Meat Loaf in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the Musical

[rockfenris2005]

Broadway.com are saying Meat Loaf is in talks to play the Child Catcher in the Broadway production of CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG. Like WOW!!!

Check it out: www.broadway.com (headlines)

[rockfenris2005]

Meat Loaf In Talks to Play Chitty's Evil Child Catcher




Will we have a bat out of hell on Broadway? Singer/actor Meat Loaf is in negotiations to play the sinister Child Catcher in the upcoming Broadway production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a representative for the actor confirmed to Broadway.com.

Meat Loaf, who was born Michael Lee Aday, was appearing in a tour of Hair when he recorded his first album (called Stoney and Meat Loaf) in 1971. His other theatrical acting credits include the Broadway musicals Rockabye Hamlet and The Rocky Horror Show (he also notably appeared in the film version, The Rocky Horror Picture Show) and off-Broadway productions of the gospel musical Rainbow, Othello, As You Like It and Black and White. In the mid-1970s, Meat Loaf was cast in Jim Steinman's musical More Than You Deserve. The meeting between Meat Loaf and Steinman proved to be an important one; Steinman went on to write the music for Meat Loaf's 1977 album Bat Out of Hell, which made him a huge star in the recording world. His subsequent recordings include Dead Ringer, Midnight at the Lost and Found, Bad Attitude, Blind Before I Stop, Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell, Welcome to the Neighborhood, Live Around the World and Fallen Angel. In addition to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Meat Loaf has acted in numerous other films, including Dead Ringer, Out of Bounds, Wayne's World, The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag, Leap of Faith, Spice World, The Mighty, Crazy in Alabama, Fight Club, Focus, The Car Kid and The Salton Sea.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the musical adaptation of the 1968 movie of the same name, centers on an eccentric inventor, Caractacus Potts, who has a flying car. Though Potts is happy just using the special car for family trips, others have more sinister aims, including the Baron and Baroness of Vulgaria and their evil henchman, the Child Catcher, who are all desperately trying to steal the automobile. Interestingly, Meat Loaf's Rocky Horror co-star Richard O'Brien originated the role of the Child Catcher in the West End production of the show.

Adapted for the stage from Ian Fleming's original text by Jeremy Sams, the musical Chitty features a score by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, who wrote the film's songs. Adrian Noble directs and Gillian Lynne choreographs. The musical will begin previews at Broadway's Ford Center for the Performing Arts on March 29, 2005 in preparation for an April 28, 2005 opening. No casting has been confirmed for the production, but we previously reported Raúl Esparza, Philip Bosco, Erin Dilly, Marc Kudisch and Jan Maxwell are all in negotiations to appear in the cast.

[rockfenris2005]

Couldn't Have Said it Better isn't mentioned among the albums

[Vickip]

Originally Posted by rockfenris2005

Couldn't Have Said it Better isn't mentioned among the albums

I can't believe I missed that when I read the article

But it sounds very cool !! I hope it works out for Meat ... I'm always ready to go see a great show on Broadway

Vicki

[RoknRollJesus]

I'm right there with ya Vicki...I smell a road trip coming!

jo

[AndyK]

This is an excellent show, and Meat will go down a storm as the child cacher if he does land the part! Saw it in London last year and really enjoyed it.

[greg]

one thing for sure my little girl is only 6 , & she loves meat to bits , she won't be watching it ,she cry her little heart out, best keep it quite from her .lol

[Di]

Originally Posted by Vickip

But it sounds very cool !! I hope it works out for Meat ... I'm always ready to go see a great show on Broadway

Vicki

You are SO lucky to be on that side of the country. Am I jealous or what?

This is great news to wake up to! But does this mean the day job can be to record Bat III?

No mention of Michael Ball the original Caractacus Potts in negotiations, darn. I missed seeing it with him in London just barely, and I think he is a total doll. (Love those dimples and the man can sing like an angel...) That would be the clincher to hop a plane on some Friday night red eye.

Puts Meat in New York... that sounds like a productive place to be to me.

Di
... smiling at the news and wishing Meat all the best!! :)

[tbuck]

Originally Posted by RoknRollJesus

I'm right there with ya Vicki...I smell a road trip coming!

jo

Oh yeah!

T

[KebLou]

I will be there if he's in it.

[needmoremeat]

Why oh why is there a huge stretch of water between me and New York?!
Who's the UK got as the child catcher?????!!!!!!!!! Stephen friggin gately!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Vickip]

Originally Posted by RoknRollJesus

I'm right there with ya Vicki...I smell a road trip coming!

jo

Absolutely jo
Vicki

[Vickip]

Originally Posted by Di

You are SO lucky to be on that side of the country. Am I jealous or what?

This is great news to wake up to! But does this mean the day job can be to record Bat III?

No mention of Michael Ball the original Caractacus Potts in negotiations, darn. I missed seeing it with him in London just barely, and I think he is a total doll. (Love those dimples and the man can sing like an angel...) That would be the clincher to hop a plane on some Friday night red eye.

Puts Meat in New York... that sounds like a productive place to be to me.

Di
... smiling at the news and wishing Meat all the best!! :)

Right you are Di .. I'm very lucky to be living on the East Coast :)
I was wondering exactly the same thing about Bat III .... and New York is the place for Meat to be :)

Vicki ... also wishing Meat all the best !!

[Vickip]

Originally Posted by AndyK

This is an excellent show, and Meat will go down a storm as the child cacher if he does land the part! Saw it in London last year and really enjoyed it.

Just out of curiousity Andy ... since you've already seen the show in London ... do you remember any of the details This sounds like a great part for him .. would he be on stage a lot or sing very many songs

Thanks
Vicki

[Heli]

I played the toy maker when I was about 11! And I was a pretty darn good one too! I helped save those kids from the nasty Baron and Baroness! Muhahahaha!!

Although Meat will definatly be a bigger Child Catche, i'm sure he'll do great!!

[Di]

Originally Posted by Vickip

Right you are Di .. I'm very lucky to be living on the East Coast :)
I was wondering exactly the same thing about Bat III .... and New York is the place for Meat to be :)

Vicki ... also wishing Meat all the best !!

Well....

I got out my program from when I saw Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in London to refresh my memory. Unless they beef up the role he is taking, he will probably have more than enough energy and voice to work on Bat III during the day.

The Childcatcher appears only in the Second Act. He is in Scene 19 in which he has his only solo musical number. I do not see him listed in any other scene, but I am sure he makes a few other brief appearances if I remember correctly.

In the credits he is listed sixth ahead of the Toymaker so it is considered one of the larger roles.

I think this may have a chance to be even more effective on Broadway than at the London Palladium because of the layout of the theatres on Broadway. In London the theatre is quite steep in the seating layout, and when the car flies a portion of the audience is not even looking up at it.

From what I remember the show followed the film quite closely...

Very exciting. :)

Lucky you....



Di

[Pudding]

Originally Posted by Vickip

Just out of curiousity Andy ... since you've already seen the show in London ... do you remember any of the details This sounds like a great part for him .. would he be on stage a lot or sing very many songs

I saw the show earlier this year as well when I did my big trip back to the UK.

I always thought the part of the child catcher requires more of a skinny weedy looking person but I suppose anyone could do the role. The part of the child catcher was played by Lionel Blair and he did a great job. The child catcher isn't in the show in the first half from what I remember and he doesn't sing that many songs. In fact the child catcher isn't in the show much at all, so anyone wanting to see Meat in most of the show will be very dissappointed. When the child catcher does come on stage though he is a scene stealer, so this would probably suit Meat down to the ground.

If Meat does do the show and anyone does go to see it, don't be surprised if Meat gets booed and hissed while on stage, that's meant to happen. The child catcher isn't a nice character and it isn't a direct reflection towards Meat Loaf, just play along.

Pud

[Vickip]

Thanks for the info Di & Pud :)
Definitely sounds like a great show !
Vicki

[Di]

Hi Vicki,

Being so close, you should go see this even if Meat doesn't take the role. It is a lovely show, and quite different from most of the fare having been served on Broadway in recent years. I have a feeling the children of New York are going to be thrilled.

[Vickip]

Originally Posted by Di

Hi Vicki,

Being so close, you should go see this even if Meat doesn't take the role. It is a lovely show, and quite different from most of the fare having been served on Broadway in recent years. I have a feeling the children of New York are going to be thrilled.

Hi Di

Absolutely. I was thinking exactly the same thing :)
The show will be so amazing ... I can't wait to see it. I hope it's a big hit in New York, whether or not Meat's involved. The last show I saw on Broadway was Phantom Of The Opera and it was absolutely wonderful .... I just love the entire atmosphere.

Vicki

[Di]

Originally Posted by Vickip

Hi Di

Absolutely. I was thinking exactly the same thing :)
The show will be so amazing ... I can't wait to see it. I hope it's a big hit in New York, whether or not Meat's involved. The last show I saw on Broadway was Phantom Of The Opera and it was absolutely wonderful .... I just love the entire atmosphere.

Vicki

Which Phantom did you see Vicki? I was a very big fan of this show myself, and have seen it in Los Angeles, New York and London. The last show I saw on Broadway however was Dance of the Vampires, and I am still recovering from the shock.

Manhattan has so much energy! One of the most cosmopolitan cities in our country... it breaths on it's own. One of the two places on the planet where theatre is in the heartbeat...



Di
... who was totally cheered up this evening by Meat's good news on Bat III!

[Vickip]

[quote="Di"]

Originally Posted by Vickip

Hi Di

Absolutely. I was thinking exactly the same thing :)
The show will be so amazing ... I can't wait to see it. I hope it's a big hit in New York, whether or not Meat's involved. The last show I saw on Broadway was Phantom Of The Opera and it was absolutely wonderful .... I just love the entire atmosphere.

Vicki

Originally Posted by Di

Which Phantom did you see Vicki? I was a very big fan of this show myself, and have seen it in Los Angeles, New York and London. The last show I saw on Broadway however was Dance of the Vampires, and I am still recovering from the shock.

Isn't this terrible .. I can't remember when I actually saw it
but it was proably 6 or 7 years ago now. I went with my next door neighbor, a teacher, who was taking her class there on a field trip. I don't remember who played the lead then .. but it wasn't Michael Crawford. I would have loved to have seen him :) All of the singers did a wonderful job, and I really enjoyed the music and all of the pagentry.

I've never seen Dance Of The Vampires .. but I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it. :)

Originally Posted by Di

Manhattan has so much energy! One of the most cosmopolitan cities in our country... it breaths on it's own. One of the two places on the planet where theatre is in the heartbeat...



Di
... who was totally cheered up this evening by Meat's good news on Bat III!

Right you are :)
Vicki

[Pudding]

Originally Posted by Vickip

I don't remember who played the lead then .. but it wasn't Michael Crawford. I would have loved to have seen him :)

Yeah, after what he did to Dance Of The Vampires I'd love to see Michael Crawford as well Preferably down a dark alley with a shovel in my hand

Pud

[Di]

Originally Posted by Vickip

Isn't this terrible .. I can't remember when I actually saw it
but it was proably 6 or 7 years ago now. I went with my next door neighbor, a teacher, who was taking her class there on a field trip. I don't remember who played the lead then .. but it wasn't Michael Crawford. I would have loved to have seen him :) All of the singers did a wonderful job, and I really enjoyed the music and all of the pagentry.

I've never seen Dance Of The Vampires .. but I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it. :)

I just came to the realization that we have drifted sadly off topic. So will pull it a bit back on while conversing a bit more on the subject of DOTV.

I think it is so great that a musical like Chitty is going to Broadway. I never understood why there seems to be a need for "trends" and the mindset that only a certain type of musical will appeal currently. There are enough diversified people in this world to support any work of quality and marketability... why clone other successes if yours has something to offer standing on it's own? Btw, that is exactly what happened to Dance of the Vampires if I were to be asked... and it was a sad failure in my opinion for not staying true to itself. Music was fabulous though... but I could be just a tad biased in that direction.

Has anyone heard any further on Meat signing for the show? I am still trying to picture him in the role, somehow his face always seems too kind to me. I need to take a visit over to some old Broadway stomping grounds and check out the buzz.

Di

[Pudding]

I heard the producers of the show are also in talks with Michael Jackson to play the Child Catcher But will not make a decision until the outcome of his court case.

Pud