Could ATG acquire more theatres? — Page 2

I would also add that those changes to the Lyric are being done for Cursed Child and it is yet to be seen whether they will remain permanently in place once that show closes in the (most likely distant) future.



Exactly. I would think the plan is to run Harry Potter for a decade or so, so if they were able to add a loading dock door to the stage right wall of the stage house in the Lyric, and crate a loading door on the back wall of the Times Square in a way that would allow for load in/load out possible for the Times Square during the long run of Harry Potter, without closing down HP or risking damage to their production, it could be a smart move for ATG and the architects planning the renovations to the Lyric to look at.



The Lyric renovation doesn't seem to be similar to the ones we have seen at the Schoenfeld and Longacre. This seems more like a Henry Miller/Sondheim scale transformation, giving the parties involved the unique and one time opportunity to make the relighting of the Times Square Theatre happen.

A pipe dream? Fantasyland? Maybe. Probably.

But given the extent of the planned Lyric renovation, the prime 42nd Street location the Times Square provides for a small musical/play house and the access they could create by building an all-in-one Flagship Broadway theatre complex that straddles 42nd and 43rd Streets, this could be exactly the type of statement ATG wants to make to be competitive with Shubert/Nederlander/Jujamcyn.

Either way, I hope the Times Square Theatre finds a workable tenant soon. I try to avoid 42nd Street unless I need to go there for a specific reason, but whenever I see the sad facade of the Times Square Theatre, I can't help but lament on the possibilities..

I don't see why the loading dock is such a major issue? Couldn't they load in the show at like 4am when the area is pretty dead?

I agree. I think for one day of load-ins, it doesn't seem like such a giant issue. I mean they leave buses parked along the street, so why not?

I am not savvy enough to post a link or picture, but you can look at Google Maps and switch between the default MAP view and the Earth view and you can see the plots for both the TSQ and the Lyric.

It does seem that the stage loft for the TSQ is on the eastern end of the building, making the connection of each buildings stage more difficult, but I don't think, impossible.

Based on the images from google maps, there seems to be a slight alleyway of space between the Lyric and the TSQ. If that can be slightly widened and linked to a tunnel/access door through the stage right wall of the Lyric in a way that will not disrupt the technical aspects of Harry Potter (or whatever moves into the Lyric years from now), then I believe, it would be in ATG's (and Broadway's/New York's) long range Broadway interests to at least explore the option.

If it isn't technically and logistically possible, then at least all options and avenues were explored in trying to salvage the TSQ as a legit Broadway venue and boost the Broadway portfolio of ATG while they are undertaking a large scale renovation at the Lyric.

I will always be for the reclaiming of lost Broadway/Touring spaces to be restored to their original opulence whenever they can.

@BroadwayNYC2 thank you. One good reason for #23's choice of "fantasyland."

In addition to Justin D's photos, here's a link to a satellite view of the area:

42nd St. Theatres

Updated On: 1/12/17 at 09:07 AM

Just seems silly to have a beautiful theater sitting empty on one of the most expensive/well known streets in the world! What a waste! Could they attempt to raise it like the Palace? Or move it?

BroadwayNYC2 said: "As much as I would love for there to be another theatre, I think it is safe to assume all avenues have been explored, otherwise it would have opened decades ago. The architectural and engineering minds contracted to figure this out know more on the subject than a thread on this forum.



"

Perhaps they've exploded all avenues and have found a solution, but they just haven't had time implement it or they have a lack of money to do so.