Lyceum and Belasco? Any potential tenants?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 6:18pm

What is going on with these two theatres? Are there any new shows waiting in the wings? I know they are smaller houses, but couldnt cry-baby move to one of these? Please let me know if there is any news or rumours.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 6:20pm

Somebody just refurbish the damn Belasco, already.

It's the perfect tenant for CURTAINS.

Besides the whole, out-of-the-way thing.

[Runner1B]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 6:30pm

--so much for the theatre shortage!

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 6:30pm

Producers do often stay away from them because of their locations.

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 6:36pm

A revival of Inherit the Wind with Brian Dennehy and Christopher Plummer was announced last week for the Lyceum beginning in March for most likely a limited run. That should be pretty good.

I don't think the Lyceum is that far from anything, but the Belasco is totally out there. I couldn't even tell you what street it's on. It's too bad there's nothing next to it.

Then again, Studio 54 isn't really all that easy to find either, and people still go to that. Guess it's on the right side of Broadway, so to speak.

I would add that the Cort is also somewhat hidden.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 6:38pm

The Lyceum is up there as one of my favorite theaters. Along with the Music Box

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 9:41pm

Vespertine1228, I think part of the problem is that the Belasco is so obscured by the Toys R US that is on the corner. I only really remember it's there when I got to eat at Cafe Un Deux Trois.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 9:52pm

yeah, i wish CURTAINS could take the Belasco
but it is rather out of the way, as said before
as well as the Lyceum, which i also only see when i eat on that street (at the My Favorite Dessert Company)...i think that's the right street

anyways, yeah

[SDav 10495]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 10:47pm

Is the Lyceum still impossible to see? I remember heading west on 45th this summer looking for Inishmore, and I had no idea where the Lyceum had gone until I was right under the marquee. Was I imagining things? I was sure the facade was covered up.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 10:51pm

Curtains wants the Hirshfeld(sp?), where THE WEDDING SINGER is playing.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 10:54pm

The construction of the Lyceum is over. It's gorgeous.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 11:34pm

Why does the Belasco need to be refurbished?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 11:43pm

Well the Balcony could use a MUCH bigger bathroom.

Did they fix that whole thing they did with the boxes for JULIUS CAESAR?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/11/06 at 11:44pm

Last time I was in the Belasco (for AWAKE AND SING), the boxes were still missing.

I don't think the Belasco needs any refurbishing. Keep the history intact.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 12:54am

Is the Hirschfeld not out of the way too? The only reason I saw it was because I was at Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I guess it's on a good street because of all the other theaters. I don't think theater location matters too much, it's more of what the theater has to offer. You better bet that people would make the treck to the Cort if Hairspray were playing there or Wicked. But then again, who's to say it doesn't matter? Seems like Drowsy is doing just great in the heart of Times Square. But then again, Lestat flopped and it was right there. I think the Palace has a horrible marquee and it blends in way too much. I think the New Amsterdamn seems out of the way, I don't even remember seeing it. Also (sorry I know this is long), the Studio 54 marquee is horrible. Does it even say Studio 54 on it?

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 1:11am

The Belasco is way WAY too small for Curtains, which needs a musical house in order to run profitably.

As far as why the Belasco needs a renovation... that theatre has one of the most unique interiors of any theatre, but it has been badly mistreated over the years. The lower boxes were removed for Rocky Horror in 1975, and never restored. All of the Tiffany fixtures on the mezzanine and balcony overhangs are missing (possibly stolen), leaving bare filament bulbs in their place. Beautiful woodwork, which helps with the acoustics, has been slathered over with industrial white paint. The murals that weren't destroyed for Rocky Horror have been allowed to fade into murkiness.

The Belasco manages to have the occasional success, what with such recent high profile bookings like Julius Caesar and Awake and Sing. If it received a full scale Walter Kerr Theatre type restoration, it might just become a more desirable theatre, in spite of its location. It still is on the well traveled West 44th Street, which makes it more viable than the nearly invisble Cort Theatre (which had a beautiful facade restoration last year, and is kept in generally much better condition than the Belasco).

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 1:16am

I wasn't aware of those things. Then Foa, I'd have to agree with you. I still find the theatre charming, though.