Fran Drescher to make Broadway debut in CINDERELLA

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 1:11pm

For 10 weeks starting on February 4
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/09/fran-drescher-to-join-rodgers-s-cinderella/?src=twr&_r=0

Updated On: 12/9/13 at 01:11 PM

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 1:14pm

I guess they are really trying not to close.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 1:16pm

WOW!! I love me some Fran Drescher! This may be reason enough for another visit, although I did not like the changes made to the book.

[suestorm]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 1:16pm

Good God....

TheaterPEOPLE have no right to mock TVPEOPLE for stunt casting. this is exhibit A

Updated On: 12/9/13 at 01:16 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 1:19pm

"replacing Harriet Harris, who has proved a scene-stealer in the role."

Is there a scene in anything that she has been in that Harriet Harris hasn't stolen?

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 1:28pm

Interesting and unusual choice. Harriet Harris was superb when I saw the show last May, so Drescher has some tough shoes to fill.

[suestorm]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 1:29pm

i was afraid she was going to be playing Cinderella.

[madbrian]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 1:30pm

"Is there a scene in anything that she has been in that Harriet Harris hasn't stolen?"

No, thank God. Saw her in a regional production of Noises Off here in NJ a couple of years ago, and she was sensational as Dottie.

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 1:41pm

I think I might have to go back...

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 1:43pm

"Saw her in a regional production of Noises Off here in NJ a couple of years ago, and she was sensational as Dottie."

Oh wow, I would have loved to have seen that. She's perfect for the role.

[bwayboy22]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 1:44pm

I'M PLOTZING!

i have to see it.

[KirbyCat]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 1:45pm

Oh my god, AMAZING. She's definitely no Harriet Harris, but I think she'll have a lot of fun with the role.

[Younger Brother]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 1:47pm

Okay, this is just slightly AMAZING! Get Jennifer Tilly in as Charlotte and I will die!!!

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 1:48pm

I am a massive fan of THE NANNY. I hated this show, but MUST return to see Fran! Just last week I was saying how I dreamed she'd come to Broadway.

[madbrian]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 1:52pm

Goth - that production also featured Laila Robins as Belinda.

[Sauja]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 2:19pm

You know... I adore Harriet Harris but something about her performance in Cinderella left me very, very cold. I was surprised not to adore her in it since it seemed like such an obvious, wonderful casting choise. I don't hate the idea of Drescher taking her place. It's certainly not the worst casting of a TV actor I've ever heard. Hell, it's not the worst casting of a TV actor I've heard TODAY. I'll be rooting for her. I mean...if the show even makes it to February. I'm a little stunned they haven't announced closing yet, to be honest. And that's not a dig--I just didn't think the grosses would support keeping this open beyond the holidays.

[Noel&Cole]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 2:33pm

Sauja- I agree with you. I LOVE Fran Drescher. I LOVE The Nanny. But I sadly I don't see her being a major draw and their grosses seemed to point to a Jan closing with the exception of Thanksgiving week they have been losing money for months, so I imagine Jan will be even leaner and rougher. I mean I don't see their grosses increasing after Christmas till the summer and even at that point they will face A LOT of new competition. Just seem strange, and anti-investor at this point to burn through money they made at the beginning of the run by keep it open at a loss all through the low selling winter.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 2:37pm

"Goth - that production also featured Laila Robins as Belinda."

I can see her playing that role. I wish someone would do a production of Noises Off and have it filmed for PBS.

***Sorry to threadjack***

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 2:47pm

Well, this will either be really good or a train wreck. Either way they got me coming back to see it. LOVED Harriet Harris - so let's see what Nanny Fran can do with it.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 2:54pm

Saw the production and loved it and this will make me want to go back. Honestly, it's a brilliant marketing move if you ask me. Fran can easily make the talk-show rounds and they can easily do "A Lovely Night" to showcase a performance with her AND Cinderella.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 4:17pm

"I mean...if the show even makes it to February. I'm a little stunned they haven't announced closing yet, to be honest. And that's not a dig--I just didn't think the grosses would support keeping this open beyond the holidays."

I am by no means an expert about the ecnomics of Broadway shows, but I don't understand the doom and gloom about Cinderella that I've read on this board. To me, Cinderella is like a good seasonal business, and the question is only whether or not the money earned in the good weeks or months is enough to offset the months when business is down. Shouldn't the show be judged on an annual basis. If it is, it seems to be pretty profitable. I think I've read that the weekly nut is about $700,000, but I doubt that tells the real story, but even if $800,000 is the break even point, Cinderella, according to the Broadway League numbers, has grossed $42 million in 46 weeks. Even at that $800,000 number, wouldn't that mean that it's generated about a $5 million profit to date, which will increase between now and the end of 2013. So it would seem to me that the producers have every intention of keeping the show open througout the summer of 2014. However, I'm open to learning new things, so if my analysis seems wrong, please educate me.

[Noel&Cole]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 5:57pm

Raised on Musicals--- You're calculations are on the correct track but don't finish the formula... I heard $700k not $800k, but that's $700k just to run it. To pay everyone, advertise, rent any equipment they need, dry clean the costumes, etc. And what's reported in Gross gross, So take that $42 million subtract about 10% for union fees, CC fees, group sales commissions, etc. Then take away another 6% for the theatre owners. Then subtract your running costs of $700k a week. Then take what's left and subtract 40% of it for your royalty pool. (It maybe slightly less like 38 or 37, but on a revival by with a new writer involved I doubt it). That's the money you made back. Which in this case looks to be a little over $2 million. So they've made some money back over the past year, but still far from recoupment. And year two for a musical with no major Tony Awards that has already been in decline on its sales is usually quite meager. Jan will be rough for this show. The question becomes how much of that few million you've made do you return to investors or put back into the show to cover losses and keep it running. Especially since most of that two million was made in the show's first 6 months. The last 5 have been tepid at best.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 6:00pm

Who is next The Prince and Cinderella?

[justincharacter]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 6:23pm

I knew The Weisslers were going to start star casting sooner or later.

"Who is next The Prince and Cinderella?"

I'd love to see Ariane Rinehart in the role, as well as Zachary Levi as the Prince.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 12/9/13 at 6:33pm

How about Rosie and Nathan?