Next for the Longacre!

[tombomb31]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 12:56pm

Was just speaking to the stage door guy and he said The Lightening Thief is next! He said load in starts next month!

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 1:04pm

I mean the timing with The Prom makes sense, but you would think there would be some official announcement by now. Also opening in the fall (assuming previews would be not long after loading) is a risky move imo. The show seems great, but has very BMC vibes that it just wouldn't work on Broadway.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 1:08pm

Why!? Another show that doesn't belong on BWAY...New World Stages is the right place for this

It will flop ~ don't the producers realize that Be More Chill just bombed on moving to BWAY,...this will too!

[\_(•_•)_/]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 1:18pm

Couldn't sell out off broadway, couldn't sell out on tour, how dumb are these producers?

[copskid949]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 1:43pm

_(•_&bull_/ said: "Couldn't sell out off broadway, couldn't sell out on tour, how dumb are these producers? "

I’m not saying it’ll sell out because quite frankly I don’t think it will, but it’s gained some notable traction on tour. If the book improves a bit and the dramatic moments are given more oomph, this could be a contender. Not a serious contender, but a contender nonetheless.

[MollyJeanneMusic]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 1:45pm

A big difference between this and BMC is that BMC was the first big adaptation of its source material, and TLT is based on the first book of a humongous hit book series with a movie franchise (albeit a terrible one).

[\_(•_•)_/]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 1:50pm

copskid949 said: "_(•_&bull_/ said: "Couldn't sell out off broadway, couldn't sell out on tour, how dumb are these producers? "

I’m not saying it’ll sell out because quite frankly I don’t think it will, but it’s gained some notable traction on tour. If the book improves a bit and the dramatic moments are given more oomph, this could be a contender. Not a serious contender, but a contender nonetheless."

Same argument could be used for Be More Chill. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 1:53pm

The scale of the tour is pretty cheap looking...

[copskid949]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 2:01pm

MollyJeanneMusic said: "A big difference between this and BMC is that BMC was the first big adaptation of its source material, and TLT is based on the first book of a humongous hit book series with a movie franchise (albeit a terrible one). "

Personally I think the fact that the movies are bad just helps it. The cast and creatives of this show constantly trash them and it’s obvious that the mistakes made in those adaptations influenced the musical to do things a lot better. Also, unlike BMC, the show has changed a ton over the years. It’s had a longer creative process, it’s been through more iterations with more flexibility to change things that don’t work well, and its fanbase hasn’t peaked quite yet if a Broadway run is in its future. I don’t know, now that a little show like this has already come and gone with BMC, it might be time for Percy Jackson to really hit it big with the younger crowd.

Also, as Molly said before, Percy Jackson in general is a MUCH better sell than BMC ever was. It’s like this big chunk of childhood nostalgia that hasn’t had a chance to really come back yet, and there are a lot of people who have yet to even learn about the show. I think it was about a month ago when Percy Jackson trended on Twitter for no reason other than the fact that a lot of people tweeted about it all around the same time, leading them to reminisce about the series. Those people need an outlet, and I think this musical provides it.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 2:03pm

Could Lightning Thief maybe be a limited run "tour stop" until something else comes along? I can't imagine something with so little buzz could just waltz on in, unless they have money to burn. 

[copskid949]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 2:04pm

everythingtaboo said: "Could Lightning Thief maybe be a limited run "tour stop" until something elsecomes along? I can't imagine something with so little buzz could just waltz on in, unless they have money to burn."

The tour just ended. This would be new, I assume.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 2:06pm

I must be weird because I liked the movies. The musical looks fun but I don't fully understand why the musical is played like a parody. Are they poking fun at just the movies or both the movies and the books?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 2:11pm

Highly doubtful. It didn't sell on tour and would be an immediate flop on Broadway. And next month? Not much advance notice for ticket sales for a show nobody knows about and has no names attached. Maybe an 8-week limited run, but that's all I can see this running for.

Updated On: 8/4/19 at 02:11 PM

[Hamilfan2]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 2:14pm

My understanding is that they are beefing it up for Broadway. Much better sets, special effects, a bigger cast, etc. The Off-Broadway and subsequent tour were definitely kind of cheap but it also gave the musical a certain charm that’s i am worried it will loose if producers try to turn it into a big Broadway blockbuster. We shall see I guess, but I am definitely skeptical of this working. Especially since, as others have mentioned, it hasn’t really sold well across its various incarnations. But maybe that will change with a Broadway marketing budget?

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 2:18pm

Good lord, I am so incredibly tired of these social media-powered, teen-geared shows commandeering Broadway theatres. So tired of it.

[copskid949]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 2:18pm

CATSNYrevival said: "I must be weird because I liked the movies. The musical looks fun but I don't fully understand why the musical is played like a parody. Are they poking fun at just the moviesor both the movies and the books?"

It’s more “we don’t have the budget for this so here’s what we’re trying to get across, just with household items,” which makes it seem a bit more parodic than they intend it to be. But also funnier.

If they ditch that vibe for Broadway, it might be...

DOA.

Updated On: 8/4/19 at 02:18 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 2:55pm

Next month???
Has anyone seen any sort of casting notice go out?

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 3:07pm

If they’re expanding the cast they’d have to have EPAs etc and there haven’t been any. So doubtful it will come together that quickly.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 3:26pm

BroadwayRox3588 said: "Good lord, I am so incredibly tired of these social media-powered, teen-geared shows commandeering Broadway theatres. So tired of it."

Yeah, all two of them are just exhausting *eye roll* 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 3:41pm

It's weird, because I also heard a rumor that Lightning Thief was coming in, but maybe misinformation just travels quickly. I'll believe it when we get the press release. But even if they do announce, I would be very surprised if they load in as soon as next month. 

For my money, this show has a better chance than BMC partly because it's based on a very popular book series that has some public recognition, and also because it can be marketed to families with children younger than the BMC crowd. 

I saw the show at the Beacon, after having listened to the cast album a couple of times. I thought the music and staging are fun, and the book stays pretty true to the original. The problem for me is the direction - Stephen Brackett gives the show exactly the same manic, screaming, whiny energy as BMC. It's pretty unbearable to sit through all these nasal voices shouting at the top of their lungs to make up for the utter lack of comedic abilities.

I'm convinced that the material has the potential to be really fun, but they would need to bring someone in to completely rework the tone of the show, to make the humor feel a bit more wry and sharp, and less "screaming is funny, right?" I think a more understated approach to the humor would balance out the energetic staging, and help highlight the more heartfelt moments (which were completely drowned out). IMO they would also need to re-choreograph the show, because the choreography is extremely hokey and distracting. 

But I know none of that will happen. So we'll just have to hope that when the show gets licensed, there will be some regional directors out there who understand what the show actually needs. 

[copskid949]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 4:36pm

JBroadway said: "But I know none of that will happen. So we'lljust have to hope that when the show gets licensed, there will be some regional directors out there who understand what the show actually needs."

Hmm... You’re totally right about what it needs, but I wouldn’t lose hope. If the rumors about it moving in soon are incorrect and they are actually taking time to make it bigger, there’s a chance the direction could change entirely. I would really hope that’s the case, for the sake of the material.

[mufish]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 4:45pm

I'm not questioning the validity of the information by any means, but I would question the decision to bring this to Broadway at this point as others have.  I caught the show in Boston a couple weeks ago - their 35 Below ticket program helped clinch my decision (by the way, when the run initially went on sale the 35 Below tickets didn't include most of the center orchestra, but as the engagement approached they expanded the offerings significantly).  The orchestra was full and I initially thought the balcony wasn't even on sale, but there were some people up there - it was a Saturday night which probably helped.

I thought it was a fine show.  Nice message in there, some good songs, and a standout performance or two.  Those with knowledge of the source material probably enjoyed it more than I did, but I'm certainly glad I went.  Sam Leicht went on as Percy and was great.  But the staging and (to a lesser extent) the small cast would not lend itself well to a Broadway engagement, in my opinion - that probably sounds worse than I intend it. 

But hey, it's not my money and it's not as if there is a shortage of Broadway real estate available!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 4:46pm

I'd like to see them try something a little less campy. I think the parents and family audiences buying tickets to Percy Jackson on Broadway might be expecting something a little more like Cursed Child and not Xanadu. That's more or less what I was expecting when I listened to the album. I had to adjust a little bit to the concept.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 5:26pm

BroadwayWorld: The 2020 season needs more original scores!!!
BroadwayWorld: Except for that one!!

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/4/19 at 5:41pm

I actually think the score is quite good, just don't think the production is Broadway ready unless they're planning on a redesign/new director or something.