ASU Gammages 14-15 Season: Webber, and Schwartz, and Fosse, oh my...

While writing up my next video game post tonight, I was following along to the live stream of ASU Gammage's 2014-15 season announcement. I'm a little mad at this blog right now because for some reason, none of my work saved so now I have to go back and rewrite the damn post. Grumble grumble grumble...

Add to that my very underwhelming response to the season and I'm not a happy camper tonight. But before I rewrite the video game post, here are my brief thoughts on the 2014-2015 50th Anniversary Season of Gammage:

Kinky Boots (Sept. 16-21, 2014) - The one and only show I'm really interested in seeing at Gammage next season.

Pippin (Dec. 2-7, 2014) - It's not often that Phoenix Theatre gets a show before Gammage does but because they'd had the rights since before the Broadway Revival actually happened, that's what we've got going on right now. Yes, the tour will probably have flashier, more big-budget spectacle, but you can also see it at Phoenix Theatre for the next two weeks in a much more intimate space (probably a little cheaper too).

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Jan. 13-18, 2015) - Seen it. At Gammage.

Dirty Dancing (Feb. 17-22, 2015) - Baby, you stay in that corner. If I want to watch this story, I'll pull it up on Netflix. But I'm much more likely to just watch the Everything Wrong With video again.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (Mar. 10-15, 2015) - The version with Brandy in the 90s was all I really ever needed to see.

Motown (Apr. 21-26, 2015) - I've never been one for musical revues so I'll just listen to a Motown playlist on Pandora or Spotify instead.

The Phantom of the Opera (May 27-June 7, 2015) - Seen it. At Gammage. Plus, I've got Gerard Butler as the Phantom on DVD thank you very much. I'd much rather get some friends together and Mystery Science Theater 3000 the hell out of that.

SPECIAL ENGAGEMENTS

Chicago (Mar. 27-29, 2015) - Seen it. At Gammage. And another fun one to MST3K. Or just have the world's most boring drinking game where you only drink when you can see Renée Zellweger's pupils.

Wicked (Aug. 26-Oct. 4, 2015) - Let's see, we had The Lion King at Gammage this season. And the season before that was Les Miserables (plus Phoenix Theatre is doing it in the coming months). That must mean Wicked gets back in the rotation.  Also. Seen it. At Gammage. And New York.

Other thoughts:

Obviously The Book of Mormon is still a no-show. The long-standing rumor (that-I-have-absolutely-no-evidence-to-support-but-we-all-talk-about-anyway-so-don't-sue-me) has for years been that allegedly Ira Fulton is a major supporter of ASU/Gammage and opposes the mockery of his faith in the show so it will never come through the roadhouse or supposedly he'll pull his funding. I hear this year after year but I also heard through a variety of theatrical back channels this year that Gammage had secured the tour rights anyway. Guess not. Well, I'll spend my money elsewhere. It's just a shame I can't compare to that housing market money.

Overall, it's a very safe 50th season:

• Two Andrew Lloyd Webber shows (Joseph and Phantom)
• Two Stephen Schwartz shows (Pippin and Wicked)
• Two Bob Fosse shows (Chicago and Pippin again)
• Two movie adaptations (Kinky Boots and Dirty Dancing)
• A musical from the "classic" era (Cinderella)
• And an everyone-loves-the-music musical revue (Motown)

(A previous version of this post had a needlessly snatchy bit about the presentation itself. Upon further thought, I've decided to remove it).

Anyway, those are my thoughts on the upcoming season. What do you think?