AUGUST closes April 20 at the Imperial, moves to Music Box April 29 — Page 2

Newyorkcurious,

When you ask does this happen a lot on Broadway. Are you making a reference to a play or a musical changing theatres?

If so then it is not common at all with a play. Most plays with an open ended run usually play about six to seven months and then call it quits. That is why producers have realized that it would end up coasting less money in the long run if they opened up new plays as limited runs. August was opened up as a limited run for the same reason. No one expected the success that this show is getting. That is why they realized that they can still make money off of it and they are spending the money for the transfer as oppose to closing it.

Now as for musicals. It doesn't really happen a lot but it does more often then plays. Musicals tend to make more money then plays do and run longer by far. So, if need be they can transfer. The most recent transfer was that of The Lion King to the Minskoff to make room for Poppins. And, I think the current Broadway musical with the most theatre transfers is Chicago. It opened up at the Richard Rogers Theatre for about a year or so. Spent a lot of time at the Shubert and then went to the Ambassador.

And Rentboy, she can still win the Tony if she isn't there. She opened the role on broadway therefor she is qualified for the award.

---

I thought she was leaving after it closes in April.

Lovely, lovely.

Thanks a bunch for the confirmation.

Yes, the Tony Administration Committee has ruled that both ladies can be considered for Best Actress in a Play.

I can only hope they don't cancel each other out, because one of them deserves to win this award. Though, if I were a voter, I'd be hard-pressed to choose which one.

It's like I'm doomed to never see a straight play on Broadway.

---

"Most plays with an open ended run usually play about six to seven months and then call it quits. That is why producers have realized that it would end up coasting less money in the long run if they opened up new plays as limited runs. August was opened up as a limited run for the same reason. No one expected the success that this show is getting. That is why they realized that they can still make money off of it and they are spending the money for the transfer as oppose to closing it."

Open-ended plays are rarer now than they were 10 years ago. Nowadays, plays are "limited" because they can get celebrities to do a 10/12-week stint. It doesn't cost less to play as a limited run.

Everyone knew August would be a success. It transfered to NY because of the the stigma that it was the best play in years, and the NY reviews assured that. They're spending the $$ to move it because they can. And why would you close a successful play before the Tony deadline?

"Now as for musicals. It doesn't really happen a lot but it does more often then plays. Musicals tend to make more money then plays do and run longer by far. So, if need be they can transfer. The most recent transfer was that of The Lion King to the Minskoff to make room for Poppins. And, I think the current Broadway musical with the most theatre transfers is Chicago. It opened up at the Richard Rogers Theatre for about a year or so. Spent a lot of time at the Shubert and then went to the Ambassador."

Only successful musicals transfer theater-to-theater - as Winston pointed out, Lion King (Disney $$), Chicago (Weissler $$), and Les Miz (MacIntosh $$).

Updated On: 2/19/08 at 01:01 PM

Justin ~ I agree with Billy going up a side aisle. I was way over on the side, but had a pretty good view of the center aisle and I'm fairly sure he didn't go up that one. And at curtain call they definitely seemed to be looking towards the side for him.

---

My bad - I was confusing different shows.

And, Morton will win the Tony.

It's no contest.

Yep, and looks like least expensive ticket at the Music Box is $76 ! Yikes !!