Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
#1Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/21/07 at 3:32pm
Last night, I was listening to BROADWAY BULLET'S season finale Podcast, which featured an interview with Adam Epstein [producer of "Hairspray" and "The Wedding Singer"]. He spoke on his feelings on why Wedding Singer failed. He said many things ranging from "the heart not being in it" to "it being rushed: they did three readings and then opened out of town." to one sting at both Stephen Lynch and Laura Benanti not being the best choices for the leads.
He also went on to diss several other musicals "some jukebox, some not" who did not "have their hearts in the right place".
To hear his interview: Download it off Itunes or go to http://broadwaybullet.com/
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
#2re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/21/07 at 8:40pm
I thought Stephen Lynch was amazing. I didn't see Benanti in the role, but Lynch was a stage star 100%.
My theory would be that 1) it remained too close to the movie; 2) it should have been cleaner/less sexual; and 3) the second act movie-based complications were a little childish on stage.
However, it was the best new show I saw from that season (which didn't include seeing JERSEY BOYS).
Broadway Blog: Confessions of a (Former) Stage Door Johnny
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#2re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/21/07 at 8:49pm
Cleanliness had nothing to do with it. The show ran for a good 8 months, got 7 Tony nominations (which were filler), but it was just not good.
Entertaining? Yes. Good? No.
Stephen Lynch was very good in the show. Perhaps the best part.
The reason they failed was the same reason why Legally Blonde got mediocre reviews. The characters were indelibly inked by their film counter-parts. Laura Bell Bundy is no Reese Witherspoon, and Laura Benanti was certainly no Drew Barrymore. Both lacked the charm needed to successfully convey the roles.
Tina Maddigan, on the other hand, the understudy who only got her name above the title 2 weeks before the lead came back from medical leave after playing it for 5 months, was significantly more charming.
The score was mostly mediocre (great opening and closing, but that's it), the book was nothing to scream over. Rob Ashford's choreography was easily the best part; John Rando's pacing was fine, as well.
wickedfan2
Broadway Star Joined: 7/8/04
#3re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/21/07 at 9:03pmclumsydude- your avatar takes my breath away!
#4re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/21/07 at 9:04pm
Did you listen to the interview?
He really bashed it, it was really horrible.
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
#5re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/21/07 at 9:06pm
"clumsydude- your avatar takes my breath away!"
You and me both Wickedfan, you and me both.
He's so damn hot!
God, I'd give my life to have "one night with him" 
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
Updated On: 6/21/07 at 09:06 PM
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#6re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/21/07 at 9:22pm
Just downloaded it, listened to it.
Epstein isn't rude, he is 100% correct on why the show failed.
Sub-par material, unrealized material, and 2 leads who weren't Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.
#7re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/21/07 at 9:25pm
yankeefan, I think 8 months is a respectable run. I do think if it had been more family friendly, it could have pulled in a larger audience.
Broadway Blog: Confessions of a (Former) Stage Door Johnny
#8re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/21/07 at 9:26pm
"Epstein isn't rude, he is 100% correct on why the show failed. "
Your right, he's is correct.
But, he really tore it a new one.
It was just shocking
"Anybody that goes to the theater, I think we’re all misfits, so we ended up on stage or in the audience.” --- Patti LuPone.
Updated On: 6/21/07 at 09:26 PM
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#9re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/21/07 at 9:29pmHe really didn't. The question posed was "why do you think The Wedding Singer failed?" He answered it with what he thought. He didn't like the show, he didn't think the show's potential was fully realized, and he only produced it to help out a friend.
#10re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/21/07 at 10:40pm
Not to dig up an old arguement.
But I still fail to see how Maddigan had more charm. If anything she was much more one-dimensional with it. Her performance fell very flat to me.
I thought Benanti was superb. Who says they HAD to find Sandler and Barrymore clones?
"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde
#11re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/21/07 at 10:43pmI think his honesty is kind of refreshing, actually -- the perspective in retrospect is nice, and I think it's respectable that he's so forthcoming.
shesamarshmallow
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/06
#12re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/21/07 at 10:46pmAnd you'll notice at the end he said that he personally loved the show, he just understood why it failed.
broadwayunderstudies.com - most underrated performers on broadway
#13re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/21/07 at 10:47pm
Ugh, again with the Benanti/ Maddigan debate. I agree with Yankee on this one, but whatever.
I did enjoy the show, but it honestly didn't surprise me that it wasn't that successful. I wish it was, but stuff happens.Aside from the comments about the leads, I really don't find anything wrong in what he said.
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
sgweirdo
Understudy Joined: 6/30/04
#14re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/21/07 at 11:11pm
I can't get it to work! Oh well.. but I'm pretty suprised, actually, that he'd admit what was wrong with it. He 100% had his heart in the project.
I took a class with him at NYU (did anyone else? if you go to NYU- it's a gallatin class called "broadway and the independent producer" go take it)
shesamarshmallow
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/06
#15re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/21/07 at 11:20pm
I can't get it to work!
There should be a transcript posted on BroadwayBullet.com in the next day or two.
broadwayunderstudies.com - most underrated performers on broadway
wickedrentq
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/6/04
#16re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/22/07 at 8:38pm
Though I do agree what he said about Wedding Singer was fine, honest, and matter-of-fact, my favorite part of the interview was actually when he said "there's no place for avante guard bankruptcies" 
"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli
#17re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/22/07 at 9:13pm
I thought Wedding Singer was fun but not great but Lynch not been the right choice????? is he drunk.
When i watched that show i was amazed at how good lynch were, he came across a lot more likable than Sandler and his energy and obvious love of the role was great
Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna
#18re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/22/07 at 10:06pmI couldn't agree more. Tina Maddigan WAS Julia. At least she didn't phone it in.
"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
#19re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/22/07 at 10:14pmLMAO.
"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde
#20re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/22/07 at 10:24pm
She's so charming...
"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#21re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/22/07 at 10:26pmOh Lord. I needed a Red Bull to stay awake when I saw her as Julia.
#22re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/22/07 at 10:29pm
Now that's chemistry!
"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#23re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/22/07 at 10:34pmYea. As much chemistry as an Easy Bake Oven.
#24re: Adam Epstein on WEDDING SINGER'S failure on BROADWAY BULLET podcast
Posted: 6/22/07 at 10:38pmWell, at least her souffle didn't fall.
"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
Videos