Dracula

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/6/04 at 11:49am

I wonder why Len Cariou dropped out as Van Helsing.

I passed by the Belasco yesterday & they were loading what seemed to be 3 tons of lighting equipment in.

[magruder]

Posted: 6/6/04 at 12:00pm

Len Cariou just participated in one of three readings the show had in New York. He wasn't necessarily going to do the role (which is rather small).

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/6/04 at 12:02pm

That explains it. Thanks

[magruder]

Posted: 6/6/04 at 12:14pm

Incidentally, Channel 2 ran a wonderful story on Friday about the Belasco, showing the theatre's unique lighting fixtures, stained glass ceiling, that wonderful leaded glass window to the left of the box office, and many of the murals, along with historical photos of Belasco's apartment. It would be lovely if the Shuberts spent a little to restore the two boxes that were removed and never reinstalled for the original production of Rocky Horror, as well as the five murals that also were destroyed for that production. If one thinks of a theatre in human terms, the Belasco was permanently disfigured for that production. Seems a shame that that house, which is probably the quirkiest of all Broadway theatres, has never had a true restoration. But maybe Dracula will keep it lit for a good while to come.

Updated On: 6/6/04 at 12:14 PM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/6/04 at 12:21pm

Rocky Horror bombed ( I saw it ). It looked like they were also repainting the theater yesterday. It is a gothic theater & was perfect for the revival of Follies as it looked like it was a old decrepit theater. It seems like the perfect choice for Dracula . My wife & I , another couple & possibly her daughter & fiancee are going to see it for my birthday August 15. It is scary 2 years away from the big 60 . Time flies

[mominator]

Posted: 6/6/04 at 1:39pm

The Belaso has for along time been a favorite of mine. I hope that at some point this beautiful old theater can be fully restored. Dracula is a perfect choice for this classic theater. Dark, gothic and haunted to boot! Ahh if only I had tons of money to throw around!
B

[broadway86]

Posted: 6/6/04 at 2:12pm

"Rocky Horror" bombed? What do you mean?

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 6/6/04 at 2:14pm

Can anyone tell me some hit shows that ran (for a pretty good length of time) south of Broadway? Seems like shows that go on that side of the track end up closing shop early.

[magruder]

Posted: 6/6/04 at 2:38pm

The Belasco is actually east, not south of Broadway. It's a dual edged sword - because of an offbeat or less desirable location, some theatres, like the Nederlander, Belasco, Cort, Lyceum, were/are often infrequently booked. Then, iffy shows that can't get a better booking end up at one of these theatres, fail, and then the failure is ridiculously blamed on the theatre.

Still, a problematic location can sometimes can work in the theatre's favor. Rent chose the Nederlander for its outsider, fringe status, and it has certainly worked out well for them, proving that a show can be a hit at that theatre. It will be interesting to see what happens to the Nederlander when Rent eventually closes. Urinetown, similarly, was the longest running show in the history of Henry Miller's Theatre (like the Belasco, also east of Broadway), but given the state of disrepair of that house, it wouldn't have been appropriate for any normal show.

The Belasco has actually had some hits in the past few years, including Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune and the Ralph Fiennes Hamlet and though not a hit, a high profile tenant with Follies. Prior to that, it was often a transfer house for shows like Raisin in the Sun, Don't Drink the Water and Ain't Misbehavin', playing out the last years of their runs.

The right show can often turn around the profile of a theatre. Prior to the Frank Langella version of Dracula in 1977, the Martin Beck which is on the wrong side of Eighth Avenue, was considered a death house. But Dracula turned around that theatre's profile in the industry, and showed that a hit could play there and the 80s and 90s brought in such tenants as the Elizabeth Taylor Little Foxes, Into the Woods, Guys and Dolls, etc. Same thing with the Lyceum. It was considered unbookable, prior to the 1980 revival of Morning's at Seven, but although it has housed some hits, it still remains empty more often than not.

The Ambassador sat empty for much of the 1990s, but it has had several hits of late, including Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk, Topdog/Underdog, and as the third home for Chicago. But Broadway's two hardest luck houses remain the Cort and the Longacre, both on 48th Street, ironically. Apart from The Heiress and Sarafina at the Cort, and the Diana Rigg Medea at the Longacre, you have to go back over 25 years to find a hit at those houses.

Updated On: 6/6/04 at 02:38 PM

[mallardo]

Posted: 6/6/04 at 3:50pm

Very interesting post, Magruder. I recall seeing The Heiress with Cherry Jones at the Cort a few years ago - wasn't that at least a quasi-hit?

[BoyWithTheBugle]

Posted: 6/6/04 at 4:00pm

The ads this week look great. Look forward to seeing what the show ends up being like.
Agree that the BELASCO is a great choice.
Anything else up at the theatre except the marquis?

[magruder]

Posted: 6/6/04 at 4:01pm

Yes, The Heiress and Sarafina I believe were both financial hits, although they were produced under the non-profit auspices of Lincoln Center Theater and didn't have the same financial demands as a regular commercial production. And I just remembered that The Blue Room with Nicole Kidman and Freak also played the Cort, so those both qualify as commercially produced hits at the Cort. After that, though, I think you have to go back to The Magic Show in 1974, to find a commercial success at that theatre. A shame, because it's a really lovely theatre, and it's also in very fine condition.

Updated On: 6/6/04 at 04:01 PM

[Matt_G]

Posted: 6/6/04 at 4:06pm

For a show like DRACULA, The Belasco seems like a great choice. It's very old and in as stated above in need of repair, so it fits the show nicely. It was also very suited for JAMES JOYCE'S THE DEAD which I saw quite a few times there.