NATASHA, PIERRE, AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 to take the St. James?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 8/15/13 at 11:07pm

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/those_lazy_days_of_summer_cXLEa6RMnfbXk3iWeK2NnL

According to Riedel, Jujamcyn is kicking out LET IT BE and want to bring it NATASHA, PIERRE, AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812.

They'd have to remove all the seats and bring in tables. For a 13 week run. I don't see this happening, but as they say, "stranger things..."

Updated On: 8/15/13 at 11:07 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 8/15/13 at 11:30pm

Er, has it really been doing good enough business to warrant this?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/15/13 at 11:39pm

Eh. That'd never work. It's perfect where it is. It would die on Broadway a la "Bloody Bloody." People seeing theater downtown have different expectations than seeing things on Broadway. I mean, Motown is a hot ticket on Broadway. So, nuff said.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 12:03am

won't happen.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 12:12am

From his phrasing "it must vacate its tent this fall" it sounds as if the producers are not closing the show because of poor sales but rather some sort of issue with the location itself.

And if the Russian vodka is an issue (which it probably isn't, I think he's just trying to fill space in his column) that is easily solved by switching to another brand. I doubt that the audiences would really be that bothered if they are served Absolut or Skyy or Svedka or some non-Russian brand.

What I also find interesting is that he's confirmed that First Date has been clearing its weekly nut, though barely. I would guess then they are probably indeed budgeted so that their goal is in the neighborhood of 40-45% of their potential gross to cover their operating costs. It's actually not an unrealistic number to be shooting for. I'll be curious to see if it can maintain long enough to reach the holiday season.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 12:41am

LET IT BE will close early but I highly doubt NATASHA will take its place.

[AntV]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 1:14am

Just as unofficial confirmation that Let it Be will close at the end of the month, it was taken off the Broadway Week shows listed here: http://www.nycgo.com/broadwayweek

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 1:19am

This is ridiculous.

I loved the show but it will not be transferring to Broadway, especially the St. James. What would they do with the mezzanine and balcony? No producer would rip up seats and change the layout of a theatre for what would have to be a strictly limited run in a gigantic house.

Let it Be closing is probably pretty reasonable and I assume the St. James will sit empty until March.

[GypsyRoadLee]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 4:12am

Even if Natasha Et Al... doesn't move into the St. James, my guess is they will find someone a la Liza, Manilow, Donnie/Marie to come in and do a short Broadway Holiday Show. I can't imagine Jujamcyn's letting their biggest and most centrally located theatre sit Empty when holiday shows have proven to make $$.

My vote is for Hugh Jackman: A Wolverine X-Mas!!

[Roscoe]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 8:45am

I do hope they manage to keep this show running -- it really is a marvelous piece of theater. I'm not sure the St. James is really the right venue, though.

[RW3]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 8:55am

I completely agree with all of you that the St. James is too big for the show. But, if they show ever did go to Broadway, it would probably fit at the Circle in the Square.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 2:32pm

I absolutely love “Natasha…” and want it to live on in some way, but I agree that the St. James idea seems like an odd fit. I can’t imagine how it would make sense financially to pay for the seats to be taken out for only a 13 week run.

I would love if they could find a Broadway theatre they are able to remove seats from and would be able to run open-ended, if only so the show (and these actors!) could be eligible for the Tony’s next season.

Logistical question: I know that number of seats is one of the factors that dictates which houses are Broadway theatres and which aren’t. If “Natasha” did move into the St. James (or any other Broadway house, for the matter), but reconfigured the seating and didn’t offer the same amount of seats, would “Natasha” still be considered to be “On Broadway”?

[Kad]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 2:38pm

Another question I would have is how the dinner aspect of the production comes into play. Would that not require some red tape? As far as I know, the St. James (and most theatres) do not have adequate (if any) food prep and storage areas. And would that not affect zoning/fire code?

[Roscoe]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 3:11pm

I'd very much doubt they'd do the full dinner aspect in a Broadway house -- they'd probably just do drinks at tables.

[RW3]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 3:15pm

I know some people have criticizing the choice of bringing Natasha to the St. James, but it's Jujamcyn's only theatre that is open and since they are the ones mounting the production they can really mount it anywhere they want to.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 3:40pm

Maybe they're doing it for the sake of keeping it a "strictly limited engagement" in hopes it will sell out , etc.

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 3:55pm

I wish A CHRISTMAS STORY could move to the St. James from MSG....

[dexter3]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 4:15pm

In regards to the question above, when the count of seats goes below a certain number, it wouldn't be considered a 'broadway' production anymore. I believe anything over 500 is considered 'broadway', along with a few other specifications.

But, if they did reconfigure seats, they wouldn't dare make it below the necessary # to be considered 'broadway'. The whole reason to transfer the show would be to use a broadway contract, making it eligible for Tony Awards and advertise it as a broadway show.

That said, I can't see this happening. To change all of those seats for a short run seems illogical. I suppose stranger things have happened, though...

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 5:15pm

If they are adamant, though, about reconfiguring the space to model what they have right now, I can’t imagine how they would accommodate 500 seats, but still achieve the intimacy/feel they obviously are hoping to keep (if they are willing to pay for the removal of those seats). Although, I will freely admit I am bad at having an eye for how much space a certain number of seats is. Perhaps it wouldn't change it too much.

Kad, I wonder that, too. I imagine, as was said above, that there would likely not be a full meal. I wonder if they would be able to serve a few appetizers along with the drinks.

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 5:22pm

They need to make it at least 500 seats. It's a Broadway house and can't be converted to anything less.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 8/16/13 at 6:35pm

Telecharge is now only selling LET IT BE through September 1st, so at least that part of the article is true.

Even if they converted the orchestra into table seating, there are still at least 500 seats in the mezzanine and balcony. Not that I'd imagine those would be good seats if they maintained the production as it is now though.

[brldisteach2]

Posted: 8/17/13 at 2:00pm

I know some theatres are made so the seats can be moved in and out easily, but from the way the article described it, this is not necessarily a theatre that is set up that way. I'd love to see this show continue, but this does seem like a lot of money and work for a limited run with no chance of extending due to another show already booked to come into the theatre. I guess the producers know better if the payoff will be good enough to justify the cost. I'm also hoping this means there is a good chance of a cast recording.

[jetts7]

Posted: 8/17/13 at 3:02pm

If NATASHA, PIERRE, AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 were to come to Broadway, I could see it at the Circle in the Square.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/17/13 at 3:10pm

Seems like a great fit for Studio 54. They'd already have the tables for Cabaret.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 8/19/13 at 11:10am

And now the closing of LET IT BE 9/1 is confirmed.