The Chalk Garden will take the Lyceum. Misery is taking the Broadhurst. Sylvia will be at the Cort. As far as the Neil Simon...Ever After? The Brooks Atkinson will also be opening for the fall.
With 5 musicals IN A ROW closing prematurely at the Simon, that would be the last theater any new musical should go into even if it has to wait for another theater to open up.
the physical theater has nothing to do with the failures of any show.
Do you ever credit a show's success on the theater? Of course not.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
Of course you do, dramamama. Certain theaters are prime real estate. Producers carefully consider their proposed theater because 1) the number of seats controls their revenue, 2) certain theaters have a musician minimum with local 802 (whether it is a musical or not), 3) the rent varies by theater, 4) the literal location DOES matter as it impacts convenience, awareness, FOH visibility, etc., and 5) some producers are just superstitious and think some theaters are luckier than others.
take BOOK OF MORMON as an example. It is in a medium house. One could argue that if it were in a larger theater, it could sell more seats and make more money per week. However one could also argue that if it were in a larger theater, tickets would be easier to buy as there is more inventory, and ticket demand certainly gave this show buzz and word of mouth, contributing to its success.
take the Winter Garden as an example. Many producers think it is an ideal location because of its central Broadway spot, it's large marquee that you can see blocks away, and it's off the corner of the 1 train.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
Sylvia is a play coming to broadway this fall at a theatre to be announced! It is starring Julie White and Annaleigh Ashford! She's playing a dog!!
My new avatar is of Jerry Mitchell! He directed/choreographed Kinky Boots and Legally Blonde, and has choreographed several shows throughout the years. He has 2 tonys, and is directing On Your Feet! He is also the creator of Broadway Bares, and is directing it this year, so I put that pic up in honor of Broadway Bares!
Now I know who he is! That's from Will Rogers Follies. I remember him saying in an interview that getting in that shape for that show was revenge on an ex-boyfriend of his!
It depends on the show. Few producers have the luxury of deciding which theatre they will go to. Given the overall shortage of good houses, the theatre owners are really the ones who determine where certain shows will land. Only the very cream of the crop of producers will be able to influence a choice. Of course, if you have a Hamilton on your hands, you can choose your theatre.
Someone pointed out on another thread that the shows that ran (and flopped) at the Simon would not have been hits even if they were at the Shubert (or some other "lucky" house) - so I don't necessarily think it's the theatre's fault. Just bad luck. If you were trying to get your show on Broadway, and the theatre owners said you could only have the Simon, you probably would take it, losing streak be damned.
Having worked for a producer in the past, I know that many would very well wait for a theater that can fit their show. Be it that means the house size, the stage dimensions or the theater location... if a producer has a certain house in mind that is or can be available in the forseeable future (meaning not, say, the Gershwin or the Majestic) they will wait. Even if that means a season later, they will.
Then there are others who see an open theater and take it to get their show off the ground and into the current season when they believe the show is most "ready."
To me, there's no such thing as unlucky theatres, most theatres have their fair shares of hits and flops. Both The Gershwin and Minskoff went for years without a successful show and now both have long running hits. I imagine the Neil Simon will eventually find a successful show, may it be a revival or a new show.
The Uris/Gershwin didn't have a true smash until WICKED, many years after it opened its doors in the early 1970s. The Alvin/Neil Simon has been home to many successes dating back to the 1930s...ANYTHING GOES, ...FORUM, COMPANY, ANNIE, HAIRSPRAY. The latter two ran quite some time. Don't count it out. I don't think theaters are the problem. I think the shows that play in them are. Maybe if everyone in GIGI had learned to pronounce "Gigi" properly, it would have lasted a little longer.