Chicago, Mamma Mia, and Matilda Play Musical Chairs? What the...

Okay, last rumor I'd heard, the Shuberts were going to pull perhaps the most crazy convoluted game of Musical Theatre Chairs we've seen in a while: Once "Other Desert Cities" either relocates or closes, "Chicago" would take the Booth, "Mamma Mia" would relocate to the Ambassador, leaving "Matilda" free to play the Winter Garden. I know it's not horribly uncommon for one show to move to another theatre, but TWO? Specifically two of Broadway's currently longest running musicals? Granted this rumor was one I'd heard quite a while back, but with "Matilda" looking to announce their transfer next month, I was wondering if any of these plans had changed. If they do follow out, it'll be quite an interesting 2012, don't you think?

Matilda isn't that big a show, the theatre it's playing in London is midsized at 1200 seats. How big is the Winter Garden, bit of a risky move considering Mamma Mia! is doing good business.

According to the website 1526.

Given it would need to run another 7 years just to match Cats' run, it's unlikely to happen. It's amazing it hasn't moved theatres yet, most long runner with a few exceptions have moved theatres during their course of the runs.

Updated On: 1/17/12 at 06:31 PM

Two shows moving simultaneously happened just last year when ROCK OF AGES went to the Hayes and RAIN went into the Atkinson to make room for CATCH ME at the Neil Simon.

^ its not go look at their video its on a proscenium stage.....

This would be great for Mamma Mia! and Chicago. Both shows would benefit from playing smaller houses.

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^Trunchbull? My guess is they'll try to bring over the actor currently playing her in the West End.

What also excites me about this is RSC's control over the American transfer. So often musicals get toned down when traveling across the pond and we end up with "Mary Poppins", a shell of the incredible show it was in London. There's such a Dahl quality to the show, from the cast recording and what else I've seen/ heard from it, it looks spectacular.

Please, they can find a way to make Chicago work in a smaller house than the Booth.

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Chicago has been squeezed into the Garrick Theatre in London now, youd be surprised how small a venue the show can be slotted in

Keep in mind that if Chicago does move. It's new theatre,whatever it may be, will end up being the show's fourth home (having played the Richard Rodgers,Shubert and now the Ambassador.)

But considering how wide the porsenium of The Winter Garden is, and how the large Mamma Mia set fits there, would they be able to move the show with the current set? Or would they maybe need to use one of the old and smaller tour sets a la Beauty and the Beast in order to move.

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The Winter Garden stage is definitely a different type if shape than most stages. I know the original production of Follies adjusted the proscenium slightly... Maybe Matilda could do the same.

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Nope.

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