Assassins

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/28/04 at 6:46pm

What would you want to bet if Assassins wins some Tonys, it extends again @ Studio 54 or moves to a new house. No Namo, I am not parroting someone but it is an original thought. How about that ? Bet you did not think I had it in me

[Michelleruth]

Posted: 4/28/04 at 7:15pm

Didn't I read it has been extended through July. I will officially eat my words....as I did not think the show would do well.

What do I know?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/28/04 at 11:38pm

It'll be difficult to extend it at Studio 54 too much past July 4th. Aside from the issue of actors' contracts (which all had an option to extend through 7/4) and whatever commitments cast members may have after that date, Studio 54 is scheduled to undergo a major renovation to convert it to a regular type theatre with rows of seats rather than table seating. This has to be completed prior to the scheduled opening of "Pacific Overtures" there in the fall. I'm not sure how far PO's opening date could be moved back (or whether it can be moved at all), so ASSASSINS may possibly have to cut short its run at 54.

Moving ASSASSINS to another theatre would be a VERY expensive proposition. Under union rules, a new set would have to be built for the new theatre (you can't just move the one at Studio 54 to a new theatre -- even if it would fit, which would be unlikely). The orchestra composition may also have to change depending on the music union minimums for the new theatre. Also, let's not forget that Roundabout owns Studio 54 so they don't have to pay themselves rent for this show which keps running costs way down -- anywhere else they move, they would be paying several thousand dollars a month to the Shuberts, Jujamcyn, Nederlander or whomever their new landlord would be.

The producers would have to decide whether they think that this show would/could run long enough at a high enough profit at a new theatre that it would make economic sense to do an expensive move (i.e. ASSASSINS would have to do near capacity business for several years to make such a move worthwhile). While it made sense for CHICAGO to move from the Shubert to the Ambassador (another Shubert house) a few years back, I'm not so sure ASSASSINS has the same sort of financial potential. Perhaps there are other options at their disposal that I'm unaware of, but based on what I can surmise right now, my guess is they'll try to keep ASSASSINS running at 54 as long as they can (which may only be until 7/4) and then be forced to close it. We'll see.......

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/29/04 at 1:22am

Don't they own another theatre other than Studio 54???