Riedel on Donna Summer and The Honeymooners coming this season

[10086sunset]

Posted: 10/31/17 at 8:14pm

http://nypost.com/2017/10/31/donna-summer-honeymooners-musicals-could-hit-broadway-this-season/

 

Hope his brief mention of Hadestown transferring is proven true.

[quizking101]

Posted: 10/31/17 at 8:23pm

Am I the only one who thinks THE HONEYMOONERS would be an unmitigated disaster on Broadway?

- No stars
- Plays to a market that’s dying off.
- Clunky and archaic storytelling.

It would play well in regional theatres like Papermill, but I don’t see it gaining much traction in a market that is skewing younger.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 10/31/17 at 8:26pm

Not shocked he says M. Butterfly could close by the end of the year.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 9:44am

I feel like The Honeymooners would make Honeymoon in Vegas seem like brilliant producing.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 10:06am

Kad said: "I feel like The Honeymooners would make Honeymoon in Vegas seem like brilliant producing."

Yes.  On the other hand , "Donna Summer and the Honeymooners" has definite promise!  I'd invest!

 

[ggersten]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 11:34am

odd that he doesn't mention Ain't To Proud to Beg as a possible spring opening.... since it is a show that already has good reviews and word of mouth as opposed to an unseen Summer.

[Lot666]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 11:55am

ggersten said: "odd that he doesn't mention Ain't To Proud to Beg as a possible spring opening.... since it is a show that already has good reviews and word of mouth as opposed to an unseen Summer."

Hasn't that already been scrapped for Broadway?

[seaweedjstubbs]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 12:13pm

^ Not scrapped, just waiting till next season for the right theater.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 1:41pm

Honeymooners wouldn't bomb so fast on Broadway in its current state.

[Graymerchant]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 2:39pm

After looking at some stuff, a majority of the producers on Hadestown have produced ( a majority of or only) with the Shubert Organization. I think if the Booth (Shubert House) opens up (Unless Meteor Shower extends) it could go there. Wouldn't shock me if M. Butterfly closes and Hadestown went into the Cort (another Shubert House). Just some thoughts and far-fetched theories. 

[NJGUY]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 3:03pm

I saw "The Honeymooners" this past Sunday night at The Papermill Playhouse.  It was their last performance.  Was it brilliant?  No.  Was it fun and well-paced?  Yes. So in the current world we live in it was a nice 2.5 hour escape.  Performance were TOP-notch.  I think it could do well on Broadway

[Cfried]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 3:04pm

ACL2006 said: "Honeymooners wouldn't bomb so fast on Broadway in its current state."

Agreed...I think it could certainly find an audience. Many thought Bronx Tale would bomb, but look at its success. 

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 3:16pm

Honestly, the new musical crop this season is very thin compared to last year. The only shows that can be considered for Best Musical are -

PRINCE OF BROADWAY

SPRINGSTEEN ON BROADWAY

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: THE MUSICAL

THE BAND'S VISIT

MEAN GIRLS

FROZEN

ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE

I would assume PRINCE OF BROADWAY and SPRINGSTEEN ON BROADWAY are out, so right now there is only 1 show that could possibly not be nominated. Seems like a good season to open. 

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 4:02pm

Personally I really enjoyed "The Honeymooners".  It was a fun, enjoyable old fashioned musical that delivered what it promised, a fun night at the theatre. The cast was perfect and the production was colorful and beautiful. Were there problems, yes. But that's what out of town tryouts are for. I'd rather see this, a show with a nice original score, than a bio jukebox musical, straining to cram non theatrical music into a book that usually is ridiculously bad.

My guess is, if this does come in, the producers will do it knowing they may not make money on Broadway but having a Broadway run will help sell it to national tours, regional, community and high school theatres.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 6:18pm

quizking101 said: "Am I the only one who thinks THE HONEYMOONERS would be an unmitigated disaster on Broadway?

- No stars
- Plays to a market that’s dying off.
- Clunky and archaic storytelling.

It would play well in regional theatres like Papermill, but I don’t see it gaining much traction in a market that is skewing younger."

Which means that it ill take the Nederlander, following on the tradition of Honeymoon in Vegas, Amazing Grace and Disaster.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/2/17 at 12:32am

But you have to look at the long term. Sure, "The Honeymooners" might not be a huge on Broadway, but it could sell well on tour and then sell well regionally and then prove to be a success. I haven't seen it, nor do I care to, but I think it could work for like 6 months on Broadway, and then do well regionally. The Donna Summers thing seems messy. I saw Ariana in "A Bronx Tale" but I didn't care for her vocally or as an actor. I'm not sure about this one. But "Hadestown" would give "A Band's Visit" a run for its money, but as of now, the TONY is their's. 

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 11/2/17 at 9:35am

I'm beginning to think the Nederlander Theatre has some kind of "Bambino RENT curse" that prevents new shows from having successful runs there...Newsies being the exception, maybe.

Quizking, that's a really interesting observation about the "market skewing younger." I never looked at it that way before.