NEXT TO NORMAL Headed to Broadway's Longacre Theater, Previews Start March 27- Page 9

[feline0favenueQ]

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

Yeah, it'll definitely run longer than Story.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 2:34pm

N2N can easily run through the Tony awards. I think it's absurd to consider otherwise when it will easily be nominated for several Tonys and has a great chance at winning at least one, Best Actress.

[Actor 7]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 6:43pm

In this economic meltdown climate, NO SHOW CAN RUN EASILY UNTIL THE TONY AWARDS! This financial depression has only just begun. The worst is ahead of us. Next to Normal is likely to suffer the same fate as Title of Show and The Story of My Life. Most people do not have the kind of money to afford a ticket to a Broadway play or musical or even an off-Broadway show. I do agree that the producers of these shows should have had a regional production mounted for a long run that would have afforded them more time to further develop these shows, get some additional backing that would have made a cast recording possible and then maybe moved these shows to NYC in a smaller venue than a Broadway theatre. Next to Normal is very worthy but current conditions on Broadway are likely to make the fate of this show short and not even eligible for a Tony nod. The huge money people behind the mega musicals will most likely pull the power strings that will decide the fate of smaller new plays and musicals so don't get your hopes high for NEXT TO NORMAL. Very sad state of affairs on Broadway.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 6:48pm

Can we be positive...? You never know. This show could shock everyone and become a huge hit. You never know.

I cannot wait for it!

[Smaxie]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 6:57pm

>Next to Normal is very worthy but current conditions on Broadway are likely to make the fate of this show short and not even eligible for a Tony nod.<

Next to Normal opens April 15. The Tony nominations are May 5. You honestly think that David Stone, the producer of Wicked, who is also producing Next to Normal, would not be able to get Next to Normal to run the two weeks to make it to the nominations?

And the economy doesn't seem to be fazing the producers of the other 20 shows that are slated to open this spring.

This same debate about viability always comes up when a slightly oddball, off-kilter musical moves to Broadway from Off-Broadway or a regional theatre. But by and large, the success rate (Rent, Noise/Funk, Urinetown, Avenue Q, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Spring Awakening, The Drowsy Chaperone, In the Heights) has exceeded the failures (Caroline, or Change, Passing Strange, [title of show]) in recent years.

Updated On: 2/21/09 at 06:57 PM

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 6:58pm

Amen rOcKs! Amen!

[burntplains]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 8:27pm

I honestly feel it will be successful.

As it has been said.. if you didn't see the show at arena then you have not seen it yet. It will be one of the best shows on Broadway and feel it could draw in a much bigger than TOS, SOML and anything else small..

Sure it might struggle a little in previews but when the show gets rave reviews across the board... i don't think there will be an issue.

It's a STUNNING piece of musical Theater that can't be even compared to TOS or SOML. I think it will have a nice healthy run.

What could the show cost to bring in.. 3 Mil max? It's one simple set.. they could easily recoup in a year or even less.

Updated On: 2/21/09 at 08:27 PM

[Sondheim_Geek]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 9:24pm

I read the production was billed at ~ 4 million. Not a whole chunk of money when you looked at it compared to shows like Shrek.

In speaking of Shrek, how do you think d'Arcy James reacted to the news? Had he not been cast in Shrek, he would have gone to Arena with the show and would, almost certainly, be involved in the Broadway premiere of the piece.

Shrek the Ogre vs. Dan Goodman?

[burntplains]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 9:34pm

To be honest I like Bobby a lot more. He really sounds much better with Alice than Brian did.

[alliez92092]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 9:34pm

Then again, if he hadn't been cast as Shrek he would've had to worry about not having a steady job. No one knew back in March that Next to Normal would make it to Broadway and I think it was a good choice for him to take Shrek which would give him a steadier job than staying with Next to Normal might have. At first I was really sad he didn't stick with Next to Normal, but choosing to star in a big budget musical over continuing with a show that might never make it seems to be the logical choice.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 9:36pm

I agree burntplains. Yes it took Bobby a little while to settle into the role, but by mid-December he was spellbinding.

[Sondheim_Geek]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 9:42pm

Yes, but do you think d'Arcy James would be happier originating in Shrek or Next to Normal?

[alliez92092]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 9:45pm

But that gets down to the question of would he rather have a steady job. If he's doing it just for creative purposes, than maybe the answer would be Next to Normal. But I think we can all agree at this point that even though it's opening on Broadway, the chances of Next to Normal lasting as long as Shrek probably will are slim. It's not just a creative expression, it's a job and sometimes a steadier job that you know you'll have for longer is better. I really don't know what Brian's opinion is, but I'm just trying to think of it from the other side.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/21/09 at 10:06pm

I'm not so sure that Shrek will be around long term. They've only had one or two good weeks so far. Time will tell.

[snarkywannabedreamer]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 11:06am

"This show could shock everyone and become a huge hit. You never know."

I seriously don't think a show like this (dealing with mental illness) is made to be a HUGE hit. An artistic accomplishment, maybe... but I really can't picture this lasting years on broadway or seeing, say, the Korean touring company of Next to Normal or anything else that usually accompanies a HIT musical.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 11:13am

They really need to cancel this. I made my point several posts ago, but after what happened with story of my life... the broadway transfer should be canceled. IT's a shame, because I've heard several songs from this musical and they are all FANTASTIC, but I really don't see this show succeeding if this happens. If they wait, they
ll have more time to advertise, more time to sell tickets, they might be able to get into a more suitable theater such as the booth (if they're no trying to get into that one already), and the show might win a butt load of tony awards next season, which will turn this show into a smash, (like how in the heights numbers went up after it won best musical).

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 11:21am

"It will be one of the best shows on Broadway"

If NEXT TO NORMAL is going to be one of the "best shows on Broadway" this season, that says a lot about the other shows that are being put up.... I didn't realize this season was that crappy. It must be for NEXT TO MEDIOCRE to become one of the best ones.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 11:27am

The point is, it DOES have buzz from amazing critical reception in DC. Like others have said, if you haven't seen it since Second Stage, you haven't seen it.

Essentially everything the critics had quibbles with up here were dealt with in the changes put in at Arena.

Am I delusional enough to think it will be the next Wicked or Jersey Boys? No, but there is potential for a nice run.

[snarkywannabedreamer]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 11:33am

the point is though... is THIS the one show someone would want to spend their money on when they come to NYC? The economic climate is such that people are not going to be going to the theater like they used to and I think most will want that ONE experience to be fun... not depressing. sure it will have it's fans but i really don't think it will be a "hit." not in this economy.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 11:34am

The show is FAR from depressing. If that's all you think it is, you obviously haven't seen it.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 11:35am

And unless it's YOUR money invested, why are you so concerned?

If David Stone believes in it enough to bring it to Broadway, why not trust him?

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 11:37am

Updated On: 2/22/09 at 11:37 AM

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 11:37am

^ Exactly Snarky. And not to mention, an adult couple from oklahoma have no idea about The Arena Stage in DC. And not to mention that they're going to say. "Hey! Let's go to new york, NEXT MONTH!!!!". This is why the next to normal's run will be VERY rocky durry the begining

[TheCharleston]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 11:38am

Because he has the money to bring it.... that doesn't mean he expects it to be a HIT.

"Next To Normal" is way too artistic for it to ever become a financial and/or popular hit. It will have its small cult following (which is obvious based on the fanatics here) and perhaps a Tony Award and/or word-of-mouth MIGHT get some tourists in, but I highly highly doubt it.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/22/09 at 11:40am

Who the hell said he did? But he believes that it's a show that deserves a chance.

For people who are so adamantly upset that shows "aren't getting chances" you're sure complaining about one that is.

And they may not know Arena Stage, but there are some amazing pull quotes to start with from nationally known papers like the Washington Post. Even before NYC reviews. (Not to mention pull quotes that still apply from the Second Stage run.)