Broadway reopening — Page 5

why is the idea of spacing out seats so obtuse?

Have you been around here for the past year? Because if you have, you would have read hundreds upon hundreds of replies to this very question. You cannot rope off or remove seats from a Broadway theater. Why? Because it's a commercial, for profit business. They could, out of the kindness of their little hearts, have 50% capacity just to get people in the door. But, they will never do that. Ever. They want to make as much money as possible when Broadway reopens and a reducing capacity doesn't make that happen and makes buying their beach house in Malibu a much slower process. Nothing obtuse about it.

Jordan Catalano said: "I’m expecting a barrage of phone calls from MTC, LCT & Roundabout in the coming weeks to buy subscription packages which I’m sure will be announced very soon."

Thank you for reminding me to upgrade my call-blocking software on my new phone.

ACL2006 said: "My hypothetical reopening schedule:

Week of September 7: Hamilton, Wicked, Lion King, Phantom, Book of Mormon

Week of September 28: Chicago, Come From Away, Hadestown, Dear Evan Hansen, Moulin Rouge

Week of October 12: Six, Tina, West Side Story, Aladdin, Harry Potter

Week of October 26: Jagged Little Pill, Ain't Too Proud, Too Kill A Mockingbird, American Utopia, Girl From the North Country

Week of November 9: Diana, Mrs. Doubtfire, Flying Over Sunset, Company, Plaza Suite

TBD: American Buffalo, Caroline, or Change, Lackawanna Blues, The Lehman Trilogy, MJ: the Musical, Take me Out, Thoughts of a Colored Man, Trouble In Mind, The Who's Tommy

Your proposed list is interesting, I see you have gone with the big heavyweights first, some might say these are tourist friendly shows and could struggle to get any traction without tourists.

I agree with you on opening Hamilton as the nut is quite low and will sell well regardless, I also agree with The Lion King as this is a family friendly show and will appeal to a different demographic. I would argue to open Six straight away, as this is a new show, highly anticipated, will get reviewed and will get people talking about theatre again, and which is a good thing. I would also prioritise opening The Lehman Trilogy and Plaza Suite, as plays have always been more popular with the locals and will pull people in from the tri-states. This will be a good acid test how to proceed next. This opening will give circa 6000 seats per showtime.

I agree on your second batch with Moulin Rouge, Come From Away, Hadestown, maybe Dear Evan Hansen, but I would also go with Company as it is a new show, Stephen Sondheim is popular and again create media interest and get people talking about theatre, which is a good thing. This opening will add another circa 5200 seats per showtime.

It maybe ambitious but if possible try and get as much open for the holiday season.

Updated On: 5/4/21 at 07:18 PM

It will be interesting to see how full the houses are for everything that opens. It seems in the beginning there will be some good deals to be had.

I go back and forth. We got refunds for the Eva Noblezada concert at Feinstein’s at the Nikko due to a minor Covid scare involving a member of our party. It didn’t feel right to go without her.

But my partner and I might see Song of Summer at the San Francisco Playhouse on Friday. It will be a late decision but we will probably go.

I did see another movie in a nearly deserted theater last weekend even though they don’t require proof of vaccination.

There is the rational risk assessment aspect of these sorts of decisions along with the paranoid side. Outdoor ballgame that isn’t too crowded anyway? Yes. Small theater like the San Francisco Playhouse that is leaving some seats vacant and has first row loge seats available? Fine. Crowded large indoor venue like the Orpheum? I don’t think I am ready for that, but it’s not entirely rational. For now, I wouldn’t be comfortable in a packed theater, as the Hamilton shows will be. That doesn’t make me right, and part of me envies you getting to be there for the big reopening if you decide to go. (If you don’t, it will be easy to unload the tickets.)

Delta has definitely added a level of uncertainty and concern I was hoping to start putting behind me. How that affects theater attendance is hard to say. After the first week or two, I assume things will depend on whether there are many cases linked to theatergoing as well as the overall Delta variant situation. And for now, there still aren’t a lot of options, in San Francisco or on Broadway. That will change soon, though.

Updated On: 8/4/21 at 03:36 AM

I too was at opening night in Dallas. The audience was electric, the cast was on fire and in tears during the opening number...such an incredible night. I saw a handful of people not wearing masks through out the evening. I personally would have felt safe if it were a mask optional evening. It was a beautiful and very much a memorable night of theatre...glad to have been there...can't wait for more shows to open up. Only thing i hope for is that the new strand of covid doesn't screw things up.

Figured this was a good thread to share this in. NHK-Japan has a show called Deeper LOOK- from NEW YORK. Their current episode is on the re-opening of theater in New York. Covers a lot that has been discussed here and elsewhere. Producer Lee Seymour (The Inheritance) is the guest. He talks about how he thinks Broadway will return and US tourism vs International tourism's impact. It is a short 14 minute segment.



https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/2085043/

Saw Waitress this evening. Wow. Better than when I saw it in 2016. Sara's Jenna is beautiful, vulnerable, timid, but strong willed. She's becoming a more wonderful actress with each performance.

The rest of the cast. What can you say? It's an MVP group of sorts. Gehling, Fitzgerald, Houlahan, Dawson, Matthews, Anderson... All wonderful. Ensemble is alive and enjoying it. The understudy for Nurse Norma was a hoot.

I've come to really like the direction/choreography/style of the show more over time. When I saw it originally I was so struck by Jessie Mueller's performance. Tonight I feel like I saw the show as a whole. It's a really beautiful piece, although a cheesy book at times with predictable lines.

One thing that bothered me was the scenic changes. I understand the theatre is different than the Brooks. However, seeing the crew member come onstage in the middle of "She Used to Be Mine" to take the sofa couch offstage was a bit... frustrating. It looked like it was attached to ropes or chords to pull it off, but it didn't go properly. Other things that were pushed instead of automated were fine overall. The show carries on.

Glad to have it back!