McAnuff to Direct Guys and Dolls for Spring 09

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:10pm

At a Nederlander theater to be announced.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=30526

I know there was talk of this in the past for a possible run at the St. James. What theater do you think this will perform in?

Updated On: 7/29/08 at 01:10 PM

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:17pm

How about THE Nederlander Theater?

[Mr. Peanut Man]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:18pm

Considering that LuPone's Gypsy will probably close in march when her contract runs out, it's probably safe to assume that Guys and Dolls will probably take the St. James. Also, does anyone know if the cast that included Patrick Wilson, John C. Reily, Anne Hathaway and Debra Messing is still attached?

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:19pm

Wow- what a big blow to Michael Grandage who was still hoping to bring his Donmar production to New York...

I don't have a problem with Des's direction and I think Sergio Trujillo is one of the most innovative choroegrapher working today on Broadway. I do, however, fear that the producing team will commission revised orchestrations- i.e. partially SYNTHESIZED, reduced orchestrations that will be greatly inferior to the original orchestrations.

I'm still shuddering in memory of the "modern" reduced orchestrations that were used in McAnuff's "WIZ" revisal in La Jolla.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:22pm

why would they add modern synthesized arrangements to a show like GUYS & DOLLS?

[Mr. Peanut Man]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:22pm

I agree. From the success of this year's Gypsy an South Pacific, there's still an appreciation out there for a full orchestra on Broadway.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:23pm

>it's probably safe to assume that Guys and Dolls will probably take the St. James.<

Or, you can choose to read the article, where it says the show will play a Nederlander theatre.

[Mr. Peanut Man]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:24pm

Sorry, misread the announcement. No need to get snippy.

[squeakyfromme82]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:28pm

there's definitely a lineup to get into a Nederlander Theatre this spring...just by the numbers, something has to close in order to make all these "...in a Nederlander house to be announced" press releases come true...

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:30pm

so that leaves:

Brooks Atkinson Theatre - 1109 seats
Nederlander Theatre - 1232 seats
Richard Rogers Theatre - 1380 seats
Neil Simon Theatre - 1428 seats
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre - 1509 seats
Marquis Theatre - 1615 seats
Minskoff Theatre - 1710 seats
Palace Theatre - 1743 seats
George Gershwin Theatre - 1935 seats

That leaves the Brooks Atkinson if Grease closes, the Nederlander, and the Palace if Legally Blonde closes because In the Heights, Hairspray, The Little Mermaid, 9 to 5 (which will just be opening), The Lion King, and Wicked arn't going anywhere soon.

[NY_Broadway2]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:31pm

I wish that same cast would come to Broadway for the show! That would be phenomenal but they probably won't since they are heavily into films/television. We shall see once the casting is announced.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:37pm

Legally Blonde is doing well now that the summer is here and they cast the lead through the popular reality show, but I suspect the numbers will start to drop come fall. Possibly Legally Blonde will close by next year? I can't really see many of the other shows closing. In the Heights is too popular at this point...who knows how it will do this fall/winter. Hairspray could see a drop in numbers. It has had a healthy run, maybe the numbers will start slipping. I really hate to say that! But it just seems like there are too many new shows waiting to open in a Nederlander Theater.

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:40pm

I can't think of any way this would work unless Legally Blonde closed or they went to a non-Nederlander theatre.

I have no idea where they plan on putting West Side Story OR Guys & Dolls.
It just appears that there are no houses available- especially now that Legally Blonde is doing well.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:47pm

The Palace and Neil Simon Theatres will both most likely be open by February 2009, WSS will take the Palace, Guys and Dolls the Neil Simon.

Plus, the Brooks Atkinson might be open by then as well, though those two shows want a larger sized house.
Updated On: 7/29/08 at 01:47 PM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:49pm

I hope Hairspray closing is not true!

[barcelona20]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:50pm

Unless Ewan McGregor is in this, there is absolutely NO need for another revival of this very old show.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:51pm

I can't see Anne Hathaway still doing it, though it would be great if she wants to keep a low profile while she's being investigated by the FEDS.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:52pm

YEA!!!!!!!!! Now all the young folks will have a chance to see what a REAL Broadway musical is all about!!!!!

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:52pm

And this thread suddenly becomes the Legally Blonde hater magnet.

The show is going nowhere soon. Deal with it.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:52pm

"Unless Ewan McGregor is in this, there is absolutely NO need for another revival of this very old show."


REALLY????

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:57pm

Yeah Legally Blonde which (except the dead season at the beginning of the year) posts great grosses and has had a massive lift from the reality show and has producers smart enough to know how to keep the show open is going to close.....Come on

Its selling more seats than most shows on Broadway

I would say Grease and Hairspray would close 1st

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:58pm

Ok, so in reality, it's going to take one of the following:
Nederlander Theatre - 1232 seats
Neil Simon Theatre - 1428 seats
Palace Theatre - 1743 seats


(It's doubtful GREASE will be closed by then)

I also wouldn't be so sure that LEGALLY BLONDE will be gone by then but everyone seems to think it will and WSS will take the Palace, and I also really wouldn't be so sure that HAIRSPRAY will be gone by then.

By default, will it take the Nederlander? I'm guessing it will.


(The St. James is a Jujamcyn Theater not a Nederlander.) Updated On: 7/29/08 at 01:58 PM

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 1:58pm

I was so impressed with Grandage's production. It was wonderful. Des will do... acceptable and another amazing opportunity slips through our fingers.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 2:03pm

Songanddanceman, I do not like to see shows close and I don't hate Legally Blonde, but I have the feeling that the boost in grosses is only temporary. Because it is summer, the grosses are higher. I also think that the hype from the reality show will eventually wear off. Why do you think there was a dead season at the beginning of the year? It's bound to happen again.

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 2:06pm

When I saw this I really hoped that it would be a transfer of the Donmar production...

Oh well.