Future Show Closings- Page 2

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 12/30/07 at 9:55pm

It's physical location on 41st is the justification for "bad location".

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 12/30/07 at 9:58pm

I'd assume its current state would have to be fixed by the current tenant after closing...so the location is probably the stronger issue. The street is somewhat remote from the glitz of Time Square despite being next to 42nd Street.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 12:05am

Yeah, the fact that it's below 42nd Street makes it less desireable.

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 12:24am

As Rent proved, if the show is good enough, people will flock to it regardless of location. So I've never understood that whole "less desireable" tag, yes it might not be as good a location as some of the other theaters, but if the show is good enough, people will find out about it and have no problem finding it on 41st.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 12:29am

Pre-Rent, there were a number of factors that made the Nederlander undesirable. It was surrounded by porn stores and SRO hotels. At that point, it was the only legit theatre south of 44th Street, which made it feel especially remote. Getting to that theatre in the '80s and early '90s made you feel like you were putting your life on the line.

Now, it is surrounded by a brand new office building, a boutique hotel, Red Lobster and Ruby Tuesday, with New York Sports Club, the Hilton and The New York Times down the street. The New Amsterdam dumps about half of its audience onto 41st Street, and there is a renovated well-lit subway entrance right on the corner. Even if it's not a gorgeous block, there is consistent street traffic, and the new NY Times building should prove a further catalyst to the area.

The Nederlander is a good sized theatre with 1,200 seats, and only one balcony, instead of the dreaded two of such houses as the Longacre, Belasco, Cort and Lyceum. With a thorough renovation and with the imprimatur of a show that ran 11 or 12 years there, it might no longer be as undesirable as it once was.

Updated On: 12/31/07 at 12:29 AM

[winston89]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 12:59am

We all know that the Nederlander is the way it is because of Rent. But, even still it needs a fixing up. It is not at all on the " wrong side of Broadway" like the court, Lyceum or the Belasco.

But, I think that Rent has had the same cast for about four years and they have been rotating them around. It is time for there to be a fresh cast in that show. I don't know if I see it going anywhere thought but I am not sure.

I do know that A Chorus Line isn't going anywhere soon. They recuped their losses and have a VERY low running coast.

My personal beleaf is that any show that has to result in stunt casting to get tickets should consider closing. I think that Hairspray has done a good job and five years isn't a short run by any means at all.

I think that the Color purple might be on its last legs. And, Chicago should have closed four years ago. It isn't even enjoyable anymore.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 1:18am

Perhaps Rent needs to do what Les Miz did when it hit its tenth anniversary....replace most of the cast to inject some new energy into the piece.

[winston89]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 1:33am

I wouldn't say no to that. Only diference is that when Les Miserables hit ten years on Broadway it had a producer and a director that still cared about the show.

Rent doesn't have that. Grief has gone on to other things and the producers of Rent found their new toy in "in the heights."

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 11:01am

We'll not like I care about rent in the least bit, but!. What if RENT revamped everything. The whole outside of the theatre to draw more attention. New logo, new cast. Improve some set pieces. Just a thought.

[sally1112]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 11:39am

Many of the shows being debated here are good, and some are great, but I am ready for some new blood. Although I support giving a show a chance to find an audience, etc., one must always know when it is time to leave the party...
Updated On: 12/31/07 at 11:39 AM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 12:39pm

A Chorus Line will be around for another year. It recouped it's investment back in February and has been making a large profit ever since. It has struggled after the strike but from what friends have told me, it did very well for the Christmas week.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 12:49pm

I think that Chicago and Legally Blonde will be gone come fall. I also think Hirspray should wap up after award season because if the movie wins awards, the musical becomes a sucess.

Rent just needs to go. Please.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 1:00pm

"Rent doesn't have that. Grief has gone on to other things and the producers of Rent found their new toy in "in the heights." "

Grief should realize that Rent is his most lucrative project. He SHOULD care more about the show.

Oy. How do I say this without making it seem like I'm calling Grey Gardens a bad show...which it isn't! I got the CD and libretto last night! Good stuff.

[RockabyeHamlet]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 1:08pm

RENT- It's time has come and gone. It's almost a sad parody of the show it once was. I think it should announce it's closing early, give people a few months to see it (but don't go to endless extensions when tickets start selling.) Then have a final performance, with proceeds going to BCEFA, and bring back some of the earlier cast members, and let the show go out with some class.

Same with Chicago.

[winston89]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 2:13pm

I agree about everythhing that has been said about Rent.

Mattbrian- Grife SHOULD realize that Rent is his most lucritive project at this point. But, he hasn't

Hamlet- It is a sad pariody of the show it once was. Espically since it is a point in time where it is not quite a period peace and not quite modern eaither. that is part of the problem for this show.

Chicago should have closed five years ago. Instead the Wesslers choose to fill it up with D list celebrities. I don't care how good any of them are. Yes, some are going to be good some aren't. But, even still it doesn't matter. If your a producer and your only way of getting people to see your show is by that method then it i time to close.

[DirtyRottenGirl]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 3:25pm

Rent
A Chorus Line
Legally Blonde
Avenue Q

[winston89]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 3:35pm

A Chorus Line isn't going to close soon. There is no reason for it to. It recouped not that long ago and is still deeemed profitable to continue its run on Broadway. Plus a tour is planned.

Considering that, it will be on Broadway for a while.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 3:35pm

Grief has gone on to other things and the producers of Rent found their new toy in "in the heights."

They also had that little show called Avenue Q.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 3:51pm

So Winston, by your logic, Michael Grief and McCollum/Seller should solely concentrate on RENT?

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 4:06pm

Will Curtains last the whole year? I am not sure when David Hyde Pierce is slated to leave, but I can't imagine the show lasting much longer after his departure.

[winston89]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 4:57pm

Yankeefan, I never ment that Grief and the producers should just focus on Rent. What I am saying is that they are acting as if they simply forgot about it and don't care about it anymore and it shows.

I don't think Curtains will last the entier year. The downside of casting David Hyde Pierce in the lead role is that it only sparked interest in some people because they just wanted to see him in it. It is the same effect as stunt casting. Only difference is that it is at the beginning of the show's run. So if he leaves they can be screwed.

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 5:09pm

Unless they get a star of equal or greater name recogintion to replace DHP (which seems very unlikely), I don't see the show lasting too long... although isn't he supposed to stay through the summer at the least? I could see him possibly extending again.
Updated On: 12/31/07 at 05:09 PM

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 5:34pm

He extended thru August, you can do a search on Playbill for the announcement.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 6:09pm

The downside of casting David Hyde Pierce in the lead role is that it only sparked interest in some people because they just wanted to see him in it.

So you think that they should have cast a complete unknown and more people would go and see it?

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 12/31/07 at 6:27pm

Winston, get a dictionary:

deeemed: deemed
everythhing: everything
Grife: Grief
lucritive: lucrative
pariody: parody
Espically: especially
peace: piece
eaither: either
Wesslers: Weisslers
i: is