NEXT TO NORMAL Headed to Broadway's Longacre Theater, Previews Start March 27- Page 8

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 12:55am

The location is better and the seat number is a little less than they'll have after they close the balcony at the Longacre, but the rent is actually probably better at than at the booth. It is another shubert theatre so they could move.

[burntplains]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 1:36am

My comment was deleted! MUST BE TRUE!

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 1:38am

lol, watch it show up on Rialto Chatter now.

im surprised mine is still there, usually they delete any reponses too.

[burntplains]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 1:40am

come on though.. you can go on telecharge and see they're only selling tickets for SOML until Sunday.

I'm excited though. I was at the booth tonight and think its a much better theater.. although the overhang is a little low in the rear orch.. idk if you'd be able to see the third story..

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 1:42am

Ive never been in the booth. they'll either not sell the last couple rows, or they'll make them obstructed and sell them for like 20 dollars less than top ticket price.

[burntplains]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 1:45am

It's perfect... we will just have to see!

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 1:45am

I'd hate to thank they were anticipating this, but maybe this is why tickets aren't available for N2N until the second, they thought SOML might bomb out and they could swoop in and fill the theatre.

[burntplains]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 1:49am

Oh i'm sure... I wonder how long until they'll announce. I just hope this wouldn't change any dates or anything... though I don't see why it would.

[heo1128]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 1:51am

^Bite your tongue! lol I MUST see N2N on the 27th or 28th....I will die if I miss this show by a week.
Updated On: 2/21/09 at 01:51 AM

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 1:52am

I wouldn't think it would, they wouldn't have started rehearsing yet, and they certainly wouldn't have started loading in.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 1:58am

No loading in and no changed at the Longacre as of today.

[burntplains]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 2:05am

Yeah, I was by there around 5:30 and nobody was in sight at the Longacre. I'd be very surprised if they didn't take the Booth.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 2:15am

I really don't think either of them are bad choices. I don't care for the Booth just because it's so drab and brown, ha. But you can't beat the Booth's location.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Title of Show coming back rumors are true and they grab the Booth. It was their number one choice after all.

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 2:17am

I wouldn't be surprised if the Title of Show coming back rumors are true and they grab the Booth. It was their number one choice after all.

insert giant smiley rolling its eyes Updated On: 2/21/09 at 02:17 AM

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 2:26am

I'm not sure we should read too much into "they're not loading in yet" or "they're not selling tickets yet". The set is not that complicated that it will take over a month to put in. And this is by far not the first show to announce dates and not put tickets on sale instantly.

Guess we will all have to wait and see. As long as it's coming, either theater is fine with me.

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 2:30am

but with them beginning previews in just 5 weeks you would have expected them to start selling tickets ASAP. So with them not, it makes you wonder if they were trying wait out another show.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 2:48am

Not necessarily.Maybe they decided to actually be fair and put them on sale when the box office opens for in person sales too rather than opening it up for online and phone first.

Or maybe they were waiting.

Frankly, like I said, it's coming. It's not going into a theatre on "the bad side". Beyond that, it's not a huge deal what theatre it's in to me. Why get so hyped up about it. Buy your tickets when they go on sale and you'll have them.

(That came out harsher than I intended. I just get tired of all the "conspiracy theories". I try to not worry about things and take them as they come.)

Updated On: 2/21/09 at 02:48 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 3:15am

Are the Longacre and the Booth owned by the same organization? (I can never keep that kind of thing straight) If not, I can't imagine them announcing one theater and being able to switch to another.


If they were "hoping" for the Booth...then why did they bother announcing the theater at all??

I don't think it matters where they play....just that it does!

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 3:45am

Yes, The Longacre and the Booth are both Shubert theatres.

And the reason they announced a theatre was because what would be the point of announcing a show that starts previews in 5 and a half weeks (from the time of the announcement) and not having secured a theatre? It wouldn't look good and wouldn't build confidence in the show.

[nexttoelectric]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 4:48am

having looked at the few pictures of each of the two theatres i could find on line it looks like the sighlines for the rear of the orchestra would be better at the Booth. The Mezzanine in the Longacre looks to be REALLY low and it hangs over half the Orchestra. In the booth the over hang is at the same row as the longacre but there are fewer rows and the mezz looks to be further above the orchestra.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 5:47am

I don't know whether Next to Normal would try to grab the Booth or not, but it might make sense for it to stay at the Longacre. Rent for the Longacre is probably less than at the "desirable" Booth Theatre and so the operating costs would be lower - a good thing for a new musical with challenging subject matter, no "stars," and no name recognition. For all that they gain in visibility being on 45th Street, it's not as if 48th Street is a remote location. Plus, the Longacre is now a much more beautiful and well appointed theatre than the dowdy, frumpy Booth. Plus, with just selling the orchestra and mezzanine at the Longacre, the seating of about 800 would be about the same at either theatre.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 8:20am

Can we let any speculations about [tos] reopening on Broadway die, just like the show did? IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!!!! I know [tos] has its rabid enthusiasts, but with ROA and NTN now on the radar screen, there's a nice contingency of new musicals on the boards.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 9:55am

I think dramamama is sort fo saying what i was meaning. Worst case, it would have been one week's worth of waiting if they really thought Story was going to close. Not a huge deal really. It's pretty clear the producers believe in it and don't feel the need to have an obnoxiously long pre-purchase period or THEY WOULD HAVE ANNOUNCED SOONER.

Regarding the overhang, I haven't been in the orchestra in the Longacre, but the last couple of rows at the Booth would DEFINITELY knock off the top of the house. I've sat in them before and you cannot see the top of the proscenium ~ unless you're about 4 feet tall in which case someone else would be in your way. (The other thing that bugs me is that the sides do not have far side aisles ~ you are closed in by the wall. It's minor and it's personal, but it bugs me.)

Bottom line is it's coming to Broadway. And THAT is what matters.

Updated On: 2/21/09 at 09:55 AM

[Actor 7]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 1:41pm

I fear the same fate will happen to NEXT TO NORMAL as SOML and TOS. It will probably happen rapidly and this is truly sad. This is another reason why theatre in American needs to be subsidized by our government as it is in many other countries.
Some countries have arrangements where they pay the salaries of musicians, stagehands and actors (minimum rates probably) and the producers then have theatre rents, insurance, stage and costume costs, etc., to contribute as a partnership with the government and therefore, it makes it possible for new and small productions like the three mentioned above, to survive and sometimes even thrive. It has always been difficult in America to make this happen so I would not anticipate it. Still, I predict that NEXT TO NORMAL may have an even shorter life on Broadway than TITLE OF SHOW and THE STORY OF MY LIFE. It does have David Stone as a producer and this may or may not be a sign that he will stick with NTN to try to give it a decent chance but since so much money is involved, it will most likely die quickly. Sad. More Broadway theaters dark, more unemployed actors, stagehands, and those who work in allied fields. All bad signs of the near future.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 1:46pm

I think it will last longer than three days. Seriously. The things the critics had issues with at Second Stage were largely corrected at Arena, so it should get positive notices.

Bottom line is we'll have to wait and see. But it should definitely last longer than Story.