Any thoughts on why both Mescal and Scott have opted a non-Broadway run?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 10:57am

Just curious here, really.  It just seems so strange that both Irish actors have opted off Bway.

I realize not all actors care about awards and that both actors can, likely, get their financial requirements meant regardless of venue.   I would just think the "prestige" of being on Bway (yes, I realize that Scott played B'way nearly 20 years ago.) would be a bucket list item for most English speaking actors.  

Thanks for any thoughts you might have!  Food for thought, as I know none of us "know."

Updated On: 11/9/24 at 10:57 AM

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 10:59am

Andrew Scott was in The Vertical Hour, with Julianne Moore, back in 2008. Maybe he had a bad experience. Paul Mescal maybe just doesn’t care, perhaps the ticket prices put him off.

Updated On: 11/9/24 at 10:59 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 11:02am

In Scott's case, the Lortel means a guaranteed sold-out run and they can charge high prices with less overhead costs.

 BAM has often hosted very big names in productions so that's less unusual to me. Since it's a nonprofit, they can get away with much shorter runs, which is probably conducive to getting a busy actor like Mescal onboard. I would assume the run there would be similar to the West End run which is only 3 weeks, if not shorter.

Updated On: 11/9/24 at 11:02 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 11:03am

Yes, I realize. (Which I said directly in the post.)     - I just forgot to edit the Subject line correctly. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 11:03am

I mean…

1) Not sure why them being Irish has any relevance here.

2) I’m sure it’s not a decision they have a lot of bearing over. If anything, both are hot actors right now and maybe a brief commercial off Broadway run is all they have time for right now. Lord knows that most of the Broadway theatres are already booked and backed up, so who knows when the next available Broadway theatre will open to suit the needs of the production.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 11:08am

Didn't say their being Irish HAD anything to do with it - but it is certainly interesting they've both taken the same route(ish).   Saying both European actors seemed far too broad as they are, well, both Irishmen.  

 

 

Kad - thank you for your insight, and lordy, I hope you are wrong that it will only be a two week run!  That will be a bloodbath for tickets!  

 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 11:12am

I agree with Kad.  It is solely because of their ability to do short runs.  I don’t know why those are possible in Brooklyn but not Manhattan…don’t see Roundabout or MTC or Lincoln Center doing super-short engagements.  My problem is that these engagements always seem to be at times when I can’t attend them.  

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 11:19am

Yeah, sorry dramamama, I did read your comment, I just meant that that particular show didn’t go down so well if I remember right.

Also, perhaps them being Irish is relevant. Maybe their own national theatre, The Abbey, was their top goal. I know Paul Mescal at least has already trod those boards. Prices there run about $60 at most for top seats. Maybe they are uncomfortable in using their fame to price gouge. 

[binau]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 11:26am

I’m personally most surprised that they are doing a very short west end run. Is there a broader strategy eg public rehearsal before NYC? 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 12:29pm

It comes down to economics & scheduling.

On Broadway for a commercial production of a star-driven play, it's hard to make the numbers work with less than 15 weeks of performances. Maybe 10 for the right project. Ideally there's also an option to extend to 18-20 weeks. Add in 3-6 weeks of rehearsal & tech and that becomes a 4-6 month commitment for an actor.

Off-Bway can be quite lucrative for the right project. Adam Driver/HOLD ON TO ME DARLING, Branagh/LEAR, Fiennes/STRAIGHT LINE CRAZY, Jeremy Irons & Lesley Manville in LONG DAY'S, Blanchett/THE MAIDS, etc. Remember, everyone else makes less money off Broadway (crews, costars, etc) because the union minimums are different, so the costs can be lower.

Updated On: 11/9/24 at 12:29 PM

[bigbelterbaby]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 4:08pm

Uncle Vanya is soo over produced, it was just on Broadway last season and didn’t do well. Streetcar also over produced. 
 

plus the fact there is only 41 Broadway theatres and as of now not a single one is available in the Spring unless a show that’s open/coming in closes earlier than expected and even then there is other projects from producers that are probably ahead of them in line. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 4:37pm

bigbelterbaby said: "Uncle Vanya is soo over produced, it was just on Broadway last season and didn’t do well. Streetcar also over produced.


plus the fact there is only 41 Broadway theatres and as of now not a single one is available in the Spring unless a show that’s open/coming in closes earlier than expected and even then there is other projects from producers that are probably ahead of them in line."

I can’t even remember the last time Streetcar was on Broadway.  The only one I can remember that wasn’t a long time ago was the one with Natasha Richardson, who has sadly been dead for over 15 years.  It’s possible that I am forgetting one that was bad.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 4:41pm

The last Broadway revival was in 2012 with Blair Underwood.

[east side story]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 4:43pm

And Broadway is not necessarily everyone’s dream.

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 5:08pm

This conversation reminds me of an exchange Ralph Fiennes had in The New York Times around him appearing in “Straight Line Crazy” at The Shed. Maureen Dowd was trying to get a reaction out of him about it not being on Broadway. I interpreted his answer as meaning it's an interesting play and I'm doing it in New York. Any other implication is someone else's problem to figure out: 

"When I asked Mr. Fiennes if he was annoyed that his play wasn’t running on Broadway, meaning he wouldn’t be eligible for a Tony, he said, “What?” and I began to worry I had told him something he didn’t know. But he shrugged. “Hasn’t crossed my mind,” he said."

If you're established enough as an actor and comfortable with your paycheck, there's no reason Broadway vs. Off-Broadway needs to matter. That's a producer problem.   

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 8:37pm

bigbelterbaby said: "Uncle Vanya is soo over produced, it was just on Broadway last season and didn’t do well. Streetcar also over produced..."

I agree that Uncle Vanya has been done -- a lot. But Andrew Scott's Vanya is a different beast, in my opinion. I just got done watching it on NT@Home, and it's a very interesting (single person) adaptation -- not to mention, an amazing performance from Scott. 

[JoeW4]

Posted: 11/9/24 at 9:10pm

bigbelterbaby said: "Uncle Vanya is soo over produced, it was just on Broadway last season and didn’t do well."

 

It averaged over $900k per week. For a non-profit run in a small house, that's quite good. We know that's largely because of Carrell, not because of the play, but still not really accurate to say it didn't sell. Unless you meant it didn't do well in terms of word of mouth / awards?

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 11/10/24 at 3:34am

binau said: "I’m personally most surprised that they are doing a very short west end run. Is there a broader strategy eg public rehearsal before NYC?"

Well…I’m just happy that I’m hopefully gonna get to see this production in London as I missed the last run by like a month and a half. But I think the whole short London run as a “public rehearsal” sounds about right or just to get the hype around it up again as people were wanted an immediate transfer to NYC after all the awards it got from its initial run. Or…maybe they will be using the 3 week run in London to film it cause I don’t think they did that in the last run. My guess is NT Live wants to add that to their collection. 

[Dolly80]

Posted: 11/10/24 at 4:59am

Jay Lerner-Z said: "Yeah, sorry dramamama, I did read your comment, I just meant that that particular show didn’t go down so well if I remember right.

Also, perhaps them being Irishisrelevant. Maybe their own national theatre, TheAbbey, was their top goal. I know Paul Mescal at least has already trod those boards. Prices there run about $60 at most for top seats. Maybe they are uncomfortable in using their fame to price gouge."

You clearly weren’t aware of the astronomical pricing to see Mescal in Streetcar when it transferred to the West End. I don’t think the cost of tickets is an issue here.

[Owen22]

Posted: 11/10/24 at 9:24am

I think Cate Blanchett did both Streetcar and Vanya at BAM (as well as her never-to-be-outdone Hedda).  There's something special about heading out to Brooklyn to see a show. Like you're traveling for theatre (something I do often).  The results are obviously the same if you saw it on Broadway, but I enjoy going to a somewhat "new" place (outside the theatre district) and having a meal (easier now after the gentrification of the area).

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 11/10/24 at 10:54am

Sorry, Owen, you probably don’t mean it to, but that reads as quite elitist. Some theatre lovers do actually live in Brooklyn already. Maybe this is for them, not just a chance to give intrepid explorers the chance to venture into the jungle.

[JasonC3]

Posted: 11/10/24 at 11:20am

Jay Lerner-Z said: "Sorry, Owen, you probably don’t mean it to, but that reads as quite elitist. Some theatre lovers do actually live in Brooklyn already. Maybe this is for them, not just a chance to give intrepidexplorers the chance to venture into the jungle."

Three times I've reread what Owen22 posted and I cannot imagine what you see as "quite elitist," but then I know that is one of your hot topics.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 11/10/24 at 11:38am

Okay, Jason. As ever, I will defer to your superior knowledge on every subject. You are right. I am wrong.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 11/10/24 at 2:43pm

Owen22 said: "I think Cate Blanchett did both Streetcar and Vanya at BAM (as well as her never-to-be-outdone Hedda). There's something special about heading out to Brooklyn to see a show. Like you're traveling for theatre (something I do often). The results are obviously the same if you saw it on Broadway, but I enjoy going to a somewhat "new" place (outside the theatre district) and having a meal (easier now after the gentrification of the area)."


Cate Blanchett did Vanya at City Center.

[JasonC3]

Posted: 11/10/24 at 4:26pm

Jay Lerner-Z said: "Okay, Jason. As ever, I will defer to your superior knowledge on every subject. You are right. I am wrong."

You really got me with this one, but I appreciate the endorsement. 

I hope it won't be too elitist when I tout it to others.