A few thoughts on BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS- Page 2

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/1/09 at 10:23pm

Yes, and it also worked for the Tom Stoppard trilogy. But the Stoppard trilogy was under a not for profit subscription and ANGELS IN AMERICA (which also started under a not for profit theatre) was coming to NYC with enormous huge buzz.

I guess hindsight is always 20-20. Just more evidence of how shocked I think everyone was to discover that Neil Simon's cache would currently carry so little weight in NYC.

[lvpblues]

Posted: 11/1/09 at 10:57pm

Originally I was planning on waiting to do both in a marathon day (based on my experiences with "The Norman Conquests"). However, when a friend couldn't go, she offered me her ticket and I decided to take in BBM. I am very glad I opted to not wait. So sad it's closing, but even more sad that I won't get to see Metcalf in "Broadway Bound."

Perhaps non-profit is the only way to go when putting on the marathons. If I recall correctly, The Conquests didn't recover their costs.

~K
Brighton Beach Memoirs - An Elegy

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/1/09 at 11:04pm

And again its just very hard to do a revival of any play without some star power behind it.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 10:00am

There wasn't any particular star power behind that misbegotten horror NORMAN CONQUESTS, and it did very well indeed. Likewise the brilliant revival of BOEING-BOEING, which was pure delight from start to finish.

The BRIGHTON BEACH closing is curious. I wonder what went wrong. Did they just not advertise it well? Why didn't they try to whip up some interest in this production? And why didn't they do it in a smaller house, like the Cort or the Lyceum?

[After Eight]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 10:15am

What went wrong?

The answer is simple. The choice of play is what went wrong.

People were simply not interested in seeing it, either before reviews or after reviews.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 10:30am

But you never know what the public will be in the mood for unless you try. Remember all those people who said NO ONE- BUT NO ONE wanted to see a revival of Finian's Rainbow?

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 10:35am

Any word on which play/musical will be taking the Nederlander? But for the idea that the "curse of Neil Simon!" may now be assocaited with this theater, "Promises Promises" would be a perfect fit. True, they have the Broadway, but securing a theater didn't stop "Next to Normal" to take the Booth once it opened up.

Any word on who is going to take it?

[Roscoe]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 10:43am

I suspect that After Eight is closest the right answer.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 10:52am

Promises, Promises was apparently seeking a much larger theatre than a 1,200 seat theatre like the Nederlander. I think because of the size of that show, they needed a traditional musical house, instead of a mid-sized theatre like the Nederlander.

The Nederlander will not stay empty for long. Without the clutter of the Guys & Dolls set, I think the renovation has turned the theatre into a very comfortable, attractive house for plays and small musicals. I do think it's booked already for the spring (and not with American Idiot, as has been claimed elsewhere).

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 11:52am

If you dont mind me pressing Smaxie: do you have potential productions list? I believe you had previously stated that "Come Fly with Me" was out and now "American Idiot." The theater seems a bit too small to house CMIYC (assuming the talents are actually available)or Minskys, and First Wives seems dead in the water.

The only potential "un-housed" musical that comes to mind is LCT's "Woman on the Verge."

Am I forgetting a production? Might you have knowledge about who the house will go to?

[lull89]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 11:59am

Does La Cage have a theatre yet? It seems the Nederlander might be a good fit for the incoming production.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 12:01pm

It's going into the Longacre.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 12:02pm

Back to Brighton:

There was no advance to speak of and the reserve was depleted badly by no business during previews.

The Bway folk I have talked to say the scandal is that the money was never budgeted to pay cast and crew rehearsal salaries for Bway Bound. Oops...Big Oops, in fact.

And that David Cromer was ineffective, so much so that Metcalfe and Hecht hired a coach on their own dime to get them to opening night. This is getting to be an open secret on the street, and one that the press agents cannot control like the article in today's paper.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 12:03pm

Roscoe, apparently NORMAN CONQUESTS lost money too. But it did run and was well received.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 12:06pm

Hearing that Come Fly with Me is headed to the Marquis. Catch Me If You Can and Minsky's do not appear to be happening this season. American Idiot is waiting for another theatre. Lincoln Center shows, when not housed at Lincoln Center, tend to go to Shubert houses. There is a another show, already announced for this season, that appears to be the next Nederlander tenant.

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 12:07pm

Dame Edna doesn't have a theatre yet, does she?

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 12:09pm

She does. A Shubert house.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 12:10pm

My last three guesses: Dame Edna, Hugie/Krapp, or (crosses fingers!) Enron!

(sorry to thread jack all)

[Testing1232]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 12:43pm

Really enjoyed this production- was able to see it twice, but last Thurs was very scary--- Was in the Mezz, and there MIGHT have been 60 people total... and that included a school group of around 30 !!! Dont think I have ever seen such an empty theatre !!