Theater people on Susan Boyle

[digne.livejournal.com]

I have been compiling stories about Susan Boyle to find "Les Mis" references. I thought I'd share some with you. I'm a little slow posting them, but here they are.

I found several of them odd, Alan Boublil likes Neil Diamond's version of IDaD and Elaine Paige was kind to reality television talent shows (she's been critical of the one's directed at theater).

I don't care what Demi Moore thinks I want to know what theater people think ...

Alan Boublil:
"You expect nothing," says Boublil, "and then she opens her mouth and you get three or four of the most exciting moments I have ever seen on television. Act I: She arrives and everyone is laughing at her. Act II: She bowls them over. Act III: Everyone is out of their seats.

"You cannot plan any of that. My wife was crying when she saw it. Even the most cynical people I know have been moved."

"I Dreamed a Dream" was one of the first songs Boublil wrote for "Les Miz" in 1979.

"I remember I was in a car driving in the north of France and was working on this song about Fantine. Her descent into hell - she loses everything: her money, her daughter - takes up several chapters. I had to encapsulate 50 pages of the novel into a three- minute song. So I decided rather than to list all the happiness, I would go inside her head - 'I Dreamt of a Different Life' was the original title. And that is how the lyric was born." (source -- there's a lot more from Boublil in the full story, so read it!)

Cameron Mackintosh:

In a press statement, producer Cameron Mackintosh has echoed the comments of judges Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden, saying, "Just like the judges and audience I was gob-smacked by the emotional powerhouse performance of Susan Boyle's show stopping rendition of 'I Dreamed a Dream.' Vocally it is one of the best versions of the song I've ever heard. Touching, thrilling and uplifting. I do hope she gets to sing it for the Queen." (source)

Patti LuPone:

Even Patti LuPone, the Broadway diva whose version of "I Dreamed a Dream" Boyle closely followed, is a fan. "Susan, you've got pluck, girl," LuPone told Boyle on CBS' "Early Show." Of the YouTube performance, she added: "It was pretty powerful ... I started to cry." (Source: When Talent Trumps All / Los Angeles Times, April 16)

Elaine Paige:

Even Elaine Paige, the legendary British musical theater star whom Boyle cited as her idol, weighed in Sunday, telling the BBC that perhaps she and Boyle should record a duet. Paige described Boyle as "a role model for everyone who has a dream." (Source: A Visit to Susan Boyle's Hometown / The Washington Post, April 19)

Other stories of interest:
Who Is Making Money Off Of Susan Boyle? Les Miserables

Susan Boyle's charm sparks renewed interest in 'Les Miserables'

"Susan Boyle definitely has had a tremendous impact on the sales of the soundtrack since her performance debut," Dan Kuczkowski, vice president Purchasing & Operations at HMV Canada, said in an email.

"The title has sold 10 times what it did in an average week and stores continue to report interest in the CD."(Source: above link)