Established Show Changes

[Boysdontcry66]

Posted: 6/4/20 at 7:04pm

Had the following thought, figured I'd share... most shows are generally frozen during previews, occasionally making tweaks here and there.  With the amount of time shutdown due to Covid, do you think creative teams will potentially make cuts/tweaks/additions to current shows before reopening?  Also, what changes would you make or like to see?

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 6/7/20 at 12:55pm

I've felt for years that the energy of Phantom is flagging no matter who's in the show, with the odd exceptions like Norm Lewis' time in the role. I'd remedy that by getting out the scissors and slicing the running time for more of a thrill-ride experience, making all the cuts that were made in the Vegas version, with the exception of the chandelier fall / intermission and (possibly) the Punjab lasso stuff.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/7/20 at 1:06pm

I would LOVE that. I've seen Phantom many times since the mid-'90s, but I've never had as much fun as I did the two times I saw the show in Las Vegas. The fire, the noise, the bombast — it was an almost perfect presentation of what Phantom should be.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 6/7/20 at 1:18pm

If they change one inch of Phantom I would be devastated. It’s bad enough we can’t go see the ultimate comfort show. If broadway re-opened and it was changed, that would be a stunning loss. They don’t make ‘me like this anymore and they never will again. Some day we will live in a world with a Phantom that has projections and a jazzed up chandelier and I hope I never have to be subjected to it.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 6/7/20 at 1:22pm

...I take it you didn't watch the 25th anniversary concert, did you? You know, the major recent production that had literally both those things?

Updated On: 6/7/20 at 01:22 PM

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 6/7/20 at 1:39pm

I’d like a more spruced up Phantom. Update some of the mannequins.

And I hope Lenk is getting voice lessons or they’re working on lowering her keys.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 6/7/20 at 1:39pm

I wouldn’t call 2011 all that recent. But yes I did see of course and I loved it for what it was; a concert version. And I don’t recall a jazzed up chandelier in it? But you said it “literally” had one as opposed to figuratively having one, which makes me wonder, what does a figurative chandelier even look like? Maybe your confusing it with the new tour? Which I also enjoyed to some degree but not enough to even compare to the original.
I’ve also seen the Vegas production many times and I even flew out to Vegas just to see it two more times when they announced its closing. But and however that is not the same thing as wishing the Vegas, concert, or new tour ever darken the doorstep of the Majestic Theater.

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 6/7/20 at 1:43pm

I’ve been thinking some future shows will not have intermissions, telling a great story while limiting additional crowding in the lobby. Likewise I wonder if some existing shows will be written to drop intermission. Personally I’d prefer this. Fun Home was a great example of how a show can do this. For some stories it’s better to stay engaged for 140 minutes then have a break right in the middle and need to get back into the action after intermission. 

[sparksatmidnight]

Posted: 6/7/20 at 2:24pm

I have been entertaining the same thoughts. One I feel they will come up with something new (not necessarily in the text) is Wicked. I can see Phantom updating their effects a bit (the most recent Brazilian production had an absurd amount of literal fire (not sparks) in the graveyard, plus a much faster chandelier (well, as fast as its safe, but still much faster than Broadway's - though they probably won't tinker with it for the same reason they just never replaced the chandelier).

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/7/20 at 9:00pm

Even long-running Cameron Mackintosh shows aren't meant to be preserved in amber.

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 6/8/20 at 10:45am

It's a great idea, but I think it's safe to say most of the creatives who worked on these long-running shows have moved onto other things and are focused on their next projects, not sprucing up something they worked on decades ago.

[Tag]

Posted: 6/8/20 at 11:41am

You're not going to see any major physical changes to shows.  Why would producers spend anything at this time, when no money is coming in.  When theatres open up, who is going to want to spend extra money and time on tech-ing new technologies, when they are going to want open as fast as possible.

Where we might see show changes, is in the turnover of long-standing cast members.  Which will hopeful bring a refreshed feeling to some of the long run shows.  And even if many old cast members return, hopeful they will have taken this time to refresh and relax, and reopen with a new outlook and attitude.