Broadway on 9/11 and after- Page 2

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 2/12/07 at 8:46pm

Margo, I agree with you about the months to year thing. I was back in the city in May 2002, and although there were people, it still felt a tad different from what it did my previous time there. By December of that year when i returned, it felt a bit better (from out-of-towners' perspective at least).

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 2/12/07 at 8:52pm

Mamie, beautiful story.

I bugged my parents for the longest time to take me to Manhattan. I wanted to see a Broadway show; hell, I wanted to see a tour, but my parents don't really appreciate the arts as much as I thrive on them.

The first time I came to New York City was January, 2002. My first Broadway show was a Neil Simon play, 45 Seconds from Broadway, at the Richard Rodgers. (The most recent show I've seen on Broadway was Tarzan back at the Richard Rodgers and I remember being there, being at that theatre. I walked upstairs just to get the perspective and it was like walking back in time a half-decade....)

I'm only part of Post-9/11 New York; my first trip to Manhattan included paying homage to fallen heroes at Ground Zero. I regret never being able to see the New York City skyline the way it's supposed to be. But I'm so thankful that Broadway come back so strong the way it has - remember the tv commercials of our beloved theatre stars, singing to America to come to New York?!

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 2/12/07 at 8:55pm

That day is the most memorable in my entire life. I wasn't really old enough to realize itf effect on the theatre and such, but it literally took over a week before I saw any vehilcles going up town. I was the sickest, eeriest thing ever.

[wexy]

Posted: 2/12/07 at 8:57pm

A few months later, I found tickets to "The Music Man' for end of the September that I had totally forgotten about.

I remember that it was an important time to go and out and do things to reiterate that we weren't going to stop living.
When I went to the first Yankee game on 9/25 and they had the new security that you couldn't bring in bags, people were taking out their paperwork and throwing away expensive briefcases.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 2/12/07 at 9:30pm

I was young when the attacks occured but being part of a city based family gave us no choice but to conitnue. Recently my brother and his fiance moved into an apartment in Jersey City on the water and from their living room floor to ceiling windows, you could have perfectly see the two towers.

I've yet to actually venture to Ground Zero. Passed it on the train etc of course, but haven't gotten as far as actually making a visit.

Ugh, what a rough time.

[aspiringactress]

Posted: 2/12/07 at 9:34pm

Yeah, I've never visited the towers. I don't feel like I can, you know? I lived it, I honored people in other ways, going to the towers would just hurt.

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 2/12/07 at 9:46pm

A lot of Off-Broadway shows suffered after 9/11 as well.

Bat Boy went on hiatus from Sept. 23 -- Oct. 18 and eventually closed on Dec. 2.

Reefer Madness was supposed to begin previews on Sept. 15, but was postponed until Sept. 18. The state of the city after the attacks also led to this show having a shorter run that it probably should have.

Tick..Tick..BOOM! was another Off-Broadway show hit hard by 9/11. It hung on for a while, but eventually closed on Jan. 6.

I came up to the city around Oct. 12 for the first time after the attacks and saw Thou Shalt Not. I had tickets to Bat Boy, but since it was on hiatus, I went and saw Reefer Madness instead. I also was able to see Raul Esparza's last performance in Tick..Tick..BOOM! that weekend.

Speaking of TTB, the release date of its cast album was on Sept. 11. My plans that day revolved around going by the store and purchasing it.

There is a story on Playbill (that I will post when I can find it) about someone who worked on one of the top floors of the towers who's life was spared on 9/11 because he went to buy the TTB cast album instead of coming into work on time. It may have been from an interview with Esparza.

[Mamie]

Posted: 2/12/07 at 10:49pm

Mamie, what an awesome night at Phantom! What was it that caused the audience to cheer so loudly? Simply the fact that the actors were there to perform during such an awful time?

Honestly? Two weeks had passed since 9/11 and every newspaper, TV news report, radio report was saying that if people didn't start going to the theatre, then Broadway really was going to die. At least for that season. If there was ever a time when people needed an escape from the nightmarish reality around them then this was it. The feeling I got from all the New Yorkers I already knew and those I met was 'you destroyed those towers but you ain't destroying anything else in this city!' I mentioned that those theatres were filled with New Yorkers. Some of those people probably hadn't been in a theatre in years, but Broadway needed them to survive and so they came. And they cheered. And they made sure that this part of New York wasn't going to be taken away from them too. The shows that closed were hurting before 9/11 but these shows were doing fine and the locals made sure that they weren't going to die. The people walked into those theatres ready to applaud and yell and cheer and do everything they could to show their support.

Updated On: 2/13/07 at 10:49 PM

[Copeman63]

Posted: 2/12/07 at 11:03pm

"I regret never being able to see the New York City skyline the way it's supposed to be."

Perfectly said.

I grew up in Colorado, and the best thing I had to Broadway was the minature sets I made for my theatre in the closet, haha. But because of 9/11, my Dad called me (which at that time, we weren't close at all) and told me he bought 3 first class tickets to NYC, a limo to the Marriot Marquis and tickets to "The Producers" and "Mamma Mia!". Going to the city was amazing as I had always knew it would be, but I knew what was missing. I moved there a couple years later and it was different, but what I wouldn't give to see the NYC of 2000.

Lance

[mattonstage]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 12:29am

I was living on Bleecker St. at the time of the attacks, and I was working on 8th st. I was at work on that morning, by myself, no radio or TV, so I didn't know what was happening until almost 10:00am. It was the most horrendous feelings I've ever dealt with. About two weeks or so after I went to the Broadway Cares Flea Market. It was the first time I was able to have anything approaching a good time. I got my picture taken with the wonderful Cherry Jones (oh look, my avatar). She is so sweet and caring, and I'm sure she made everyone feel a little better that day.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 12:58am

In North Carolina, they didn't let us out of school. I was in high school at the time. We all heard what happened but didn't really know until I got home at 3:30 and ran to my TV to turn on CNN. I remember school was not closed at all due to the tragedy, which I thought very odd considering the severity.

I didn't have a computer then. At a library computer I visited the Broadway.com message board to read about all the Broadway horror situations. I was deeply concerned. I kept bugging my parents to take me to the city but they refused to even leave the state. We definitely wouldn't fly.

I wanted to fly. I wanted to fly to New York, see a Broadway show, fly back home, and tell my friends.

The closest I got was stumbling across a TV commercial featuring all Broadway actors singing "New York, New York" in Times Square. At the end, Nathan Lane said to come see a Broadway show. I cried after seeing this commercial.

Later, the Rosie O'Donnell Show came back on the air. Rather soon, she had Broadway shows performing again. It made me very happy to see her helping the ease into bringing theatre back.

[craftymarley]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 3:01am

I actually just learned this like 5 minutes ago from listening to Michael Arden on Seth's Broadway Chatterbox, but it was second day at Julliard when 9/11 happened. What a great way to be introduced to the city.

It was also the first week of classes for NYU students. It was my freshman year at NYU and I had been living in a dorm below 14th St for about a week.

I also attended the 9/13 performance of RENT, the first performance after 9/11. I did lottery with a couple of friends because we were so sick of watching the news. There were maybe 20-30 people there and while they went through the formality of calling the names I believe they sold everyone tickets. The theater was at 1/3 capacity and before the show started ushers came around and asked everyone to move down closer to the stage. Needless to say it was an emotional performance for everyone involved. The first act the cast pretty much held it together, but the second act, with "Seasons of Love" and "I'll Cover You (Reprise)" and "No Day But Today", the cast and audience were a wreck. At the end of the show the cast recieved thunderous applause and a standing ovation. I believe I remember them collecting some money after for relief efforts as well.

I was at NYU at that time and I remember there were a few weeks where they were selling tickets to about 10-15 shows on Broadway for just $5 each to students, just to get people into the seats.
(This was done at the NYU library, not at the box office.)

I also remember this. There were thousands of $5 tickets sold to NYU students I believe every Wednesday for a couple hours a day for a few months. Students lined up for hours in one of the rooms of the library. That's how I ended up seeing "Proof".

[Mistress_Spouzic]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 3:09am

i saw lots of theater following september 11th, just for the escape.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 9:07am

We all needed an escape, and badly.

I don't know if it's my NY personality, but in my own Middle School self I decided that me not wantitng to go see any shows or going out and hang out around the city was letting the terrorists win. Even now, nothing stops me. I know many people who won't take the trains on the weekend of 9/11, even now. It's one of the worst weeks for theater and I purposely try to see something just to pull a silent fight.

[notabb]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 11:05am

I had a friend who was supposed to come up the Sat after 9 /11 and see CONTACT and URINETOWN. His family refused to let him come up. CONTACT was %25 full and even though everyone tried to get into the show it never happened.BUT URINETOWN was a different story. One of the creative staff ( I wish I could remember who ) came out and gave Mayor Giuliani s speech about Broadway staying open. Then he told us how he wasn't comfortable to be doing this show with everything that just happened so he called his grandmother ( who i think was 90) who he said was avery wise woman and told her his problem. She said ." You have to do the show , just remember the arts restore the soul." And that just freed something up in the audience, It was ,easily , one of the most incredible nights I ever spent in the theater that Saturday night. The audience reaction was explosive and the cast ate it up. Not just a standing ovation but people screaming and cheering. And lots of tears on both sides of the fence. I love " the arts restore the soul"

[Calvin]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 11:16am

I saw a show the Friday after Sept. 11. I'd already had a ticket -- the Off-Broadway show "Blue," playing somewhere near Gramercy Park, but I don't recall which theatre. I was living in Connecticut at the time, and much to the dismay of my fearful parents, I decided to go ahead and go into the city to see the show.

It was eerie. I could still see the smoldering smoke from the WTC site as the train crossed over the bridge into the city. Grand Central was nearly deserted when I was arrived and covered with the makeshift shrines and "Have you seen..." postered. I got to the Gramercy area a bit early and noticed a quiet vigil going on in the park. I joined in. I didn't know anyone there, but it seemed right.

The show itself was mostly mediocre (great cast, just so-so material) but the audience was still electric. You could tell it's just what we all needed. As a side note, both Johnny Cochran and Cicely Tyson were in the audience that night as well.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 11:34am

Also, the revival of KISS ME, KATE did not close that following Sunday nor soon after -- it closed on December 30, 2001.

The Actor's Fund/BCEFA 20th Anniversary Concert of DREAMGIRLS took place 2 weeks later (September 24, 2001). It went on as scheduled -- Lillias White gave a sensational speech urging the audience to "...go see a show!".

[Chevstriss]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 11:38am

Spitfire Grill was another casualty. It opened off-Bwy 9-9-01 and didn't last long.

Luckily this great score found a 2nd chance out in the regionals.

[Jon]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 11:53am

URINETOWN was the perfect show for post-9/11 catharsis.

Anyone else notice how much the original "Mr. McQueen" (Cladwell's assistant)resembled Rudy Giuliani, both in appearance and speech pattern?

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 12:35pm

The erie thing for me that week was that I was just in New York not a month before and even visited the towers and got TKTS tickets from there. I remember we saw the Producers, 42nd Street, The Music Man, Les Miz and Chicago with Jennifer Holliday

Scarier still was that my mother, who's a flight attendent, was supposed to be working that day when she got a phone call from my grandfather to turn on the news

I do remember that "New York, New York" commercial though. I cry every time I see it

Some call Broadway the oldest invalid. The months following 9/11, that invalid was in critical condition

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 1:45pm

This is a touching thread to read.

I just remember after the initial shock and disbeliefe wore off crying and praying that none of the theatres/stars/Broadway landmarks had been harmed... I heard about LaChances husband a little later and the fact that the young boy playing Gavroche in LES MIZ said he had just been in the Tower Record store there close to the towers buying TICK TICK BOOM! and had left when it happened.

[fiesta1]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 2:32pm

Although I do not live in the city, I had long-standing plans to celebrate my 40th Bday that week (arriving the 15th). My brother lives in Midtown and so we came in early (on the 13th) to provide him a needed mental health break from CNN et al. Everywhere we went we saw the telltake xeroxes of the faces of missing people.

Margo and others are right -- the city was eerily quiet. My partner and I did our best to inject some $$ into the needed economy and were able to see 8 shows that trip -- including house seats at Producers and Full Monty on the day of performances. We also caught Stones in his Pocket (fabulous), Tick Tick, and several others. On the evening of Sunday the 16th, I saw Les Miz again. The house was less under 100, so the ushers invited everyone to come to the center orchestra. Although I had seem the show 6x before, the cast put their all into the show. Even though the house was 1/20 of capacity, you could easily hear the muffled sobs during "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables".

Restaurants were also empty (I was able to make same-day resertations at B. Smith and several others on Restaurant Row.

Although I go to NYC 2-3 times a year for a mad weekend of shows, I will always remember that trip to the city of Sept 13-19. It was a combination of feelings -- mourning, sadness, resilience, pride, and disbelief. What a weekend, what a city.

[lawyerman]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 5:47pm

For what its worth, I was in Israel on 9.11

It was eerily quiet there too. Im a lifelong New Yorker and I would have given anything to have been in NY in those weeks, oddly enough. By the time I came home (a few months later) Bway was back in business. I can imagine it was damn eerie.

[bundy5000]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 6:55pm

In my ABBA book there is a mention of Mamma Mia being the big hit right after 9/11. Something like they postponed it a few days after

[Dibbledl01]

Posted: 2/13/07 at 7:49pm

my father worked four blocks away from the towers in a government "sanctioned" building. From his window he felt the blast and the heat of the second plane, watched innocent people jump, watched the towers fall. he even watched a truck of firemen ride off to the towers and a week later my dad found out that every man on that truck never made it home. He jumped on the ferry from the southstreet seaport to new jersey sitting next to people who had to ask him where the hell the ferry was going. they just wanted to get out. he even picked up a chared piece of paper from one of the floors first hit by one of the planes. my dad had many co-workers who, in the liberty building, had to smash their suitcases through some windows and doors to get out and away from the smoke that was coming from the towers beside them. when I came home from school I saw he was home too early and hugged him. I never thought about what the soot on his jacket was or could have been until now. He wouldn't talk for a week and I never want to remember the look in his eyes when he first told my mother and I what exactly happened up there.

with my uncle being a fireman, and the loss of a young man my mother went to high school with, a feeling of "don't let them win" has always been in my family since that day, and broadway was and continues to be, for us, our favorite way of "sticking-it-to-them" (the terrorists).
so, shall we all "stick-it-to-them?"