Posted: 2/17/26 at 5:50pm
Put this all down to Michael ‘Clueless’ Cassel. He would never delay more than three days as he doesn’t want to lose the money, and this entire endeavor is just him trying to show how cutting edge and worthy of a place in the producer’s lounge he is.
Posted: 2/17/26 at 6:48pm
See what I mean? Now it’s “If you are criticizing her it’s because you don’t know how theatre works.” JFC. Cynthia can be a great actress and have not managed her time well enough in the alleged full year she had to prepare. Both things can be true.
Updated On: 2/17/26 at 06:48 PM
Posted: 2/17/26 at 6:49pm
Extended preview periods in NYC are not always about fine tuning the production - often they are about giving producers enough time to fully capitalize a production. Producers legally have until opening night to fully capitalize their show, and you'd be surprised how many shows need their full preview period to raise complete funds.
Posted: 2/17/26 at 6:56pm
The Distinctive Baritone said: "See what I mean? Now it’s “If you are criticizing her it’s because you don’t know how theatre works.” JFC. Cynthia can be a great actressandhave not managed her time well enough in the allegedfullyearshe had to prepare. Both things can be true."
If you’re going to quote me, have the spine to address me directly. And no, pointing out the actual production timeline isn’t the same as declaring Cynthia immune from criticism. You’re arguing with a version of my comment you invented because it’s easier than engaging with what I actually wrote. Try again.
Posted: 2/17/26 at 7:09pm
pmensky said: "The Distinctive Baritone said: "See what I mean? Now it’s “If you are criticizing her it’s because you don’t know how theatre works.” JFC. Cynthia can be a great actressandhave not managed her time well enough in the allegedfullyearshe had to prepare. Both things can be true."
If you’re going to quote me, have the spine to address me directly. And no, pointing out the actual production timeline isn’t the same as declaring Cynthia immune from criticism. You’re arguing with a version of my comment you inventedbecause it’s easier than engaging with what I actually wrote. Try again."
I copied and pasted your comment directly, actually. And yes, you are being ridiculous.
Posted: 2/17/26 at 7:19pm
The Distinctive Baritone said: "pmensky said: "The Distinctive Baritone said: "See what I mean? Now it’s “If you are criticizing her it’s because you don’t know how theatre works.” JFC. Cynthia can be a great actressandhave not managed her time well enough in the allegedfullyearshe had to prepare. Both things can be true."
If you’re going to quote me, have the spine to address me directly. And no, pointing out the actual production timeline isn’t the same as declaring Cynthia immune from criticism. You’re arguing with a version of my comment you inventedbecause it’s easier than engaging with what I actually wrote. Try again."
I copied and pasted your comment directly, actually. And yes, you are being ridiculous."
What I said wasn’t complicated or ridiculous. The preview schedule reflects the production’s technical demands, script changes and a period for the actors to settle in. That’s the reality of this kind of show, whether it fits your narrative or not. Try again.
Updated On: 2/17/26 at 07:19 PM
Posted: 2/17/26 at 7:37pm
I don’t need to try again. The reviews are out and they have plenty to say.
Posted: 2/17/26 at 7:45pm
The Distinctive Baritone said: "I don’t need to try again. The reviews are out and they have plenty to say."
If the conversation you were having was with me instead of with yourself, you’d notice that nothing in the reviews has anything to do with what I said about how a show is brought to opening night.
Posted: 2/17/26 at 7:56pm
pmensky said: "The Distinctive Baritone said: "I don’t need to try again. The reviews are out and they have plenty to say."
If the conversation you were having was with me instead of with yourself, you’d notice that nothing in the reviews has anything to do with what I said about how a show is brought to opening night."
Um, okay. Well, the reviews are all mixed to negative, so…perhaps we can argue about something that’s actually debatable another time.
Posted: 2/17/26 at 8:17pm
The Distinctive Baritone said: "pmensky said: "The Distinctive Baritone said: "I don’t need to try again. The reviews are out and they have plenty to say."
If the conversation you were having was with me instead of with yourself, you’d notice that nothing in the reviews has anything to do with what I said about how a show is brought to opening night."
Um, okay. Well, the reviews are all mixed to negative, so…perhaps we can argue about something that’s actually debatable another time."
Um, no thank you. I see you’ve hit your ceiling. If you’d recognized that earlier, the landing would’ve been gentler.
Posted: 2/17/26 at 8:17pm
Reviews aren’t great, but I still think Erivo comes back to Broadway in this.
Posted: 2/17/26 at 8:21pm
It does look like reviews overall were stronger for the Australia production. The Guardian gave it four stars and just gave two to the London production.
Posted: 2/17/26 at 9:50pm
EDSOSLO858 said: "Reviews aren’t great, but I still think Erivo comes back to Broadway in this."
I don't know. Mixed reviews, Cynthia in not a mostly singing role, and general apathy by Broadway audiences to theatrical vampires? Not sure it'll be worth the effort to bring it over.
Posted: 2/17/26 at 10:12pm
everythingtaboo said: "and general apathy by Broadway audiences to theatrical vampires"
This point is brought up fairly regularly (cf. the thread about The Lost Boys). But I'm curious about how statistically significant this supposed antipathy towards vampire-related shows really is. If the sample size is only three or four shows about vampires that failed, then I don't think it means much: you could write down the name of every Broadway show in history on a piece of paper, pick out three or four slips, and there's a very good chance all of them are flops.
Posted: 2/17/26 at 10:28pm
Also worth pointing out that the 1977 production of the play adaptation of Dracula with Frank Langella (and sets and costume design by Edward Gorey) ran for almost 1000 performances. The whole “antipathy toward vampires” thing arose from Dance of the Vampires and Lestat, productions with a lot more problems than the subject matter.
Updated On: 2/17/26 at 10:28 PM
Posted: 2/17/26 at 10:34pm
Kad said: "Also worth pointing out that the 1977 production of the play adaptation of Dracula with Frank Langella (and sets and costume design by Edward Gorey) ran for almost 1000 performances. The whole “antipathy toward vampires” thing arose from Dance of the Vampires and Lestat, productionswith a lot more problems than the subject matter."
That’s right. I don’t think the numbers support the idea that audiences reject vampire shows. Lugosi’s Dracula was a hit that launched a film icon. Langella’s Dracula ran three years. Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors extended Off‑Broadway. The real failures were Lestat and Dance of the Vampires, and those collapsed because of execution, not subject matter.
Posted: 2/17/26 at 10:51pm
Plus it had to open tonight as it’s the cut off for the Oliver awards, Cassel should have given this a longer preview period.
Posted: 2/17/26 at 11:54pm
The real failures were Lestat (2006) and Dance of the Vampires (2002), and those collapsed because of execution, not subject matter."
Frank Wildhorn's 2004 "Dracula" has entered the room, "hold my beer!"
Posted: 2/18/26 at 6:28am
EDSOSLO858 said: "Reviews aren’t great, but I still think Erivo comes back to Broadway in this."
I think the show could still be commercially OK on Broadway despite reviews - the question is whether Erivo can be bothered? Seems like a lot of hard work if there’s no critical recognition, when she could be earning more while in a comfortable movie set.
Posted: 2/18/26 at 6:57am
Cynthia Erivo has revealed she is planning to take a break from the West End stage after her stint in Dracula, describing her role in the show as ‘challenging’
https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/news/cynthia-erivo-dracula-is-up-there-with-the-most-challenging-things-ive-done
Posted: 2/18/26 at 8:25am
It's odd that Broadway World considers this a thumbs up review:
"Sara Hemming, Financial Times: As the plot rumbles on, the text itself becomes a drag and the show begins to feel overlong. It doesn’t match the dazzling immediacy and playfulness of Dorian Gray, which so cleverly fused style and story to critique our own image-obsessed age. But then it wows you with a gorgeous image of Erivo, alone in a snowstorm centre stage. Not the best of Williams’s ingenious gothic spectacles, but bloody good all the same."
Posted: 2/18/26 at 8:56pm
In Cynthia Erivo’s ‘Dracula,’ There’s Mirth Amid the Horror
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/theater/dracula-cynthia-erivo.html?unlocked_article_code=1.NVA.xpc-.2_bCRLw-xwMK&smid=nytcore-android-share
Posted: 2/18/26 at 9:26pm
EDSOSLO858 said: "Reviews aren’t great, but I still think Erivo comes back to Broadway in this."
I bet this (potential) deal is officially on shaky ground.
Posted: 2/18/26 at 10:09pm
My guess is that Cynthia jumps ship as soon as possible.
Posted: 2/19/26 at 1:29pm
I agree. Would she really want to put herself through this again? And for what career gain? The financial risks are also a little higher with these reviews and NYC costs. By the time it gets there the wicked hype might die down a little (sales in London very strong though. I’m sure it’ll make its money back and more).
Cynthia finds good work I think she will move on.
.jpg?format=auto&width=365)
