"Fantasticks" Question

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 11/23/06 at 8:01pm

I was wondering why such a successful show never wanted to transfer to Broadway? Not that there is anything wrong with Off-Broadway, but maybe the creators or producers would like a Tony nod, or just the ability to call it a "Broadway" show? I'm just curious.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/23/06 at 8:07pm

Too small for Broadway.

Broadway is just for commercial purposes. Off-Broadway, most of the time, is where the art happens. The Fantasticks, many will argue, is art.

[daredevil]

Posted: 11/23/06 at 9:26pm

Lore Noto, the producer of the Fantasticks made a strong conscious decision a few years into the off Broadway run, NOT to move the show to Broadway. He felt that it belonged at the Sullivan Street Playhouse. At the same time, Noto and the creators of the show decided to release the rights of The Fantasticks to colleges, community theaters etc., as the show was running off Broadway. This was never done at the time. Usually a show had to close and ends it tour before those rights were given out. As you can see, the strategy worked and the show ran forever. Around 1964 there were several offers by producers to move it to Broadway, but they were not taken up.

[LuPonatic]

Posted: 11/23/06 at 9:54pm

Thanks for the answer, I've always kind of wondered!