The Ten Commandments:
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Staged Production Notes
The Ten Commandments: The Musical began life in France in 2000, under the title Les Dix Commandements. Based on an idea by Albert Cohen, directed by Elie Chouraqui, and composed by Pascal Obispo, the French production was a huge success.
The American version, titled The Ten Commandments: The Spectacle Musical, was produced by fashion designer Max Azria through BCBGMaxAzria Entertainment in partnership with 7Art Productions. Reportedly capitalized at $10-$15 million, the production was set to open in Los Angeles before embarking on a US tour.
The L.A. run began previews at the Kodak Theatre on September 18, 2004. Within the first week after the official opening on September 27, 2004, Tuesday and Wednesday performances were cancelled to allow the cast to rehearse newly implemented changes.
The changes were not successful in preventing abysmal notices for the new musical. New York Times theatre critic Charles Isherwood described The Ten Commandments as a "big, fat biblical boondoggle," and stated it was "bland, static, overproduced and under-directed.” In a hilarious review for TheaterMania, Terri Roberts stated it was “ a failure of nearly biblical proportions.”
Critics universally noted the astronomical ticket prices, Val Kilmer’s leaden performance, and the fact that flashy production values do not make up for a script devoid of content, coherent plot, or meaning.
A limited engagement run at Radio City Hall was scheduled for early 2005. The New York premier was set to kick off a widely publicized national tour, however was “delayed,” and ultimately cancelled, following the negative reviews in Los Angeles.
Following poor ticket sales, The Ten Commandments: The Musical closed on November 14, 2004.
The Ten Commandments: The Musical began life in France in 2000, under the title Les Dix Commandements. Based on an idea by Albert Cohen, directed by Elie Chouraqui, and composed by Pascal Obispo, the French production was a huge success.
The American version, titled The Ten Commandments: The Spectacle Musical, was produced by fashion designer Max Azria through BCBGMaxAzria Entertainment in partnership with 7Art Productions. Reportedly capitalized at $10-$15 million, the production was set to open in Los Angeles before embarking on a US tour.
The L.A. run began previews at the Kodak Theatre on September 18, 2004. Within the first week after the official opening on September 27, 2004, Tuesday and Wednesday performances were cancelled to allow the cast to rehearse newly implemented changes.
The changes were not successful in preventing abysmal notices for the new musical. New York Times theatre critic Charles Isherwood described The Ten Commandments as a "big, fat biblical boondoggle," and stated it was "bland, static, overproduced and under-directed.” In a hilarious review for TheaterMania, Terri Roberts stated it was “ a failure of nearly biblical proportions.”
Critics universally noted the astronomical ticket prices, Val Kilmer’s leaden performance, and the fact that flashy production values do not make up for a script devoid of content, coherent plot, or meaning.
A limited engagement run at Radio City Hall was scheduled for early 2005. The New York premier was set to kick off a widely publicized national tour, however was “delayed,” and ultimately cancelled, following the negative reviews in Los Angeles.
Following poor ticket sales, The Ten Commandments: The Musical closed on November 14, 2004.
Filmed Live Production Details
Despite having a short life, The Ten Commandments was filmed live at the Kodak Theatre and released on DVD by Echo Bridge Entertainment on November 21, 2006. The DVD featured behind-the-scenes footage with Val Kilmer.
Reviews for the film are mixed, though tend to lean towards negative. Entertainment Weekly described the production as “misguided,” but felt designer/producer Max Azria’s “heart was in the right place.” Christian Cinema reviews ranged between 1 and 5 stars — viewers either loved or hated the film. One reviewer enthusiastically stated "It had emotions, joy, sorrow, faith, doubt, death, life, and much more," while another claimed "This was beyond awful. One IMDb reviewer stated, “This could very well be the worst piece of musical theater ever preserved on film.”
The Ten Commandments: The Musical is available to purchase on DVD (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from this link).
Despite having a short life, The Ten Commandments was filmed live at the Kodak Theatre and released on DVD by Echo Bridge Entertainment on November 21, 2006. The DVD featured behind-the-scenes footage with Val Kilmer.
Reviews for the film are mixed, though tend to lean towards negative. Entertainment Weekly described the production as “misguided,” but felt designer/producer Max Azria’s “heart was in the right place.” Christian Cinema reviews ranged between 1 and 5 stars — viewers either loved or hated the film. One reviewer enthusiastically stated "It had emotions, joy, sorrow, faith, doubt, death, life, and much more," while another claimed "This was beyond awful. One IMDb reviewer stated, “This could very well be the worst piece of musical theater ever preserved on film.”
The Ten Commandments: The Musical is available to purchase on DVD (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from this link).
The Ten Commandments: The Musical PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Kodak Theatre, Hollywood
Producer: BCBGMaxAzria Entertainment, Max Azria, Charles Cohen, 7 Art Productions
Music: Patrick Leonard
Lyrics: Maribeth Derry
Director: Robert Isgove, film: Dennis Rosenblatt
Musical Director: Greg Chun
Orchestrations: Mark Gasbarro
Vocal Arrangements: Chris Guardino
Choreography: Travis Payne
Scenic Design: Giantito Burchiellaro
Lighting Design: Garrett Caine
Sound Design: Jon Gottlieb and Philip G. Allen
Costume Design: Max Azria
Hair and Wig Design: Butch Belo
Make-Up Design: Melanie Glover
Conductor: Nelson Cole
Stage Manager: Ray Gin
Cast:
Val Kilmer (Moses), Kevin Earley (Ramses), Lauren Kennedy (Nefertari), Ipalé (Seti), Michelle Pereira (Yokebed), Alisan Porter (Miriam), Luba Mason (Bithia), Nicholas Rodriguez (Aaron), Adam Lambert (Joshua), Nita Whitaker (Zipporah)
Ensemble:
Yassmin Alers, Tania Ante, Steve Bermundo, Demian Boergadine, David Brouwer, Nikki Crawford, Aisha Francis, Ray Garcia, Brandon Henschel, Andrew Hoeft, Tara Nicole Hughes, Christa Jackson, Caryn Kaplan, Samantha Lee, Allan Louis, Brian Love, Craig Michael Lucas, Mark Luna, Leo Moctezuma, Rick Negron, Ted Napolitano, Digo Padovan, Graham Phillips, Claude Racine, Matt Sergorr, Brendan Silver, Spring, Michon Suyansa, Shawn Thompson, Indira Tyler, Darian Weiss and Carlton Wilborn
Theatre: Kodak Theatre, Hollywood
Producer: BCBGMaxAzria Entertainment, Max Azria, Charles Cohen, 7 Art Productions
Music: Patrick Leonard
Lyrics: Maribeth Derry
Director: Robert Isgove, film: Dennis Rosenblatt
Musical Director: Greg Chun
Orchestrations: Mark Gasbarro
Vocal Arrangements: Chris Guardino
Choreography: Travis Payne
Scenic Design: Giantito Burchiellaro
Lighting Design: Garrett Caine
Sound Design: Jon Gottlieb and Philip G. Allen
Costume Design: Max Azria
Hair and Wig Design: Butch Belo
Make-Up Design: Melanie Glover
Conductor: Nelson Cole
Stage Manager: Ray Gin
Cast:
Val Kilmer (Moses), Kevin Earley (Ramses), Lauren Kennedy (Nefertari), Ipalé (Seti), Michelle Pereira (Yokebed), Alisan Porter (Miriam), Luba Mason (Bithia), Nicholas Rodriguez (Aaron), Adam Lambert (Joshua), Nita Whitaker (Zipporah)
Ensemble:
Yassmin Alers, Tania Ante, Steve Bermundo, Demian Boergadine, David Brouwer, Nikki Crawford, Aisha Francis, Ray Garcia, Brandon Henschel, Andrew Hoeft, Tara Nicole Hughes, Christa Jackson, Caryn Kaplan, Samantha Lee, Allan Louis, Brian Love, Craig Michael Lucas, Mark Luna, Leo Moctezuma, Rick Negron, Ted Napolitano, Digo Padovan, Graham Phillips, Claude Racine, Matt Sergorr, Brendan Silver, Spring, Michon Suyansa, Shawn Thompson, Indira Tyler, Darian Weiss and Carlton Wilborn
Sources
Articles
Websites
- Associated Press, “'Ten Commandments' musical struggles,” The Augusta Chronicle (Nov 8, 2004)
- Mandi Bierly, “The Ten Commandments: The Musical,” Entertainment Weekly (Nov 17, 2006)
- Duane, “The Ten Commandments: The Musical,” Rogue Cinema (undated)
- Lisa Fung, “Adam Lambert: Before he was an American Idol,” LA Times (April 8, 2009)
- Ernio Hernandez, "Val Kilmer Plays Moses Again for Upcoming The Ten Commandments Musical," Playbill (July 16, 2004)
- Ernio Hernandez, “"Let My People Go...": Kilmer Is Moses as The Ten Commandments Musical Opens, Sept. 27,” Playbill (Sept 27, 2004)
- Ernio Hernandez, “Report: The Ten Commandments Musical Delays Plans for New York,” Playbill (Oct 12, 2004)
- Joel Hirschhorn, “Review: ‘The Ten Commandments’,” Variety (Sept 28, 2004)
- Charles Isherwood, "He Sings, He Dances, He Parts the Red Sea," New York Times (Sept 30, 2004)
- Esther Kustanowitz, ““The Ten Commandments”: The Abtastic Val Kilmer Musical!,” BeliefNet (Nov, 2006)
- Sharon Perimutter, “Regional Reviews: Los Angeles: The Ten Commandments,” Talkin’ Broadway (undated)
- Terri Roberts, “The Ten Commandments,” TheaterMania (Oct 1, 2004)
- Robert Siegel, "The Silver Screen (New Site Column): The Ten Commandments," Blu-Ray.com (March 11, 2011)
- Mark Swed, “Fire, plague and much wandering,” LA Times (Sept 29, 2004)
Websites
- IMDb, “The Ten Commandments: The Musical,” Accessed via: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489853/reviews?ref_=tt_urv
- Christian Cinema, "The Ten Commandments: The Musical - DVD," Accessed via: http://www.christiancinema.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1826