PARAMOUR to Close as the Lyric Prepares for 2017 Renovation/Harry Potter- Page 2

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 4:57pm

Cfried said: "HogansHero said: "euphemisms. fishy indeed (and pretty transparent). 
The English translation:
1. The show is closing...
5. The show will "transfer" to another destination, not another Bway theatre....
7. Renovations. Yeah, right. Like taking down the signage. "
EXACTLY. This is spot on!"

I have no doubt that some other locations, perhaps in Europe would welcome the production (and/or do a shortened Vegas edition). 

I wonder when Cirque knew of this. Their investment in the Macy's Thanksgiving performance seems to be wasted now.

Harry Potter is a very interesting theory. I just checked and the Palace Theatre in the West End is not an ATG house, but I'd gather that being based in London would give ATG an edge in access and familiarity to the rights holders (or disadvantage, depending upon their experiences). 

Updated On: 12/1/16 at 04:57 PM

[Cfried]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 5:35pm

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/186879/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-to-bow-on-broadway-in-2018/

You were all right! HARRY POTTER it is!

[theatreguy]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 5:43pm

MarkBearSF said: "Harry Potter is a very interesting theory. I just checked and the Palace Theatre in the West End is not an ATG house, but I'd gather that being based in London would give ATG an edge in access and familiarity to the rights holders (or disadvantage, depending upon their experiences). "

 

You gather pretty much correctly. Sonia Friedman is one of the lead producers of Harry Potter. Her production company is a subsidiary of ... Ambassador Theatre Group!

[ANewBrainn]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 5:44pm

I don't want the performers to lose their jobs but I despise this show and won't miss it.

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 6:02pm

Cirque has multiple other shows these performers could go back to.  With the exception of the three principles (and assuming understudies) the rest are all from Cirque backgrounds.  This wasn't the right way to bring Cirque to Broadway, ill conceived and would do better to close or hit the road.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 6:09pm

To be fair, my Harry Potter comment wasn't speculation. The company was told on Tuesday. Don't expect to see Paramour elsewhere in NY - Germany is a likely next stop, and perhaps Vegas in the future. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 6:20pm

Changing the title of this thread from "PARAMOUR to Relocate" to "PARAMOUR to Close" since that seems to be the leading consensus for what's really happening.

[saxpower]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 6:21pm

I've been to the Lyric (then the Ford Center) once, when Ragtime was playing.    Size/practicality aside, they did do a good job at least saving SOME parts of the two theaters 

Apparently is was renovated when Hilton took over in 2005.  Anyone know what was done?  I mean how much has to be done to an (at that point) less than 10 year old theatre?

The theater has been renamed what- four times in less than 10 years?  Admittedly , that was due to sponsorships but still.  Kudos to Ambassadors for bringing back the original name, but somehow I would not be surprised if it ends up being called the "Hogwarts Theatre" for the length of HP's run.  (Half-joking) 

[saxpower]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 6:21pm

I've been to the Lyric (then the Ford Center) once, when Ragtime was playing.    Size/practicality aside, they did do a good job at least saving SOME parts of the two theaters 

Apparently is was renovated when Hilton took over in 2005.  Anyone know what was done?  I mean how much has to be done to an (at that point) less than 10 year old theatre?

The theater has been renamed what- four times in less than 10 years?  Admittedly , that was due to sponsorships but still.  Kudos to Ambassadors for bringing back the original name, but somehow I would not be surprised if it ends up being called the "Hogwarts Theatre" for the length of HP's run.  (Half-joking) 

[perfectliar]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 6:40pm

MarkBearSF said: "I wonder when Cirque knew of this. Their investment in the Macy's Thanksgiving performance seems to be wasted now."

 

It's not closing tomorrow... they're still running for another 5 months. That's plenty of time to capitalize on the Parade exposure.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 6:51pm

Didn't one of the last tenants (Spider-Man), when closing saying it was going to relocate? What happened there?

With Potter announced so quickly as soon as Paramour put their closing notice out, ATG invoked the stop clause.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 6:55pm

Pretty sure Spider-Man said they were going out on tour. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 7:20pm

Phantom of London said: "Didn't one of the last tenants (Spider-Man), when closing saying it was going to relocate? What happened there?

With Potter announced so quickly as soon as Paramour put their closing notice out, ATG invoked the stop clause."

LOL. No one invoked a stop clause. First of all, you can count the number of times a stop clause has been invoked on your hands. Second, at the current revenue level, a stop clause would not have been triggered. Third, the arrangement in this case was not a conventional one: it was a long term lease, so the terminology does not even obtain. It is pretty clear that the Lyric did not turn out to be the brilliant idea the parties thought it would be and both will be well satisfied by the bail. 

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 7:37pm

I'm sure ATG is thrilled to get a show in there that's going to run at least 5 years and likely much longer. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 8:20pm

I wonder if these crazed Potter fans will pay HAMILTON-type ticket prices? $500+? If it comes close to HAMILTON's average ticket price & selling out, it'll be grossing ~$4 million a week

[Jarethan]

Posted: 12/1/16 at 8:26pm

I have read that they are going to resize the auditorium to 1,500 seats, and create a much larger backstage area for the elaborate sets.  Is it possible that they will address the repeatedly voiced issues with the theatre, particularly the distance of the mezzanine and balcony from the stage?  Maybe they will expand the backstage area by building out into the auditorium, essentially eliminating the current front rows?  No die how much this would cost, but they clearly have a problem that they need to solve.  As much demand as there will be for the Potter play, the current theatre size would be a real negative.  It is, after all, a drama, and people aren't going to be happy paying  a lot of money and not having any chance of seeing the faces.  That is more forgivable with a musical.

[Famebroadway2]

Posted: 12/2/16 at 3:04am

Just How big of a physical production is Potter? You mean to tell me that the Lyric's backstage could fit Ragtime and Spider-Man's massive sets, but not Harry Potter? I find that hard to believe. 

I do feel like they are going to extend the stage and build a new proscenium in the house, taking out the first 10 rows of orchestra up to the first aisle break. Therefore bringing the mezz and balcony much closer to the actors.

What they are going to do with the lobby has me baffled.  

 

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/2/16 at 5:56am

>As much demand as there will be for the Potter play, the current theatre size would be a real negative.  It is, after all, a drama, and people aren't going to be happy paying  a lot of money and not having any chance of seeing the faces.  That is more forgivable with a musical.<

It is playing London's Palace Theatre, which usually houses big musicals. That's a 1400 seat theatre, with three balconies, no less, and there's not a seat to be had. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/2/16 at 6:19am

ACL2006 said: "I wonder if these crazed Potter fans will pay HAMILTON-type ticket prices? $500+? If it comes close to HAMILTON's average ticket price & selling out, it'll be grossing ~$4 million a week

 

"

I'm guessing  not as high, as it's not a musical...but it'll  be expensive.

[FireFingers]

Posted: 12/2/16 at 6:40am

It isn't expensive in London. The most you can pay per part is less than £100/$126 (so £200/$253 total to see Parts 1 and 2, and having seen the show their is enough to warrant it being in two parts), and I think 300 tickets per performance are £20/$25. JK Rowling pushed to keep the prices down and keep Harry Potter accessible. 

And for those asking about staging, it does need a bit of wing space and other technical requirements that make the Lyric a very sensible choice. 

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 12/2/16 at 8:24am

Knowing it's ATG, I'd expect the space to be taken over for VIP areas and lounges where they can sell splits of dubious champagne and pre-boxed snacks for absurd prices pre-show.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 12/2/16 at 9:27am

The London prices don't really relate to what's going to happen here. All West End prices are cheaper than what is normal on Broadway.

[ggersten]

Posted: 12/2/16 at 9:40am

The Palace Theatre in London has some awful sight lines - at least for a musical (The Commitments).  Here is the current coding from TheatreMonkey regarding Harry Potter at the Palace.

TheatreMonkey Seat Opinions

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 12/2/16 at 9:41am

An article I read mentioned they will be removing 400 seats from the rear Orchestra and moving up the back wall of the auditorium. 

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 12/2/16 at 9:44am

I REALLY wish there was a Broadway equivalent to TheatreMonkey's seat ratings.
...and what happened to the Great Porcelain Way bathroom reviews?