Next To Normal going to Circle in the Square?

[jbdc]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 11:44pm

If they sell well enough through their extension off-Broadway, Next To Normal will transfer to Broadway immediately. And they have a tentative agreement at Circle in the Square.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 11:47pm

If this is true, it is quite exciting. Great news for a great show.

But it should be interesting to see how this show is done on a thrust stage. Then again, Metamorphoses put a pool in, so things could always change.

[massofmen]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 11:48pm

they have had a tentative agreement since they began haven't they?
and I don't think with the mixed reviews will give it a shot to transfer. But I have known to have been wrong once in a great while.
Urinetown, Ave Q, Spring Awakening got stellar reviews across the board and took their time to move. Next To Normal got mixed reviews and has some work to do on it. Doesn't make a lot of sense to transfer it "immediately". In my opinion

[jbdc]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 11:51pm

With that cast, it's transfer right away or never.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 11:53pm

I don't know *where* you got your info, jbdc, but I wouldn't make those claims just yet - especially when your subject has a "?" at the end. As far as N2N is concerned, there's much work to be done (if ever a transfer becomes evident). Right now, they're playing at 2ST through March 16th, and that's all there is in the cards right now.

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/14/08 at 11:59pm

Did you say March 23rd?

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 12:00am

I don't doubt that it might transfer, but I highly doubt it'll transfer to Circle in the Square.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 12:11am

I would think eurydice would have been more "prime transfer material" for Second Stage, no?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 12:25am

Oh it's play through March 16? I just might have to see this. I've never seen an Off-Broadway show before, and I'd really like to see this one. Is Second Stages hard to find?

[Craww]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 12:29am

I didn't find Second Stage hard to find, since it was literally right across the street from the subway exit we chose.

[LimelightMike]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 12:35am

Not hard to find at all - considering it's on 43rd. Haha!

[aliciag]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 12:39am

Yup, and there's a big sign pointing to where the theater is right on 8th!

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 1:53am

I'm seeing this tomorrow night. I do find it curious that nothing has been announced for Circle yet, especially considering they're a prime spot for a number of smaller shows to get in before the Tony cutoff. I must assume they have a pre-conditioned deal with someone.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 1:59am

Well, David Stone's last show was in there, and his big show is right next door. He may have some sort of agreement with the theater owners there.

If N2N transfers, Circle in the Square might not be a bad house for it, if Stone uses its location next door to Wicked to his advantage. He could very easily direct ticket buyers who find Wicked sold out, to go right next door.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 4:51am

It'll definitely be interesting to see how they stage it there. I just can't picture it working with the Circle in the Square set-up.

[mightydog]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 10:51am

N2N's set would not work at Circle in the Square. Besides, Title of Show is strongly rumored to be taking the theatre. I heard that N2N would perhaps move to the Music Box but according to the gossip this morning August: Osage is moving there. Maybe it will take the Helen Hayes?

LOL the saga continues.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 11:37am

N2N would definitely work at the Circle.

It's not hard at all to make a proscenium in that space. Stage the show on the thrust, and have everything else behind it.

Rocky Horror made it work.

[April Saul]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 12:00pm

Am I missing something here? I liked Next to Normal A LOT, but what I get from these boards is that nothing can ever really be considered successful unless it transfers to Broadway. Right now, there are wonderful shows on Broadway like Seafarer and Is He Dead? that seem to be closing early or playing to half-empty houses. It is really hard to imagine that a musical about bi-polar is going to do that well, no matter how talented the actors or cutting edge the idea. I think the only shot something like this would have would be in Circle or the Hayes, but is there really anything wrong if a show like Normal has a nice long, satisfying run off-Broadway? I mean, Altar Boys has done well without trying to make that leap...but how is Passing Strange going to fare trying to fill up the Belasco? And how many people would have been able to enjoy the Fantasticks if it had tried to move to the Cort or Jacobs? Just a thought...I realize that in America, bigger is traditionally considered better, but maybe that doesn't always apply in theater...

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 12:03pm

Altar Boyz isn't doing that well. The show opened in 2005, and just now recouped its investment (within the last two weeks). That's the primary reason behind any transfer- N2N would need to run for years off-Broadway to recoup its investment. If it moves to Broadway, it could do so (and potentially turn a profit) much quicker.

Then of course, there is the prestige (and Tony Awards) that come with mounting a show on Broadway.

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 12:04pm

Every time somebody bumps this thread I get jumpy because I hope that somebody actually knows something - but what the first poster posted was just complete speculation, right?

[joniray]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 1:25pm

I doubt N2N would ever be able to recoup Off-Broadway no matter how long it ran. As was mentioned, Altar Boyz, with pretty much across the board raves, took nearly three years to recoup, and that show only has to pay five actors and two musicians a week. N2N would have to pay nearly twice as many performers each week. After next month, it'll either have to transfer to Broadway, or finish it's run in New York. I have lots of friends that I would love to take to see the show that are not able to come to NYC over the next month, so obviously, I hope it transfers. If it does, it will give a lot more people like you, April Saul, a chance to see it.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 1:33pm

As I said on the other thread, April Saul, the big difference between N2N and the shows you mention is that those are plays ~ one of them fairly heavy. Plays traditionally have fared worse than musicals.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 1:45pm

i'm seeing this tomorrow night. i'm very excited. where is the stage door for this show?

[April Saul]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 1:52pm

Yes, it's a musical, but it's about bipolar disorder--not a spelling bee or even repressed teen sexuality.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 2/15/08 at 1:59pm

folkyboy, I don't think that there is a stage door situation. The actors come out the front door.