I’ve been wondering when tickets might go on sale, too. I decided to go ahead and book flights and a hotel for a week in December, hoping that the casting notice dates are correct and that I will be able to get tickets for that week since I have a membership.
Has there ever been an off-Broadway production that has a confirmed broadway run before performances start? I mean, given the names involved I get why they might secure a Broadway run but is there any reason to do this at NYTW beforehand?
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
binau said: "is there any reason to do this at NYTW beforehand?"
IF in fact a Broadway transfer is already confirmed behind the scenes (which I'll believe when it's announced), my guess is that the purpose of the NYTW run is to build buzz, and a public impression of demand.
Merrily isn't a well-known property outside of a very niche group of cult Sondheim fans. And even within the theatre community, it has a spotty reputation. Radcliffe is still a big name, but it's not 2011 anymore, and he might not be able to recoup a Broadway musical that has limited mass appeal.
So they put it in a 200-seat "prestige" house, where it will be an extremely hot ticket. As people clamber for tickets, the buzz will build, and the production will pick up steam as a desirable commodity for both investors, and for a certain segment of the public.
Whether that segment of the public will be large enough remains to be seen, but regardless, that's the theoretical strategy at play.
My only thought, aside from the usual qualms about whether a Merrily revival on Broadway makes any sense (if that actually happens) is that Jonathan Groff is about as perfectly cast a Frank as anyone could possibly seek.
Does anyone know how much NYTW normally prices their musicals? I expect this to be a somewhat hefty ticket but I just want to see if it would be financially better for me to buy a subscription (I'm vaguely interested in the rest of the season but not set on seeing everything)
Jordan Catalano said: "I hope they announce an extension/transfer soon-ish. Also glad this wasn’t pushed back a year, like some people were swearing it would be."
Think this was always the timeline, it's the potential transfer that some were saying might be postponed a year, which kind of is weird since it will have lost all it's momentum.
RippedMan said: "Jordan Catalano said: "I hope they announce an extension/transfer soon-ish. Also glad this wasn’t pushed back a year, like some people were swearing it would be."
Think this was always the timeline, it's the potential transfer that some were saying might be postponed a year, which kind of is weird since it will have lost all it's momentum."
I get the impulse to push it back, especially since we already have 2 high profile Sondheim revivals this season. But they really need to strike while they iron is hot, like Into the Woods did. The reason why Into the Woods is doing as well as it is, is because they were able to capitalize on the hype from the off-Broadway run. Imo it’s why Into the Woods has been a massive success and Company wasn’t, despite being equally strong productions (again imo).
Unless this leads to a longer engagement, a lot of people are going to be very disappointed. I would imagine that, if it gets good reviews (which it should, given that Friedman has previously directed acclaimed productions), it could transfer with Geoff and Mendez, even if Radcliffe is unable to extend. I expect all three to be great in their roles.
I was already excited for this before this casting, and now I can't wait! Just trying to figure out when to plan a trip.
The last thing I saw at NYTW was Sing Street... I had tickets to Three Sisters, but we know how that worked out. I'm really looking forward to this season!