Posted: 4/19/16 at 4:51pm
Gerald Schoenfeld re-told the story of Cameron kind of stabbing him in the back over Phantom, but Hal Prince had it in his contract that he could approve the theatre. He picked right for everyone because they made more money at the Majestic.
Posted: 4/19/16 at 5:29pm
The Al Hirschfeld is absolutely perfect for Kinky Boots. The current Color Purple revival also does really well in the Jacobs. Wicked also comes to mind as having gotten it right with the Gershwin.
Somehow I don't think The Richard Rodgers is quite right for Hamilton. It's not awful, but I would prefer it be in a theatre that feels more...open. I think it would have felt better at the Lyric (I know it was occupied when they opened) or the Lyceum.
Posted: 4/19/16 at 5:42pm
Adding to the above, I really like the St. James for Something Rotten because I think it's a great show to see from the mezzanine and the mezzanine there is so close.
Posted: 4/19/16 at 5:43pm
BroadwayConcierge said: "Wicked at the Gershwin is perfect.
In a recent interview, the producer said that they originally did not want the Gershwin, thinking it was too big. Where else could it have played? Minskoff? Palace?
Updated On: 4/19/16 at 05:43 PM
Posted: 4/19/16 at 5:43pm
I would say the Rodgers was the wrong fit for Hamilton. The show is multi-level and the steep incline makes the back part of the orchestra partial-view. They might have benefited more from the Broadhurst, or something like that.
And the Color Purple is, by all means, fine. But I wish they had changed the design for a proscenium theater. I hate how it's design as it is. They could have brought the whole thing forward more, or built out into the audience and done some onstage seating.
Posted: 4/19/16 at 6:12pm
I think it would have felt better at the Lyric (I know it was occupied when they opened) or the Lyceum.
I don't see what one of the largest and one of the smallest theatre's on Broadway have in common. Double balcony?
Posted: 4/19/16 at 6:23pm
^theres not a big overhang.
Posted: 4/19/16 at 6:23pm
BBAJ should have choose a smaller theatre
Posted: 4/19/16 at 6:34pm
NEXT TO NORMAL at the Booth was near perfect!
Posted: 4/19/16 at 6:42pm
laughingplace said: "BBAJ should have choose a smaller theatre
"Funny, I immediately thought of this show for picking the right space. I've never seen a theatre interact, living and breathing, with a show so well. While I'm sure a lot of that had to do with the scenic design, I felt like BBAJ really owned the theatre. Size wise of course, it was indeed a financial mistake.
"Rocky" was huge, but I thought it fit the theatre perfectly, especially in those last twenty minutes. Come to think of it, I've never seen an Alex Timbers directed show that didn't work in it's space. (Off-Broadway is another story as I think the Laura Pels is utterly charmless, but I'm also just hoping for a Broadway transfer of "Robber".)
In terms of the wrong theatre, this current "Fiddler" production comes immediately to mind. There is just no way anyone in the rear mezzanine can feel any of the heart of the small, intimate production. I think this incarnation would work wonderfully in the Broadhurst.
Posted: 4/19/16 at 7:26pm
Circle in the Square for " ...Putnam County Spelling Bee" was perfect.
Updated On: 4/19/16 at 07:26 PM
Posted: 4/19/16 at 7:32pm
Thought Circle in the Square was perfect for the Pacino version of Hughie.
Posted: 4/19/16 at 7:38pm
Completely agree with Phantom and Wicked. Never saw it but it seems like Cats at Winter Garden was a good fit
A Gentlemen's Guide at Walter Kerr was a great fit too. Nothing really works in the Lyric but the best choice of anything there was probably the 42nd Street revival when it was the Ford Center.
Posted: 4/19/16 at 7:39pm
Phantom at the Majestic works well. The boxes that come out SL and SR look like they are a continuation of the original 1920's era boxes at the Majestic. And the ballerinas painted/sculpted onto the Majestic boxes look just like the Degas-inspired ballerinas in Phantom. The Majestic does not have as much ornate decorations in the ceiling that would distract from the chandelier.
Posted: 4/19/16 at 7:53pm
I actually loved On The Town in the Lyric. The large cast and orchestra just filled the theatre with so much joy and thrill.
Posted: 4/19/16 at 8:16pm
Artistically, On the Town was a perfect production in the Lyric. I think it worked great in that space. The nature of commercial theatre happened to sadly disagree.
Posted: 4/19/16 at 9:05pm
I remember watching an interview with the Chicago cast of wicked and they were saying how the oriental was the perfect match for wicked, because of all the monkey sculptures on the walls. I wish it was still running...
Posted: 4/19/16 at 9:47pm
Cabaret at Studio 54, the history of the building in someway always thinks of a wild party, when I saw the show last March I felt like I was actually in a cabaret instead of a theatre.
Posted: 4/19/16 at 9:49pm
I actually loved On The Town in the Lyric. The large cast and orchestra just filled the theatre with so much joy and thrill.
The only thing missing was the audience! This production would've been better served in a smaller house.
Posted: 4/19/16 at 11:29pm
BroadMagTech said: "Call_me_jorge said: "Can a show pick a theatre though? I thought they just come in once a theatre is available.
That is true but producers can also wait if their is a particular theatre they want. Some producers simply wait for a house, others wait until their ideal theatre is available."
The other thing that producers must consider is their estimated running costs vs gross potential. When putting together the budget if they estimate the running costs to be in the $650,000 ballpark, for instance, they are not going to take a theatre that would give them a gross potential of only $800,000 (such as the Golden), as that would mean an extremely long recoupment schedule even if the show is a sell-out success.
So there is a lot more than just coming in once a theatre is available, as Call_me_jorge speculated.
Posted: 4/19/16 at 11:33pm
After just seeing American Psycho, I think the Schoenfeld is great theatre for that show
The revival of Pippin worked perfectly in the Music Box
The revival of Spring Awakening worked well in the Brooks... thats being said I would've liked to see it in an even more intimate house
Posted: 4/19/16 at 11:57pm
Call_me_jorge said: "I remember watching an interview with the Chicago cast of wicked and they were saying how the oriental was the perfect match for wicked, because of all the monkey sculptures on the walls. I wish it was still running...
"
It really was a nice fit. We really do have some beautiful theaters in Chicago. Too bad they're gigantic barns...
Posted: 4/20/16 at 1:01am
I saw Avenue Q from the back orchestra and I felt totally disconnected from the show.
I think it's probably better suited to off-Broadway. (That's not shade)
I love when a show looks built into a theater, like Wicked or the current Les Miz revival.
Posted: 4/20/16 at 10:08am
^LOL
I kind of wish Hamilton had picked the Neil Simon. It would be nice to have another hit in that beautiful theatre.
Posted: 4/20/16 at 10:51am
devonian.t said: "Gerald Schoenfeld re-told the story of Cameron kind of stabbing him in the back over Phantom, but Hal Prince had it in his contract that he could approve the theatre. He picked right for everyone because they made more money at the Majestic."
Adding to that, I believe Jujamcyn was offering them the Martin Beck rent-free (or maybe it was for no more than its operating costs) until the show recouped, which was what made that deal awfully enticing at the time. The extra seats in the Majestic certainly ended up making a difference.
