SUFFS is coming to Broadway

[BETTY22]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 7:43am

They have secured a prime theatre, but cannot announce it until the show that is currently playing there (and struggling) posts its closing notice.

This is turning into an EPIC season for new musicals

 

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 8:03am

Booth, Music Box, or Golden (not really a musical house)?

I suppose the Nederlander, Broadhurst or Shubert could also be in play.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 8:03am

The Shubert is too big for this show. The Broadhurst? 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 8:13am

I’d wager it’s the Music Box. Beautiful Noise is shaping up to have a really strong Fall if last week’s grosses are any indication and there’s zero chance they’ll announce closing posting $1mil a week at the Broadhurst. I don’t think Shucked is on death watch yet, so that sort of rules out the Nederlander (which I wouldn’t consider *prime* anyway). 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 8:32am

If this is true, than The Golden would make sense for this show. 

[pablitonizer]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 8:46am

Jordan Catalano said: "If this is true, than The Golden would make sense for this show."

But 'Shark is broken' is playing at the Golden, right? It's a limited run that ends in November so it would not make sense to hold on the announcement. Booth or Music box sound more like it

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 8:47am

Oh this show is definitely on my top list! The Golden is a great theatre. Spacious but also very intimate. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 8:58am

The Golden isn't really a theater suited for musicals. I believe Avenue Q's orchestra was scattered on several floors.

Updated On: 9/15/23 at 08:58 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 9:07am

But I can’t see any other “available” theater being a good fit for this one. 

[willep]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 9:08am

I was one who loved this show at the Public. And it certainly sounds like Shaina has been putting in the work to make it tighter and better. Cannot wait to see it again if this is true.

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 9:09am

How exciting. I didn't love it at The Public (I found it to be overly expositional and too long) but I saw insane potential in it if they're willing to make the revisions and sink into what makes the story dramatically compelling. 

This is shaping up to be a terrific season chockfull of new, original musicals.

[quizking101]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 9:59am

It's definitely between the Booth, Golden, and Music Box, but there is also no timeline to this rumor so it could really be any of them.

I think PURLIE VICTORIOUS will likely be the first to fold (sadly) and so I could see late fall/early winter opening at the Music Box, although THE SHARK IS BROKEN also doesn't seem to me like it's going to hold on through November.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 10:03am

Of all the options, I think the Music Box is the most sought after. The Booth is good too but seems to small for this show. Surprised they aren’t taking it out of town first since it wasn’t totally well received downtown but clearly they’ve put some work into it. 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 10:07am

Makes me curious if Shaina would still lead the show. If nothing else, for a few months. I assume Shaina would help kick this off (regardless of whether she is part of the cast or not), then hop over to the UK for the Plymouth and/or West Ends runs of DEVIL WEARS PRADA.

[OhHiii]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 10:09am

This is a big cast, meaning high running costs. They would not be able to sustain that in the Booth. Same for the Golden. 

Updated On: 9/15/23 at 10:09 AM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 10:10am

They did a massive workshop last November/December, so that might have been sufficient in addressing rewrites and concerns from the Public run. Shaina did not perform in that iteration since the focus was on rewriting, but I don't know if she intends to perform in it going forward.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 10:38am

willep said: "I was one who loved this show at the Public. And it certainly sounds like Shaina has been putting in the work to make it tighter and better. Cannot wait to see it again if this is true."

I went to a talk with Shaina and she said she definitely wanted to work on it, but did have Broadway as a goal so I'm so happy. I also loved it at the Public 

[ANewBrainn]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 10:45am

OhHiii said: "I’d wager it’s the Music Box. Beautiful Noise is shaping up to have a really strong Fall if last week’s grosses are any indication and there’s zero chance they’ll announce closing posting $1mil a week at the Broadhurst. I don’t think Shucked is on death watch yet, so that sort of rules out the Nederlander (which I wouldn’t consider *prime* anyway)."

I don't understand how it would be decided that Suffs was going into the Music Box when Purlie is only one week into previews.  It hasn't even had time to generate any good buzz or reviews yet and audience reactions have been great (I loved it).  One week seems a little fast for them to already have decided to close and for Suffs to already have claimed the theater haha.  That being said, I hated Suffs and am not looking forward to this transfer.

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 10:47am

I'm so confused. Isn't Purlie Victorious a strictly limited engagement through January 7? I don't think it's ever intended to be an open run.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 10:56am

That's what I was thinking too. I thought it was always limited? Maybe the producers just decided it is for sure limited given the lack of interest thus far? Or maybe they're looking at the numbers and decided it might close earlier than expected? But still not sure how all that works. But that's the only "prime" theater I could think of that would work for this size of a show. 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 10:59am

Unless they're swinging really big here and going into the Shubert. The Music Box will be the one. Purlie is produced by one of the most notorious producers (Jeffrey Richards) for pulling the plug on struggling shows. 

Just ask Patti LuPone about the closure of The Anarchist (though it was good that that show died an early death). 

[JoeW4]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 11:08am

ElephantLoveMedley said: "I'm so confused. Isn't Purlie Victoriousa strictly limited engagement through January 7? I don't think it's ever intended to be an open run."

 

Same here. Both Shark and Purlie have publicly-known closing dates, so if Suffs were going into either of those houses, what's stopping them from announcing their run now? (assuming the OP's statement is correct, of course). 

Unless Suffs REALLY wants to open in November or December. In which case, yes, they'd have to wait on Purlie or Shark to announce early closings, if they wanted one of those houses. But why would they be in such a hurry? Seems like a Spring opening would be much more logical all around.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 11:10am

Shaina has been pushing that her trio of fall concerts at Joe's Pub would be her last for a while. So, it seemed likely to me she'd be returning to Suffs. Her last concert is December 5th. So, it also seems unlikely anything will be happening with this before that (although I suppose it's possible she could do a concert while in rehearsals). 

Regarding theatre, I'd agree that the Shubert is too big and Booth too small. A Beautiful Noise probably couldn't be classified as "struggling" anymore, but the Broadhurst would be great for them. Could it be the Nederlander? I wouldn't necessarily call that a prime house, but it is the right size. 

 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 11:11am

JoeW4 said: "Same here.Both Shark and Purlie have publicly-known closing dates, so if Suffs were going into either of those houses, what's stopping them from announcing their run now? (assuming the OP's statement is correct, of course)."

Many limited runs have extension options written into their theater agreements. They have a certain amount of time to exercise those options. That would be the case for Purlie and Shark. It's also just customary not to announce a show for a theatre where a show just started (Purlie, it's not going to the Golden, so Shark is a moot point). 

[Voter]

Posted: 9/15/23 at 11:13am

Truly surprised this one is coming this season. But hey! More musicals! Regardless I'll be there!