Posted: 8/16/23 at 12:55am
With Eva leaving “Hadestown,” I’m reminded that it never had a commercial run there. Do we think it will ever? What other shows that were successful here never made it across the pond and why? Flops like “Pretty Woman” seem to transfer so quickly but the hits don’t seem to translate as quickly - “Gents Guide” “Fun Home” - did “Memphis” even have a London run?
Posted: 8/16/23 at 1:24am
Um, Hadestown had a major production at The National before coming to Broadway with the main cast of Page, Caney, Noblezada and Gray in November 2018.
Full Cast Set for London Hadestown; Eva Noblezada Joins Patrick Page, Amber Gray, Reeve Carney | Playbill
Posted: 8/16/23 at 1:29am
Fun Home was at Young Vic in 2018 - What Did London Critics Think of the U.K. Premiere of Fun Home? | Playbill
Memphis was on the West End in 2014.
Gentleman's Guide - to my knowledge - has not had a West End run.
Posted: 8/16/23 at 2:01am
Fun Home at the young Vic was stunning. When that backdrop went up to reveal that opulent house that the mother was trapped in for ‘days and days’ my draw dropped. More stunning than the back to the future car for me. I couldn't believe what I was seeing and I wonder how they did it on Broadway.
Updated On: 8/16/23 at 02:01 AM
Posted: 8/16/23 at 2:16am
Hadestown has been confirmed for a west end run next year.
Next to normal (just opened at Donmar), so I think it's just Gentleman's Guide that's probably the big one that hasn't transferred.
Posted: 8/16/23 at 6:12am
Theatrefan2 said: "Hadestown has been confirmed for a west end run next year.
Next to normal (just opened at Donmar), so I think it's just Gentleman's Guide that's probably the big one that hasn't transferred."
I think there's some rights issue there csused by the original movie
Posted: 8/16/23 at 7:38am
Grey Gardens announced a transfer, but it never came to be - there was an off-West End production in 2016, though.
Posted: 8/16/23 at 8:57am
I still think Idina or a west end Elphie should do If/Then in London; Kerry Ellis recently performed “Always Starting Over” accompanied by Tom Kitt, absolutely stunning. I know the shows a clunker, but with a top star it could sell out for a year, I think.
I believe Gents Guide is the only recent tony winner, besides Kimberly Akimbo(obviously) that hasn’t had a west end/London run, I wasn’t aware there would be a rights issue regarding the original film.
Posted: 8/16/23 at 10:08am
I’m shocked Gents Guide and Something Rotten haven’t played London (as new productions or replicas).
Who would you cast in a West End WAR PAINT? Joanna Riding and Janie Dee? Maria Friedman and Caroline O’Connor?
Posted: 8/16/23 at 10:27am
I always thought it would be so funny if they could mount a production of something rotten at the globe theatre. I know it’ll never happen but still.
Posted: 8/16/23 at 12:40pm
I guess I was thinking more of commercial runs. I didn't realize Memphis already played. Seems like a lot of Broadway hits crash and burn in the West End.
Binau, it was pretty gorgeous on Broadway as well. The entire house "floats" onto the stage from beneath the stage as the kids enter the home through the audience. I would love to have seen the West End production. Sounds like a gorgeous moment.
Posted: 8/16/23 at 4:16pm
binau said: "Fun Home at the young Vic was stunning. When that backdrop went up to reveal that opulent house that the mother was trapped in for ‘days and days’ my draw dropped. More stunning than the back to the future car for me. I couldn't believe what I was seeing and I wonder how they did it on Broadway."
Being in Circle in the Square the show utilized the full in-the-round set up and everything came up on elevators through traps. Throughout the show they would just bring on individual pieces to set each scene. When Medium Alison and Joan "entered" the house for the scene leading up to "Days and Days" all of the pieces came up at once so the audience was seeing the full effect of the house as a single setting at the same time as Joan.
Fun Home really was one of the best staged shows at Circle in the Square that I had seen there in a long time (maybe since the Rocky Horror revival).
Posted: 8/16/23 at 6:17pm
I’m kind of surprised Anastasia has not (yet) had a West End run given the number of international productions they’ve done.
I’d also be surprised if they don’t bring Beetlejuice there within the next few years.
Posted: 8/16/23 at 6:30pm
Jagged Little Pill still has yet to say anything about their West End run. I'm guessing it's not gonna happen at this point, as nothing new has come out about it. I still don't know how London audiences are gonna react to Shucked next year. If anything, Cam Mac needs to bring Kimberly Akimbo and Some Like it Hot to the West End!
Posted: 8/17/23 at 6:36pm
"I still don't know how London audiences are gonna react to Shucked next year"
My gut feeling is it will not go over well but what the heck do I know.
Posted: 8/17/23 at 9:27pm
The VERY American shows tend to flop there - Avenue Q, Rent, Memphis (apparently?) - so I don’t know that audiences will line up for Shucked. What about Tootsie? Is Doubtfire doing well there?
Posted: 8/17/23 at 9:45pm
Now, MJ will probably do well in London. Especially as they're getting Myles Frost and the fact that MJ was BIG worldwide. I also hope London audiences will get to see Casey Nicolaw's STUNNING tap choreography with Some Like it Hot as well as the beautiful and original piece that is Kimberly Akimbo. For Kimberly, I feel they should do what they did with ASL. Bring it over for a limited Summer engagement and only extend it further if it sells well.
Posted: 8/17/23 at 11:35pm
"Aida" still hasn't made it to the West End, surprisingly.
Posted: 8/17/23 at 11:56pm
I always thought Jane Eyre the musical would do well in West End (or at least fare better than the production on Broadway back in 2001) but it never had a production there.
Posted: 8/18/23 at 1:00am
As noted A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER can not be performed in London or indeed most anywhere outside the US. Studio Canal the owner of the film KIND HEARTS & CORONETS sued to stop it in the US saying it violated their copyright but GENTS won a summery judgement saying it was based on the novel which was out of copyright. Frankly having done a little research I am surprised ( but thrilled) that GENTS won the court case because the idea of both one person playing all the victims and many other things in the musical are NOT in the book but in the film. Alas the US court decision does not apply to any other country and Studio Canal would almost surely win a copyright case in the UK & Europe which have far more restrictive copyright laws especially regarding films. A tragedy as I am sure it would be a hit in London and is my favorite show of the last decade or so
Posted: 8/18/23 at 7:21am
RippedMan said: "The VERY American shows tend to flop there - Avenue Q, Rent, Memphis (apparently?) - so I don’t know that audiences will line up for Shucked. What about Tootsie? Is Doubtfire doing well there?"
Avenue Q ran for 5 years in London, a very respectable run. Memphis ran for a year - not exactly a smash but good for an original musical in London, and it really put Beverly Knight out there as a West End leading lady.
Doubtfire seems to be doing very well here, much better than it did in the US.
We’ve never had Catch me if you Can, Tootsie, Gentleman’s Guide, Something Rotten, Great Comet, Beetlejuice, The Prom, Mean Girls (seemingly incoming)
