HERE LIES LOVE closing November 26- Page 4

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/9/23 at 9:40am

Intotheblue said: "Timing is everything. Unfortunately, waiting 10 years to bring it in AND opening in the summer were it’s biggest downfall."

Correct. And once again the Broadway will most likely sit empty for a long time. Has there ever been a hit there in the past decade? F*ck. 

[Kad]

Posted: 11/9/23 at 9:57am

There’s likely no one reason why it took them so long. I would guess that the sheer logistics of getting this production into a Broadway house were a nightmare, and it required a theater with a large audience space to be unoccupied for a longer time in order to do necessary renovations and build the production. They also had to work out how to get the show to work in such a space, as it had never performed in a proscenium theater until the Seattle production in 2017. I would imagine they had to workshop and try things out for that. And then, of course, Timbers and the designers are all in high demand and likely lacked availability. And this doesn’t even include getting the money in place! 
 

It just seems like it needed a lot of stars to align and they took a while to do so.  

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 11/9/23 at 11:35am

Broadway Flash said: "Why did they wait so long to come to broadway anyway?"

The production explored some transfer options a decade ago, including Circle in the Square and the (now demolished) Hotel Pennsylvania.  

I don't think the show has been 'waiting' for ten years for the right theatre or logistics to align- I think Alex Timbers has had a number of big successes since the production at the Public - namely Moulin Rouge, which is a similar spectacle that has had huge international success. I think that is the main reason producers suddenly took a renewed interest in making HLL a commercially viable property.

Updated On: 11/9/23 at 11:35 AM

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 11/9/23 at 1:14pm

Sutton Ross said: "Intotheblue said: "Timing is everything. Unfortunately, waiting 10 years to bring it in AND opening in the summer were it’s biggest downfall."

Correct. And once again the Broadway will most likely sit empty for a long time. Has there ever been a hit there in the past decade? F*ck."

I believe the last time something ran in there for more than a year was Cinderella, which was indeed a decade ago. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/9/23 at 1:50pm

Oh wow, that's crazy. Thanks, Marvelous. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/9/23 at 2:09pm

If anyone who has seen the show and/or is interested, Angelo Soriano is making his U/S debut as the DJ tomorrow night 11/10 at 8pm.

[bear88]

Posted: 11/10/23 at 12:18am

My philosophy when I go to New York City is to see things, when possible, that could never be replicated on tour, or in a local production. Here Lies Love succeeded on that level, and had the added bonus for us of $35 rush tickets to see the full cast. I didn't think the musical totally succeeded in what it set out to do, but at least it was an ambitious effort that addressed serious issues with top-notch direction, set design and performances. Even what I thought were its failures were worth discussing. My wife and I had a good time, and the musical certainly felt like an event while we experienced it.

I never thought the show would be a financial success. There were too many strikes against it, a "new" musical without stars (except for Lea Salonga, who was gone by the time we saw it in late August) that many locals had already seen a decade before and that wasn't likely to appeal to many tourists given the subject matter - and, let's be honest, the all-Filipino cast. Even Hamilton had King George to make white audiences comfortable. Here Lies Love wasn't a "safe" night at the theater. You needed to dance a bit, even in the mezzanine. Even the choice of where to sit, or stand, was a bit daunting.

But I would rather see imperfect, interesting and entertaining musicals that try something different - so I wish it had done better.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/10/23 at 4:23pm

FYI, this is on TDF (sitting & standing) for the weekend, for those who were looking for discounts.

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/10/23 at 9:00pm

I saw tonight on Instagram that it was a sold out show.

For what it’s worth, I think all of the standing floor slots for the final performance are sold out already. I looked on Telecharge on my laptop and on the mobile site and they are no longer being offered. There are only gallery and mezzanine seats left

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 11/10/23 at 9:24pm

perfectlymarvelous said: "Sutton Ross said: "Intotheblue said: "Timing is everything. Unfortunately, waiting 10 years to bring it in AND opening in the summer were it’s biggest downfall."

Correct. And once again the Broadway will most likely sit empty for a long time. Has there ever been a hit there in the past decade? F*ck."

I believe the last time something ran in there for more than a year was Cinderella, which was indeed a decade ago."

Technically Fiddler lasted a year and 11 days back in 2015-16.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/10/23 at 9:30pm

quizking101 said: "I saw tonight on Instagram that it was a sold out show.

For what it’s worth, I think all of the standing floor slots for the final performance are sold out already. I looked on Telecharge on my laptop and on the mobile site and they are no longer being offered. There are only gallery and mezzanine seats left"

I saw that there's some kind of fundraiser/GoFundMe type of thing going around to keep the show open longer. A bit late for that. The fans should have been notified earlier that the show was in trouble.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/10/23 at 9:39pm

ACL2006 said: "quizking101 said: "I saw tonight on Instagram that it was a sold out show.

For what it’s worth, I think all of the standing floor slots for the final performance are sold out already. I looked on Telecharge on my laptop and on the mobile site and they are no longer being offered. There are only gallery and mezzanine seats left"

I saw that there's some kind of fundraiser/GoFundMe type of thing going around to keep the show open longer. A bit late for that. The fans should have been notified earlier that the show was in trouble."

Yep, same thing with KPOP. They only want to save the show AFTER the closing notice has been posted. 

[inception]

Posted: 11/10/23 at 10:05pm

ACL2006 said: "
I saw that there's some kind of fundraiser/GoFundMe type of thing going around to keep the show open longer. A bit late for that. The fans should have been notified earlier that the show was in trouble."

If they were fans of the show, or followed it the least bit,  they should have known it was in trouble.  

I'm on the West Coast and could read that it had been in trouble for months.

When rumours about the show first surfaced last year, I really hoped that they could get it together enough for a Spring opening. Until they finally announced a Summer opening, I had been holding out hope to maybe see it when I was in the city in March. All the construction & planning for that really slowed them down.  In retrospect that was probably a colossal mistake.  Doubtless plenty of people told them it was a mistake,  but some people simply refuse to listen to good advice.

I have an odd story remotely related.  Yesterday an old neighbor called me up wanting to meet for lunch.  By chance I had the day off work, so went to see her & her husband.  They're an elderly Philipino couple in their 80's who have lived in Canada for 50 years.  While visiting she wanted to show me some photos of grandkids, and pulled this huge wad of snapshots out of her purse.  While sorting through them, she had a bunch of family photos from the 60's.  In one she pointed out her mother with Ninoy Aquino, and then in another had her mother and herself and her sister when they teenagers beside Ferdinand Marcos.  She called him General Marcos, and then quickly said, "but he kind of went crazy."  I didn't quite know how to react,  and then she found the photos of her grandkids.

Updated On: 11/11/23 at 10:05 PM

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 11/11/23 at 12:15am

Lord. Flop shows of the golden age - where people like Merrick would close them as soon as their fate was clear - at least knew they’d failed and left town with dignity. 

Now no failure goes quietly. 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 11/11/23 at 12:19pm

Have there been any recent cast absences?

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/11/23 at 12:24pm

VintageSnarker said: "Have there been any recent cast absences?"

Conrad Ricamora has been out a few times this week - he was out on Tuesday, Thursday, and is out for both shows today. Aaron Alcaraz is a FANTASTIC cover though.

Reanne Acasio (Aurora) is out through 11/14 on vacation.

Jasmine Forsberg (Maria Luisa) has been in and out as she gets ready to join SIX, and I believe she is scheduled to be out all next week.

Moses Villarama (DJ) was out for a pre-planned absence last night, but otherwise usually doesn't miss.


Jose and Melody are the only two I have never missed in their roles in the many times I've went. 

Updated On: 11/11/23 at 12:24 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/11/23 at 12:24pm

This should have went into the Circle in the Square theater.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 11/11/23 at 12:35pm

Thank you, quizking101. You're always so helpful. I'll be sorry to miss Conrad but I'm still happy to finally be seeing the show. 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 11/11/23 at 1:11pm

“This should have went into the Circle in the Square theater.”


as we’ve discussed 750 times, no it couldn’t have. The economics of the Broadway Theatre barely made sense, it absolutely could NOT have worked in that space. Y’all love to throw around the Circle and the Square like it’s some miracle theatre for immersive shows when it wouldn’t work for any of them. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/11/23 at 2:19pm

ACL2006 said: "This should have went into the Circle in the Square theater."

Lolz. 

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 11/11/23 at 6:09pm

Full house this afternoon, and great energy! I previously saw the show from the dance floor in previews, but I decided to go back and see it from the mezzanine when I won the digital lottery.

There are pros and cons to both areas (standing and sitting), but I think I personally enjoyed viewing the show more from a seat in the mezzanine. It was cool being up close to the action when I did the dance floor, but it was definitely a little exhausting standing the entire 90 minutes and being herded around (the crowd control for this is really remarkable, though). I definitely got the bigger picture this afternoon sitting back in the mezzanine.

I'm really bummed this didn't catch on. It really is a unique and innovative show that is unlike anything Broadway has had before.

[jbird5]

Posted: 11/12/23 at 9:43am

Sad that this and Sleep Mo More are both closing.  These shows don’t appeal to tourists and there is too much star power and Disney to compete with.  I can’t believe how many people’s first Broadway show is BOM.  

[TBone]

Posted: 11/12/23 at 9:53am

bwayphreak234 said: "Full house this afternoon, and great energy! I previously saw the show from the dance floor in previews, but I decided to go back and see it from the mezzanine when I won the digital lottery."

Just curious as to where your lottery seats were?

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/12/23 at 11:42am

jbird5 said: "Sad that this and Sleep Mo More are both closing. These shows don’t appeal to tourists and there is too much star power and Disney to compete with. I can’t believe how many people’s first Broadway show is BOM. "

…Sleep No More will have played 5000 performances by closing. The hell you talking about “not appealing to tourists”?

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 11/13/23 at 12:46pm

BroadwayWorld.com: 'Here Lies Love' Tries Hard, But Still Fails to Find Its Broadway Audience by Cara Joy David

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/HERE-LIES-LOVE-Tries-Hard-But-Still-Fails-To-Find-Its-Broadway-Audience-20231113#