Richard Fleeshman (Sam Wheat), Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Ode Mae Brown) and Caissie Levy (Molly Jensen) in the Broadway Production of "Ghost The Musical," photo by Joan Marcus
*In the era of brand development and brand extensions, it’s no surprise that the producers of “Ghost The Musical” desired to create a production for the theatre. The movie, “Ghost,” released in 1990 starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg, was a huge commercial success and grossed nearly a billion dollars in worldwide sales. The movie was also nominated for five Academy Awards and won two awards for Best Original Screenplay (Bruce Joel Rubin) and Best Supporting Actress (Whoopi Goldberg).
Prior to the Broadway opening, “Ghost The Musical” was already a hit at the Manchester Opera House in England and the Piccadilly Theatre on London’s West End, where it is currently playing, with ticket sales extending through 2013. The London production received five 2012 Laurence Olivier Award nominations. “Ghost The Musical” received three Tony Award nominations, including Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical by Da’Vine Joy Randolph. Making her Broadway debut, Randolph also received an Outer Critics Circle nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. The show also is nominated for Best Scenic Design of a Musical and Best Lighting Design of a Musical. In addition, the production received a 2012 Drama League nomination for Best Musical and a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Set Design. “Ghost The Musical” opens in Melbourne, Australia in 2013.
The great news is that the original screenwriter, Bruce Joel Rubin, also created the book for the musical and co-authored the lyrics for the songs featured in the show with multiple Grammy-award winning songwriters/producers Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard. “Ghost The Musical” features Richard Fleeshman (Sam Wheat), Caissie Levy (Molly Jensen), Da’Vine Joy Randolph (Oda Mae Brown) and Bryce Pinkham (Carl Bruner). Although the actors in the Broadway production have a tall order to fill, the cast is very talented—especially Randolph in the role of Oda Mae Brown.
What is most impressive about this stage version of the moving love story about the afterlife and the supernatural, is the genius of the creative team lead by director Matthew Warchus, with video and projection designer Jon Driscoll, lighting designer Hugh Vanstone, illusionist Paul Kieve, sound designer Bobby Aitken, set designer Rob Howell and choreographer Ashley Wallen. With the use of LED technology and stage illusions, “Ghost The Musical” becomes a magical theater experience for the audience. From the lighting, the scenic designs and the various sound effects, the creative team visually captures the movie’s highlight moments, such as the scene in the New York’s financial district, which includes the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ boards; the elevator and office scenes; the subway fight and hospital scenes with the ghosts; the spirit of ghosts descending to hell; the haunting ghost; the movement of objects; the images of ghosts moving through the doors and other hard objects; and the final journey of Sam Wheat’s spirit to heaven. All are coupled with chorography, including the dancers as Wall Street workers and other key dance scenes.
Just like the movie “Ghost” was an innovative approach to filmmaking, “Ghost The Musical” is a groundbreaking and bold endeavor for the theatre—and that alone deserves an honorable nod for the production’s efforts.
See “Ghost The Musical” at the Lunt-Fortanne Theatre, (located at 205 West 46th Street, Times Square), New York, New York. For more information, please visit: www.ghostonbroadway.com
Gwendolyn Quinn is veteran media specialist with a career spanning 20 years. She is the founder of the African American Public Relations Collective (AAPRC) and the publisher and editorial director of Global Communicator, an e-publication for public relations, marketing, journalists and communications professionals. She is a contributor to Souls Revealed (Souls of My Sisters/Kensington) and featured in Handle Your Entertainment Business (Grand Central/Warner Publishing). She is a contributor to the forthcoming book, Souls of My Faithful Sisters (Souls of My Sisters/Kensington). Contact her at GwendolynQuinn@aol.com.
Gwendolyn Quinn