okctheatrescene

   This week’s THEATRICAL WISHLIST THURSDAY is brought to you by cheap coffee courtesy of my place o’bidness, and by generic nicotine patches in slightly damaged boxes I found on clearance at Wal-Mart.  I know, I’ve never smoked, but I became addicted to nicotine patches during a long-ago backstage incident…

ALSO- I know, I don’t do a wishlist EVERY Thursday, but I’m a busy career girl.  I do what I can, get off my back.

This morning, one of my favorite songs shuffled into existence on da iPod shortly after starting work at my demanding day job.  And reminded me how much I’d love to see a revival of this show.  No, it’s not perfect.  But it’s got good songs.    Weird.  Touching.  A combination I like-  what is it?  It’s Hal Prince’s 1987 twelve performance Broadway failure- ROZA. 

First off- anyone who knows me, knows about my love for theatre poster art.  ROZA is one of the posters I own and love.  Roza’s earring makes the “O” in her name.  I love it.

Anyways.  ROZA has a score by Gilbert Becaud and Julian More.  Who are they?  I don’t know.  The story is about Madame Roza, an aging prostitute who has survived everything from life on the streets to concentration camps and has now settled in a slum in Paris, where she takes in the children of younger prostitutes- after their mothers have disappeared or are out looking for work.  The cast had some names, tho-  Georgia Brown as Roza, Marcia Lewis as Madame Katz, and Bob Guntun as Roza’s transexual neighbor, Lola. (!)

Back to what got me started on this, in the first place:  The show’s opening number, HAPPINESS, popped up on the iPod this morning.  And it made me think how much I wish the show could be done again.   I think it would be beautiful in the City Arts Center Theatre, where an interesting set could spill out everywhere, depecting the jumbled tenement building and neighborhood where the show takes place.  It could be cheaper than it sounds.  Hah.

Okay… since I don’t see anybody jumping up and adding ROZA as a surprise show to their season, I’m back to my iPod. 

“You don’t know…what happiness is…”

     Theatrical Wishlist Thursday, where I WISH upon a ghostlight for a production of a show I feel is most deserving!

Take it where it’s easy! Shake it where it’s sleazy!  Come, kick back, relax, at SAUCY JACK’S!

     In 1995, a very small, very strange, brand new musical burst onto the scene at the infamous Edinburgh Fringe.  That musical, SAUCY JACK & THE SPACE VIXENS is a hilarious and tuneful story of a trio of intergalactic crime fighters hunting down the dangeroung Slingback Killer during a dangerous night at Saucy Jack’s cabaret bar. 

     The score includes the showstoppers, Glitter Boots Saved My Life and All I Need Is Disco, as well as personal favorite, Cheer Up Bunny and Fetish Number From Nowhere.

This crazy nightclub in outer space story is crying for a wild environmental production at The Boom, where last season’s HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH played so beautifully!  I’ve been crying for it for a few years, now.  With multpile sell-out productions at the Fringe, as well as ending up in London’s West End-  you might think this is some kind of British show that just won’t work in the States.  Stop thinkin’ that!  JACK’S has hit Seattle, Memphis, Houston- even Anchorage!   So c’mon Oklahoma-  c’mon somebody, make my SAUCY dream come true.  I am available to direct.  Hit me up!