A Lot of Empty Theatres!!!!!!

[QMAN03]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:00pm

I have just been looking at all the shows that have closed or are closing in the near future and it seems to me that we will be having alot of empty theatres soon. Could any show sneak in and open before the summer is out (like in August)??? And which ones possibly could. I was thinking succesful plays off-broadway that don't need much work to come to broadway. Anyone think this could happen and what shows could possibly transfer?
Updated On: 5/30/06 at 10:00 PM

[jasobres]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:01pm

I hope that Disney scraps their plans to move The Lion King into the Minskoff and just bring Mary Poppins into the Palace. That makes more sense and saves a lot of time and money.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:04pm

"I hope that Disney scraps their plans to move The Lion King into the Minskoff and just bring Mary Poppins into the Palace. That makes more sense and saves a lot of time and money."

This isn't going to happen (at least the scrapping the Minskoff part). SO much construction has already been done at the Minskoff to make way for Lion King. They wouldn't throw all of that out the window.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:06pm

Why? It's not your time. It's not your money.

What Disney did for the New Amsterdam was wonderful and whatever they do to the Minkskoff is welcomed - though understandly it won't be nearly as much.

[alterego]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:15pm

Don't Disney actually own the Amsterdam? At either the Minskoff or Palace they are a tenant, right? I'd think the Minskoff would be glad to have The Lion King a long term occupant for that troubled house.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:17pm

When I was in high school, my fellow students and I also thought that "alot" was one word. Where did we ever get that idea and why does every generation seem to think that too? Well, a lot of them do.

[clarkstallings]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:44pm

Disney doesn't own The New Amsterdam. We have a long term lease (49 years I believe) but are in the process of trying to buy it.

[QMAN03]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 10:51pm

So I guess nobody has any replies on my actualy post (not that theres anything wrong with that).

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 11:04pm

wow, 49 year lease? I didn't know that's how it worked. Who does own it? And I'm not sure if any shows will open during the summer. I would think most shows would hold off until the late fall just to insure that they'd be open during the awards season.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 11:14pm

Yes, it's very sad how many empty theatre there are. It seems like one or two shows are dominating Broadway right now, and there is no room for newcomers. I hope the Belasco is filled soon...I love that theatre.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 11:16pm

But apart from 48th Street's two handmaidens of sorrow, the Cort and Longacre, most of the empty theatres have fall bookings. And the Barrymore and Palace will surely be snatched up soon. Many currently booked theatres have their next tenants lined up.

EDIT: The Belasco is home to Awake and Sing! It's a limited run, but it's doing respectable business, and could possibly extend in the event of a Tony win for Best Revival of a Play, which seems likely.

Schoenfeld - A Chorus Line
Walter Kerr - Grey Gardens
Booth - Butley, and The Year of Magical Thinking
Brooks Atkinson - The Times They Are A Changin'
Helen Hayes - The Two and Only
Jacobs - Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me
Hilton - The Pirate Queen (rumored)
Music Box - The Vertical Hour
Broadhurst - Les Miserables
Minskoff - The Lion King
Vivian Beaumont - The Coast of Utopia

Company is coming in the fall, although the theatre has yet to be announced.

That actually leaves very few choices of open theatres for producers hoping to bring a show in.

Updated On: 5/30/06 at 11:16 PM

[alterego]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 11:20pm

ClarkStalling must own the New Amsterdam Theare ("we have a long term lease"), congratulations.

[courtnyj]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 11:29pm

I've heard that Company is going to the Barrymore. Any truth to this?

[Katurian2]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 11:35pm

I hope Awake and Sing! extends, not only because I love the show, but I hate to see that theatre empty.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/30/06 at 11:42pm

courtnyj, could be possible. It's a smaller theater.

[AutographHound]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:12pm

I agree with you on 2 points, the first being that I also hope that Awake & Sing gets an extended run (maybe if Pablo Schreiber wins the TONY that will boost the show) & I also like the Belasco Theatre. But when I was there to see Awake & Sing it didnt look like they have fully restored the theatre from when Denzel Washington's Julius Caeser was there in '05. It looks like the box seats havent been fully rebuilt?

[folkyboy]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:36pm

ooh thank you for that list, Smaxie!

[QMAN03]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:44pm

I thought Faith Healer was the favorite to win revival. I did not like Awake and Sing at all and it does NOT deserve best revival (I haven't seen Faith Healer yet, but Seascape was much better)

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:52pm

The L.A. comedy "Curtains", a musical starring David Hyde Pierce, should be going to Broadway in the same way/time that "Drowsy Chaperone" came. Curtains ends in September, while Drowsy ended in December, and both were listed as pre-Broadway engagaments. Thus... where's Curtains going? (It's Kander and Ebb, so I assume it WILL be going.)

[mominator]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 5:57pm

Another fan of Faith Healer here as well!

[mikem]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 6:16pm

I was told at the stage door that there is no possible way that Awake and Sing! will extend any further, which is a shame.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 6:17pm

i'm seeing Awake & Sing this weekend. i'm glad i got my ticket then!

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 6:22pm

Isn't there a show that's been rumored to go into the Palace?? I forgot what it is.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 6:24pm

Riedel has mentioned Mame, Legally Blonde, Curtains and The Pajama Game's fall return as possibilities for the Palace.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 5/31/06 at 6:25pm

Mame was rumored for the Palace, I believe according to Reidel.

Edit- What Smaxie said.
Updated On: 5/31/06 at 06:25 PM