Cursed theatres??

[wiggum2]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 3:26pm

What theatre has had the most flops? Just off the top of my head, I would say the Minskoff ( I saw my first show there, Sunset Blvd). It has had DOTV, Sat. night Fever etc

Any thoughts?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 3:29pm

The Cort comes to mind.

In the many years I've been seeing shows on Broadway I don't recall any true hit playing The Cort.

Bulldog.

[A_Boy_From_Oz]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 3:49pm

Don't forget that the Minskoff also had the infamous Tom Sawyer also.

[Deena Jones2]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 4:06pm

I think the last hit that the Cort had was Sarafina.

[mamamia sammy]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 4:19pm

The Cort also had "The Blue Room" and "Freak" both of which I believe to be considered "hits".

[Hank]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 6:18pm

The Magic Show also played at The Cort.
When I think of cursed houses, the first that comes to mind is The Minskoff. When I walked by there 2-3 weeks ago the marquie still had the DOTV thing up.

[BillFinn]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 6:28pm

Minetta Lane Theater

[Deena Jones2]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 6:55pm

the Blue room was a hit but only played 6 or 8 weeks. Freak was only deemed a hit because it was picked up by HBO. It never sold out, but considering it was a one man show it probably made some $$$.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 7:30pm

In a word, the Longacre. Until Def Poetry, I'm not sure any shows ran there for even 6 months. As for the Minskoff, it's just too darn vast. Fever had the longest run of all the flops mentioned running there.

[Amneris]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 7:44pm

Minskoff / Broadhurst Theatre (Dance Of Death? , Into The Woods, Urban Cowboy and now Never Gonna Dance which has been called "never gonna last" by people who work at the show... sad

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 7:51pm

I thought Saturday Night Fever played for like 18 months.
Sure it was not a money maker but....

[Al Dente]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 7:58pm

...Hardly a flop technically. Crappy but no *flop* in the truest sense of the word.

[Amneris]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 8:08pm

SNF was there for September 28,1999-December 30,2000... going directly on tour for 3 years equity..now currently touring non-equity... (the final 2 equity tours were the ones that flopped... they had to let go many actors due to lack of money)

[Al Dente]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 8:11pm

Wow, that's alot of info Amny, thanks. These non-equity tours are ruining the touring business.

[Phantom05]

Posted: 11/23/03 at 9:44pm

Hey Al Dente, what did you mean when you said that the Minskoff "was just too darn vast"....just curious?

See Ya!

Phantom05

[Madame X]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 12:01am

Point to note - the DOTV marquee just came off of the Minskoff recently (past week?). I was surprised (only b/c DOTV had been up for so long) to see that the Fiddler marquee is finally up.

[minettamandy]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 12:44am

Minetta Lane Theatre!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 6:12am

The Lyceum is also a cursed theater. It is a beautiful theater but it is too small & the facilities are very antiquated

[Al Dente]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 11:59am

I meant "big" phantom. The Minskoff and the Greshwin for that matter, are too big.

[QueenS]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 12:35pm

I'll second the Longacre and add the Belasco. I've long dubbed the Cort: "Where shows go to die."

The Helen Hayes hasn't done too well either, until "Say, Goodnight, Gracie" did fairly well and "Golda's Balcony" should hold in for a while.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/24/03 at 6:07pm

Looks like the Helen Hayes has become the perfect venue for solo shows. Saw Gracie & really enjoyed it. Got tickets for my wife & I to see "Golda's" 1/31 (got discounted tickets - mail offering) - It is one of her stocking stuffers. Really wanted other shows but could not get any offerings for next year. Why pay full price for "Gypsy", "Never Gonna Dance" or "Wonderful Town" when I might be able to get reduced price tickets for the trio during the slow Jan/Feb/March slow months? It might be harder after the Wonderful reviews which appear to be all good.

Updated On: 11/24/03 at 06:07 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/25/03 at 10:51am

I myself think Never Gonna Dance is going to pull a Thoroughly Modern Millie. It's going to come in relatively unnoticed, but get a few definite nods come Tony time.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 11/25/03 at 11:29am

Every lousy theatre has has hits (Rent) over the years and every great theatre has had bombs (Breakfast at Tiffany's).

Historically bad luck/not-sought-after houses:
Ambassador - exception Noise/Funk and transfers
Nederlander - exceptions Rent and Lena Horne
Cort - exception Magic Show
Longacre - exceptions Ain't Misbehavin' which moved to 45th Street after 8 months and The Belle of Amherst
Belasco - except those limited runs from London
No one hopes to go to the Lunt-Fontanne. They take it only if its the only house left.
No one really seeks out the Minskoff either.