"Yes, after coming offstage from Il Trovatore at the Metropolitan Opera, Azucena visits the theatre district and curses Broadway theatres. She does so to avenge the Broadway career of Irra Petina. "Sei vendicata, o madre!" she exclaims, as she crumples to a heap in front of the Copacabana."
Comden Green said: "This is not 1350. Science has taught us that each event has a cause. Come on guys. Please tell me you don't believe in curses. Realize that this thread is absurd."
The Simon is a big theatre a few blocks removed from the cluster of theatres in the heart of the district; you'd need to have something with a lot of draw to have a success there.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
I saw Goodie Simon with the devil! I saw Goodie Nederlander with the devil!
If only those brilliant commercially appealing and perfect shows like Amazing Grace, Gigi, The Last Ship and Catch Me If You Can had gotten into a "safe" kind theatre, they would have run for years and years and years.
"The only theater that currently is cursed is the Mark Hellenger. Legs Diamond was the final finger ****on the spindle that has caused the theater to lie trapped in its present state."
Oh, poor LEGS DIAMOND, to be blamed again for the sale of the theater to that Church. Actually that theater had a long, long history of flops since way before LEGS showed up. Aside from the one notable hit SUGAR BABIES, since the mid 70's that theater had hosted:
Yes, I admit it. I have personally cursed the Atkinson and Nederlander theaters. To remove the curse, send money to Boxholder, P. O. Box 666, Hoboken NJ 07666.
While this is kind of a ridiculous thread, there is something to certain theatres being in bad locations and/or too big that can contribute to a flop. As Kad points outs, the Neil Simon is quite large and out of the way, it's hard for someone to stumble on it and the average tourist definitely doesn't walk past the marquee as often as say, The Richard Rodgers. The Lyric is such a barn it would take a massive draw to come close to selling out, sort of a prerequisite for a hit since it can result in pulling discount codes and people feeling the need to buy tickets in advance. It's hard to create a hit off shows that can only fill 80% of a house with abundant discount codes and last minute purchases.
All this to say - I think the Neil Simon and the Gershwin have the disadvantage of being large and out of the way. I think the Lyric and the Marquis have the disadvantage of being so big despite their good locations. And I think Studio 54 and the Nederlander, and to a lesser extent, the Belasco and the Sondheim have disadvantages of being out of the way.
Clearly if a show is a smash hit it doesn't matter where it's playing, people will seek it out. But it would be naive to think producers don't desire certain theatres over others.
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
Someone in a Tree, Oh yes, I know the Hellenger was home to many flops! The spirit of that theater just couldn't take it anymore and Legs Diamond was the last straw. (Don't get me wrong, I love the OBCR and listen to it frequently, but that show was a doozy.)
Look at some selected flops at the Martin Beck:
Beg, Borrow or Steal (5 performances)
Semi-Detached (4 performances)
Rape of the Belt (9 performances)
Love and Libel (5 performances)
Midgie Purvis (21 performances)
The Happiest Girl in the World (96 Performances)
Cafe Crown (3 performances)
Drat! The Cat! (8 performances)
All Over (40 performances)
The Grass Harp (7 performances)
Ring Around the Bathtub (3 previews, 1 PERFORMANCE)
No Hard Feelings (21 previews, 1 PEFORMANCE)
TWO back-to-back one performance shows
Saturday Sunday Monday (12 performances)
Ladies at the Alamo (20 performances)
Harold and Maude (4 performances)
It's So Nice to Be Civilized (8 performances)
Onward Victoria (23 previews, 1 PERFORMANCE)
Bring Back Birdie (4 performances)
The First (37 performances)
A Little Family Business (13 performances)
Requiem For a Heavyweight (3 performances)
Take Me Along (Revival) (7 previews, 1 PERFORMANCE)
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
Are people really ambling around Times Square and picking shows based on what marquees they happen to see, though? I usually have advance tickets and don't even pay attention what theater the show is in, just that I need to go to 46th or somesuch...
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
One of my first theatre going experiences was at the Alvin Theatre (renamed the Neil Simon). The show was FLORA, THE RED MENACE and had less than a three month run. As for the show being cursed, the star won the Tony Award for her performance that year and this month is headlining at the Broken Arrow Casino in Thackerville, OK (Population: 463).
The Grinch was a hit in the Lyric, so has had 1 hit and sure Ragtime would of been a hit, if they didn't share the same accountant as Enron!!!
The Gershwin really struggled until Wicked came along the rest is history.
The present show aside, as it doesn't count as the theatre didn't originate the show, also this theatre has one of the best footfall on Broadway and has never hosted a hit show, the Minskoff is definitely cursed.
Also the Lunt Fontanne has never originated a hit show since The Sound of Music, so another theater for the Exorcist to visit!!
Thank heavens for Disney saved the Minskoff and Lunt Fontanne.
What theatre is the least cursed? Schubert? New Amsterdam?
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
On Your Feet is currently at The Marquis and it will be very successful (I saw it last night, and it was amazing!) so the Marquis is not cursed just modern which is different than having a show in an older theater (which usually have small tiny bathrooms.... Did people not use the restroom as much in the past?)
A View From the Bridge is starting at the Lyceum. Can't wait to see it and sit on the stage itself. Hopefully it will be successful. To me it looks good!!