Despite Turnaround, ‘Beetlejuice’ Being Forced Out of Theater

[ForB4]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 5:06pm

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/09/theater/beetlejuice-broadway-evicted.html

Last performance at the WG June 6th, hoping to find a new theater

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 5:08pm

That's so unfortunate, I don't know the cost of moving to a new theater, but it cannot be cheap. The summer months are huge for shows, especially kid friendly ones. 

So, Music Man in the WG?

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 5:12pm

Guess it’s done. I mean the set would need a fairly deep stage? Would they even want the Marquis?

[ModernMillie3]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 5:13pm

Oh, Im sorry, two websites just confirmed it's closing. Nevermind. 

[msmp]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 5:16pm

This makes me want to see Music Man even less than I already did, which is saying something.

[kade.ivy]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 5:19pm

Wow, that NYT article really lays bare the behind the scenes stuff! Lots can happen between now and June, so maybe another attractive theater will open up for Beetlejuice. At any rate, what a wonderful turnaround story it has! Glad Music Man officially has a home now.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 5:21pm

I feel like the Marquis would be a waste of time/money for them.

I know it’s unlikely and I know they’d have to completely rework/redesign/restage the show, but I do wonder if they’d consider an off-Bwaytransfer to one of the larger off-Bway houses, like Stage 42 (Fiddler closes in January). Again I say, probably unlikely... but if they want to keep momentum going, a thought.

Props to Michael Paulson on a great article, taking the time to carefully define and explain some phrases well and accurately for non-experts who are reading.

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 5:24pm

Short of TKAM closing before June (which is probably not happening), this just seems like the show is getting kicked in the nethers as they finally got on their feet. I didn’t even like the show and I still feel bad for them because it brought joy to a lot of my friends who wouldn’t ever be caught dead in a Broadway theatre

[FlyHigh523]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 5:26pm

This makes me sad. I hope they can find a new theatre. This show brought so many people joy and happiness... hoping to catch it before it closes

[kade.ivy]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 5:27pm

BJ has a hilarious, gracious video on their socials.

[schubox]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 5:28pm

kade.ivy said: "Wow, that NYT article really lays bare the behind the scenes stuff! Lots can happen between now and June, so maybe another attractive theater will open up for Beetlejuice. At any rate, what a wonderful turnaround story it has! Glad Music Man officially has a home now. "

Yeah wow. Lots of interesting tidbits in there. Feel bad for them 

[Kitsune]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 5:34pm

I realize that commercial theater is (at least to producers) about making money, not about being "nice" or "fair." But in between this, the West Side Story casting concerns, and sending cease and desist letters to small theaters staging To Kill a Mockingbird, I don't have a high opinion of Scott Rudin. Yes, he's within his legal rights, and capitalism ultimately makes the rules, but he comes off as a bully.

I did like the video that Beetlejuice put out on their social media.

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 5:34pm

kade.ivy said: "Glad Music Man officially has a home now."

MM is pretty much set for the WG, but I'm curious why there is no official announcement yet? Even the MM website still says it's going in "a Shubert theater," but nothing else. I wonder when that will be announced on it taking the WG. 

Updated On: 12/9/19 at 05:34 PM

[BJR]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 6:01pm

$818,000 wa a below their stop clause? Wow.

I presume the amount is related to gross potential, and it’s a large house, but that still seems pretty high for a stop clause.

There are plenty of shows playing now that would be happy with such supposed lean grosses.

[saxpower]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 6:10pm

I'm glad Broadway's doing well enough for there to be THAT much competition for theaters but its still a shame.

Of course, we don't now whats going to happen with the upcoming shows- though they are using houses smaller than the Winter Garden, maybe there will be an unexpected closing freeing up a theatre  Not to jump on the "judge before it opens" bandwagon, but if the West Side Story revival's changes prove unpopular, the Broadway may be free in time. 

I'd be surprised if the producers and/or the Nederlanders don't reach out to each other about the Marquis- it would seem at least worth the discussion (unless there is something in the contract with the Shuberts that lets the Shuberts have first shot at finding a new theatre- I wouldn't think so but someone more knowledgeable on here can likely answer that). 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 6:10pm

Wow, what a wild situation. Until I read the part about the stop clause being invoked several months ago, my first thought was that the Beetlejuice producers have a promising law suit on their hands. I wonder if this show will set a precedent for some sort of “turnaround” clause as an addendum to the stop clause.

Either way, Beetlejuice is really a victim of the harsh realities of capitalism, and to a lesser extent, just some unlucky timing; if Rudin’s search for a theatre had not lined up with Beetlejuice’s low-grossing weeks, the Shuberts would have had no immediate incentive to kick them out.

Unless the stop clause territory has no expiration date. Could someone clarify that? I understand that the Shuberts invoked the stop clause around the time that the grosses fell below the limit. But HYPOTHETICALLY, if Rudin asked for the theatre NOW, could the Shuberts still invoke the stop clause even though the qualifying grosses happened months ago? 

Updated On: 12/9/19 at 06:10 PM

[jpbran]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 6:11pm

The Beetlejuice IG video was sweet, funny, creative and a pretty classy way to address the situation. Didn't love the show (mostly enjoyed it tho), but really hate seeing this happen. MM is gonna have a bit o' bad karma to overcome with this... 

[raddersons]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 6:12pm

I'm not sure what they could possibly sue about... but there will almost definitely be a lawsuit about this, frivolous or not.

Posted: 12/9/19 at 6:17pm

I am not a fan of Beetlejuice in the slightest (honestly one of my least favorite shows. But hey, to each their own), but this is not fair. Scott Rudin simply looks like a greedy bully.

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 6:18pm

No one ever stands up to, or talks publicly about the theater owners.   It's surprising to read all this.   The Warners people must really be angry. 

[UsedToBeTheKing]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 6:19pm

Disappointing, but expected. Upsetting how much the negative (and sometimes downright scathing) reviews likely had on those initial ticket sales, given that the final show improved immensely compared to previews. It may be an assault on the senses, but that's better than a snooze-fest in my book. Shame they might not even get the chance to recoup. Hopefully the tour will be a success bolstered by the show's large high school demographic. Bought my tickets for closing night already. 

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 6:19pm

I am just curious about something. While it is clear that the stop clause was put into play by Shubert prior to them getting a decent box office boom. Has there ever been a situation before where the stop clause is put into play, only to be revoked due to doing better at the box office? Or, once it’s put into play, is it a done deal regardless?

[A Director]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 6:21pm

The Broadway Theatre could be available in March for Beetlejuice or The Music Man!

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 6:24pm

Is Rudin planning on renovation the WG? This could possibly extend another month as Music Man doesn't start until September. Though I do hope they find another theater. Maybe the August Wilson if Mean Girls shutters in the Spring? Could this fit into the Hudson?

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 12/9/19 at 6:30pm

This is so disgusting, closing a hit show for a star name cash grab.