ORPHANS to find a home on Broadway?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/15/09 at 3:32pm

"Signature Theater Company and the producers Jeffrey Richards and Daryl Roth are discussing a possible transfer of the Signature production of Horton Footes last play, The Orphans Home Cycle, to Broadway in April after the current Off Broadway run at Signature, according to three people involved in the production.

Mr. Richards, one of Broadways busiest play producers, said in a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon that he was certainly interested in the possible transfer of Orphans, a three-part, nine-hour play based on the lives of Footes parents and relatives in Texas in the early 1900s.

I think its a great piece of theater, Mr. Richards said, before adding about a possible transfer: Other people are looking at it too."

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/producers-discuss-moving-orphans-to-broadway/

[SirNotAppearing55]

Posted: 12/15/09 at 3:51pm

I echo the comment that Orphans is a great piece of theater. A transfer would certainly make an impact on Tony nominations. Figure a certain Best Play nomination. Likely director and set design nods, as well.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/15/09 at 3:51pm

I hope this happens, if only because I don't know if I'll get to see it at the Signature.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/15/09 at 4:38pm

Agreed Wicked.

[Brick]

Posted: 12/15/09 at 4:50pm

I concur. Foote deserves this kind of recognition, albeit posthumously.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/15/09 at 5:25pm

Would wonder the pricing logistics for this...

[scaryclowns2232]

Posted: 12/15/09 at 5:27pm

It sounds like a fiscal disaster.

As nice as it would be to see Horton Foote have one last hurrah on Broadway, it would be extremely difficult to make money off of this, or even keep it open long enough to matter.

[jagfkb]

Posted: 12/15/09 at 7:19pm

Any thoughts on what theatre it could take? I'm pretty sure almost every theatre is full this spring, except the Music Box or the Golden, perhaps?

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/15/09 at 8:46pm

>It sounds like a fiscal disaster.

As nice as it would be to see Horton Foote have one last hurrah on Broadway, it would be extremely difficult to make money off of this, or even keep it open long enough to matter.<


There are some producers I know who have produced shows knowing they'll never return a dime, but they produce them anyway because they feel the work needs to be seen. Rare, but it does happen.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 12/15/09 at 9:44pm

I haven't seen it, know little about it. But if this is a nine-hour play done over two nights, it hasn't got a chance -- that's four and one-half hours each. Neither Coast of Utopia nor Norman Conquests clocked in at that length of unrelieved sitting. I say, keep it at an Off-Broadway venue, let it take the Pulitzer or whatever, get its due recognition, etc., etc. IMO.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 12/15/09 at 11:05pm

It's 3 3-hour parts.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 12/15/09 at 11:43pm

Angels in America came in at just on nine hours...

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/15/09 at 11:50pm

But Angles was only two plays. (Not that that matters because I think this could be an instant "must see")

[scott68]

Posted: 12/16/09 at 12:32am

I didn't see Coast of Utopia, but I think it was a similar length/division of parts. The play certainly seems worth devoting three nights (or one very full day) to, but I agree it would never make money. The Norman Conquests had what I think was the ideal schedule, was absolutely brilliant, and still couldn't make back its investment.

I could absolutely see a producer who wasn't focusing on/interested in a profit doing right by this work. That said, I personally think any producer who hopes to make money on the production is on some drugs I'd like to get my hands on.