How much longer can "Chicago" last? — Page 2

The circles are common around here and usually have the same cause: folks posting without learning from that which preceded their post. It gets boring quickly. I'm just going to add one point and not repeat the other one I am tempted to reiterate. Regarding the undesirability, the FOH suffers because of the weird shape and also the size of the mezz which is roughly identical to the orchestra. Between that and the lack of wingspace or other storage options, it is a last choice and that creates a vicious circle that explains how few shows succeed there. Chicago was a good fit when it was asked to leave the Shubert almost 2 decades ago. Because it was basically the Encores staging.

SouthernCakes said: "What makes it so undesirable? It’s the only Broadway theater I’ve never been in.


it’s a good location though.


I saw the all female version at LCT and was reminded how great the show is."

I couldn’t believe what a dump that theatre is when I went to see Pamela Anderson there. The bathroom situation is totally ridiculous, in particular.

FANtomFollies said: "Matt Rogers said: "I couldn’t believe what a dump that theatre is when I went to see Pamela Anderson there. The bathroom situation is totally ridiculous, in particular."

I've only been inside once about 15 years ago...what is the bathroom situation?"

Well I can only speak for the men’s room but they only have one (1) extremely tiny men’s bathroom. I think there are like three urinals and two stalls or something like that. It’s pretty pathetic.

@nasty You remember correctly. They wanted the Shubert (not surprisingly) for the Bernadette Gypsy.

Can they do small renovations and upkeep in the day time while the show is running at night? I've never quite understood how these theaters fall into disrepair during long runs. Though, the only other example I've seen first hand was the Nederlander in the final years of Rent.

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Is the backstage area actually that bad at the ambassador? Have never been back there but there’s many a theatre with poor backstage space and they “make it work.”" I have been backstage more than once. I entered through the entrance passage-way, check in with the stage door person and then go in. From there, I proceeded to the front of the stage. ** Here with Jason Patrick Sands.

Updated On: 8/15/22 at 10:50 PM

CATSNYrevival said: "Can they do small renovations and upkeep in the day time while the show is running at night? I've never quite understood how these theaters fall into disrepair during long runs."

I don't think the issue here is disrepair because of the long run –– it's the architecture & functionality of the space to begin with. The Nederlander was a dump before RENT moved in.

What the venue most desperately needs is an overhaul of its bathrooms and FOH (possibly losing some mez space for additional bathrooms), and that kind of thing is completely impossible with a show running. You can barely do any work when the longest time off is 48 hours. I expect the Shuberts have greater plans for renovation after Chicago eventually closes, hence no small upgrades in the interim. This is a historic building and would take months to design and get approvals, and then additional months of construction time; we had no idea how long the pandemic shutdown would last.

Updated On: 8/15/22 at 11:46 PM

For those who weren't around at the time, the Ambassador sat empty from 1990-1995. That's how unpopular it was. Even the Nederlander Theatre was more utilized during that time. Still, in the years before Chicago, the Ambassador did manage to have a couple of winners in the 1990s and early 00s with Noise/Funk and Topdog/Underdog.

When one day it is renovated, I'd love if they would recreate this FOH sign, as Jujamcyn did for the Ritz/Walter Kerr when it was restored. Vintage photos of the Ambassador interior also show a much more attractive house than how it looks presently.

From Playbill Ambassador Theatre Article:

"The plot at 215 West 49th Street presented a challenge to veteran theatre architect Herbert J. Krapp, being too narrow for a conventional theatre layout. The resourceful Krapp responded with an unorthodox configuration, placing the auditorium diagonally on the site."

There's legit no wing space able to support the needs of modern musicals:

The Majestic Theater had tons of work done to its exterior during the pandemic. It was covered in scaffolding for months and months and there were a ton of work notices taped to the doors.

There will always be another washed-up starlet waiting in the wings. I hope it lasts forever.