NY Times looks at Beacon Theatre restoration

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 7:00am

The Beacon, the former movie palace, one time Broadway theatre (for a short lived stage version of Sgt. Pepper in the 1970s) and lately a rock venue, is getting a $15 million facelift - the first restoration in its history. House paint is being stripped away and murals and sculptures are being restored, as will all of the original 1929 wall, ceiling and mural lighting, most of which had burned out and was never replaced. The theatre is also getting a new stage floor, dressing rooms, concessions, carpeting, a repaired roof and new seating.

Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/nyregion/09beacon.html

Slideshow
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/09/09/nyregion/0909-BEACON_index.html

Updated On: 9/9/08 at 07:00 AM

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 7:25am

How funny, I watched the Ellen Degeneres stand up video from here just 2 nights ago and thought then what a gorgeous theatre it is. Shame it cant get a full Broadway show in.
Its almost as beautiful as The Mark Hellinger.

Updated On: 9/9/08 at 07:25 AM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 7:43am

Even in its murky state, it's a cool house, but I'm glad to see it getting some major work done. With 2,800 sests, though, it's just too big to be a Broadway house, plus it's too far away from the theatre district. With the exception of the Vivian Beaumont (which experienced decades of failure before the current Lincoln Center Theater regime), none of the Broadway theatres outside of the theatre district ever fared that well.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 7:56am

Even our biggest London houses only stretch to around 2300/2400.
Its funny that in London the theatre going public seem more prepared to travel to a theatre for a show. The London Palladium (The Sound Of Music) is a 10 minute walk from the West End. The Victoria Palace (Billy Elliot) and Apollo Victoria (Wicked) are both taxi rides away from the West End. All 3 of these theatres are amongst Londons biggest and their distance from town has never hindered the shows they have hosted.
In New York if a theatre is more than a few blocks from Times Sq it seems a show could fail just by its location (I know this isn't the norm but it can be that way)

Updated On: 9/9/08 at 07:56 AM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 8:19am

As it has developed, the Broadway theatre district has really ended up very concentrated. Once the Henry Miller reopens, there will be 39 Broadway theatres within 13 blocks. The theatres in the West End are just all over the place, so I think it's just the nature that West End theatregoers are more accustomed to finding their way. Even so, I recall that the Dominion used to be fairly unpopular because of its somewhat isolated location, no?

Some very great Broadway theatres fell by the wayside partly because of their offbeat locations (big musical houses like the real Ziegfeld, at 54th and Sixth and the New Century at 58th and 7th in particular). But these days, with many shows clamoring for Broadway theatres, I wonder how they might have fared if they were still around. I bet even hard-luck houses like the Adelphi/George Abbott or the Harkness might have even had a few takers.

Updated On: 9/9/08 at 08:19 AM

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 8:21am

The Dominion is very close to the West End its just such a barn of a place.
Its 2100 seats but would hold over 3000 if its balcony was reopened. Its been closed since Judy Garland did a concert there in the late 50s.
What you see in this pic is just the front mezz open. High above the mezz you can see the boarding that blocks off the old balcony!

Updated On: 9/9/08 at 08:21 AM

[D2]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 8:24am

At 2800 seats, the Beacon might work quite well for the New York City Opera if they ever do get up the gumption to leave the New York State Theater/Lincoln Center. How are the acoustics? I've never been there.

Updated On: 9/9/08 at 08:24 AM

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 8:27am

The Apollo Victoria Theatre
London home of 'Wicked'
Seating apprx 2200 but looks much bigger.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 8:37am

Ah, OK. It's been a while since I've been there. Are there West End houses that are less popular due to their locations? The Victoria Palace and the Apollo Victoria have both been pretty steadily booked, as far as I remember...

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 8:48am

The Shaftesbury Theatre has always been seen as an outsider but is actually closer than many others to the West End. 'Hairspray' changed all that and now people walk from the moon to get to the dear old beautiful Shaftesbury! Its first big hit since 1968 with 'Hair'
Its what we call in the UK a 'wedding cake' theatre- the auditorium is stunning!
To answer your question, no, there arn't any 'outsiders' that suffer location problems.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 8:50am

The Apollo Victoria and Victoria Palace are off the map to the bottom left hand corner.

Updated On: 9/9/08 at 08:50 AM

[winston89]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 8:52am

D2, the acoustics at The Beacon are VERY good and there isn't a bad seat in the house.

I have seen the Alman Brothers Band there countless times over the years during their annual spring stint. Great place to see a concert.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 8:53am

Lots of live concerts are filmed here for TV and DVD release.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 8:54am

The Beacon is what the Dominion was in London back in the 80s and 90s- a major concert venue where many international stars chose to perform.
Thankfully the West End reclaimed The Dominion as a major musical house- sadly for the last 3000 years its been stuck with 'We Will Rock You'!

Updated On: 9/9/08 at 08:54 AM

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 9:11am

The London Palladium was where world stars dreamed of playing at least once in their careers! Right up until the 80s such names as Judy Garland, Liza Minelli, Liberace, Frank Sinatra, Shirley Bassey, Shirley McLaine, Chita Rivera, Barbra Streisand, Danny Kaye, Bette Davis, Lucile Ball, Seigreid And Roy, Mickey Rooney etc etc along with other top UK names would beg to perform there.
This lasted until the late 70s when it housed Yul Brynner in 'The king And I' for a 2 year season. This started a trend that continued to push out the variety bookings until eventually it became home to shows such as 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' and 'Barnum' for runs of 2 or 3 years or more.
It was looked upon with the same great esteem as New Yorks Palace Theatre was in the hey day of variety. The Palace suffered the same fate as The Palladium eventually.

Updated On: 9/9/08 at 09:11 AM

[winston89]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 9:23am

Wickedboy, I am confused. How will the Palace on Broadway suffer the same fate as the Palidum in London. It already went from being a verity house to being a Broadway house.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 9:28am

They both have had their day as variety houses but the Palace has been staging major musicals a lot longer than the Palladium has.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 11:19am

Where did the '80s Little Me play? Was it the Shaftesbury?

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 11:30am

The production of 'Little Me' that Cy Coleman said was the best ever of the show, played the The Prince Of Wales for 13 months in 1985, The Prince Of Wales is now home to 'Mama Mia"

Updated On: 9/9/08 at 11:30 AM

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 11:38am

The Prince Of Wales Theatre before major redevelopment by Cameron Macintosh who owns the theatre

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 11:59am

Wickedboy, thanks for those great pics. I have always wondered what the inside of some of the theaters over there looked like. (I guess I could have googled them!)

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 12:07pm

You very welcome, i get great pleasure from it.
I have a thread on the West End board thats called 'Wickedboys Wonders Of The West End.... And Beyond' Take a look- its up to about 15/20 pages now. Lots of London theatres and our wonderful provincial theatres together with some of the beauties around the world too. Im gonna bump it for you!

Updated On: 9/9/08 at 12:07 PM

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 12:07pm

Updated On: 4/3/10 at 12:07 PM

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 12:12pm

The Aldwych Theatre London, now home to 'Dirty Dancing'
Maggie Smiths favorite West End theatre to perform in!

Updated On: 9/9/08 at 12:12 PM

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 9/9/08 at 12:16pm

Updated On: 4/3/10 at 12:16 PM