Radio City Run of Ten Commandments On Hold
by Broadway Staff • Oct 8, 2004
The musical version of The Ten Commandments, starring Val Kilmer, will not be coming to Radio City Music Hall in January after all. The New York run of the troubled tuner has been indefinitely postponed.
The Ten Commandments began previews at Los Angeles' Kodak Theatre on September 18 and opened to mostly harsh reviews on September 27. Performances of the show, directed by Robert Iscove, were canceled on October 5 and October 6 to allow the cast time to rehearse changes. Producers also announced the musical would switch to a limited schedule--six performances a week instead of eight.
"We are thrilled with the audience reaction to our show--and are receiving standing ovations at every performance," producer Charles Cohen said when the schedule change was announced. "However like any new show, our creative team is continuing to work and we've decided that it will be to our advantage to play six performances a week while we have our cast in rehearsal during the day in order to makes changes."
Broadway.com has learned that filmmaker Elie Chouraqui, who directed the French production of the tuner the one that got producer Max Azria originally interested in the piece, is flying in to work with the cast within the next two weeks. Interestingly when the project was announced in February, it was Chouraqui who was listed as its director. However by the time rehearsals started in the summer Iscove was already on board. A spokesperson for the production told Broadway.com: "Elie Chouraqui has always been involved in the show and he is part of the creative team. He is part of our creative process." However in the opening night program he is credited as merely a co-producer. Although co-producers do not typically run rehearsals, those involved with The Ten Commandments have been told to expect Chouraqui to do just that when he arrives.
The Ten Commandments began previews at Los Angeles' Kodak Theatre on September 18 and opened to mostly harsh reviews on September 27. Performances of the show, directed by Robert Iscove, were canceled on October 5 and October 6 to allow the cast time to rehearse changes. Producers also announced the musical would switch to a limited schedule--six performances a week instead of eight.
"We are thrilled with the audience reaction to our show--and are receiving standing ovations at every performance," producer Charles Cohen said when the schedule change was announced. "However like any new show, our creative team is continuing to work and we've decided that it will be to our advantage to play six performances a week while we have our cast in rehearsal during the day in order to makes changes."
Broadway.com has learned that filmmaker Elie Chouraqui, who directed the French production of the tuner the one that got producer Max Azria originally interested in the piece, is flying in to work with the cast within the next two weeks. Interestingly when the project was announced in February, it was Chouraqui who was listed as its director. However by the time rehearsals started in the summer Iscove was already on board. A spokesperson for the production told Broadway.com: "Elie Chouraqui has always been involved in the show and he is part of the creative team. He is part of our creative process." However in the opening night program he is credited as merely a co-producer. Although co-producers do not typically run rehearsals, those involved with The Ten Commandments have been told to expect Chouraqui to do just that when he arrives.
The Ten Commandments is currently booking at the Kodak through October 31, but an extension through December 5 will soon be announced. Producers are also still hoping to bring it to major venues throughout North America following its Los Angeles run.
--Cara Joy David, Broadway.com