Marquis Theatre: Future Venue for Two Cities?

[esparza 333]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 8:08pm

The producers did want that theatre and now that could be a possibility

What do you think?

Updated On: 12/19/07 at 08:08 PM

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 8:11pm

Cry Baby has it supposedly.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 8:13pm

It was always rumored to be the place for two cities, but Cry baby has beaten them to the punch.
I am not worried about theater space for Two cities. I think there will be a few more theaters available when the time comes...

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 8:14pm

Tale is never coming in.

[JRybka]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 8:26pm

I think a tale of two cities might be a neat musical.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/19/07 at 10:28pm

"neat" is never a good way to describe anything - let alone a musical. I don't see Tale coming into Broadway this season. If anything, it needs to open in the winter months. It's not exactly a big, splashy summer-fun type musical.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 1:21am

YankeeFan saying that doesn't make it true. Unless you happen to know that all Broadway theatre owners have some secret pact to keep this show off the broadway stage, you shouldn't make comments like that. The fact is there has been positive talk with several theatre owners. There definitely is interest in bringing it to Broadway. There is a lot of support behind the show, and word of mouth from the "average" theatre goer out of Florida has been great so far. (I don't include anyone on BWW as average. We are more of the rabid variety and we generally don't make or break shows.) If you have no interest in it just ignore it. Cry Baby has the Marquis, and Tale is obviously not eyeing it anymore.

Updated On: 12/20/07 at 01:21 AM

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 1:21am

Double Post

Updated On: 12/20/07 at 01:21 AM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 1:47am

But a Fla local doesn't translate into a big, Broadway hit. As great as the show may be, I think it's ship has sailed. It's just not the right market for it on Broadway, but maybe now that Les Miz is closing, it can find a place?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 1:56am

Unless there have been MAJOR changes from the concept recording (as in every song is different, no lyrics remain, etc), this show has no place in today's Broadway. Whatever the creative team, producers, and fans of the show say, it SOUNDS like a watered-down version of LES MISERABLES, period. With the closing of the revival, having TALES open will only make people wish the LES MIZ revival had never closed.
I'm sure someone will try to bring it to Broadway. I mean, if IN MY LIFE made it to Broadway...but it will most likely be another flop a la PIRATE QUEEN, JANE EYRE, WOMAN IN WHITE, et al.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 2:19am

As I have said before, I could care less if individual people on this board like it or don't like it, and I disagree with the assertion that there is no market for it. Am I guaranteeing it will be a success? Like I told a man in Sarasota, I can't guarantee it will be a success, but I do think it has a great chance of being one. Much more so than any of those other musicals you listed aside from Les Mis. (Not that I do not think it is as good or better than Les Mis, but it will be hard to match that level of financial success.) If it is such a terrible idea why would theatre greats like Thommie Walsh, Richard Pilbrow, and Tony Walton sign up. Are you telling me that Tony Walton came out of a semi-retirement from Broadway to be a part of a piece of crap? I'm sorry I don't buy it. Those same tunes you dislike are what inspired him to come back to Broadway and design his ingenious set. (My humble opinion of course.) It's one thing to say you don't like a show or don't have an interest in a show, but to assert other people think the exact same way as you do without definitive proof is stupid. The truth of the matter is we won't definitively know the answer until it hits Broadway. And I think it is evident where my bet lies.

Updated On: 12/20/07 at 02:19 AM

[B3TA07]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 2:21am

" Thommie Walsh, Richard Pilbrow, and Tony Walton "

I have no idea who any of those people are...

[perfectliar]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 2:34am

Ditto, B3TA07.

[notyourself]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 2:47am

I wouldn't trust the "average" Floridian audience's reaction translating over to Broadway. I don't think it's the best place to tryout a musical as the audience is dramatically different than Broadway's audience.

Urban Cowboy, anyone?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 2:49am

Woman in White had no chance for success? It had a decent word-of-mouth from London and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Pirate Queen had "from the creators of Miss Saigon and Les Miz." I think they had some things going for them, it just didn't work out. I'm not trying to put Tale of Two Cities down, but I just don't think it's a good financial gamble on Broadway. Maybe if the running costs could be kept down, but it just doesn't seem to fit into the market today.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 2:49am

Well, in my opinion, they are people that should be known. Here is their info.

Tony Walton won the first Lifetime Achievement in Theatrical Design Tony Award in 1994. He is also a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame. https://www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/stars/walton_t.html

Richard Pilbrow https://www.tpcworld.com/bios.asp?id=1

Thommie Walsh https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thommie_Walsh

And B3TA I remember you commenting on a thread related to Walsh's replacement Warren Carlyle. https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=944761#3236774 I guess you were just being sarcastic and didn't care that much. Please inform me if I am wrong.

[notyourself]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 2:58am

A much better look at the creative team can be found by looking them up on IBDB. Their credits are underwhelming at best. Sure, they've each had long careers and worked on many shows, but none of their past work fit into my idea of what an amazing set or amazing choreography is.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 3:31am

"I'm not trying to put Tale of Two Cities down, but I just don't think it's a good financial gamble on Broadway."

And that I can respectfully disagree with as you make it clear it is your opinion. I have trouble when people state their opinion as fact while critiquing a show.

"A much better look at the creative team can be found by looking them up on IBDB."

Correction: A better look at the creative team's credits on Broadway can be found by looking at IBDB.com. However it is not a better look at their overall contributions to the theatre. And Tony Walton's 4 Tony Awards and 13 nominations are underwhelming?

Updated On: 12/20/07 at 03:31 AM

[notyourself]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 3:57am

Out of 50+ Broadway credits, yes, definitely - not to mention that the majority of his Tony awards and nominations were ages ago.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 4:09am

I did not question the credibility of the people helming the show, Thommie Walsh was one of the most talented, fascinating choreographers Broadway has seen and his collaborations with Tommy Tune will always be part of Broadway history as nothing short of brilliant (NINE sticking out as a highlight).
However, the score is so mundane.
Many brilliant directors, composers, lyricists, book writers, actors, choreographers and producers have participated in a number of mediocre shows. Even Kander & Ebb and Susan Stroman gave us STEEL PIER.
The credibility of the creative team is not at question. It's the bland, dull score that makes me wonder the show's place on Broadway. Perhaps it turns out to be a success, but I doubt it.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 4:23am

Oh Ray, I acknowledge your right to your opinion, but again I wish you would phrase it as "in my opinion" or "I think" rather than absolute statements. And I will admit that I also think some very talented people have gotten themselves into terrible shows. But again, I respectfully disagree that this is one of those instances. Personally I'm glad you came in to defend the credibility of the wonderfully talented artists I listed. I was slightly dumbfounded that people could argue that not one of them has had a profound effect on the art of theatre, but again I guess everything is truly subjective.

Updated On: 12/20/07 at 04:23 AM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 4:39am

son_of_a_gunn, assume that any statement I make is preceded by "in my opinion" or "I think." Of course that when I express my dislike for the score (and again, only based on the concept recording, I have not heard the final result) is my opinion, not a fact. Sorry if it came across as that.
One thing that cannot be debated is the reputation of the people behind the show. Thommie Walsh, rest in piece, was just an astounding talent.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 4:48am

In future, I can do that. I know I probably sound extremely picky but it really is hard to pick up on other's true meaning through the written word. I think we often see malice where there is none, and I see being very clear about what you think is the best way to avoid unnecessary unpleasantness.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 6:35am

Tony Walton's set design for Guys & Dolls (1992)

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/20/07 at 6:44am

Tony Walton's set design for Anything Goes (LCT revival, 1989 London production)