Annie to take the Nederlander if Newsies fails to win Best Musical

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 2:16pm

A very trusted source has told me that should Newsies fail to win the Best New Musical tony, Disney will not be extending it past August 19th. If this happens the producers of the revival of Annie aim to launch It at the Nederlander in the fall.

[castlestreet]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 2:22pm

So if the the show continues to do great business despite winning Best Musical, the producers are going to close the show?

I have a really hard time believing that...

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 2:23pm

So, then what is going into the Palace in the fall?

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 2:25pm

Just passing along what I hear, take it at face value I guess.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 2:25pm

However, I searched for tickets and found LOTS of availablitiy in both July and August. (I did not look at may or june.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 2:45pm

If it closes, it closes. It was kinda on a wing and a prayer that it got to Broadway. I think everyone involved would be grateful.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 2:56pm

The show is doing amazing business that any show would be jealous of. I hardly think Disney's going to close up shop if they don't win the Tony. That's sort of a ridiculous thing to even speculate.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 3:00pm

That sounds pretty ridiculous and not because of the fact that Newsies is doing incredible business.

By all accounts, this revival of Annie is going to be a very large production, one that most certainly won't fit into the Nederlander Theater.

Perhaps you misunderstood and your source told you "A Nederlander theater" as opposed to THE Nederlander Theater?

[Kad]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 3:05pm

I was under the impression that Annie was going into the Palace, as well, with Priscilla only being kept open to keep the theatre active in the meanwhile.

[DaveyG]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 3:30pm

I can't imagine that's true - Newsies is a hit and Disney will make the most out of it. Adamgreer's theory makes sense to me.

[EatTheBrownie]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 3:34pm

I'm pretty sure Annie is going into the Palace.

Newsies, on the other hand, will close if it doesn't sweep. Apparently Disney has found out in the past that the more shows they have open, the less opportunity to make as much money on each individual show exists. Mary Poppins ticket sales have apparently dipped since Newsies opened. Because Disney'a major money to be made with Newsies is either on the road or in major licensing, they have no desire to see it take potential ticket buyers from Poppins, which they're not ready to close yet.

If the show sweeps then they'll keep it open. It was never meant for Broadway. It was never meant to see the light of day as a stage show. It was a box-office bomb in the 90s and a major embarrassment for a company that was single-handedly trying to revive the live action musical.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 3:44pm

It won't sweep. It might win Best Musical, and likely best Score (hope not) and POSSIBLY choreography....but thats all I see happening.

[tmbyru]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 5:49pm

"Mr. Nederlander is said to want the coming revival of “Annie” at the Palace, but “Annie” — a potentially mammoth moneymaker — isn’t arriving until the fall. The thinking goes that it’s better to make money some weeks from “Priscilla” than to have the Palace empty as tourists return to town. A national tour of “Priscilla” is also being planned for the fall, and tour bookers in many cities tend to offer the best performance dates on the calendar to shows that are running on Broadway (as opposed to those that have closed)."

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/21/theater/godspell-sister-act-and-priscilla-push-through-the-winter.html?pagewanted=all

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 9:12pm

That rumor sounds shakey but remember DISNEY closed B&B when it was making a lot of money, they always have a corporate agenda.
NEWSIES is selling well, not incredible, 83% last week and discounts are out for the Summer.

ANNIE seems a bad fit for the Nederlander, unless the Needies are turning it inti a kid's theatre.

[Matt2]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 9:17pm

I have a hard time believing this. Newsies is doing great business, and I think Disney will milk this show for all its worth. Why on earth would they close a hit show?

And as for having to win Best Musical to stay open, Mary Poppins won only a single Tony award for Scenic Design, and it's still running. Besides, Disney still has Lion King running too.

Also, I still don't think Annie is going to be the "potentially mammoth moneymaker" the Nederlanders and others are trying to make it out to be. Case in point: the 1997 revival.

[Jonwo]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 9:58pm

Newsies is the first hit show at the Nederlander since Rent, I imagine Nederlander would want Newsies to stay put.

I think Mary Poppins will close when Disney has a big show ready for the New Amsterdam.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/2/12 at 10:12pm

They are looking at multiple options with different scenarios that could take place. One of the three likely outcomes involves a scenario where they will be getting a theatre booked and announced in the next few weeks. The other two scenarios would mean an announcement in July. All three scenarios are dependent upon what happens with 3-4 other shows that are open/coming soon. No matter the outcome, ANNIE is going to end up in a winning situation.

Dont worry about NEWSIES.

[Matt2]

Posted: 5/3/12 at 12:08am

I just don't understand the need to mount yet another revival of Annie. Has the public really been clamoring to see this show again on Broadway?

[Leadingplayer]

Posted: 5/3/12 at 2:51am

Once will win

[darreyl102]

Posted: 5/3/12 at 2:55am

I agree, i mean in all honesty i think the show has already been done to death in regional theatres ALL over the country, two movies, twice on Broadway, various tours and in the West end. And i can't imagine it being a Mammoth Money maker either. i believe a limited engagement might be nice but still...

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 5/3/12 at 4:27am

A few people around here keep insisting that Annie is more than just a cute kids show when done properly. I really don't buy that. It is a cute kids that gets done to death all across the country. I doubt it's money making potential, but we'll see. If I were coming into town as a tourist, I wouldn't even give Annie a second thought due to the three sugar sweet productions I have already sat through in the last 4 years. I highly doubt that they would close a reasonably successful show to make room for yet another production of Annie. Of course, I admit, I am the guy who will run to see Phantom every chance I get, so what do I know?

[Leadingplayer]

Posted: 5/3/12 at 4:59am

I guess a really unique Hannigan could make it appeal to older folks (as apparently Loudon did originally.) They need some one to make it an event though....

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/3/12 at 5:10am

While I don't care for Annie, don't forget the appeal of being able to bring the rugrats in the city for some culture. Parents drool over this kind of ka-ka doodie.

The bigger concern should be the competition it will get once Matilda opens (that next spring, yes?)

[Smaxie]

Posted: 5/3/12 at 6:43am

There's not a drop of truth of Annie going to the Nederlander. It is not one of the theatres the show is considering.

I'm one of the people JimmyCurry is referring to - I saw Annie in 1978 about a year into the run, and it was simply, a perfect production - lovingly staged, designed, performed and produced. No other production - revival tour or film version, has been its equal. The 1997 revival was so poor and threadbare with Nell Carter oddly dour and unfunny as Hannigan, it did a huge disservice to the show's reputation. It failed because that production deserved to, not because the show was played out.

In spite of its elements that later branded it a kid's show, the original production didn't play that way, nor was it originally intended for children. There was a very palpable political subtext to the original production - the show's loving depiction of FDR and the New Deal reformation of Depression-era America was written as a response to the failure of the Nixon presidency and the prevailing cynicism and distrust the American public had with the political system. It's part of the reason the Broadway production tried out in Washington and made such an impact there (though it came into New York an even better show).

I've maintained this viewpoint before, but if the new Annie is even remotely as well staged, designed, directed and performed as the original production was, it could and should be a hit all over again. And seeing it with a battered economy and in an election year, I wouldn't be surprised if the show's political elements have a certain resonance in 2012.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/3/12 at 6:53am

Excellent points Smaxie!