Monday, September 12, 2005

Po' Boy

Bob Dylan is getting the same Broadway treatment Billy Joel got. Twyla Tharp, the choreographer who had a big success with the dance musical Movin' On a few years back, is debuting her new show, based around the music of Bob Dylan, in late January. It's not that I can't imagine a compelling theatrical narrative being created around Dylan's music, I can. It's just that Tharp's specialty is choreography. If this is going to be similar in form to the Joel show, it'll be nothing but dances, with a band and a single singer doing Dylan songs on stage. No dialogue, no dramatic singing; more of a ballet than a musical, with the story told through dance. But--is Dylan's music really danceable? Inquiring minds want to know. I try to remain open-minded, but color me dubious.

Until Whenever

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