Could Here Lies Love work in the Union Square Theater?

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 6:57am

Considering how the theater is set up for Murder Ballad, would it be possible to use that space for Here Lies Love?

[macnyc]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 8:44am

Quite a few seats would have to be removed, but I guess that is doable. Is the Union Square space larger than the Public? It didn't seem that much bigger to me.

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 9:52am

"Quite a few seats would have to be removed", macnyc, that may not be a bad idea. That old theater can use a major overhaul and a show like Here Lies Love should sell well and bring $ to help cover that expense.

[macnyc]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 11:24am

Luv, you are right about the Union Square Theater!

What is the problem with keeping it at the Public? To move to a larger space and sell more tickets, I assume? It seems to me that the audience for this show cannot be increased too much, for two reasons. First off, it would be too unwieldy to move that many people around, don't you think? Second, I think the appeal of the show is somewhat limited, at least the way it's staged now (which is truly wonderful and inventive). A fairly large portion of the theatergoing public in New York seems to me to be on the elderly side. To ask people to stand up for that length of time and dance, move about, etc., is asking a lot. I'm in pretty good shape, but by the end of Here Lies Love I envied the folks who got to sit down on the bleachers that were pulled out!

Updated On: 7/10/13 at 11:24 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 11:33am

The Public doesn't run shows indefinitely; their whole purpose is to get new things out there. They've already programed their next season and will need the space.

[OrchardAndRivington]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 12:11pm

I spent most of the first half of Murder Ballad thinking the same thing. They could still have the 175-200 Standing on the floor plus sell more seating in the Orch and Mezz and even utilize some of the Seating unit built on the Union Square Stage for Murder Ballad. They should be able to get up into the 400-450 seat range.

As long as the show reopens somewhere in NYC, I'll be happy.

[Luv2goToShows]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 12:31pm

It would have been nice if it stayed at the Public, but it is as Kad mentioned. Plus changing things up will keep the subscribers and patrons happy.

I do not think the Union Sq Theater is much different in size, a little wider maybe. I think with slight modifications it would work. And adding a seating option on the floor would be nice too, maybe just a few rows back of house. I do not think that mezz would work though, it would definitely be partial view if they use the entire floor. Just an idea, I too hope the show reopens somewhere in NYC.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 12:46pm

If they move it somewhere else, it would be nice if they "polish" up the physical staging. If it was going to be an open run, have the stages rise from the floor. That way they only need to clear the area rather than herding people to avoid the stage rotation. It would also be nice to have disco lights on the floor rather than the cheap wood they have now.

[gchris11]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 12:57pm

Fuerza Bruta manages to move 200 to 250 people around the space and dance with out problems. I think Union Square theater is a great Idea. If you want to participate you can and if you just want to watch there is room for that also in the seating galleries. Now will they actually move it there?

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 1:00pm

I honestly don't see why this can't be tweaked and turned into a more traditional piece of theatre. It doesn't seem like you would be losing out on much. Then again I think if it were more traditionally staged people would realize that it's not that great. And yes, I did enjoy it but didn't think it was amazing.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 1:13pm

I agree that it could work in a traditional staging. I watched it from the balcony and didn't feel like I missed out on much. The music is good and memorable and with some tweaks to the book to make some things clearer, it could be great.

[macnyc]

Posted: 7/10/13 at 5:41pm

What's the capacity now at the Public, does anyone know?

[Jonah332]

Posted: 7/22/13 at 4:44pm

Wildcard, the herding was there for a reason. They never had to do it. It was apart of the brilliant staging.

[RUkiddingme]

Posted: 7/22/13 at 5:53pm

Here Lies Love could work in any theater.

The Public doesn't transfer shows off broadway. They are all about Broadway.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 1:41pm

Saw this last week and absolutely loved it. Didn’t get tickets in time to get standing room, but 5 minutes before the show an usher asked me and my girlfriend if we wanted to go down on the floor, as there were 2 people who wanted to sit. Our lucky day!

Talented cast, wonderful songs, innovative staging. *POSSIBLE SPOILER* Suddenly going from loud techno to the quiet, live music was extremely moving and haunting. *END SPOILER*

I sincerely hope this has a future life soon. (And, I hope that we get a recording of the musical version.) I’m from Chicago and truly think that this would be a huge hit here. We have many experimental storefront theatres here, but this was innovative on an entirely different level and, personally, I think audiences here crave this kind of interaction (when “Fuerza Bruta” came to town, those I know who saw it became obsessed). I think this could find a niche like “Blue Man Group” did - “Here Lies Love” is interactive and hip, new and different, yet still accessible. I think it would appeal to both the theatre world and to non-traditional theatre goers who are looking to come to the city to do something fun for an evening.

As for a move to Broadway, I had anticipated thinking that without having standing room available it wouldn’t work. However, after seeing it, I am not sure how strongly I feel the immersive aspect must stay. While I enjoyed being surrounded by the action, I don’t think it is essential to the show. I didn’t necessarily feel more connected or in the world of the show just because of my proximity to the actors (I, honestly, found that I was more happy to be on the floor just because the view was much better than in the seats). What I do think is essential is the innovative staging, as opposed to the audience being in the middle of it all, as I think the fluid staging compliments flow of the show and the music – if they were able to get Circle in the Square Theatre and still be able to move through the aisles (or, even able to somehow negotiate having a catwalk or something similar in bigger theatres), I think it could be just as successful in a more traditionally structured theatre. The audience could still be acknowledged and could still participate in certain ways (and be invited into the Marcos world in that way), but all while being seated. For me, the strengths (happily) are the actors, direction, and piece itself. While there was an added level of fun to be amidst all the action, I think it would be something worth losing to be able to continue running this excellent piece of theatre.