Posted: 3/4/16 at 7:46am
Let us not forget that Hugie was a NY Times Critics Pick. I think their reviews have become a joke. No news to people who attend theatre on a regular basis.
Posted: 3/4/16 at 7:49am
Heck, if Hedwig could move into the Belasco after the unexpected closing of Hurt Locker: The Musical, then why couldn't some other small production move into the Booth quickly?
Posted: 3/4/16 at 8:07am
ClumsyDude15 said: "Ah, that's very true, Islander_Fan. I just figured once The Humans finished up their limited engagement, Second Stage would just slide Dear Evan Hansen in as their first Second Stage owned and run show. I could see Dear Evan Hansen working well in the Booth, but also in the Hayes. "
their run at 2ST is already scheduled through end of May with tickets sold and subscription seats filled. they are not going to transfer it to Broadway before that. and even beyond that, there is no telling this will move on. a lot will depend on the reviews.
Posted: 3/4/16 at 9:08am
BroadwayConcierge said: "10086sunset said: "Not trying to be cryptic Broadway Concierge. Her role is pretty vital to the play she's in. Didn't want to say the name of the play in case someone was going to see it."
Ooh, actually just found the post you're referencing—and completely understand where you were coming from! Apologies for the snark. 
"
Broadway Concierge, no worries. Thanks for your message.
Posted: 3/4/16 at 9:09am
Wee Thomas2 said: "Heck, if Hedwig could move into the Belasco after the unexpected closing of Hurt Locker: The Musical, then why couldn't some other small production move into the Booth quickly?"
This is everything.
Posted: 3/4/16 at 9:17am
Right? Just leave the glorious Hughie set up and let Barbara Cook play Hedwig on it!
It's not the work, it's the stairs...
Updated On: 3/4/16 at 09:17 AM
Posted: 3/4/16 at 9:20am
Barbara Cook as Hedwig is, really, what I think we've all been waiting for all along.
Posted: 3/4/16 at 9:27am
Barbara Cook is not the Hedwig we need, but she is the Hedwig we deserve,
Posted: 3/4/16 at 9:55am
steven22 said: "Any chance that Lazarus could swoop in? Would love to see it again and it would fit perfectly in the Booth. "
No. They're not trying to move it and the cast all has moved on.
Posted: 3/4/16 at 9:56am
"Let us not forget that Hugie was a NY Times Critics Pick. I think their reviews have become a joke."
They've been that way for a long, long time.
Unfortunately, the joke's on us.
Posted: 3/4/16 at 10:01am
Few if any people anymore make their decisions to see or skip a show based on reviews. And if they do, they are always taking a risk. Not everyone's taste aligns; what Ben Brantley considers a transfixing evening of theater might be a bore to you, and vice versa.
Posted: 3/4/16 at 10:02am
"I just thought that Riedel's writing about his plans of being the prompter police was funny."
I thought it was funny also and these movie stars really need to get their act together and learn their lines. It is part of being a professional actor knowing your lines before people are paying big money to see you perform.
Posted: 3/4/16 at 10:12am
Just leave the glorious Hughie set up and let Barbara Cook play Hedwig on it!
Hedwig would look pretty amazing on that set.
Posted: 3/4/16 at 10:59am
Forest Whitaker has a TimesTalk scheduled for Sunday. I think he should maybe cancel that because it could get very embarrassing.
Posted: 3/4/16 at 11:06am
ClydeBarrow said: "Forest Whitaker has a TimesTalk scheduled for Sunday. I think he should maybe cancel that because it could get very embarrassing. "
Oh they should DEFINITELY cancel that...
Posted: 3/4/16 at 11:18am
Being fascinated by the topic of failure, and the American inability to discuss it (as we seem to fear failure more than death), I'd be very interested to hear Whitaker and others from the Hughie team discuss theirs - that is, if it wasn't almost guaranteed that they would pretend that their failure had nothing to do with them ("I feel that I achieved what I set out to do, but the New York theatre community is a very closed, negative place, blah blah, blah..."
.
Posted: 3/4/16 at 11:21am
Or he could pull a Patti LuPone after The Anarchist: "The producers failed to support us! They didn't give us time to find our audience!" (Translation: they didn't see the point in throwing good money after bad).
Posted: 3/4/16 at 12:33pm
The Anarchist was simply a really bad show. It should have closed during rehearsals.
Hughie, besides Whitaker not knowing his lines, suffered from its length. To ask people to shell out $150 for a show under an hour was a deal breaker for many. It should have been teamed with another one acter.
Updated On: 3/4/16 at 12:33 PM
Posted: 3/4/16 at 4:11pm
I think there's a difference between a well respected actor and a famous actor who will sell tickets. Mr. Whitaker is a great artist, but it would be a stretch to call him a box office draw. To put him in a revival of a little known (to the general public) play all by himself was a poor producing move from the get go.
Posted: 3/5/16 at 12:10am
Exactly. He's famous, sure, but he's not a box office draw by any stretch. He's of the same caliber as Morgan Freeman. We respect him, and he's talented, but not rushing out to see his next movie.
Wish Mike Bribiglia could move to Bway. He's so great.
Posted: 3/5/16 at 8:53am
Oh I think of Morgan Freeman came to Broadway, he would be quite a draw. He is really a beloved actor. Whitaker has always been a sort of introspective, outsider. I do think the man is talented and that it's a shame it worked out as it did.
Posted: 3/5/16 at 8:58am
QueenAlice said: "Oh I think of Morgan Freeman came to Broadway, he would be quite a draw. "
Actually... he did. He was in The Country Girl back in 2008, and that was WITH Frances McDormand and Peter Gallagher. The show was STILL a hard sell. Look at the percentages: https://www.broadwayworld.com/grosses/THE-COUNTRY-GIRL
Posted: 3/5/16 at 10:07am
He's of the same caliber as Morgan Freeman
Except Freeman's recognition is probably 10x more than Whitaker
Posted: 3/5/16 at 10:07am
Perhaps (and strictly speculating here) these numbers are due not to the star power of the performers, but to the public unfamiliarity with these plays?
Bradley Cooper in The Elephant Man- big star AND recognizable story.
James Earl Jones and Angela Lansbury in Driving Miss Daisy- big stars AND popular play.
I think, no matter how "big" a Hollywood star is, you need both elements to bottle an audience...
Posted: 3/5/16 at 10:20am
"To ask people to shell out $150 for a show under an hour was a deal breaker for many. It should have been teamed with another one acter."
Good point, top price should have been $75 for something less than 1 hour.
