Riedel on All Shook Up
Riedel on All Shook Up
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#0Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 10:39am
'I GOT Stung" never made its way into the Elvis Presley musical "All Shook Up."
But it's the perfect song for backers of a show that had enormous potential but, because of mismanagement, behind-the-scenes feuds and an arrogant and inexperienced lead producer, has turned out to be one of last season's costliest flops.
One person involved in the production calls "All Shook Up," which will likely lose more than $10 million, "a massive missed opportunity."
http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/53334.htm
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 9/14/05 at 10:39 AM
#1re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 10:41amAny day now, I guess. sigh.
#2re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 10:42amOy. Hope they get their act together, I'd love to see it stay open through the end of the year!!! The cast works so hard and they are so talented, the show is so much fun, and they deserve a better shot.
#3re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 10:42amWhat I don't understand, is, if they had money invested in the show, why didn't they have any say in anything? What am I missing here?
I hung out with Cheyenne Jackson in his dressing room waayyyyyy before he tickled D2. "unleash the girly"
Our fingerprints don't fade from the lives we touch.
Puppies are babies in fur coats.
Tinfoil...The Terrorizing Terminator
RockabyeHamlet
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/1/05
#4re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 10:43amwow....I don't know what to say.
"I wouldn't let Esparza's Bobby take my kids to the zoo...I'd be afraid he'd steal their ice cream and laugh."- YankeeFan
"People who like Sondheim enjoy cruelty."-LuvtheEmcee
"People who like Sondheim enjoy cruelty."-LuvtheEmcee
#5re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 10:47am
"He produced a little off-Broadway show, and he thought he was Cameron Mackintosh."
There can only be one Cameron Mackintosh.
popcultureboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/23/03
#6re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 10:56amIt's one of Riedel's more vague articles though, I thought.
Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#7re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 10:59am
There is typically one lead producer who makes most of the final creative and marketing decisions on behalf of the rest of the producers (most shows have so many producers and investors, it would be chaos otherwise). For example, while the Weisslers have dozens of investors involved in all of their shows, they are the only ones who have direct contact with the director and star and creative team of the show and they make all of the final business decisions. The other producers can have input and make suggestions and ask questions, but the final word is Fran and Barry's.
In this case, Pollard fancied himself lead producer, but apparently didn't know what the hell he was doing (echoes of Rosie and Taboo). Once again, this proves that neophytes to Broadway should never be allowed to be in charge of $10 million shows. Pollard should have hired a partner with real Broadway producing experience and sat back and learned from him/her how it's done (heck, at the very least he should have listened to Harvey Weinstein who has a dozen Broadway producing credits to his name including DRS and The Producers) . But, he let his ego get in the way and as a result he's doomed a show that had the potential to be a hit, alienated several members of the theatrical community and lost a few million dollars to boot.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 9/14/05 at 10:59 AM
MasterLcZ
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/12/03
#8re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 11:01am
Another thought:
Maybe Elvis isn't nearly as popular as everyone assumes he is/was?
This could apply even moreso for LENNON.
"Christ, Bette Davis?!?!"
popcultureboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/23/03
#9re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 11:02amUh, if Abba can sustain a show, I'm pretty sure Elvis can.
Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.
Borstalboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/9/04
#10re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 11:14amThe Jukebox Musical has had the final nail pounded in it's coffin.
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
popular_elphie
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/3/05
#11re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 11:15am
I wish they wouldn't just keep dragging the show along like this. If the attendance for the next 2 weeks is really that bad, they should just post a notice.
I love this show a lot, but if they're performing to a 1/3 full house, and their hearts aren't in it, what's the point?
WOSQ
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/03
#12re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 11:24am
Pollard sounds pretty lame. I wonder if he has learned anything or has the Great God Hubris gotten in the way?
But on the other hand, no one forced Miramax and Clear Channel to put in money where it was spelled out that this virgin was lead producer. Either of them could have demanded in writing some input or the hiring of an experienced Broadway hand, and if that didn't happen, not to have written a check.
Put it on the road in 1-2 week stands and see what happens. I'd start booking now for January. There have to be vacant subscription slots somewhere.
"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable."
--Carrie Fisher
Shoshana BeanieBaby
Stand-by Joined: 11/4/04
#13re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:24pmfirst off Margo Channing if you are going to insult the man get his name right. It isn't "Scott Pollard" it's Jon Pollard as the article says. Second I think we all need to give him a break. Has anybody here produced a smash hit Broadway musical? I'm sure he's having a hard enough time as it is right now.
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#14re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:37pm
Give him a break. Why? For having such an enormous ego that he screwed up, wouldn't bring in help and now it's going to cost several dozen people their jobs (on a show that had it been properly produced could have run for years)? Sorry, I don't feel sorry for incompetent, egomaniacal millionaires who's troubles are entirely self-inflicted.
"Has anybody here produced a smash hit Broadway musical?"
No, but there are dozens of people out there who have. Pollard should have called one of them and had them run the show for him, but his ego wouldn't allow it, so he deserves all of the humiliation and lost millions that have been brought on by his own hubris.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 9/14/05 at 12:37 PM
#15re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:41pm
"Has anybody here produced a smash hit Broadway musical?"
This type of question have always irked me. So, people shouldn't criticize GWB or an athlete because they've never done it?
Fosse76
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/05
#17re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:43pm
"so he deserves all of the humiliation and lost millions that have been brought on by his own hubris."
He may deserve it, but the cast and hardworking people running that show certainly do not!!!!!!!!!!!!
#18re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:45pmI'm with Margo..give the guy a break. So many people try to produce Broadway shows and are never successful, even if you HAVEN'T heard of them...he at least had people lining up to help him. And props also to the amazing cast...they don't deserve any of what's coming to them.
#19re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:46pmMargo isn't giving him a break ShuQ. You read that wrong.
kidmanboy
Leading Actor Joined: 5/10/04
#20re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:46pmAs for Elvis not having a draw, go to Vegas or any amusement park around the country and there are many many people simply watching impersonators. I think he has a draw. Likewise, I think the show itself has a lot of charm and even if it's music wasn't by Elvis is pretty well constructed and is a great time at the theater. I think maybe too much time was spent marketing the Elvis and no one actually stopped to say that the show might even be good. (It got quite a few glowing reviews). I think the snubs by Tony may have had something to do with it (it's sets? choreography? Nothing?) It's a shame because I think this was the only jukebox musical that was even remotely successful artisticly.
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#21re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:50pm
Typically a theatre can invoke the "stop clause" after two or three consecutive weeks of a show failing to break even. A theatre will usually only do that though when it has a new show anxious to come into the theatre. I can't remember exactly what the rumor was, but I know that there was a show or two angling to get the Palace for later this season. Until a new tenant is signed and ready to move in, The Palace may leave All Shook Up alone, it's better to have the theatre occupied than dark for months.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 9/14/05 at 12:50 PM
ghostlight2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
#22re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 12:57pm
Does this remind anyone of "Capeman", another situation where newjacks came in, saying "this doesn't look all that hard, what do we need experienced Broadway people for"?
Fosse, a theatre can evict a show once its gross falls below x amount of dollars two weeks running. It's called, I believe a "drop show clause". If it's invoked, it doesn't matter how deep the producer's pockets are, that show is out the door.
Elvis and Lennon not a big enough draw? I laugh in your general direction [Spamalot/]. They just need a good book to with experienced producers. It'll happen. Just because these two forays failed doesn't mean someone else won't get it right somewhere down the line.
#23re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 1:04pmCapeman had artistic problems as well. All Shook Up's issues are primarily mismanagement, which makes its death less necessary, and more depressing.
"WHEN is the winter of our discontent?"
"NOW is the winter of our discontent!"
Visit My Blog
ghostlight2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/5/04
#24re: Riedel on All Shook Up
Posted: 9/14/05 at 1:16pmPoint taken, liz, and Margo, as usual, beat me to the stop clause explaination and said it better.
Videos