Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!- Page 5
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#100
Posted: 5/5/26 at 10:28pm
kdogg36 said: "TheatreFan4 said: "What exactly is there to be transparent about? There's been a fire and until their Insurance says they can do differently, it's two days of canceled performances. Likely to be many more long term. I'm not exactly sure what kind of word they can give at this juncture barely 24 hours after the fire when there's not been a thorough inspection."
If you or I were out of a job because of a fire at our place of work, we'd expect our boss to be communicating with us at least daily about the situation. The question isn't about what they're announcing to the public, but how well they're keeping employees informed about what they know."
Which is nothing. Should they be sending them pictures and cost estimates? The staff and actors know what everybody knows, no shows through tomorrow at least. The more messy information you give out to staff creates more games of telephone about what exactly happened and what gets out to press. Until there is actually a game plan, there is literally nothing more to share that will help the cast and staff that won't in someway get blasted back at the production.
Flat out, you can't share what you don't know.
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#101
Posted: 5/5/26 at 11:29pm
ACL2006 said: "The cast and crew found out about the fire and the cancelled performances via the show's Instagram. Several cast members commented when the show posted about the cancellations saying "would have been nice to find out throughmanagement". I don't think management is being transparentenough with the cast and crew."
Does this show a lack of transparency, or just a (perceived) lack of courtesy? I mean, putting it on Insta was the easiest way to get it out to everyone fast, though I guess there's also less liklihood everyone saw it depending on how common/mandatory it is for employees to check the site. It seems impersonal, but maybe the most effective way to handle it?
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#102
Posted: 5/5/26 at 11:35pm
I also feel it's a little bit of a making situation about yourself, when it's far bigger than you the individual. Like... you got the information, didn't you? Is that less personal than an email/text blast with a generic statement going out to a couple hundred people? I understand it being tacky hearing about a closing from the Press, but this? I mean... kind of get over yourself if you're being huffy right now.
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#103
Posted: 5/5/26 at 11:40pm
It probably would bother me as an individual had I been in that situation, so I get the emotion expressed. I also get why this may not have been feasible. Who exactly is to inform which category of people employed there about such incidents? Best not to jump to conclusions, yet, when there is so little information.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/13
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#104
Posted: 5/6/26 at 9:03am
With so many options for "instant" communication, it's (unfortunately, IMO) become expected that everyone has a "right", or is deserved of all info, all the time.
That just isn't true. There are many possible reasons why information needs to remain contained, or on a need to know basis - not excluding the fact that some info is just simply unknown.
If the level of communications should be faulted in any way, IMO, it's that there appears to be no established, centralized point of contact referenced in the communication (e.g., for additional info call (###) ###-####, or see www.fireinfo.com for updates).
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#105
Posted: 5/6/26 at 9:10am
I’m not surprised the cast and crew found out about the fire via social media- it was reported live as it was going on and was shared widely, likely before production management themselves really knew the extent of what was happening.
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#106
Posted: 5/6/26 at 9:31am
Have these cast members claiming they’re finding out about their job on instagram stopped to double check their spam folder?
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#107
Posted: 5/6/26 at 12:23pm
As of now, tomorrow night's performance is still on schedule.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/7/12
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#109
Posted: 5/6/26 at 12:49pm
Full Vacate means they need everything out?
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#110
Posted: 5/6/26 at 12:51pm
Scott Rudin is gonna take that insurance money and run. This is the end of The Book of Mormon, I think.
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#111
Posted: 5/6/26 at 12:51pm
TheGingerBreadMan said: "I don't think that performances are resuming any time soon."
I'll guess and say they still have some kind of 15th anniversary concert somewhere and that'll officially close the show. A full vacate likely means the theater has significant damage.
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#112
Posted: 5/6/26 at 12:52pm
blaxx said: "Full Vacate means they need everything out?"
Most likely. With the damage incurred, it’s likely that people cannot occupy the building safely while repairs are assessed and completed, let alone perform.
This begs the next question - is the show going to go on hiatus or will another theatre host BoM until repairs are done? The earliest likeliest vacancy for an ATG theatre is the August Wilson in July.
Broadway Star Joined: 11/18/13
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#113
Posted: 5/6/26 at 12:53pm
Curious to know if anyone knows about what the layoff agreement would be for the unions involved. Cast and most production staff will continue to be paid out until the show announces an official closing notice, correct?
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#114
Posted: 5/6/26 at 1:07pm
“Full vacate” means it’s not inhabitable by people, not that they need to fully clear it. Since it sounds like the damage was to the electrical infrastructure on the opposite end of the building from the stage, they’ll need to start emergency repairs ASAP and then have the Department of Buildings re-assess it. From there, they essentially need to fully re-tech the show before opening.
Given the deep pocket reserves of the producers, I can see them doing everything in their power to reopen at the O’Neill and using their insurance to keep the cast and crew afloat and on retainer. But we shall see!
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#115
Posted: 5/6/26 at 1:52pm
CJRochester said: "That Reddit photo of the projection booth was deleted, as were many of the comments."
When I search in Google “Book of Mormon fire damage” and then look at images, there is a screenshot of a Reddit post showing up with an image of substantial damage. No clue if that was the original image posted, and if that’s a real photo of the damage or someone sharing a photo and saying it’s the damage… but if it is… oof.
Featured Actor Joined: 1/8/24
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#116
Posted: 5/6/26 at 1:55pm
quizking101 said: "blaxx said: "Full Vacate means they need everything out?"
Most likely. With the damage incurred, it’s likely that people cannot occupy the building safely while repairs are assessed and completed, let alone perform.
This begs the next question - is the show going to go on hiatus or will another theatre host BoM until repairs are done? The earliest likeliest vacancy for an ATG theatre is the August Wilson in July."
this begs the next next question
why do u ppl think it is this simple to move a show
no other theatre is going to ‘host’ book of mormon
the sheer scale of equipment involved
is daunting to even think about
with some of it likely fire and water damaged
and there will be no replacement concert version
who is going to pay full price for that indefinitely
ppl come for the complete Broadway experience
its a good thing most of u dont work in the biz
because these are pie in the sky ideas
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#117
Posted: 5/6/26 at 2:02pm
TotallyEffed said: "Scott Rudin is gonna take that insurance money and run. This is the end of The Book of Mormon, I think."
Does he still have a financial stake in the show? I was under the impression he was bought out. He’s not a credited producer anymore.
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#118
Posted: 5/6/26 at 2:09pm
Call_me_jorge said: "TotallyEffed said: "Scott Rudin is gonna take that insurance money and run. This is the end of The Book of Mormon, I think."
Does he still have a financial stake in the show? I was under the impression he was bought out. He’s not a credited producer anymore."
You're probably right. I was just reminded of how ruthless he was with the closing of Shuffle Along.
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#119
Posted: 5/6/26 at 2:49pm
The photo of inside the booth was seemingly uncomfirmed, but here is an outer shot from BWW IG.
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#120
Posted: 5/6/26 at 2:53pm
I dont see this moving even if it were permanent. I'd imagine they legally could not take out any of the set from the theatre while they're doing work. I don't think there's a set even that's not being used they could just move in. So it's either wait it out or close.
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#121
Posted: 5/6/26 at 3:08pm
I don’t get why touring productions setup shop for six weeks in NYC (and extend, oftentimes) but somehow the idea that a touring set could be stored somewhere could be pulled out and put at the Majestic once Beaches closes is out of the question. Wigs and costuming will need to be redone, possibly, but what else prevents an established show like this from getting back on its feet within a few months? Kinda seems like if there’s a will, there will be a way.
Featured Actor Joined: 4/8/08
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#122
Posted: 5/6/26 at 3:13pm
TheatreFan4 said: "I dont see this moving even if it were permanent. I'd imagine they legally could not take out any of the set from the theatre while they're doing work. I don't think there's a set eventhat's not being used they could just move in. So it's either wait it out or close."
I still say what I said before – y’all are in crazytown if you think the show closes like this. It’s very possible- especially depending on what kind of insurance they have- that the show comes out of this in a stronger position financially than they were before the fire. (And that’s assuming that no one is found liable to sue for damages.)
Obviously insurance takes a while to pay out, and most other shows wouldn’t be fortunate enough to be in this position. But someone wrote the obituary saying something like “since we can assume the show has played its last performance, it will be the 10th longest running show ever.”
By comparison if there was a fire at the Shubert in 1980, when A Chorus Line became the 10th longest running show, do you think Joseph Papp would have closed it? If there was a fire at the Majestic in 1995 - when Phantom became the 10th longest running show ever- do you think Cameron Mackintosh would have shut it down? What matters is not whether Trey Parker “needs the money” or if Scott Rudin wants to “cut a check and run” - what matters is whether the team in place managing the show want it to end like this (my guess is not), have the resources to weather the storm (my guess is so), and think reopening is worth it (I’ve said this before but my guess is that the show will come back as strong as ever; absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that).
The real point of comparison isn’t some other show that was teetering on the brink and lost a few weeks of income; it’s the pandemic. Shows that couldn’t make the numbers work to resume went away (Mean Girls, West Side Story) and shows that thought it was worth it came back (including shows that had barely opened, like Girl from the North Country, and crucially to this point, all of the long-running hits.)
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#123
Posted: 5/6/26 at 3:20pm
THDavis said: "I don’t get why touring productions setup shop for six weeks in NYC (and extend, oftentimes) but somehow the idea that a touring set could be stored somewhere could be pulled out and put at the Majestic once Beaches closes is out of the question. Wigs and costuming will need to be redone, possibly, but what else prevents an established show like this from getting back on its feet within a few months? Kinda seems like if there’s a will, there will be a way."
Because Sets don't tend to sit around for popular shows. There is a tour going around right now...
Eugene O’Neil Theatre on fire!!#124
Posted: 5/6/26 at 3:28pm
From the one picture, it does not look like the damage to the auditorium itself is too bad. Issue is likely replacing a bunch of electrical equipment (some of which may be older and not made any more, requiring some time to determine the best replacements) and determining what, if any, structural damage occurred. In the end, the appropriate city departments will be the ones making the call about when performances are permitted to continue.
Yes, we all keep speculating but you'd think by now we'd have heard more. People are holding tickets to upcoming performances. Not all Broadway audience members live in NYC and need to plan accordingly.
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