Any signs of Love Never Dies in Toronto?

[My2cents2]

Posted: 3/10/11 at 10:01am

I know that it's extended in the U.K. and is going to open up in Australia shortly. Are there any indications as to what dates this show might open in Toronto? Will the Toronto opening be before the Broadway opening?

[tourboi]

Posted: 3/10/11 at 3:33pm

My understanding is they're holding off to see how the new production, with new director, shapes up in Australia, then tackle Toronto.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 3/10/11 at 7:09pm

Australia has to suffer first

[Justin D]

Posted: 3/11/11 at 1:56pm

it was said that it would be at a Mirvish venue. At the moment, both the Prince of Wales (the more likely choice) or the Royal Alex are booked till 2012.
As for the Cannon, I am not sure what is going on there, the way Mirvish's website has Billy Elliot listed it seems that may be open ended. Isnt this one of the US tours? or a sit down?

If it does go to Toronto then it wint be well into spring / summer 2012. Australia hasn't even started yet though I am looking forward to seeing what they can do with it.

[tourboi]

Posted: 3/11/11 at 3:26pm

BILLY is, indeed, the first national tour. If it does well, there's the option of building a Canadian company when this one leaves.

There would be something to be said for presenting LND in the venue where PHANTOM ran for ten years. The nostalgia alone. I still pause when I walk up Victoria and look up at the mask mural from time to time. Memories.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 3/11/11 at 5:16pm

Actually, Toronto's production is the same as the Chicago run was. It's an "open ended" run, until the producers want to take the show somewhere else.

As of today, the tour of Billy Elliot is in Houston, and it will run all over the US until it hits Boston in September of 2012.

[Justin D]

Posted: 3/11/11 at 6:41pm

I too thought of it playing at the Canon, but their stage is rather shallow, Phantom was barely able to fit. Plus I always hated the size of that theatre, the back row is so far away, where in the Princess, the stage is bigger and the theatre feels much smaller than it really is.

[tourboi]

Posted: 3/11/11 at 8:33pm

If PHANTOM fit comfortably at the Canon, LND would fit just fine.

And, Fashionguru, the "Chicago Production" was the first stop of the FIRST National Tour. It's not a standard tour with bookings set in advance. It goes into major markets and they don't plan their next stop until they start running out of steam.

Trust me. It's a tour (with an option to leave behind a Canadian company).

[Outgoing]

Posted: 3/11/11 at 9:22pm

Although technically it's the Tour, it was announced that the tour was basically closing after Toronto. The 2nd National Tour has absorbed the 1st National Tour's dates.

The production is Toronto will stay as long as it can play, and then close. Many of the Chicago company opened the show in Toronto, but I believe they will exit after 6 months or whenever their contracts expire (or stay if extended).

There were many articles about this back in December when it happened.

[ravnquest1]

Posted: 3/11/11 at 10:54pm

Speaking of BILLY in Toronto, I have a single ticket for Tuesday April 5th at 7 that I need to sell. It is orchestra row J seat 23. If anyone is interested, please PM me.

[tourboi]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 1:19am

I read the articles in December and seem to remember them saying that was an option but nothing had been firmly decided. They were considering not moving this production to LA.

I could be wrong, but that's what I recall reading, and a friend on the show in Toronto told me just that about a week ago.

[NicBrown]

Posted: 3/12/11 at 1:34am

I went to see Phantom in Toronto in the 90's...what a show. It seems like you've all renamed your theatres after Japanese electronics companies now though, which is weird.

I also saw this originally during the Toronto tour: http://beintheheights.com/nicbrown

[Outgoing]

Posted: 3/13/11 at 12:01pm

If the road grosses are any indication, the show is in trouble in most markets. To move that show from Toronto would be extremely costly, especially if it's doing well there (haven't seen the grosses...Mirvishes rarely report).

I was told the Mirvish team essentially "bought" the show and will operate it until they close it. At that point, it's anyone's guess.

I liked this show, but think people are overly optimistic to think that middle America is going to love a show about British mine workers and a boy that likes ballet. They would have been better to hit the big markets for smaller runs and make it more of a hot ticket.

[tourboi]

Posted: 3/13/11 at 12:08pm

Unfortunately you can't send out a tour of a show that big and ONLY hit major markets for shorter runs. If you only hit major markets for LONG runs, that's another story.

And regardless of what the grosses are, the SHOW is still making money because the presenters are all paying the show weekly guarantees just to show up. Now the presenters may be losing money but that is another story. Since I don't know what the guarantee is for this tour, i couldn't tell you whether presenters were making money. But the show is.

[Outgoing]

Posted: 3/13/11 at 7:49pm

You're assuming that the show is on a guarantee and didn't go out as a 4-wall deal. If it's on a 4-wall deal, then the show IS losing money...

[Tag]

Posted: 3/13/11 at 8:45pm

The Toronto Billy Company is no longer considered a tour. Once the Chicago cast's contracts/work permits are up, they leave and the show either closes or is recast with Canadians.

[tourboi]

Posted: 3/14/11 at 1:16am

THanks, Tag.

My friend on the show must have been misinformed, or just not known. But good to know that they're keeping open the option to extend here.

As for the four walling of the second national.... usually a show will only four wall if it's going in for a LONG run.

It's INCREDIBLY rare, and I'd be shocked to hear that the BE producers were four walling markets. SF and LA, I can see those being four walls. They're longer sits in major markets and have more to gain from a four wall. But going into Cleveland for two weeks, or any similar market... guarantee.

[alterego]

Posted: 3/14/11 at 6:50am

Regarding stage size, the Regent Theatre where the show will play in Melbourne doesn't have a huge stage nor does it have much wing space so maybe it (with the new design) might fit at the Canon Theatre as mentioned.