Beetlejuice News?

[Owen Parker]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 10:19am

Has there been any news or announcements about Beetlejuice yet? It has been doing very well at the box office and it looks like it will continue to do very well. I also heard rumors about some announcement coming soon.

[zainmax]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 11:03am

Owen Parker said: "Has there been any news or announcements about Beetlejuice yet? It has been doing very well at the box office and it looks like it will continue to do very well. I also heard rumors about some announcement coming soon."

No news. No announcements.

But, Alex said on Bway con that June is not the end. https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Alex-Brightman-Says-June-6-is-Not-the-End-of-BEETLEJUICE-20200125

[zainmax]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 11:03am

Owen Parker said: "Has there been any news or announcements about Beetlejuice yet? It has been doing very well at the box office and it looks like it will continue to do very well. I also heard rumors about some announcement coming soon."

No news. No announcements.

But, Alex said on Bway con that June is not the end. https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Alex-Brightman-Says-June-6-is-Not-the-End-of-BEETLEJUICE-20200125

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 12:12pm

"There is absolutely no reason to give up hope," Alex Brightman said. "Until we know anything further, it is not the end of Beetlejuice on June 6."
 

So much for selling the “final block of tickets” and having everyone rush to snatch them up for the “final show”. I’m not taking a trip to NYC just to see this again if it’s just going to transfer to another theater. I’ll sell my ticket first.

[Wick3]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 12:17pm

Do you guys think it will go to the West End?

[OKBroadwayFan]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 12:23pm

They have also already announced the National Tour.   Licensing rights will also be released at some point.    I would not read his statement as that the current Broadway production is extending at another theater.

 

 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 12:31pm

Didn't Leslie Kritzer post something on social media a few months ago about how they "aren't leaving their theatre" shortly before the official announcement that they WERE, in fact, leaving their theatre? That doesn't inspire much confidence in the credibility of Brightman's most recent comment. Is the cast really as up-to-date on this information as we think they are? 

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 12:42pm

He might be as he is the lead, etc, but I’m sure there are a lot of rumors speculating. Maybe it’ll close and tour and come back after that. Who knows.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 12:44pm

JBroadway said: "Is the cast really as up-to-date on this information as we think they are?"

No! They probably have directives to keep it positive and push the narrative that BJ is seeking a new home and not closing. A sane producer isn't going to tell that to an actor before a deal is finalized, or at least very likely. And then it's a matter of actor contracts. (Isn't Brightman doing that John Belushi biopic?)

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 1:19pm

(Isn't Brightman doing that John Belushi biopic?)
 

This film bio was announced in December 2019 and that’s about it.  It’s not in pre-production and could easily be shelved for a few more years as it’s been in “development” since 2013.  Countless films are announced and never go into production like that announced Janis Joplin bio that has yet to go into production after decades.  

[the.hard.part]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 2:10pm

The pull quote was from when he was basically saying even if BJ is not on Broadway it would not be the end of BJ on June 6th so that could mean a tour, licensing, filmed for release etc

[raddersons]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 2:13pm

It doesn't matter what the cast says or hopes -- if they're closing, they're closing.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 2:13pm

the.hard.part said: "The pull quote was from when he was basically saying even if BJ is not on Broadway it would not be the end of BJ on June 6th so that could mean a tour, licensing, filmed for release etc"

 

Maybe he just meant "you can always go back and watch the original movie!" 

[ellbellthomps]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 2:23pm

I loved this show, and hope it doesn't close but it seems unlikely that it'll stay open. 

The set is WAY too complex to transfer, which is a shame because they have been doing great.

The only possibility I see is the Shubert's moving Music Man because of the grosses. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 2:27pm

I think the best bet is one of the spring shows closing up shop after not receiving Tony’s or something in June, Rudin moved TKAM to whatever smaller Shubert theatre and Beetlejuice opening up in The Shubert Theatre

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 2:27pm

I think the best bet is one of the spring shows closing up shop after not receiving Tony’s or something in June, Rudin moved TKAM to whatever smaller Shubert theatre and Beetlejuice opening up in The Shubert Theatre

[UsedToBeTheKing]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 2:29pm

I guess it's too early to try star casting to recoup the cost of a move? (Just kidding, I wouldn't want to see any of this cast touched, except to see Danny Pudi take over Adam for a while. He looks to be available right now scheduling-wise, and I don't think the role is any more vocally challenging than when he was first in the show, but I'm guessing that we're too early in David's contract to even consider it.)

Updated On: 2/4/20 at 02:29 PM

[joshdog2014]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 4:06pm

The misinformation around the Alex Brightman quote has forced me out of lurking. Here's a longer excerpt of the quote:

"Our producers (and they can, and there's one right here, there's one over there) will tell you time and time again if you ask them with absolute certainty that all they are doing 24/7 right now is looking, actively looking (loud applause, assumed 'for a new theatre' ). There is absolutely no reason to give up hope that we are closing, so we are not using that word. We are looking for the next thing, the next evolution of the show whatever that might be. (...) We are leaving on June 6 and until we know anything further, it is not the end of Beetlejuice on June 6, truly."

The point of the quote is that there is still much uncertainty in the situation. The show MAY close on June 6 and live on in the form of its tour and other productions, or the producers may find a new theatre and it will transfer. This quote tells us that they have not given up yet, but that is all we get from it,

Updated On: 2/4/20 at 04:06 PM

[haterobics]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 4:41pm

I haven't been to a final show on Broadway where someone didn't announce that this didn't mark the end of said show...

[Jarethan]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 4:45pm

Call_me_jorge said: "I think the best bet is one of the spring shows closing up shop after not receiving Tony’s or something in June, Rudin moved TKAM to whatever smaller Shubert theatre and Beetlejuice opening up in The Shubert Theatre"

That doesn't make any sense to me.  TKAM is still selling out every performance and grossing much more than BJ.  Further, when you look out a few months, TKAM is still selling extremely well, and at higher prices than right now.

I think the key issue with BJ is 'how much is it going to cost to move?'  The show is doing better, but not great (now that the holidays are over), clearly making a profit every week, but probably not a huge one. The people paying for the move would have to feel pretty confident that the show would at least make back the cost of the move itself.  One thing if it is $1.0MM, another thing if the sets have to be rebuilt, the lighting reworked, etc.  I think I read that that would likely cost more like $3.0MM, but have no idea if that is correct.  

Big question to me:  How  much extra can it make from mid-June to late August, peak time for a show that attracts families?  If they really  believe they can pretty much cover the cost of the move in that timeframe, they should move.  If not, I suspect it  may not be an economically sound decision.  A long-run does not guarantee profitability.  Jekyll/Hyde rate almost 4 years and lost money; years ago, Shenandoah ran almost 3 years (a really good run in those days) and lost a large part of its investments.  Sure there are others...just don't know which ones.

 

[angoradebs]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 9:14pm

UsedToBeTheKing said: "I guess it's too early to try star casting to recoup the cost of a move? (Just kidding, I wouldn't want to see any of this cast touched, except to see Danny Pudi take over Adam for a while. He looks to be available right now scheduling-wise, and I don't think the role is any more vocally challenging than when he was first in the show, but I'm guessingthat we're too early in David's contract to even consider it.)"

I wonder if the line "both of your are super polite, middle class, suburban and white" was in the show at that point, with the joke being that, obviously, Danny isn't. I can just imagine him checking his arms to make sure he didn't transform when he died.

 

[trpguyy]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 9:42pm

I’m amused by the notion that producers are looking tirelessly for another Broadway theater, like some sort of treasure hunt.

[ellbellthomps]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 9:48pm

I really think the best bet would be for Shubert to close up TKAM/transfer it to a smaller theatre and have music man there. It's a much better theatre for it, and that way one less show has to move. 

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 10:34pm

ellbellthomps said: "I really think the best bet would be for Shubert to close up TKAM/transfer it to a smaller theatre and have music man there. It's a much better theatre for it, and that way one less show has to move."

This makes way more sense than moving BJ to the Shubert... there’s no way Rudin is closing or moving one of his shows to make room for the show he got kicked out... 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 2/4/20 at 11:05pm

GreasedLightning said: "ellbellthomps said: "I really think the best bet would be for Shubert to close up TKAM/transfer it to a smaller theatre and have music man there. It's a much better theatre for it, and that way one less show has to move."

This makes waymore sense than moving BJ to the Shubert... there’s no way Rudin is closing or moving one of his shows to make room for the show he got kicked out..."

Think about what you’re proposing for a moment. Who do you expect to pay for these 3 separate moves?  Not the Shuberts, not Rudin, and certainly not the BEETLEJUICE producers.