A STRANGE LOOP - West End Transfer?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 1:36pm

Over on Theatreboard, rumor is the show will transfer to London for 12 weeks this summer. Curious if anyone here has heard anything about it or any possible OBC members going over. 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 1:41pm

Well, I am probably gonna be in London this summer, so it would be nice to see how West End audiences will react to this show!

[Alessio2]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 2:14pm

I can't imagine this being well received by UK audiences but who knows...

[binau]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 2:23pm

Mmm it’s not exactly the kind of show that I would expect to be on the west end but I really really hope so! I guess no chance that Larry could come back?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 2:30pm

Shows that tend to bomb here do well over there but this is a pretty specific show. Like Avenue Q and Rent both bombed hard there. 

[Theatrefan2]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 2:58pm

RippedMan said: "Shows that tend to bomb here do well over there but this is a pretty specific show. Like Avenue Q and Rent both bombed hard there."

Avenue Q didn't bomb hard here at all.  It ran 2006 to 2009 at the Noel Coward then transferred to Gielgud then again to the Wyndhams where it closed in October 2010

Its also toured the UK a couple of times.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 3:06pm

For a limited run...I could see that happening! Kind of like Be More Chill or Heathers. I wouldn't be surprised actually. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 4:11pm

I mean, unless it’s a truly lucrative offer, I can’t imagine many (if any) of the OBC going over to London since many of them are moving on to other projects and have expressed it being time to let the show go.

That being said, as this show’s reigning superfan, I won’t say I’m above flying to London for a weekend

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 4:30pm

L Morgan Lee was asked on a recent IG Live if there was going to be a tour and if she’d do it, and she said something along the lines of “I have no idea but I will not be doing it”. She went in further to explain that she’s been with the show for a long time and she was ready to do other things. I wonder who would transfer, if this rumor is to be believed? Or will it be an off-west end production. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 4:36pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "L Morgan Lee was asked on a recent IG Live if there was going to be a tour and if she’d do it, and she said something along the lines of “I have no idea but I will not be doing it”. She went in further to explain that she’s been with the show for a long time and she was ready to do other things. I wonder who would transfer, if this rumor is to be believed? Or will it be an off-west end production."

Maybe off-west end, and then depending on how well it does they'd decide to move to it to the West End?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/10/23 at 4:42pm

The talks on the other board are this will be a true West End transfer playing 3 months at the Apollo Theatre. 

[LeftofLinus]

Posted: 2/13/23 at 9:17pm

binau said: "Mmm it’s not exactly the kind of show that I would expect to be on the west end but I really really hope so! I guess no chance that Larry could come back?"

There is no chance in hell that Larry would be ASKED back. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/13/23 at 9:48pm

The more I ruminate about this, the more I feel like this is not going to play well to a London audience. I mostly just think of the Tyler Perry-style motifs of the show and I don’t  know if TP’s work is truly enough of an international brand where a show that liberally lampoons him would find success. 

Yes, there are many universal themes, but I feel like this show might be a harder sell in London if New York couldn’t really get into it. I wish I could see how a West Coast or limited U.S tour would do first.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 2/14/23 at 3:49am

I'm super conflicted on whether or not I think it could be successful on the West End. I agree that it would be most successful on a mini tour to the biggest and most progressive markets, but I don't know that in will flop in London. 

On one hand, London has a much bigger audience for theatre. A TON more people will probably be able to afford this show than were able to on Broadway. A lot of more niche or racier content can also be successful on the West End. It'll also be cheaper to produce and run (and I doubt it was very expensive on Broadway).

On the other hand, both lyrics and advertising say it's "big, black, and queer-ass American Broadway show." Basically every element of that would make me hesitant about it on the West End. There is a ton of very American references in it as well as VERY progressive ideas. Very American shows have been West End successes before though. Only time will tell. 

[binau]

Posted: 2/14/23 at 7:29am

I just think they need to be absolutely clear who the target market is and go after them (I suppose people that love musicals, gay people and very woke young people). I think it's a wasted effort trying to market this show to the mass market or very casual theatre goer. Hard enough to get them in the seat, but once in the seat I can't see them spreading good word of mouth. Get the people in the door who will really love the show and do the marketing for the show for them! With a limited run, I think I could see it working if they tap into the right market. 

[Mark_E]

Posted: 3/7/23 at 6:31pm

Twitter handle is now Strangeloopldn

[steven22]

Posted: 3/7/23 at 7:12pm

Mark_E said: "Twitter handle is now Strangeloopldn"

Crossing my fingers it happens soon! I’ll be visiting the UK in September and would love to revisit this. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/7/23 at 7:24pm

Mark_E said: "Twitter handle is now Strangeloopldn"

SQUEEEEEEEEEEE

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 3/8/23 at 2:00am

https://strangeloopmusical.com/

Barbican June to September 

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 3/8/23 at 4:12am

Amazing! I can't wait to see more from it!

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/8/23 at 12:28pm

quizking101 said: "Mark_E said: "Twitter handle is now Strangeloopldn"

SQUEEEEEEEEEEE"

The biggest squeeeeeeeeeee for this and Michael! I am so happy for him and all that he has going on now. I'm thrilled more people get to experience his brilliance. LOVE. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/8/23 at 1:17pm

None of the Broadway cast is expected to transfer - in case anyone was wondering 

L Morgan, Jason, James and Jaquel confirmed on Insta this morning

 

[binau]

Posted: 6/26/23 at 9:37am

I caught this and absolutely LOVED It. Kyle was SO GOOD, a brilliant actor and a much stronger singer than the OBC recording. I don't know why but a lot of the people on the west end theatreboard don't seem to 'get it'. It kind of reflects a little bit of my frustration with west end vs Broadway audiences. I don't know how you could not walk out of the show very impressed at the writing and the execution of it. Top tier! A genuinely challenging show for anyone that is of a different demographic than the lead character (which is basically the entire audience) - black straight people, white people, white and black gay people, religious people, woke people. The ideas are just brilliant. 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 6/26/23 at 4:17pm

Not everyone loved it here, so it shouldn't be too surprising that not everyone in London doesn't.

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/30/23 at 2:04pm

The reviews are in....

 

https://playbill.com/article/reviews-what-are-london-critics-saying-about-pulitzer-prize-winning-a-strange-loop?fbclid=IwAR3KXHf-26ts6FgQaBYTCbLEhTz7P1QFO62ZYzLifB9l2xqyrvQZOQurpII