BACK TO THE FUTURE On Broadway - News & Discussion Thread

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 10:11am

Synchronize your watches, Back to the Future The Musical is coming to Broadway in 2023! Be the first to get more information and sign up yesterday: backtothefuturemusical.com/new-york

Updated On: 10/17/22 at 10:11 AM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 10:17am

Does it specify Spring 2023 anywhere or did I miss that on your link? The Philip Boroff piece about the budget last week had indicated it would be Summer 2023 at a large Shubert house, so it would be part of the 2023-2024 Bway season.

Updated On: 6/22/22 at 10:17 AM

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 10:23am

Just made the adjustment! Jumped the gun on that one.

Updated On: 6/22/22 at 10:23 AM

[Wick3]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 10:27am

Large Shubert house... so I'm guessing Shubert, Winter Garden, or Broadway theater?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 10:31am

Wick3 said: "Large Shubert house... so I'm guessing Shubert, Winter Garden, or Broadway theater?"

Add the Imperial to that list –– but yes, those are the houses that we should expecting it to go to, depending on what's available in 5-7 months when this wants to go on sale. Broadway or Winter Garden seem most likely for BTTF based on what's rumored to be opening next year.

It will have a running cost of about $1m/week, so it will need a biggie.

Updated On: 6/22/22 at 10:31 AM

[yyys]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 10:37am

https://www.backtothefuturemusical.com/new-york/

 wonder if Olly Dobson will be in the cast?

Updated On: 6/22/22 at 10:37 AM

[felixleiter]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 10:51am

It's slated for the Winter Garden at the moment. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 11:02am

felixleiter said: "It's slated for the Winter Garden at the moment."

Is The Music Man getting “beetlejuiced” if you will? Lmao.

Also, 1 million dollars a week? Why is it so expensive? Is that all fees going to Robert Zemeckis?

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 11:02am

The Palace will be completed by January or next year. I feel like that could be a good fit, if it doesnt take the Winter Garden 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 11:09am

My understanding is this is a massive physical production with high running costs (though I have not seen the London production). No doubt Zemeckis & Gale and the other stakeholders get a healthy weekly royalty, but it's nominal in comparison to the physical show itself.

If they are working with the Shuberts, the Palace isn't an option.

By next spring, MUSIC MAN will have run its course, whether or not they replace Hugh when he leaves on November 27. After that point, they could probably eke out ~6 months of performances with a lesser name or Broadway guy (a no-name for sales purposes) just by catering to diehard theater lovers and group sales agents, before closing in April-June to make way for BTTF. The Winter Garden with its large Orchestra (not as barn-like as the Broadway) seems like a good fit for a show like BTTF.

Is CINDERELLA still circling the Imperial?

Updated On: 6/22/22 at 11:09 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 11:11am

This is a show where you see your money on stage and understand why it’s so expensive to run. I still think the Marquis is the best place for it, if they want to keep the same setup they have in London. 
 

That video features Olly and Roger, so maybe they’re both coming? Olly coming over would be great but much like Carrie Hope Fletcher, he kind of shows up and performs when he feels like it which doesn’t fly (get it? My flying car pun? Get it?) as well over here. Roger is the one I can take or leave here. He’s just so loud and over the top at almost every second he’s onstage you need Excedrin after watching him. Hopefully he’ll simmer down a bit.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 11:12am

Agreed. 

Like the recent Hello, Dolly!, I've got a feeling The Music Man is another example of a "take the money and run" revival with a megastar at its center — break house records as much as possible, and then when said megastar leaves, hang on for at least a few more months and (hopefully) close a hit. 

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 11:14am

Jordan Catalano said: "Roger is the one I can take or leave here. He’s just so loud and over the top at almost every second he’s onstage you need Excedrin after watching him. Hopefully he’ll simmer down a bit."

Roger Bart? Doing A LOT in a performance? Get outa town!!!!!

(I've liked Bart in a number of things, but I agree sometimes he performs to the third balcony even when a theatre only has two balconies.)

Updated On: 6/22/22 at 11:14 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 11:21am

I mean, he’s at the Adelphi right now performing to me in Hell’s Kitchen. 

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 11:36am

Is the physical show large? Lots of moving parts and stuff?

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 11:38am

Is the magic Roger Bart or is the magic Doc Brown? Is this a Bertie Carvel situation where it’s tailored so specifically around a star performer that no one else can fill the shows quite as well, or would any tuneful character actor to play between 40 and 80 work here just as well?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 11:42am

I can't imagine that Bart wouldn't be part of the cast. (I suppose if he hates the show/role, but otherwise, I'd be shocked.)

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 11:44am

No, this is t a Bertie thing. Roger’s Doc Brown is just very very loud and over the top, which would be fine in moderation but he starts at a 15 and goes up from there. While everyone else in the cast is giving pretty spot on impressions of the actors in the film (the one time/show I think it works perfectly), Bart goes a totally different direction and for me at least, it’s distracting. 

[Huss417]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 11:46am

YvanEhtNioj said: "The Palace will be completed by January or next year. I feel like that could be a good fit, if it doesnt take the Winter Garden"

The Palace Theatre is run by the Nederlander Organization so if going into a Shubert house it won't happen.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 11:46am

darquegk said: "Is the magic Roger Bart or is the magic Doc Brown? Is this a Bertie Carvel situation where it’s tailored so specifically around a star performer that no one else can fill the shows quite as well, or would any tuneful character actor to play between 40 and 80 work here just as well?"

Having not seen BTTF, I think the Carvel situation proved that plenty of others were able to find success in that role, including Chris Sieber who played it for 2 years (who was excellent, as was Carvel). My assumption is that Bart is channeling Christopher Lloyd in aspects of his performance, which is something that many Broadway character actors could do. But if the creative team liked Bart in London and he's NYC-local, it makes sense to bring him to Broadway.

Updated On: 6/22/22 at 11:46 AM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 11:46am

Shubert seems likely, but the Broadway would actually work better. I still think they replace High Jackman with another name to try and keep it going through summer '23.

[OhHiii]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 3:11pm

ACL2006 said: "Shubert seems likely, but the Broadway would actually work better. I still think they replace High Jackman with another name to try and keep it going through summer '23."

Shubert is taken by Some Like It Hot.

Casting is all but confirmed for the two leads given they're in the teaser video for Broadway: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CfHD4_-LHNt/?igshid=NDBlY2NjN2I=

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 6:02pm

Def see this at The Broadway. Big show. Big house. Hopefully they do something cool with the marquee.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 6:06pm

We shouldn't read into the actors in the promotional video too much. The production probably has a contract with them that they can use their likeness in any type of advertising for the NYC or UK production.

 

felixleiter said: "It's slated for the Winter Garden at the moment."

Bumping this rumor.

[Owen22]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 7:27pm

Actually, I enjoyed Bart, as he seems to be the only actor not doing a stage impression of their character from the movie. Though some are very good copies.

This show, though winning an Olivier, has never been near a hit in London, so color me surprised at its transfer. Its enjoyable enough, very well directed and very obviously expensive. Too slavishly bowing to the film, but I guess that's what's popular with tourists these days.