Next for the Neil Simon

Since it has been awhile since the news came out about The Last Ship's closing, it thought it would be a good time to ask the question of "What's next for the Neil Simon Theatre?"

It's been about 12 hours.

I'm guessing Gigi is a good possibility. It's going into a Nederlander house, so this or the Nederlander if Honeymoon doesn't pick up after opening are good bets.

Nevermind, I did some research and I see that the recent revival of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR played the Simon. I had forgotten about that.

GIGI is most definitely on her way, they just haven't announced a theater yet.

If any musical goes in there it is asking for trouble.

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If Gigi does come, this will be an even more crowded year for revivals.

They close February 12 in DC which could make a Bway transfer this season possible but quick.

Bull Duram was also looking for a theatre, right?

Pretty sure Bull Durham was killed by Isherwood's review.

I'd bank on Gigi.

I'm not sure Amazing Grace even is in the pipline right now. It needs a lot of work before coming in.

Gigi is definitely coming in this season or else the producers risk losing or having their star, Vanessa Hudgens, for only a few months.I can't see Ms Hudgens putting her career on hold for the next 6 months to wait for the production to open in the fall. She also would likely loose any buzz for an outstanding performance come award season, especially if she has to leave the production before May. Now I am not saying she has much of a career right now, which is why she cannot afford to pass up any opportunities that may come her way by being attached with Gigi the next year and a half.

I think the problem GIGI is facing though is they want the Rodgers but David Stone isn't letting If/Then go anywhere. As discussed in the Side Show closing, where producers were told by Jujamcyn that the stop clause was going to be used if they didn't close the production on their own volition. Having the Jujamcyn enact the stop clause would be a disaster for the producer's in terms getting a venue for future productions. David Stone on the other had could not care less, as the "mastermind" behind Wicked and sits on the Broadway League Board. Although I do see, the Nederlander's trying to talk some sense into him so that they can get Gigi into the Rodgers before the Tony cutoff within the next week or so.

As Gigi will be coming straight from DC I don't see the show requiring much in terms of rehearsals and previews. If I had to guess Gigi's producers are hoping for If/Then to close on March 22nd so they can move in and start tech on the 30th with previews beginning the April 7th ahead of an opening of the Tony Cutoff of April 23rd. If Stone continues to fight for If/Then I see the show being forced to take the Neil Simon.

A theater is a theater and the Rodgers and Simon are roughly the same size, but I think the Gigi producers are right in wanting the Rodgers over the Simon for two main reasons. First is that if you are selling a star you want a theater with a marquee that is visible in to a highly trafficked area. As we all know the Rodgers has a great marquee in terms of location as it in on 47th street it is not only able to be seen from Time Square, but it is also able to be seen from the lucrative TKTS line. In all honestly the Rodgers marquee probably has the to be one of the top 5 marquee's in terms of location, with only the Palace, Minskoff, Lunt, and the old Marquee theater marquee, having a better location. The Neil simon on the other hand is on 52nd street, completely outside of Time Square. Second is even though the Neil Simon has roughly 100 more seats than the Rodgers, the Rodgers still has roughly 100 more premium priced orchestra seats than the Simon. I do think all of this will be sorted out within the next few weeks once Gigi starts previews. If there is buzz, Gigi will get the Rodgers, if there isn't it will get the Simon.

Updated On: 1/6/15 at 02:18 PM

bnd, that was a really well thought out post and I agree!

RW, based on bnd's logic I would think the Rodgers would still be the more favorable location based on visibility

The Nederlander wil be way to cramped for Gigi and also has one of the smallest orchestras with nearly half of its seats located there. I was recently at a performance of Honeymoon in Vegas, which as a side note I have to say surprised me as I thought the production was fantastic and deserves to at least run through award season. Back to the point though, I was sitting in the mezzanine and could not believe how cramped I felt. This was not because of legroom, but just a general sense of claustrophobia. I literally felt like i was not only on top of the people in front of me, but the stage itself. I have sat in the Nederlander multiple times and locations, for Rent, Guys and Dolls, and Newsies, but it wasn't until Honeymoon in Vegas that I realized how cramped the theater is especially for a grand show. I think I may not of noticed it when I was there for Newsies or Rent because the theater seemed to be more dimly lit. Honeymoon on the other hand has a very bright lighting scheme, which served to constantly remind me how small the theater was. I honestly kept thinking how did Newsies fit all of its dancers on stage without having them bump into each other. Since I believe Gigi will have a lighting scheme more representative of Honeymoon rather than Newsies or Rent, I think placing it in the Nederlander will be a detriment to the production. Yes it will give the production a sense of intimacy, but for a regal show like Gigi, so you really need intimacy?

Updated On: 1/6/15 at 03:40 PM

It has been my understanding that Gigi has been cut down to the intimate story that is at its core. It is a smaller telling than what has been seen on stage before. I also could be very wrong, but we won't know until it goes up in DC.

Should this smaller scale be the case, the Simon would almost be too big. The rear mezz goes on and on and goes steeply up like an Alp. The stage house at the Nederlander is small. Where they put all those musicians during Honeymoon is anybody's guess. I also don't think If/Then is going anywhere until her contract is up which is what, April, even May? Also, you can't really count on an occupied theatre. So we are back to the Simon.

My hunch is that should Gigi come in this spring, it will be the Simon or nothing.

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