MFL closing??
MFL closing??
#1MFL closing??
Posted: 4/26/19 at 9:53am
Is it nearing the time that My Fair Lady will be closing up shop? Lincoln Center doesn't typically house musicals for too long.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#2MFL closing??
Posted: 4/26/19 at 9:59am
South Pacific ran for 2 years. They'll run as long as it financially makes sense.
bwayboy22
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/12
#3MFL closing??
Posted: 4/26/19 at 10:27am
I've heard they've extended through October
JVJ93
Featured Actor Joined: 3/27/16
#4MFL closing??
Posted: 4/26/19 at 10:31amI was at the show last night and I saw only 10-15 empty seats
SomethingPeculiar
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/15/14
#5MFL closing??
Posted: 4/26/19 at 10:37am
Laura and Harry's contracts are currently through July 7.
There have been unsubstantiated rumors on here over the past few weeks that:
- LCT offered Benanti an extension to her contract
- The Lehman Trilogy might play the Beaumont next season
At the end of the day, it's all about the advance sales. I would assume LCT wants to get a show in the Beaumont for their 19/20 season, without a repeat of the 9-month dark period between K&I and Oslo.
The King and I opened April 2015 and closed June 26, 2016 with only 3 weeks notice. Its numbers were all over the place in 2016, but it really dipped after Kelli O'Hara left on April 17, 2016. My Fair Lady seems to have fared somewhat better up to this point, but again, it's all about the advance.
Other factors that likely hurt King and I:
- huge running costs: 51 people in the cast + child guardians, compared to 37 adults in MFL.
- It was running concurrently with a bunch of "classic older people" musicals: An American In Paris, Fiddler on the Roof, She Loves Me, Les Mis (and to a lesser extent Shuffle Along and Color Purple). MFL's only real competition for those audiences right now is Kiss Me Kate (and to a limited extent Oklahoma!)
- peak Hamilton hype
MollyJeanneMusic
Broadway Star Joined: 3/10/19
#6MFL closing??
Posted: 4/26/19 at 11:28am
SomethingPeculiar said: "Laura and Harry's contracts are currentlythrough July 7.
There have been unsubstantiated rumors on here over the past few weeks that:
- LCT offered Benanti an extension to her contract
- The Lehman Trilogy might play the Beaumont next season
At the end of the day, it's all about the advance sales. I wouldassumeLCT wants to get ashowin the Beaumont for their 19/20season, without a repeat of the 9-month dark period between K&I and Oslo.
The King and Iopened April 2015 andclosed June 26, 2016with only 3 weeks notice. Its numbers were all over the place in 2016, but it really dipped afterKelli O'Hara left on April 17, 2016.My Fair Ladyseems to have fared somewhat better up to this point, but again, it's all about the advance.
Other factors that likely hurtKing and I:
- huge running costs:51 people in the cast + child guardians, compared to 37 adults in MFL.
- It was running concurrently with a bunch of "classic older people" musicals:An American In Paris, Fiddler on the Roof,She Loves Me,Les Mis(and to a lesser extent Shuffle Along andColor Purple).MFL's only real competition for those audiences right now isKiss Me Kate (and to a limited extentOklahoma!)
- peak Hamilton hype"
As for costs, how much does it cost to run the rotating house set? That must use a lot of energy, the burden of which I assume would fall on the producers???
SomethingPeculiar
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/15/14
#7MFL closing??
Posted: 4/26/19 at 11:43am
MollyJeanneMusic said: "As for costs, how much does it cost to run the rotating house set? That must use a lot of energy, the burden of which I assume would fall on the producers???"
No clue, but King & I and South Pacific both rolled back the entire thrust to expose the orchestra pit, so I would guess a turntable (relatively simple technology) is cheaper than that.
victoriafr
Understudy Joined: 12/26/18
#9MFL closing??
Posted: 4/26/19 at 12:59pm
They have been doing pretty mediocrely capacity wise, though. They had a good past week (95%), but usually get somewhere in the low to mid 80%s, which is not very good.
In my opinion, they're probably going to close pretty soon.
#10MFL closing??
Posted: 4/26/19 at 1:56pm
Are the rumors about Betsy Wolfe coming in to replace Benanti true?
#11MFL closing??
Posted: 4/26/19 at 2:22pm
TheBroadwayBubble said: "Are the rumors about Betsy Wolfe coming in to replace Benanti true?"
Just a rumor
#12MFL closing??
Posted: 4/27/19 at 12:46am
I had heard that they were thinking of offering Eliza to Alicia Witt and they were in talks with Domenic West for Higgins. I did not know Witt could sing.
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#14MFL closing??
Posted: 4/27/19 at 1:36amDomenic West is currently known for the tv show The Affair. Alicia has appeared in a handful of tv shows and movies.
jbird5
Broadway Star Joined: 12/20/15
#15MFL closing??
Posted: 4/27/19 at 5:46am
RippedMan said: "Don’t know who those people are..."
https://youtu.be/HlLOmIAz9MY
#16MFL closing??
Posted: 4/27/19 at 7:58am
Call_me_jorge said: "Domenic West is currently known for the tv show The Affair. Alicia has appeared in a handful of tv shows and movies."
West is currently starring in 'Les Miserables" - the BBC production now airing on PBS' 'Masterpiece Theater' each Sunday night.
VintageSnarker
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/30/15
#17MFL closing??
Posted: 4/27/19 at 8:12am
RippedMan said: "Don’t know who those people are..."
Same. In what insane world would that help sell tickets? I vaguely recognize her as 'crazy minor character on Nashville.' He's not much better unless you lie and say he's Dominic Cooper or Luke Evans... not that they're much more bankable.
I'm not opposed to stunt casting if it boosts the box office but getting non-Broadway talent that doesn't really sell tickets feels insulting.
The Other One
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/1/08
#18MFL closing??
Posted: 4/27/19 at 8:18am
Dominic West seems like an excellent choice for Henry Higgins. He has a very impressive resume, no less so than Harry Hadden-Paton. In fact, he is probably even better known.
victoriafr
Understudy Joined: 12/26/18
#19MFL closing??
Posted: 4/27/19 at 8:53am
Agreed! I think he'd be enough of a draw for some people to keep the show afloat, but wouldn't be like any other typical stunt cast that makes the show worse because of it. Harry Hadden-Paton has been in the show for a long time, so I wouldn't be surprised if the next Higgins comes in soon.
#20MFL closing??
Posted: 4/27/19 at 9:10am
I heard they're trying to find a stunt/star casting to keep it open OR gamble on a non-name to keep costs down. They had names for both and were weighing which option will better keep the show open.
#21MFL closing??
Posted: 4/27/19 at 10:59am
They could run it with understudies for the last three months if they were planning to close in October. I hear tell that the crowds are mostly TKTS and tourists.
I think Dominic West would be a great choice if there is any truth to the rumor. Don't know about the Cybill/Hallmark Christmas actress.
#22MFL closing??
Posted: 4/28/19 at 1:32am
To be fair, Alicia Witt has appeared in more than a "handful" of movies and TV shows. She was Cybill Shephard's daughter on CYBILL back in the mid-1990s and has been working regularly ever since. With a couple of exceptions, IMDB lists a "handful" or more movies and TV shows for every year since her debut.
Now whether her name is bankable is another matter. *I'd* buy a ticket to see her, but I may well be in the minority.
lightsarebrightonbroadway
Understudy Joined: 8/22/18
#23MFL closing??
Posted: 4/28/19 at 1:39am
last time I was at the theatre meeting up with a friend in the cast I saw Betsy backstage as well. Don't know why. Don't know if she's joining the show. But I did see her there.
#24MFL closing??
Posted: 4/28/19 at 6:57am
I think Melissa Benoist would be a good choice for Eliza. The tourists would know her better than Betsy Wolf. Otherwise you might as well stick with the understudy whom everyone likes. The British actor who is currently doing Ink and starred in Elementary would make an interesting Higgins although obviously he is not available.
#25MFL closing??
Posted: 4/28/19 at 9:33am
Cabaret was really reinvigorated when Emma Stone was brought in to play Sally. Roundabout doubled the number of premium seats.
I’m not suggesting Emma because for starters I think I would be told that she couldn’t sing the score. But the lure of playing Eliza might bring in a talented young actress with little stage experience and much audience appeal.
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