Musicals need to start making proshots on dvd. That would allow people worldwide to see the shows without stupid critics, and get a constant revenue if it cant stay onstage. The anti proshot stance is hurting their own industry
That's a reason why i love starkid so much. They know they've gotten as big as they are because of the internet, so they make proshots of every single one of their musicals for us europeans and cheapskates
Im uh.. "Pro"proshot as well, because I live all the way here in south east asia with absolutely no reason, time, and budget to just casually fly to the west for a broadway/westend show and fly back. Do they have like a statement on WHY they are adamant about the whole anti-proshot thing?
Entirely agree. There’s clearly an audience for it since bootlegs get thousands of views so might as well find a way to profit off of that. They need to get off of their elitist high horse and find ways to make theatre more accessible if they want to help the industry. Maybe that will also save us from more movie adaptations that won’t do well nor do justice to the original material and don’t showcase the insane talents that work their butts off to perform at that level 8 times a week
Problem is, there are a few roadblocks to why this is often harder than just oh, people wanna see it, let’s make it. Number one, money. It is *expensive* to create a pro-shot. A musical has to be profitable enough for them to actually afford to do the pro-shot. The people behind Hamilton actually used their own personal money they earned from creating Hamilton to fund the pro-shot. Not every musical has that luxury. Number two- contracts and unions. Releasing a pro-shot involves screen unions and their contracts, not the same ones as used in theatre unions. Therefore, you have to go through arranging all the legalities we’re seeing with the strike now with how do those involved get paid, what do residuals for everyone look like if it’s something like Hamilton streaming on Disney+, etc. It’s a *lot* to coordinate between the stage and screen unions. All we can do is hope that people will show up and make those pro-shots hits, so more successes of pro-shots like Hamilton will show potential investors that there *is* a market for them so they’re willing to take the chance to make them happen. I believe the success of Hamilton is why we’re getting the upcoming ones of Waitress and Six, etc., and so on, and hopefully we can keep that trend going!!!
Kong only broke twice in Melbourne in the original run, and the show I saw was the 2nd one (where the cables got twisted just before intermission), which was 2 weeks before it closed. We were all given tickets to another show. Still have the flyer we were given. Ended up getting tickets for 2nd last show before it closed. One of the worst musicals I have seen, with the most amazing lighting and visuals ever. The puppet was incredible!
Same, i saw it melbourne as well. The music and the acting were so forgettable i dont remember any of it. But i do remember King Kong, nothing will ever make forget that
I saw King Kong in Melbourne and fortunately when I saw it, there were no issues with the puppet but my mum said that she spoke to someone who received tickets due to issues. But yeah the only good thing was King Kong whereas the rest of the show was forgettable.
“Everyone wanted to see the puppet”… humans love a good puppet. On set of The Mandalorian season 1, Werner Herzog apparently took the directors/producers aside & said something to that effect, remarking how everyone on set reacted to the puppet Grogu (Baby Yoda) & how they shouldn’t cover it up with cgi. We love a convincing puppet!! Also I fully now believe the Foxwoods is cursed.
I followed along with this shows development for years and was so stoked to finally see it on Broadway. Is it a great show? No. Is it a great spectacle? I think so.
I like watching the curtain call for this show, just for when the puppet comes down and the tech crew walks forward for the bow. Something about that just makes me cry.
I got to see an old DVD of a dress rehearsal for this show, and I really am glad you're covering this. The show was a letdown, but I was still fascinated by the Kong setup. The work that went into it was a LOT.
I am so Jelly you saw that DVD. It's a shame the show was more of a hit. Someone I knew saw it said the actors were good it was the book/songs that were a let down but that the puppet was amazing
I didn’t see King Kong, but my grandparents did. They raved about it. Insisted I had to go. Told me seeing Dear Evan Hansen (one of my favorite shows, which I’d had yet to see) instead was a mistake. They still talk about how amazing it was. I’m sure a lot of it had to do with the puppet, but I’ll never forget how excited it made them.
“A musical can’t survive on spectacle alone”. Your arguments on emotional investment for the audience is so spot on. I would also say this applies equally well to the film and television industry which sometimes put way more effort into spectacle than into stories and characters people care about. 😔
There's this video I once saw of a giant silverback gorilla carrying and playing with a tiny little bushbaby. You see this giant gently and carefully holding this tiny little monkey and making sure the other gorillas don't bother him, and then later on he takes him to a tree and prompts him to leave. I dunno, but I always imagined King Kong's behaviour the blond lady as that, just caring and protecting this tiny delicate creature.
The King Kong puppet is one of the GREATEST things I've ever seen in a theatre!!!! I saw the Broadway run a couple years ago and my jaw literally dropped.
I never really recognized just how impressive and beautiful the Kong puppet is. Like, I knew it was impressive and a lot of hard work went into it, but I never felt that interested. But something about seeing the way live performers were weaved into the puppet's life made me recognize how incredible it is. Having one of the performers go up on Kong's back and then jump down to make the puppet's arm go up is one of those things that is just...pure theatrical magic. And now I can't help but wonder what this story would've looked like if it was a straight play. There's an argument to be made that it wouldn't have been able to garner enough hype and funding to make it far, but...I don't know. Would've left a much easier job for the playwright as well, so that they could go into deeper and nuanced themes.
Also, if anyone’s wondering about the cartoon Kong from the intro, there was an animated King Kong musical from the ‘90s that had Jodie Benson as Anne Darrow, Dudley Moore in his last film role as Carl Denham, and songs by the Sherman Brothers.
There was also an animated King Kong series on Saturday mornings, which I loved. I remember a 3' toy that came w/ several of the charaters from the show. It had limited articulation and looked grand...but I couldn't see the characters on Kong's shoulder. My Dad did one of the baddest things to upgrade it. He got a 2" magnet that would atract the staples in an industrial unit. Worked perfectly.
I want to see Kong so badly, for the same reasons I wanted to go see life of Pi. Life of Pi is such a thrilling read which is basically impossible to properly script for the stage but I'M THERE FOR THE PUPPETS. I knew it wasn't going to be the best story/songwriting but I'm there for the spectacle. I want to see that giant kong puppet so badly! I hope it comes back to broadway. Her lullaby song is actually really touching too.
I actually saw part of the puppet the other day! They had it’s head at a puppet exhibition as well as some of the Walking with Dinosaurs animatronics, I didn’t realise they were made by the same people
I saw this right before it opened! The puppet and puppeteers were amazing to watch. And his eyes and face were so soulful. Music, lyrics, story, not so good.
I actually missed this by days as I had been intrigued by the commercial with the puppet and said what the heck I want to see it live even if the reviews are not good but couldn't get tickets before it closed. The more I find out about this the more I wish I'd seen it. This documentary really brought that home.
it feels like a catch-22. unless you have near budgetless funding, something in the show is doomed to fail. its kinda sad to see so many shows end up ruined because they had to be rushed, or they couldnt afford to maintain it, or some kind of interpersonal conflict left the team dysfunctional.
The hubris of Australian rich people is the stuff of legend, and sometimes it intersects with the realm of mass entertainment. At least King Kong wasn’t brought to us by a mining magnate like Clive Palmer.
I saw the Melbourne show twice and still look at the program. The original soundtrack was so very cool and I was really disappointed that it didn't take off. The fight between King Kong and the massive serpent was phenomenal to watch and there was true terror when you could hear King Kong thundering closer in the darkness only to have the lights dimly come on and see him towering over the audience. Amazing video!!
Is there a recording of the show available? I'm looking forward to seeing Starlight Express in London next year but taking into consideration how expensive and difficult to operate Kong was, there is no hope they will do it again. I think that even if the music or the story were not the best, the way they animated the puppet is spectacular. I would not care about anything else, 5 stars for amazing puppetry.
I ushered on this show and we were forbidden from discussing the show or expressing opinion about it because EVERYONE knew that it was a dud. Production knew. Front of house knew. Patrons would come out at intermission bewildered that the show made it to the stage. Reaction from everyone was brutal - and righfully so.
It's kinda funny how many artists they threw at this show trying to make it work. As a puppet show, it's clearly epic, but as a piece of theater, it has no unifying story or strong creative vision.
Nice to see some interest for the Old King Kong musical. As an addendum, Tilder's desire to make a perfectly realistic Kong without the aid of CG effects did eventually happen in the form of the animatronic Kong in the Skull Island attraction at Universal Studios. It's quite the impressive creature
I love giant puppets and this video was made for me. Thank you Brendon. I have not seen the King Kong musical, but I have seen the Walking With Dinosaurs arena show twice. I love the contrast between the great care and elaborate engineering and artistry that went into making this Kong puppet, directly contrasted with the fiasco that is the recently-released Skull Island: Rise of Kong game.
I think King Kong would’ve worked better as a live arena show like Walking with Dinosaurs. They could even reuse the dinosaurs from that show for King Kong!
Did you know there's a whole installation in the Empire State Building about King Kong? You can pose in Kong's fist, it's pretty cool. Speaking on the 2020 Tony Awards... any chance of tackling the Lightning Thief musical?
King Kong would have absolutely killed it in Las Vegas where a resort could shoulder the cost and the audience wouldn't be so critical of it. The most important thing about theater is to know who your audience is.
I saw King Kong on Broadway after getting TKTS reduced costs. I'm a huge fan of Peter Jackson's Kong, so I was excited by the prospect of a stage version. The animatronic/puppets did not disappoint at all. It was fantastical, with a terrific sense of movement and scale. The book and songs, not so much. It's a shame the actual musical part of the musical was so bleh. Not bad enough to draw boos, but not good enough to match with the other aspects of production.
I’m pestering you to write a review on how many musicals does the Tarzan franchise have. The one we all know and love is based on the memetic first Disney Tarzan movie. There’s also three Israeli ones as well.
I flew to New York to see this show because of the puppet, and I LOVE musicals, but I remember nothing about it except the puppet looming over the crowd. I don't think I've ever left a show and not added at least one song to my Spotify playlist. But this one just left me with a jacket and a keychain made of the rope "used on the puppet." On the other hand, the puppet was beautiful. The size of it was awe inspiring. The face was expressive. And I went in to the show after doing my research, so it was cool to see the tech in action.
So glad it started in Melbourne. Saw it twice. Took my uncle second time he hates musicals but loved this. It was mind blowing. It was so epic on stage with the strobe lights and fog the fight for with the python was amazing. Made me cry just like the Jackson film. So sad yall missed it coz critics didn't "get it"
As a theater buff who lives nowhere near New York and a Kong stan since I first saw the 1977 movie, I am still crushed about never seeing this puppet in action live. 😢
Love giant monster fiction, love the kaiju sweetie King Kong, and I love your musical-based documentaries! Needless to say, this was a welcomed Saturday morning surprise!
I saw the musical and the puppet was so good it's the only version of King Kong where the gorilla falls in love with Anne and I thought 'he could do better.'
Once again, I say: Bravo to you for an exceptional video! This perfect blend of documentary, commentary, and humor makes your channel one of my favorites 🖤
I have so, so much respect for the puppeteers. What insane skill and strength you need to have to pull off an illusion like that!! I can’t imagine the hours it took to figure that out
I was lucky enough to see this show while it was on Broadway - all because I joined the BroadwayRoulette thing, lol. I remember not really having any expectations, not having really seen anything about this musical beforehand. I was blown away by the impressive puppetry that was involved, and the passion I could see from the cast and crew. From what I understand, I saw it when it was a month away from closing. It was sad to me because the theater was not even half full, but the few people that did see it were audibly gasping, and ooh-ing and aah-ing at the puppet. Was it my favorite musical that I saw that year? No. But that puppet.... wow.
I'm so glad I saw it and feel like I had the best seat in the house: 5th row center. The spectacle, the visuals, the puppet were all amazing. Everything else? Meh. There was one song that I kinda liked, but quickly forgot it. I did win a poster/window card from Audience Rewards, so there's that.
Wow, I didn't even know this show ever existed. I'm not sure why I heard all about Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark but nothing about this one. Where did the puppet end up, though?
We got to see King Kong in it's original Melbourne run here in Australia and look the "musical" wasn't great, but boy that puppet is still the most impressive thing we have ever seen on stage!
I thought this video was about that Giant Kong animatronic they made for the movie premiere that caught fire but this, this is so much more interesting
AYYO WALKING WITH DINOSAURS?!?!? THAT WAS REAL??!???!?!??!?!??! I went to that when I was little and it fundamentally changed me as a person. yooooooooooo...
Me NOT seeing this musical is my Roman Empire. My wallet skipped this musical when it came out and then I got really into Kaiju during COVID and now I regret not going when it was on Broadway (pre-covid)!
With this much work put into shows, it really seems like most theater and movie critics are just being dicks for the sake of being dicks. Especially when they can't even be bothered to do their jobs properly, act like schoolyard bullies or simply parrot someone else's negative review instead of thinking and judging for themselves, all of which seems to be happening more and more now. They have absolutely no respect for the creative arts and the people who work tirelessly every day to bring these projects to life. And they couldn't do a fraction of what the crews of these productions are doing each night if they tried.
I will never understand why they didn't just produce King Kong as a play. There is almost no need for it to be a musical and that way they could have better developed the story without also needing to worry about all the musical components
I got to see this show live. The show had to stop mid act because they were having issues with the puppet, took quite a while to get him fixed up again
Once again, incredible work my friend! When I saw that you were covering King Kong, I was pumped because I don't remember much of the story of how the musical got to Broadway. You did a great job!
Bravo on that last line! I was definitely enraptured by the clips you included of the puppet, but I see your point that there needs to be a hook and emotional core beyond when the puppet is onstage
I am so glad that I saw this show. It was special and cannot be conveyed without seeing it in person. The real problem I have is with the story. It is such a sad story about animal abuse and exploitation that it is hard to watch.🥺
I actually saw the New York show. They made King Kong, well, a bitch to Ann Darrow with an ill conceived feminist message. It really soured the whole endeavor. Anne looked goofy riding Kong like he was a beast from Harry Potter. Also by casting a black woman as Anne it does change the dynamic if you've seen the original film. Because in the original film Kong ate black tribesmen as part of his regular diet - hence the sacrificial altar. Him chasing a black Anne in the play makes you question Kong's motives. The green set dressing was also a little garish for the jungle and needed more character as the foliage looked like weaves of light you'd find in a nightclub. I thought they would show puppet Kong smashing buildings to get to Anne, but instead they turned him into her pet, um fellas he's supposed to be you know a king and not a slave. King Kong isn't supposed to be about feminism. It's supposed to be about how nature can still shock and awe us with its ferocity. It felt like the showrunners were scared of sticking to the original story for fear of being called racist. But if the show's good who cares about activists??
I'm almost 60, Texan, white, male...I have never thought of King Kong as a racist sexual theme. Never even heard of it. So tired of activist hate finding a camera to stand in front of waving their tin cup. Not the host but those he talked about.
It’s so weird to see pictures of the Broadway Theater set up normally. The only time I’ve been there was for Here Lies Love and it’s basically unrecognizable
If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. You can submit a claim in 8 clicks or less without having to leave your couch. To start your claim, visit: www.forthepeople.com/WaitInTheWings Question of the day: What's your favorite BIG musical set piece?
