More Clues on West Side Story's Theatre?- Page 2

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 8:53pm

I'd rather see Legally Blonde continue to run, then for this lame-o revival kick it out.

Hahahahaha! Fool.

think Grease will close, Hairspray will scale down and move to the Brook Atkinson (sp?) so WSS can play the Neil Simon and Guys & Dolls play the Nederlander. Hairspray IS 6 years old and made it's money back a while ago. Or Nederlander buys the Mark Hellinger (hopeful thinking, I know), put WWS there, and put Guys and Dolls at the Nederlander.

What?! Do you know anything about... anything?

[Smaxie]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 8:56pm

The Hilton has its next tenant already.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 9:03pm

Which is...?

"GREASE is doing much better business than HAIRSPRAY and BLONDE."

Really? I guess Taylor Hicks and the TV show DID help. maybe just close Hairspray and put WSS there. That works!

[James885]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 9:17pm

I think YF is quickly losing steam and will close soon opening up the Hilton.


The producers of WSS have already announced that this revival will play a Nederlander theater. The Hilton isn't owned by the Nederlanders, so it's out of the running for WSS. IMHO, the only options are the Simon and the Palace since all the other Nederlander owned theaters either have tenants lined up, or are in use by shows that probably won't be closing anytime soon.

And I think the more likely candidate is the Palace.

Updated On: 8/23/08 at 09:17 PM

[CyCoSpAz2]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 9:33pm

The Nederlanders really shot themselves in the foot with these successful shows huh?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 9:56pm

LEGALLY BLONDE hasn't recouped, there is absolutely no way that it would transfer.
Smaxie, any clues as to who'll be the Hilton's next tenant? Doubt you can tell but it's worth a try.
I really am dying to know where WEST SIDE STORY is heading.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 10:50pm

Hilton: Spiderman

[carderic]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 12:55am

WSS will play the Helen Hayes. most definitely.

[winston89]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 12:57am

The rumors are that Spider-Man is going to be next in line for The Hilton.

Interestingly enough I had heard that Guys and Dolls was going to The Nederlander before there was the thread that said that it was going there. Granted the person I heard it from is FAR, FAR,FAR from being a reliable source and I know that. I am not naive. The person I heard it from was Robert, the guy who hangs out around the Nederlander. This was one day after signing up for lotto and waiting for the names to be called.

Honestly, I don't see Legally Blonde moving. I just don't see how it can afford to do it. Moving a show costs a lot of money, which is something I don't think the producers have the luxury to spend right now.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:02am

We need a revival of GUYS AND DOLLS like we need a kick in the teeth. How bout putting that off a couple more years?

The Palace is the only reasonable available choice for WSS. Perhaps producers are banking that Legally Blonde will start losing money again in the fall after the kids are back in school.

[winston89]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:27am

Bennett, I agree with you. I might feel differently if this was the Donmar Warehouse production. However, from what I understand it isn't.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:29am

"The Palace is the only reasonable available choice for WSS. Perhaps producers are banking that Legally Blonde will start losing money again in the fall after the kids are back in school."

Which is why the producers of WSS booked the theater. The deal's done. Blonde is looking at a post-Christmas closing.

[winston89]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:45am

I am not surprised to hear this. Yes, Legally Blonde was/is making enough to go on. But, I think that the producers realized that in the long run they weren't making enough to turn a profit. I think it is a smart move for them to quit while they're ahead and close the show when they are going to.

Also, I doubt that West Side Story would announce dates and a theatre for the out of town try out, without having everything set up for when they got to Broadway. I remember someone on here suggested that Legally Blonde would close December 28th, they came up with that particular date because it is the last sunday of the year and that is when a lot of shows that aren't doing well close. I am not saying I agree or disagree with that thought, I just thought I would put it out there.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:48am

"am not saying I agree or disagree with that thought, I just thought I would put it out there."

Well... it wasn't your original idea so you're not putting it out there. it was, I believe, WithoutATrace or CDP that came up with that. So you're not putting the thought out there -- you're just repeating what someone else said.

Also.... your doubting is correct. They already have a process in place. Obviously they're not going to reveal it all to the public. Of course they have booked a house.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 1:46pm

The fact that Spiderman is still happening is surprising in itself. I looked at the grosses and Blonde was around $130,000 high than Grease. I think that still Hairpsray should close. It had a great run and made some money.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 2:08pm

It's going into the Palace. If Legally Blonde makes a good chunk of money over the nut through the Labor Day weekend then it'll stay open through Christmas. I'd guess it would close 12/28 or 1/4. If it doesn't make that much money in the next few weeks, expect it to close before the gloom and doom of September takes full effect. The extra money would be used to cover any potential losses before business would pick up again in mid-November-New Years.

[theatreguy]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 5:37pm

Sir Robin, the Palace is a much larger theater than the Atkinson so of course - if it's doing well - Legally Blonde will out-gross Grease. That doesn't neccesariyl mean that Legally Blonde is doing better business, though. It has much higher weekly running costs than Grease. So if Legally Blonde needs to make at least $500,000 a week to break even and Grease needs $300,000 a week. And then let's say one week LB takes in $600,000 and Grease takes in $470,000. Even though LB made $130,000 more than Grease, once you subtract their expenses for the week LB is left with $100,000 while Grease has $170,000.

You can't just look at the grosses or attendance.

[gypsy4]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 8:50pm

why would hairspray scale down? if they were thinking about that they should just close they would even have to do alot modafying to the set the brook atkinson doesn't
even have a pit.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 9:13pm

Which is why the producers of WSS booked the theater. The deal's done. Blonde is looking at a post-Christmas closing.

That was my thinking all along. I predict a 1/4/09 closing for Blonde (which will make me sad, but let's be realistic). Although, I must admit, the WSS revival doesn't interest me in the least.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 11:22am

The Nederlanders should never have sold the gorgeous Mark Hellinger Theatre. The front of house and auditorium are in better condition than any theatre now on Broadway-stunningly decorated. Also, look at all the big shows that played there in the past (The Sound Of Music, Sugar Babies, My Fair Lady etc etc) and now Broadway needs a house like this back more than ever.
We can dream cant we -but what a waste!

Updated On: 8/25/08 at 11:22 AM

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 11:34am

Palace Palace Palace.

And I'm laughing about the Guys and Dolls revival only because I know Forbidden Broadway will bring back its great parody. "I know I've seen this show before / In some old high school gym / On someone's basement floor / I know I've seen this show before / I think I know the book / I know I know the score..."

[CouldaWouldaShoulda]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 11:40am

Palace.