of a musical about Bill Clinton. That’s because most of the time he did seem like two different people.

Bill Clinton was one of the most popular presidents in modern US history. He’s still popular even though he left the White House over a decade ago. Yet there was this other side to him that we only really saw with Monica Lewinsky and this other side has made people wonder whether they knew Clinton as well as they thought they did.

What is Clinton the Musical?

So what is Clinton the Musical? That has yet to be determined as the production hasn’t opened yet, but here’s what I think it is. A fascinating exploration of a fascinating man that has the potential to kick start a new musical theatre phenomenon.

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How to Blow a Musical Theatre Audition

If you’re the type of person who succeeds by learning what not to do keep reading, as this week on the SimonMorris blog I let you know how to blow a musical theatre audition.

Set Yourself Apart from the Competition

Musical theatre is a competitive industry. Each role has a thousand contenders, with only one actor destined to fill its shoes. You need to separate yourself from every other auditionee if you hope to secure the role of your dreams.

Distinguishing yourself apart from the competition begins at your very first audition. Nail your first audition and you’ll stick in the casting director’s mind as one to watch, as they weed their way through the hopefuls to find the right actor for the part. As such, you might find it pretty useful to know which mistakes you should avoid making on your first audition.

Five Mistakes That’ll Blow Your Audition

Auditioning is a minefield. The following five mistakes will have your casting director screaming ‘next’ before you’ve even gotten started…

•       Picking the Wrong Audition Song: The right song will make your voice shine and show a casting director why they need you in their production. The wrong song will not only point out your vocal weaknesses, but show the casting director why you’re wrong for the part.
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•       Assuming You Know What Directors Are Looking For: Directors are a strange bunch. They like to look for something fresh, new and innovative. If you assume you know what a director’s looking for before you step on stage, you may convince them you’re not right for their interpretation of the character in question. Just be yourself.
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•       Doing Something Offensive: People seem to think doing something offensive at their audition will make them stand out. Yes it’ll certainly make you stand out… as someone who’d be a nightmare to work with. If you get the urge to pick an audition song or a monologue with a curse word in it, think again.
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•       Crying on Stage: This is not the X Factor. Bursting into tears and letting everybody and their mother know why this means so much to you won’t do you any favours. It’ll just convince the casting director you’ve got a screw loose. No one wants to work with a performer who bursts into tears every five seconds.
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•         Talking back to the Casting Director: Musical theatre is not a democracy. It’s a dictatorship. If a casting director tells you to do something, you do it. If they tell you to jump, you ask how high? If they tell you to do the Macarena whilst singing ‘Defying Gravity,’ get dancing!

Think About What You Do, Say and Even Think!

Let me make something clear. Don’t think that if you avoid these five mistakes you have free reign to do whatever you want in your audition. Think long and hard about what you do, say and even think before you walk into an audition if you want to secure the role of your dreams.

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2014 Hailed as Broadway’s Most Lucrative Year Ever

Following the recent announcement that Broadway saw its most lucrative year ever in 2014, this week on the Simon Morris blog I wonder; what does this say about the Great White Way?

The Centre of the Musical Theatre World

From the time he first gained the ability to say the word ‘Broadway’ out loud, a young Simon Morris dreamed of going to see a production in the most famous theatre district the world has ever seen.

Broadway is the centre of the musical theatre world. Think of a major musical theatre production. It’ll have played on Broadway at some point. Indeed, many of the shows that you love the most i.e. Wicked were first brought to the attention of the world because they were brought to the Broadway stage.

Broadway Rakes in $1.362 Billion in 2014

Now it appears as though more people than ever feel the way I did as a young boy, as according to the Guardian 2014 was the highest grossing year in Broadway history. Broadway League data suggests that productions raked in box office takings of $1.362 billion in 2014, a rise of 14% from the year before.

Meanwhile, 13.3 million people attended shows on the Great White Way last year, an increase of 13% from 2013. Extra data goes on to show that Broadway racked up its most lucrative seven days ever in the week of New Year. NYC’s most noted theatre district amassed $42.8 million that week alone with 37 shows running at 94% of theatres’ total capacity. In other words, 346,913 people made the effort to attend a show on Broadway over this seven day period.

Audiences Seem More Enthusiastic About Long-Running Favourites

The executive director or Broadway League, Charlotte St Martin, commented on the release of the figures. She noted that the box office takings increase “demonstrates that our producers are giving audiences a variety of plays and musicals to please many tastes… In addition to long-running favourites, audiences are enthusiastic about the new shows too.”

Yet audiences seemed far more enthusiastic about the long-running favourites than any of the newer shows that have recently graced the Broadway stage. That same week saw perennial favourite Wicked recorded the highest grossing eight-performance week in Broadway history, raking in $2,740,642. Meanwhile The Lion King reaped $2,514,994 and The Book of Mormon earned $2,224,280.

The Ultimate Tourist Attraction

In other words, Broadway’s record breaking performance throughout the course of 2014 was supported by its fan favourites. This suggests that the Great White Way is transforming into a tourist attraction more known for its classic productions, than for its ability to light up the world of musical theatre by introducing new ground-breaking shows to a mass audience.

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Gypsy Returns to the West End

You’ll be pleased you clicked onto the Simon Morris blog this week, as I have some mind-blowing news to share with you. Gypsy is coming back to the West End for the first time in 40 years!

The Greatest Musical to Ever Grace the Broadway Stage

I can still remember the day that a musical theatre enthusiast by the name of Simon Morris saw his first ever production of Gypsy.

It may have been raining outside, but that did nothing to dampen the joy that filled my heart by the time the curtain fell on Gypsy. A musical dedicated to telling the story of Momma Rose, a woman who travels across the US with her daughters in search of stardom on the Vaudeville circuit, Gypsy is often regarded as the greatest musical to ever grace the Broadway stage.

Kent and Staunton

That’s why I was so excited last month when Imelda Staunton took the time to announce that she’s set to star in a West End revival of Gypsy. The production is set to play at the Savoy Theatre for a limited run from the 15^th April.

Directed by Jonathon Kent, this version of Gypsy is actually a transfer of a production put on at the Chichester Festival Theatre in Sussex. Furthermore, Kent and Staunton have also collaborated on Good People and Sweeney Todd, which also transferred to the West end after runs at the Chichester Festival Theatre.

“As Great a Performance in a Leading Role in a Musical as I’ve Ever Seen.”

According to the Evening Standard, Staunton suggested that she was thrilled to be given this opportunity, even if she finds taking on the iconic part in the West End somewhat “daunting.” She also noted that “I don’t have a life when I’m doing it,” suggesting she’s doing everything she can to shine in this behemoth of roles.

Kent certainly seems to think she is up to the task. The director commented: “She has an extraordinary voice that I think is anatomically impossible from that small frame. This is as great a performance in a leading role in a musical as I’ve ever seen.”

Any Chance to See Gypsy on Stage

Powerful words indeed. I personally think that considering the stature of the actress in question, the first revival of Gypsy to hit the West End in 40 years is sure to prove a colossal hit. Yet I honestly don’t care that much whether that turns out to be the case; I’ll take any chance to see Gypsy on stage!

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Five Movie Musicals You Need To Watch Over the Holidays.

We’ve officially entered the holidays, and this week on the Simon Morris Blog I wanted to help you celebrate your favourite time of the year by revealing five movie musicals you need to watch over the holidays.

Simon Morris’ Favourite Time of the Year

Ever since a young Simon Morris first decorated his first tree, I’ve been a huge fan of Christmas. There’s just something about this time of the year – the dazzling fairy lights, finding garlands of tinsel everywhere you look, munching on mince pies with the family round the tree – that just gets me right there.

In my opinion, there’s no better way to cap off the holiday season than to gather with the family around a roaring fire, and engage in a movie musical marathon. By the time the final credits role, you’ll all be singing from the rooftops, ready to welcome Santa down your chimney on Christmas Eve.

Include These Five Movie Musicals on Your Christmas Wish List

Yet with so many classic movie musicals out there, which ones should you take the time to watch over the holidays? In my opinion, the following five just have to be on the list…

1)      Annie: Don’t mistake me, I’m not talking about the new version with Cameron Diaz, although I can’t wait for that either. No, this Christmas you have to stick on the original. A classic down-on-her-luck orphan makes good story with bundles of heart, it’s sure to help you sail away from your own ‘hard knock life’ this holiday season.

2)     Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: At this point I hear you groaning, but it really is the perfect movie musical to flick on over the holiday period. Basically, it’s so wonderfully wacky that it’ll have you in stitches in minutes, and who doesn’t want to give themselves the gift of laughter this Christmas?!

3)    The Wizard of Oz: The film that launched the career of movie musical icon Judy Garland, the Wizard of Oz is perfect for any time of the year. However it’s effortless charm, dazzling shades of technicolour, fantastically whimsical characters and solid moral centre make it a movie musical you just need to watch over the holiday season!

4)      An American in Paris: If you’re looking for something to share with your lover and make memories this holiday, I’d absolutely recommend you give An American in Paris a go. The story of an American ex-GI whose paintings come to the attention of a rich American heiress makes this classic production one for the ages!

5)      White Christmas: I had to end this list with an actual Christmas themed movie musical, and what better production could I have chosen than White Christmas? The Bing Crosby classic about a successful song-and-dance team who become romantically entangled with a sister act is just so full of heart you have to watch it over the holiday season.

Don’t Stop There

I may have given you five, but you really don’t have to stop there. If you’re like me, and the best gift you can give yourself this Christmas is the gift of a movie musical marathon, sit the family down and prepare for the ride of your life this holiday season!

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The Rise of the Next Movie Musical Superstar

With 2015 set to be American actress Anna Kendrick’s year, this week on the Simon Morris blog I want to explore the rise of the woman who I believe is the next movie musical superstar.

A Kid with a TONY Award Nomination

Believe it or not, a young musical theatre enthusiast by the name of Simon Morris first became familiar with the work of an even younger Anna Kendrick way back in 1998.

That was the year she received her first credit on Broadway performing in 90’s musical High Society. Her performance was such a hit that not only did she bag a Theatre World Award, she clinched a nomination for a TONY Award.

The Year Kendrick Becomes a Bonafide Movie Musical Star

Since her turn on Broadway, her career has shot into the stratosphere. She caught the attention of global audiences when she starred in the Twilight Saga, and has developed a career in movie musicals with productions such as Pitch Perfect. She even scored a US chart hit with ‘Cups (When I’m Gone)’ – a track from the musical comedy flick.

Now it appears as if 2015 is the year that she’s going to become a bonafide movie musical star. By the time the year reaches its end, Anna Kendrick will have starred in three movie musicals.

Three Movie Musicals in One Year

Anyone who’s anyone knows that Kendrick is set to feature as Cinderella in Into the Woods. A favourite among Sondheim fans everywhere, the film – which is due to be released this Christmas – is sure to prove a hit with audiences across the world.

Yet there are two more movie musical projects starring Kendrick that are slated for a 2015 release. The first is a film adaption of 2002 Broadway production The Last Five Years. This critically acclaimed two person show is a hard mountain to conquer, and the fact that Kendrick has been tapped to climb it indicates that those whose opinions matter consider her a talented musical theatre performer.

Meanwhile, the sequel to Pitch Perfect is also scheduled for a 2015 release. Considering the popularity of the film – how it opened up the genre to people who would normally loath everything musical theatre – I have no doubt it’ll be everywhere in 2015.

Anna Kendrick Will be Everywhere

Just like Pitch Perfect 2, Anna Kendrick’s movie musical performances will be everywhere in 2015. If that doesn’t sound like the next movie musical heavyweight to you, I think you might need to ask your nearest and dearest to buy you a new dictionary this Christmas!

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Beloved Movie Musical Destined for Broadway

This week, Simon Morris learned that beloved movie musical Gigi is destined for Broadway, with High School Musical alum Vanessa Hudgens slated to star in the title role.

Simon Morris Should Have Lived in Another Decade

When I was a child, I was one of those precocious kids who would have sworn down, had someone asked him, that I belonged in another era. Specifically, the era when the classic Hollywood movie musical reigned supreme.

Many a clock hand turned from 12 to 12, whilst a young Simon Morris whiled away the hours entranced by the sounds of classic Hollywood show tunes filtering through the room. Among my many favourites was the iconic MGM movie musical Gigi.

The Story of a Young Courtesan in Turn-of-the-Century Paris

Adapted from a novella written in 1944 and a stage musical from 1951, Gigi was a 1958 film directed by the legendary Vincente Minnelli. It chronicles the story of Gigi, a young girl raised by two courtesans in turn-of-the-century Paris to take on the role of lover to a wealthy patron, Gaston. Their plans go awry when Gaston falls for the young Gigi and plans to marry her.

The film was a cinematic triumph, bagging nine academy awards along with the hearts and minds of a generation. Now it’ll have the chance to do the same with a new generation, as a fresh stage version of the musical has entered production, ready to open on Broadway in early 2015.

She Came When Vanessa Hudgens Least Expected It

Actress Vanessa Hudgens is slated to star in the title role. She’s no stranger to the genre, having rose to fame as part of the High School Musical franchise, and starred as Mimi in a production of RENT at the Hollywood Bowl.

She recently spoke about landing the role – her first on Broadway – to People Magazine. Hudgens suggested that "I've been waiting for the right role to come along, and she appeared to me when I was least expecting it," before adding that "it's been a lot of fun prepping for Gigi … allowing myself to be as free as possible. I love this character, the music and play so much." 

Bringing Gigi to a Whole New Audience

Hopefully, that love will translate into a stellar performance when a revamped Gigi makes its first appearance on the Great White Way next year. Such a performance would show a whole new generation of musical theatre lovers why so many people fell in love with the story of a young Parisian mistress way back in 1958.

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