Guys & Dolls= Nederlander

[coolkid11776]

Posted: 8/21/08 at 3:29pm

I found out last night was the House Manager of the Nederlander Theater that Guy & Dolls will play there After Rent closes.

[musicalmaster703]

Posted: 8/21/08 at 3:31pm

YAY!

[WOSQ]

Posted: 8/21/08 at 3:56pm

They'd better rewire the place.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 8/21/08 at 4:34pm

"I found out last night was the House Manager of the Nederlander Theater that Guy & Dolls will play there After Rent closes."

Are you attempting to say that the House Manager of the Nederlander told you that Guys & Dolls will be playing there after Rent closes?

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 8/21/08 at 5:02pm

Well that sucks.

A lavish, huge, classic musical in a dump of a theatre that is too small- on a street that is too far away from anything to really be noticed.

It should be interesting to see how Des McAnuff finagles his way around that smallish theatre. And I swear, if he goes with the same two-story set he used in FARNSWORTH and JERSEY BOYS, I am going to be very very upset.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 8/21/08 at 8:14pm

41st Street is not the same 41st Street it was when Rent opened. That theatre is now surrounded by the new New York Times building, the 42nd Street Hilton Hotel, Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesday's and a New York Sports Club, a major subway hub, boutique hotel right next door, and the New Amsterdam dumping half its audience onto that street.

The Nederlander has about 1,200 seats. The Martin Beck had about 1,200 seats when Guys & Dolls played there. (The mezzanine at the Martin Beck was extended and 200 seats were added around 1996 in anticipation of the big hit new musical, Whistle Down the Wind.)

I can tell you that pre-Rent, the Nederlander, while never a glamour pit, was a comfortable house, with good sightlines and a really good sized stage. It also doesn't have an undesirable second balcony, which is such a liability for some of the other musical houses.

With the rumor of a full scale restoration to its 1920s splendor, I see no reason why the Nederlander could not be in demand as a musical house or play house. I have to think that's exactly what is going to happen to it, if the producers of Guys & Dolls have indeed booked that house. And before you say it can't be made attractive, I would say I never thought the Longacre could ever look like it does now.

Updated On: 8/28/08 at 08:14 PM

[winston89]

Posted: 8/21/08 at 8:28pm

41st Street has changed drastically over the years. When Rent opened the small but very nice hotel next to the theatre was nothing more then a sketchy dump. The area has changed and there are things there that weren't there before. I wouldn't say that The Nederlander is someplace that is very much out of eyesight like the Lyceum or Belasco are. As Samxie said, with The New Amsterdam having exits for its patrons on 41st, the Nederlander will get some notice.

People flocked to The Nederlander when the street was a dump. I wonder how well Guys And Dolls will do in a clean theatre on a street that is also cleaned up compared to how it was 12 years ago.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/21/08 at 8:32pm

Compare and contrast:

Smaxie:

"41st Street is not the same 41st Street it was when Rent opened. That theatre is now surrounded by the new New York Times building, the 42nd Street Hilton Hotel, Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesday's and a New York Sports Club, a major subway hub, boutique hotel right next door, and the New Amsterdam dumping half its audience onto that street."

Winston:

"41st Street has changed drastically over the years. When Rent opened the small but very nice hotel next to the theatre was nothing more then a sketchy dump. The area has changed and there are things there that weren't there before. I wouldn't say that The Nederlander is someplace that is very much out of eyesight like the Lyceum or Belasco are. As Samxie said, with The New Amsterdam having exits for its patrons on 41st, the Nederlander will get some notice."

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 8/21/08 at 9:14pm

I still really don't follow the geographical argument against the Belasco and Lyceum. Both are easily visible from Broadway and are near major attractions (Toys R Us and the Virgin Megastore). Granted the Lyceum marquee doesn't have much, if any, lighting, if I remember correctly. It's the Cort Theatre that is off in the boondocks. The only attraction on 48th for me is the Chipotle across the street from the Cort.

41st Street is now a well traversed street with the New York Times building and the other new attractions that have been previously mentioned. I'm sure the show, especially with the rumored casting of Anne Hathaway and Debra Messing, will do quite well in the Nederlander... unless the production itself is horrid.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/21/08 at 9:26pm

I think frogs is right.
Walking to the Belasco or the Lyceum from Times Square is rather easy.
If a good show is there the people will walk the half a block.
GUYS & DOLLS at the Nederlander, I hear, is a done deal, but who knows?
The main job is to Wash Down the front of the Theatre and go from there.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/21/08 at 9:41pm

They need to whitewash the entire facade that's now filled with "Thank You Jonathan Larson" graffiti from people who have no idea who he is beyond "the creator of RENT."
Updated On: 8/21/08 at 09:41 PM

[lstbutifulgrl2]

Posted: 8/21/08 at 9:42pm

Although I have heard rumors to the same, the OP is less than reliable with their information. As they swear that Anthony Rapp is coming back to close the show, when he is obviously doing his own show in Pittsburgh. Only time will tell... and I would also like to know which House Manager said that. (yes there have been more than one there recently.)

[walkedthroughmany]

Posted: 8/21/08 at 10:02pm

Guys and Dolls is a name brand musical. I don't think having a theater slightly out of the way will bring them any harm. As long as they have a sign in Times Square, the tourists will be very aware of its presence and will easily find the theater.

[TheatreFreak05]

Posted: 8/21/08 at 10:15pm

Does the Nederander have any fly space? I couldn't tell with all of the lights.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 7:25pm

They need to whitewash the entire facade that's now filled with "Thank You Jonathan Larson" graffiti from people who have no idea who he is beyond "the creator of RENT."

Who is he beyond the creator of RENT (and a couple other musicals that didn't do nearly as well)?

I'm not implying that his life shouldn't be valued as a human being and not simply the writer of one show, but you make it sound as if he had a huge, prolific, meaningful career outside this one show, and that is not the case. The only reason ANYONE knows who he is is because he wrote RENT, like it or not.

[yankees1253]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 8:11pm

so excited for the news thank you.
yes they will be renovating the whole house it after rent goes sept 7th.
they will be changing everything from bathrooms, to seating, stage, all the techinal/lighting, the writing on the wall will be gone,backstage.

still awaiting for the cast announcement

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 8:37pm

With Gypsy not doing that well, it may very well be that asking people to plunk down hard earned money for a show they may have already seen ( with a different cast) is something that people are shying away from. They may think for the money they are asking I want to see a new show & not a revival.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 8:39pm

Updated On: 5/2/09 at 08:39 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 8:41pm

I blame GWB.

[morosco]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 8:48pm

Does the Nederander have any fly space? I couldn't tell with all of the lights.

It does.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 8:56pm

i wonder if this further confirms WSS going to the Palace??

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 8:57pm

"I'm sure the show, especially with the rumored casting of Anne Hathaway and Debra Messing, will do quite well in the Nederlander... unless the production itself is horrid."

My thought exactley. Despite being a tad separated from the major theatres, stars at A-List level can draw anyone ANYWHERE.

[Broadway Baby 2]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 9:11pm

I have my doubts that that theatre can be properly restored in time for the show. A proper theatre restoration takes at least a year. I think the League of American Theatres and Producers need to demand that The Nederlander Organization properly restore and care for the theatre or they will not be allowed to rent the theatre out at all. Having a show that takes place in the slums of NY does not in any way make acceptable the doplorable condition in which The Nederlander Organization has allowed The Nederlander Theatre to become. This in my opinion is a criminal case of miss management. Espesially when considering that Broadway theatres are protected national land marks.

[dl032656]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 9:23pm

i do not like the place although NYT and EY are right there.
41 is not major st and it is dirty man.

[Broadway Baby 2]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 9:26pm

I will be a million times cleaner once the mess from all the Rent Heads is cleaned up.