New Broadway Theater- Page 3

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 12/21/19 at 4:42am

I would have loved to see the Shuberts build a hotel... with several theatres underneath. 

 

I think there is a need for a Broadway Blackbox. Something similar to what Steppenwolf Theatre Company has... where the entire audience can be manipulated into any form of seating... so long as there are always 500 seats. 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 12/21/19 at 9:55pm

Cora Hoover Hooper said: "AEA AGMA SM said: "RippedMan said: "Do we think the Liberty will ever come back? Doesn't seem like they can get anything to stick in that house - restaurant/store - so why not convert it back? Or is it too far gone?"

From what I was told the way the Liberty was boxed in by the developments around it they ended up cutting off too many of their emergency exits to have a capacity of 500+. Assuming that's true, it could be redeveloped into an Off-Broadway space (there was that immersive burlesque show that ran there a few years back, but I'm guessing they also kept their capacity well under 500)"

Isn't street access blocked for the Liberty now? (I mean having any lobby). How could people even get in if it were rehabbed? It's a shame it just sits there surrounded."

Well, the backside on 41st is still exposed, but I always thought one could take the former diner space, store, whatever, and use that -- modified -- as a new lobby.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 12/21/19 at 10:36pm

I agree with the idea of a theater that is more easily reconfigured. That's why I always love going to see stuff in London because a lot of those non-profits - Old Vic, National - do some clever and ingenious things. 

I wonder how much something like Stage 42 cost to build? It's a relatively new theater? 

What's the newest theater in Manhattan to be built from the ground up? The Marquis? 

[bandit964]

Posted: 12/21/19 at 11:06pm

Other than the facade, the Stephen Sondheim is a brand new theater.

[bigbelterbaby]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 10:14am

Five years later and this is still an ongoing issue even in a post-COVID world of many shows wanting to transfer with only thing stopping them is an open house (that is the size producers want). The only way to rectify this is for theatrical types to invest in the future and build a new theatre. I would say reclaim an old one but there are many spaces left that could can be a traditional theatre space. A show being forced to close when it is selling well just to open it up for another show is not healthy business practice. 
 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 10:23am

I heard Lincoln Center was trying to build a new broadway theatre in midtown.  There are so many vacancies on 42nd street.  They should buy the Candler building ( old Sam H Harris theatre) and build a new modern day theatre 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 10:39am

They're struggling to fill current broadway houses but sure- let's have them build another one! 

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 10:43am

hearthemsing22 said: "They're struggling to fill current broadway houses but sure- let's have them build another one!"

Do you mean fill them with shows or with audiences?

Either way, you're wrong

[bigbelterbaby]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 10:55am

In 2026 it will be 40 years since the last newly built Broadway theatre opened (The Marquis). And while many have been rebuilt (Stephen Sondheim) or renovated we just need more space. Look how few Off-Broadway theatres are closing due to not being able to afford their building/land. Our one true gift was the return of the Hudson Theatre. bless ambassador theatre group and millennium hotel for giving us this theatre back. 

Updated On: 6/27/24 at 10:55 AM

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 11:20am

ATG should find a way to restore the Times Square theatre and make that work too

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 11:21am

bigbelterbaby said: "In 2026 it will be 40 years since the last newly built Broadway theatre opened (The Marquis). And while many have been rebuilt (Stephen Sondheim) or renovated we just need more space. Look how few Off-Broadway theatres are closing due to not being able to afford their building/land. Our one true gift was the return of the Hudson Theatre. bless ambassador theatre group and millennium hotel for giving us this theatre back."

Yes, so lets build a new theater just because its been 40 years. Again, we're struggling to fill the current Broadway theaters and you're saying we need a new one??? I'd say renovate the current houses instead. 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 11:21am

If I see the words TIMES SQUARE THEATER on this board one more time. 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 11:28am

Yes when Harry Potter closes, I hope they return the lyric/ Apollo it to its pre drabinksy days

[JSquared2]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 11:30am

Broadway Flash said: "Yes when Harry Potter closes, I hope they return the lyric/ Apollo it to its pre drabinksy days"

 

WTF?  Are you saying you want them to "un-renovate" the theatre and turn it back into a dilapidated sh*thole??

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 11:42am

Most of the theatre owners feel that Broadway has enough theatres (including Shubert, which owns the most and scrapped plans to build a theatre on that empty lot next to the Imperial, and has chosen not to covert Stage 42 into a Broadway house).

Considering the demand by the audience, I think the owners are right.

In an unlikely world where we DID get a new theatre, a ~1200-seater would probably be most beneficial. Something in that sweet spot of the Wilson/Broadhurst/Nederlander. And, ideally, it would be a flexible space.

A large, flexible, rentable off-Bway space might be the most needed thing right now. Not everything must be on Broadway.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 11:44am

No I hope they turn it back into two medium size theatres, and unlock the Times Square theatre in the process.  Jordan Roth might want to do it. 

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 11:48am

Broadway Flash said: "Yes when Harry Potter closes, I hope they return the lyric/ Apollo it to its pre drabinksy days"

That’s literally impossible. Despite using some elements from the Apollo and original Lyric, it was, for all intents and purposes, considered a new theatre when it opened. “Returning” it to pre-Drabinsky means you are tearing it down and rebuilding two theatres from scratch that no longer exist.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 11:56am

Roth cannot unilaterally decide to take on such a project. He doesn't own or operate Jujamcyn anymore- it's ATG. He is a board member and has what appears to be a symbolic title of 'creative director.'

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 11:59am

ATG might want to do it.   I feel like Shubert has left that lot vacant in case they want to build something adjacent to the imperial.  

[Kad]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 12:26pm

I guarantee to you that nobody wants to tear down the Lyric so they can build 2 smaller theaters.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 12:31pm

Kad said: "Roth cannot unilaterally decide to take on such a project. He doesn't own or operate Jujamcyn anymore- it's ATG. He is a board member and has what appears to be a symbolic title of 'creative director.'"

 

Yeah, Jordan is pretty much out of the theatre biz.  He's more into fashion these days (which is totally fine)!

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 12:38pm

Jordan Roth is focused more on producing (the Esparza GALILEO musical and Welch's GATSBY). I don't blame him from getting tired of the whole "being a landlord" thing. There's a ton of headaches that an independent producer doesn't have to deal with...and he still gets preferential treatment by ATG and has something of a say in their global operations.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 12:38pm

That theatre is just so wide and huge, it’ll go right back to a flop house once Harry Potter is gone. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 12:53pm

Once POTTER is gone, ATG can do whatever they'd like with it.

It's 1600 seats right now, down from the original 1900, and the mezz and balc were reconfigured to be a little more intimate.

They could have Sonia gut it and leave them an empty shell to rebuild to their liking (flexible space? smaller auditorium?)

They could keep the POTTER seating configuration and modify the aesthetics to suit their needs

They could restore it to 1900 seats (inadvisable)

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 6/27/24 at 12:58pm

Or they could do what I suggest.  I don’t think many producers would want to use it cause it’s a wonky huge theatre.  I could see cirque du solei going in there again