A few thoughts on BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS — Page 2

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.

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

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.

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?

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).

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

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.

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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.

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She does. A Shubert house.

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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 !!