SHN Loses Suit to stop DEH & HP in SF

Not surprisingly, SHN lost their suit to prevent Carole Shorenstein Hays from presenting Dear Evan Hansen, and next year, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco.

The judge held that CSH's non-compete clause with SHN only pertained to properties controlled by either party. Since neither CSH not SHN controls DEH or HP, the claim was denied.

https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/theater/judge-denies-injunction-to-stop-dear-evan-hansen-at-curran-in-sf

Updated On: 12/1/18 at 02:38 PM

I find it interesting that the lawsuit doesn't seem to mention the Curran's reopening production last year, the 1NT of Fun Home. (A show for which IBDB lists CSH as a producer - #3 - both NY and the tour)

Only a guess, but it's possible that CSH presenting Fun Home was part of her co-producer agreement for the show, and part of her exit agreement with SHN. Her departure from SHN was announced in late Aug 2014, after Circle in the Square had been announced and just a few months before Broadway rehearsals began.

Sho-Tunes-R-Us said: "Curran has had a bumpy start fur shur - no shows have sold out to my knowledge - but that changes with Dear Evan Hansen and its very limited, sold-out run. And Harry Potter will be a powerhouse, even with the high prices for seats. If the initial Curran runs of Phantom and Les Miz ran five years (Phantom) and 18 months (Les Miz) respectivelythen Potter should be a shoo-in for two years at the very least. IMHO."

The article on SFGate (from NYTimes) said the details of the legal proceedings indicated a 3-year agreement for HP with potential to extend.

https://m.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/harry-potter-Nederlanders-shorensteins-feud-play-13436691.php