Author Archives: David Fick

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About David Fick

teacher + curator + writer + director + performer = (future maker + ground shaker) x (big thinker + problem shrinker) x (go getter + detail sweater)

“Perfect” Movie Musicals?

Posted on December 3, 2005 by David Fick

The release of RENT seems to have stirred up once more the debate around what makes a film adaptation of a stage musical “perfect”. Is it one that remains as faithful as possible to the material? Is it one that … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Musicals, Theatremaking, Theory and Practice | Tagged , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Amra Faye Wright in Broadway’s CHICAGO

Posted on December 2, 2005 by David Fick

2006 will see Amra Faye Wright take over as Velma in Chicago for a stint of three months, starting 16 January 2007. Wright, who has performed the role in the South African production of the show, has also starred in … Continue reading →

Posted in Broadway, General News, International, Musicals | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

RENT Rant: Living and Dying Hollywood-style

Posted on December 2, 2005 by David Fick

The film adaptation of RENT certainly has its flaws, none more offensive than that which it inherited from its source material: the death of homosexual transvestite Angel and the miraculous survival of Mimi because of the endurance of “straight” love. … Continue reading →

Posted in Broadway, Commentary, Movies, Musicals, Theatremaking | Tagged , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

RENT Rant: Cut Numbers and Spoken Lyrics

Posted on December 2, 2005 by David Fick

On stage, RENT was a rock opera. It’s unquestionable that it is one: the story is told primarily through a series of episodic and eclectic musical numbers that are grounded in the idiom of popular music. On film, RENT looks … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Movies, Musicals, Theatremaking, Theory and Practice | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Pop Idol’s Darius in CHICAGO

Posted on November 21, 2005 by David Fick

Tonight is Pop Idol contestant Darius Danesh’s first official night as Billy Flynn in the West End production of Chicago. No one I’ve spoken to this that the casting is a brilliant idea, although more seem to say it might … Continue reading →

Posted in Musicals, West End | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

CHICAGO in London and Ute Lemper as Velma

Posted on November 6, 2005 by David Fick

Thought for the day: This is probably a rather unpopular opinion but I really do not like the London Revival Cast Recording of Chicago much at all. For me, there is just something missing. I don’t find it particularly entertaining. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cast Recording Reviews, Commentary, Musicals, West End | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Belle in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Posted on October 30, 2005 by David Fick

Beauty and the Beast is a show that is a hot property for community theatres around the United States right now. One of the most frequent questions asked by aspiring Belles seems to be this: is it more important for … Continue reading →

Posted in Disney, Musicals, Theatremaking | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

STARLIGHT EXPRESS: Perfect for Animation?

Posted on October 5, 2005 by David Fick

Don’t you think that Starlight Express would work brilliantly as a CGI film? I think it’s possibly the only way to imagine an effective film adaptation of the show, especially if it was produced by a company like PIXAR who … Continue reading →

Posted in Animation, Broadway, Movies, Musicals | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Michael John LaChiusa and the “Faux Musical”

Posted on August 2, 2005 by David Fick

Opera News published a super article by Michael John Lachiusa about the state of musical theatre. Entitled “The Great Grey Way”, the article is essential reading for anyone interested in musicals and how they are developing in this new century. … Continue reading →

Posted in Broadway, Commentary, Dance, Musicals, Theatremaking, Theory and Practice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 90 Comments

SWEENEY TODD on DVD: the Show or the Concert?

Posted on January 30, 2005 by David Fick

The question is simple: which of the two DVD versions of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd do you like better: the fully staged version with George Hearn and Angela Lansbury or the concert version with Hearn and Patti LuPone? For me, … Continue reading →

Posted in Broadway, Concerts, Musicals | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments