Brooks Confirms 'Frankenstein' for Hilton, Casting- Page 3

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 11:42am

First of all, Pirate Queen has a contract with the theatre they're renting. They're not being "evicted" on a whim. They obviously can't pay the rent.

It was made clear enough to the owners by the producers of "Pirate Queen" that their theatre would be available in the fall. So they've found a new tenant with Mr. Brooks. And Mel didn't announce it himself, he only confirmed what had already been discussed.

I would look to the producers of Pirate Queen for any awkward moment you're having with this. They're the ones who haven't handled the uncomfortable fact that a "For Rent" sign went up in their front yard, and somebody signed on. It's their responsibility.

And they're certainly going to have to deal with it now. Instead of figuring out a semi-graceful way to break it to their cast and the public. Now, they're just left with "damage control."

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 11:43am

Pirate Queen posting a closing notice months ahead of time would be stupid. It's new enough that people will think, "Well, that show just opened and it's already closing. Must not be very good.

It wouldn't be months ahead of time. If YF i planning on starting previews at the beginning of October or end of September, Pirate Queen would have to close by the end of July to allow enough time for the Pirate Queen load out and all of the renovation and load in that has to be done for YF. Say Pirate Queen were to close on July 29th, the same day Beauty is closing. Guess what folks, it's almost June. A closing notice within the next week would only be just over one month in advance. It's not that farfetched, so don't make it sound like it's such an out there idea.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 11:46am

"It's all just simple economics, hmmmmm?"

The grosses for PQ have been going down, down, down (64% last week, not as horrible as Coram Boy but still...), and they probably slid below the floor level the show's contract called for and the theatre owners exercised their option to ask them to leave and made the incredibly wise business decision to grab Mel Brook's next hit show.

As for his not mentioning "Pirate Queen" the producers of PQ are just lucky this is 2007.

Imagine if this was 1967. Imagine what David Merrick would have done to get them out of that theatre.

Not mentioning them was actually, by Broadway standards, pretty classy.

[fengshuihellnyc]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 11:46am

You know what this discussion just needs to end... We all can sit here and pick and pick and pick. No one is going to agree with anyone else. at this point make no more discussion and only enter tactless or tactful.
I'm tired of fighting with people on here who have no clue to what is going on.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 11:49am

Like most of us I don't know what's really going on here. Brooks has most certainly not confirmed anything regarding the Hilton yet. His wording couldn't have been more vague. For the past few months Pirate Queen has had receipts that while not spectacular would most likely not be grounds for eviction. Last week, after the Tony nomination snub they had a significant drop. We still don't know what the summer season will bring. PQ is doing the Today show next week, and I doubt they're planning on using that appearance to announce their impending closing.

We do know that the St. James will be confirming the Grinch soon.

Could it be that Brooks is just doing these sorts of interviews to try to reassure nervous investors that he hasn't completely screwed them over by failing to a secure a theater for the show they are investing in?

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 11:49am

Best, I completely agree with you about the Pirate Queen prodcuers. They haven't been responsible either. Frankly I don't think this situation was handled well on either end. Oh well, it doesn't really make a difference, PQ will close and YF will open. Whatevs.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 11:50am

"It doesn't hurt to think about the actors that are in PQ."

There are many, MANY more people than just "actors" involved in a show. That's first and foremost. Secondly, the actors, as well as the rest of the company, understand the business they're in. If it was security they were after, they'd be accountants. I wish we'd all realize that A) actors aren't more fragile than the rest of the population, and B), nor are they less intelligent.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 11:52am

Yeah, but have you ever seen them eat?

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 11:53am

Point taken, but that's a different issue.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 11:53am

LOL, thanks for that Tech!

[Kungaloosh1937]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 11:58am

Not to mention I'm sure the entire cast and crew knows exactly how badly the show is doing. After all, they're the ones who are there every night.

Brooks announcing YF is not going to be a surprise to any of them.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 12:00pm

Feng - So don't read.

Tech - Bravo.

Rath - exactly right.

People go into the business knowing that it's a fickle beast. Make fun of Steve Blanchard all you (the collective you) want, but he's had a steady job for the past 12 years. That's more than I can say for many others.
Updated On: 5/25/07 at 12:00 PM

[worrell4077]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 12:34pm

"That's why people like Foster have yet to be officially announced."

Wasn't there any article on Playbill awhile back that announced Mullally, Hensley, and Foster for Young Frankenstein? I remember they released an article about that after some posted that Kristen Chenoweth wouldn't be doing YF and that Megan Mullally would be doing it instead.

Nothing has really been confirmed yet. Yes, Brooks said that the likely theatre will be the Hilton, but nothing is set in stone at the moment. Do I think he'll get the Hilton? You bet I do because like so many posted before, it's all about what's going to do better business and between PQ and YF, the theatre will probably head towards YF.

You know, you all are saying how rude it is to go after a theatre with a show still running in there, but I remember a while back reading in one of the posts that producers of Grease and The Wiz were looking at the St. James while The Producers was still running, and yet did anyone call them rude for looking at a theatre with a show that hasn't posted a closing notice yet. Updated On: 5/25/07 at 12:34 PM

[D2]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 12:40pm

There just seems to be a lot of resentment towards Mel Brooks on this board, Worrell. No matter what the man does, people here just pounce all over him. "Oh, how sad PQ is being forced to close by the big bad money grubbing Mel Brooks, and all those actors will be out of work," with no mention of all the actors and crew that will be employed by YF. IT'S A BUSINESS, folks.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 12:44pm

Am I the only one to have doubts about YF? I love the film, and would love the musical to be fantastic- and monochrome- but not only does Brooks have to fight the law of diminishing returns, but all I've read of the musicalization is lazy, unimaginative and totally reliant on the success of The Producers. Not a flop, but a disappointment coming?

Perhaps lightning won't strike twice for Brooks monster?

[jpbran]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 12:46pm

"What if ticket sales for PQ suddenly take off..." (paraphrazing)

Well, looking at the grosses link to the left, it was one of only about 3 shows to DROP substantially from week-before-last to last week, going from 73.5% to 64.2%. Probably not gonna happen.

Combine that with being an almost insultingly-bad, boring show (yes, I saw it) that cost waaaaaaaaaay too much (beyond costumes, where did the millions really go??? sails and curtains?), and I am not going to feel too bad.

Close it and let the talented cast and crew move on to other, better things.

(And I agree that many old school producers of yore would have shown even less sympathy and restraint than Brooks) Updated On: 5/25/07 at 12:46 PM

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 12:49pm

If you read Riedel's current column (about Tony hosts) it ends with William Ivey Long saying that he couldn't reveal which theatre but he could say that they were told to make the castle much bigger.

So this isn't out of the blue. Brooks is allowed to say whatever he wants because he is not talking about PIRATE QUEEN, he's talking about YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 12:52pm

my God I am SO THERE this Fall for this!

[worrell4077]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 12:54pm

"There just seems to be a lot of resentment towards Mel Brooks on this board, Worrell."

That's true. If The Producers was still running and some brand big guarenteed to be a hit musical was coming and wanted the St. James theatre and The Producers didn't post a closing notice and you hear the producers talking about it'll most likely be at the St. James. Just about every person who mentioned that Brooks is being rude about saying that YF will most likely be at the Hilton with PQ not posting a closing notice would've posted good ridance to The Producers or something around those lines.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 12:55pm

devonian.t ~ I'm at least one other person not groveling at the feet of Brooks and his works. I personally don't like his brand of humor, so it's likely another one I'll be skipping next season.

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 12:56pm

I also agree that he owes nothing to PQ, and if he knows his show is going to that theatre, it is only smart to let people know as soon as possible...how would he know when PQ would decide to post a closing notice? Do you really think he's going to wait around and not tell everyone in the universe where his show will be playing because he has to wait until someone else decides to post a closing notice?

I don't think sooooooooooo....

Oh, and is it now when I can bring back all the "YF will not go to the Hilton and PQ will never ever close" threads?

[James885]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 1:05pm

Mr. Brooks' statement didn't seem particulary arrogant to me. He simply mentions that YF will most likely play the Hilton. I think if he HAD mentioned The Pirate Queen, some people would have then accused him of having no class and taking shots at it. Everyone knows that The Pirate Queen is sinking; the grosses have been going down for weeks. It shouldn't be a shock to anyone that another show is looking at, and might possibly take that theater in the fall.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 1:10pm

Blaxx, to be perfectly fair, if the theatre owners have booted PQ for YF, they probably have set a day when PQ has to post a closing notice, and if the producers don't do it, the theatre will.

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 1:13pm

Yes, love, but obviously Brooks didn't want to wait for that - and how is he wrong? He's not going to make his show a mega success by politely waiting for the other to announce something.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 5/25/07 at 1:16pm

"The Pirate Queen is sinking."

LOL