Move Theaters instead of Close- Page 2

[sorano916]

Posted: 9/1/15 at 10:55am

What was the reason for August: Osage County's move from the Imperial to the Music Box?

Was it because of Billy Elliot or other reasons?

 

 

[BroadMagTech]

Posted: 9/1/15 at 11:00am

That would be awesome

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 9/1/15 at 11:00am

August was only scheduled to run for a certain time period and they wanted to make it an open run, but Billy Elliot was already scheduled to start MAJOR renovation work on the subbasement of the Imperial because of the two-leveled set that needed to rise up from the stage. August was doing very well at the time and it was economically wise to switch theatres.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 9/1/15 at 11:01am

Billy Elliot was the reason for the move to the Music Box, yes.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/1/15 at 11:02am

Chicago had to vacate the Richard Rodgers to make way for... Steel Pier!  That didn't work out so well.  

[InnerMonologue]

Posted: 9/1/15 at 11:04am

[delete]

Updated On: 9/1/15 at 11:04 AM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 9/1/15 at 11:13am

Chicago and Steel Pier did share a producer (PACE Theatrical Group, who seem to have been a pretty big producing force in the 90s, with Tommy, the revival of Grease, and the Dennehy revival of Death of a Salesman amongst their credits). I would hazard a guess that whether they went into this revival with the Weisslers already knowing that Steel Pier was coming in or whether that happened after the fact the discussions to move Chicago over to the Shubert were very amicable.

(Side note: even though Big flopped in there pretty quickly, I forgot just how long of a run Crazy for You really had there)

[Fantod]

Posted: 9/1/15 at 11:17am

Shows used to move more often because the laborerers who would take down sets could be paid very little. That's why out of town tryouts used to be more common. A famous example is with Annie Get Your Gun, in which the sets were too heavy for the Imperial walls, so within two days they were starting a third out of town tryout while the Imperial was being reinforced.

[rsaleh]

Posted: 9/1/15 at 3:21pm

I wish Spring Awakening would move theatres instead of just ending its run.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 9/1/15 at 3:24pm

I hope it ends up moving too