I may be wrong, but I think as long as it's in Manhattan and has over 500 seats, it is allowed to become a Broadway .
The issue, as I understand it, is more about having the theatre "registered" as a Broadway theatre through the Broadway League. If the theatre's owners don't officialize it with the League, it's not a Broadway house. And that's why theatres like Radio City, City Center, the Delacorte are all over 500 seats but are not considered Broadway theatres. I might have some details wrong there but I believe that's the gist of it.
Also, sorry if someone has mentioned this already, but I notice a lot of people seem to be saying that sitting in a balcony would ruin the experience of seeing the show. While that is partially true, people seem to forget that it is still a fascinating and beautifully written piece of theatre from a distance. I sat in the last row at A.R.T, and though that's not the same as a balcony, I still didn't get to experience very much of the immersion aspect.
Getting rid of (or limiting) the immersive staging will certainly change some of the piece's energy, but I don't think it will be quite so obliterated as many people here seem to believe. It's still a gorgeous show.
Updated On: 3/7/16 at 10:48 AM
I think the piece itself is very strong indeed, but the immersive aspects are what defined this production from its inception back at Ars Nova. And if the ART staging is an indication of what to expect on Broadway, significant amounts of staging occur in the house, which would be totally missed out of if one were sitting in the mezz or balcony (especially the rear portions of those areas).
JBroadway said: "I may be wrong, but I think as long as it's in Manhattan and has over 500 seats, it is allowed to become a Broadway .
The issue, as I understand it, is more about having the theatre "registered" as a Broadway theatre through the Broadway League. If the theatre's owners don't officialize it with the League, it's not a Broadway house. And that's why theatres like Radio City, City Center, the Delacorte are all over 500 seats but are not considered Broadway theatres. I might have some details wrong there but I believe that's the gist of it. "
And also where would you fit a 500 seat tent in the middle of Manhattan
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
Michael Paulson just tweeted that they're taking the Imperial.
No house except for Circle in the Square and maybe the Hayes is really right for the show...but the IMPERIAL? Woof. Bad idea.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
Also this dashes any idea of Miss Saigon taking the Imperial.
IdinaBellFoster said: "No house except for Circle in the Square and maybe the Hayes is really right for the show...but the IMPERIAL? Woof. Bad idea."
I've never been to the Imperial...can you expand upon why you think it's a bad idea??
It's just a very large house for this show.
Jshan05 said: "IdinaBellFoster said: "No house except for Circle in the Square and maybe the Hayes is really right for the show...but the IMPERIAL? Woof. Bad idea."
I've never been to the Imperial...can you expand upon why you think it's a bad idea??
1443 seats.
Ohhhhhhh ok yeah that will probably not work in it's favor. Thanks for the info!
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/06
Wish they would give an exact start date for performances. The article says October but the link provided says September
Is it possible that they chose the Imperial because they're planning on only using the orchestra seating? I don't know how many seats the Imperial's orchestra sits, but I could see them wanting a theatre with a large downstairs playing space so they don't have to deal with the problem of a mezzanine at all.
wonderfulwizard11 said: "Is it possible that they chose the Imperial because they're planning on only using the orchestra seating? I don't know how many seats the Imperial's orchestra sits, but I could see them wanting a theatre with a large downstairs playing space so they don't have to deal with the problem of a mezzanine at all. "
This was my thought as well.
Or they could do what holler if you hear me did and do stadium seating in the house and then put some seating on the stage.
Imperial Seating Capacity: 1443 Total
Orchestra: 759
Front Mezzanine: 283
Rear Mezzanine: 377
Boxes: 24
Pit: (Add'l) 16
Wheelchair: 2
Call_me_jorge said: "Or they could do what holler if you hear me did and do stadium seating in the house and then put some seating on the stage."
They would have no time to do this.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
I agree that it seems rather large. Isn't the Golden available? That seems like a more reasonable size. But yeah, maybe they're doing some reconfiguring.
I guess they're predicting huge ticket sales due to Groban being in the production, though I doubt they will garner enough hype to sell out the theater...
Kad said: "Call_me_jorge said: "Or they could do what holler if you hear me did and do stadium seating in the house and then put some seating on the stage."
They would have no time to do this."
Not to mention, looking at the pictures from the ART run, stadium seating would make the bits of staging that happen in the audience much harder to pull off.
https://twitter.com/joshgroban/status/706961110772129793
I too wonder if perhaps they just plan to use the downstairs....
With this announcement sort of thwarting any plans of Miss Saigon moving into the Imperial, would it be possible for Miss Saigon to move into the newly refurbished Hudson?
Isn't ambassador group, the Hudson owner, cam macs? Or someone close to him?
I think the Hudson is small; more suited to plays...
Broadway Star Joined: 5/9/15
WAY too small. Plus, although the sets in this production are not as massive as the original production, Cameron Mackintosh said that there are only several theaters on Broadway with big enough stages that can hold Miss Saigon. Those theaters are (excluding the Gershwin for obvious reasons - Wicked) The Lyric, Winter Garden, and The Broadway. Since Miss Saigon is going to a Shubert theatre, that means it has to be the Broadway or Winter Garden. The Broadway (the home of the original production) is sure to be empty by the time 2017 comes around. The Winter Garden is also a possibility. Since Cameron Mackintosh has a good relationship with ALW, maybe he can convince him to move or close School of Rock.
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