| Remembering that last-minute 'Urban' renewal | |
| Last Edit: WaymanWong 11:18 pm EST 12/16/24 | |
| Posted by: WaymanWong 11:09 pm EST 12/16/24 | |
| In reply to: re: Is there any chance this will extend again?? - wizrdofoz27 02:17 pm EST 12/16/24 | |
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| ''[John Gallagher Jr.] said that no show since 'Urban Cowboy' has been granted this kind of sort-of second chance'' I was at that Sat., March 29, 2003, ''closing'' of ''Urban Cowboy.'' It had just opened a couple nights earlier. After the disappointing reviews came out, it was announced Friday night that the show would close that weekend, after only 4 regular performances and 26 previews. I LOVED ''Urban Cowboy'' and saw it more than a few times during its previews. The charismatic Matt Cavenaugh led the terrific cast of Jenn Colella, Marcus Chait, Sally Mayes and many more. It was a helluva hoedown, accompanied by rousing new songs by Jason Robert Brown, as well as established country-music hits by Shania Twain (''Honey, I'm Home''), Clint Black (''The Hard Way'') and Charlie Daniels (''The .Devil Went Down to Georgia''). So at that ''closing'' Saturday night show, its enthusiastic fans were all set to see ''Urban Cowboy'' ride off into the sunset. But at the curtain call, director Lonny Price surprised everyone in the audience, and even the cast, and announced that ''Urban Cowboy'' wouldn't be closing that night after all. Producers Chase Mishkin and Leonard Soloway had been so heartened by the audience turnout for that weekend's shows that they would keep it running. I've rarely experienced such a surprised and excited audience, as cast members went wild hugging one another. I'll never forget that moment of joy in the theater. Alas, this last-minute attempt didn't save the show. It closed several weeks later on May 18. However, it did allow ''Urban Cowboy'' to invite the Tony voters, and the show received two Tony nominations: one for Melinda Roy's kickass choreography, and the other for score, which included the new songs written for the stage, PLUS the country-music hits. I've always wondered if, say, Nashville legends like Shania Twain or Clint Black even knew they were Tony nominees. |
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| Link | Matt Cavenaugh: 'It Don't Get Better Than This' from 'Urban Cowboy' |
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| Previous: | re: Is there any chance this will extend again?? - wizrdofoz27 02:17 pm EST 12/16/24 |
| Next: | Gallagher's comment is a bit of a stretch... - UptownMike 05:52 pm EST 12/16/24 |
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