Posted: 4/19/18 at 8:21am
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/HADESTOWN-To-Play-Londons-National-Theatre-Prior-To-Opening-On-Broadway-In-2019-20180419
Updated On: 4/19/18 at 08:21 AM
Posted: 4/19/18 at 9:21am
Excellent - Very excited for this news!
Posted: 4/19/18 at 9:28am
At the National no less! Great news.
Posted: 4/19/18 at 9:54am
I wonder if they're coming spring or fall of 2019! But either way, excited nonetheless.
Posted: 4/19/18 at 10:13am
Looking at the list of other new musicals in 2019... They'd be foolish if they didn't aim for Spring 2019. I'd say this has a pretty good shot at best musical,
Posted: 4/19/18 at 10:17am
Posted: 4/19/18 at 10:19am
Posted: 4/19/18 at 11:16am
What I think is most fascinating about all this, is it's going into the Olivier Theater, which is a much larger version of the Vivian Beaumont. Looks like they'll have to be restoring some of the circular staging, since this isn't a typical proscenium space at all. The Olivier is gigantic - could they actually be considering the Beaumont?
Since it's Chavkin, I'm certain it'll be incredible and magical no matter what, but their staging track record is fascinating:
Off Broadway: completely atmospheric, in-the-round greek amphitheater layout
Canada: completely traditional, proscenium staging
London: A mix of the two?
Broadway: Unless they get Circle in the Square or the Beaumont, it'll be proscenium again. That is, unless, they do something creative with on stage seating (which would be amazing)
What were the timelines on Angels and Groundhog Day closing in London and opening in NY? I feel they each had a gap, and they didn't have any staging changes, which this will have to have. My money's on Summer 2019.
Posted: 4/19/18 at 11:57am
I am so excited. Even though I've never seen it - I am in love with the cast recording.
Posted: 4/19/18 at 12:42pm
Several thoughts about this new development:
(1) I'm ecstatic that it is moving forward with plans, and that it's going to get such a high profile production in London.
(2) I wonder if it will be filmed for NTLive!
(3) I'm concerned that it will be in the Olivier, which is massive, and has the potential to completely swallow a show if not staged carefully. But we saw Chavkin tackle Comet's move to Broadway, so I have faith that she can tackle this too. Plus, the National has so much money at their disposal, they will give Chavkin anything she needs to fill the space.
(4) I wonder if they were having trouble finding American producers, so they're going to London to find British producers and backers. I wouldn't be surprised, given how much more willing they are to take risks on theatre over there.
(5) As happy as I am that they are still aiming for Broadway, I can't really allow myself to celebrate this "news" when it is still so unconfirmed, and so far in the future. We all know how many shows announce intentions to go to Broadway, then never come due to a wide variety of circumstances. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!
Posted: 4/19/18 at 2:18pm
Posted: 4/19/18 at 4:27pm
It does look like quite a big space, but I think it could work. It's not as giant of a show as Comet, so I'm sure it would work in any of the mid-size theaters. And they can always change it to make it more of an environmental staging. So many shows have done that.
Posted: 4/19/18 at 4:36pm
The problem with the Olivier I think is not the size of the house. It's large, yes, but the fan-shape gives it a surprisingly intimate feel, even from the back. The problem is the size of the playing space. The stage is wide and VERY deep. I saw a few shows there that really struggled to fill the physical space, and as a result just felt flat - and like I said - just drowned. The Threepenny Opera was the biggest example of this. For Hadestown, I think they'll have to expand not only the set, but also the cast, and the band, to really make it feel like the belongs there.
Posted: 4/19/18 at 4:42pm
I could see them taking Circle in Square. I can't imagine OOTI will run into 2019.
Posted: 4/19/18 at 7:23pm
BroadwayConcierge said: "I could see them taking Circle in Square. I can't imagineOOTI will run into 2019."
This has been my thinking since the Broadway transfer was first mooted. While OOTI might survive through the fall if it wins the Best Revival Tony, I'm unconvinced it has much more steam than that.
Posted: 4/19/18 at 8:21pm
I'm so happy to hear this! Hadestown is one of my favorite shows. Brittain Ashford told me that Rachel C. was eyeing one of the Shubert theatres if "it's available", but maybe they're going to go for Circle in the Square if it opens up.
Posted: 4/19/18 at 8:49pm
I think they're vying for a bigger space. I'm not sure how big of a show Hadestown is - cast wise - but their goal is to turn a profit, so they probably don't want such a tiny theater. Such is the dynamics of commercial theater.
Posted: 4/19/18 at 9:39pm
I've said this in other Hadestown threads, but I stand by it (possibly even more now):
It seems really unlikely to me that they would go for the CITS after putting in all this effort to make the show work in a proscenium - and now in a thrust-ish sort of space at NT. It seems like they are following a similar trajectory as Comet (another show which many assumed would go into the Circle in the Square). I'll eat my words if I'm wrong - and I certainly wouldn't be opposed to the show going into CITS - but that just doesn't seem to be the direction they're going.
And I have also heard from a reliable source that they have been in talks with the Shuberts FWIW.
Posted: 4/19/18 at 9:47pm
Posted: 4/19/18 at 9:49pm
Posted: 4/19/18 at 10:06pm
reginula said: "I’m also crossing my fingers for a NT Live recording. It would be amazing. What are the odds? Do they record all their shows?"
They don't record all their shows, but recently they've been recording most of the productions that play the Olivier or the Lyttleton, so normally I'd say it's likely to get a broadcast. The only thing is - since they intend to bring the show Broadway after its London run, they may choose not to record it for fear of lowering ticket demand. Obviously lots of shows have been broadcast, then went on to transfer, but in those cases they decided to transfer after the broadcast had already been done.
This is all speculative of course. It's very possible that they will broadcast it, and I hope they do!
Posted: 4/20/18 at 9:18am
it was several months ago so may no longer be true, but I was told from a reliable source that Chavkin was expressively NOT looking at Circle in the Square and was keen on a more traditional staging. Which I think is a bit of a pity, but I have faith in her vision
Posted: 4/23/18 at 12:05pm
Awww yeah, GET that Tony Award Patrick Page!
#TeamPatrick2019
Posted: 4/23/18 at 12:21pm
How'd it work in Canada?
Posted: 4/23/18 at 12:26pm
This defintely wont have a NT Live Broadcast.
Not being an musical expecting to come to Broadway.
