Shows with the longest “gestation” period before setting foot on a stage
#1Shows with the longest “gestation” period before setting foot on a stage
Posted: 4/15/22 at 12:17pm
What are some of the longest development periods for a Broadway show? Whether that means from first reading to first performance in front of a live audience or getting on Broadway. I know The Visit had a long period of time between its first tryout and the eventual Broadway run.
Theatrefanboy1
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/2/15
#2Shows with the longest “gestation” period before setting foot on a stage
Posted: 4/15/22 at 12:27pm
That Sheryl Crow musical…
I don’t know dates precisely but work on Moulin Rouge if I recall correctly began discussions and talks shortly after the movie came out if it could translate to the stage.
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#3Shows with the longest “gestation” period before setting foot on a stage
Posted: 4/15/22 at 12:44pm
A Tale of Two Cities
Jill Santoriello began working on that show in the late 80s. There was a concert style production done by invitation only in the mid-90s. It was first optioned by producers for a Broadway production in the late 90s. There was an out of town tryout in Chicago scheduled for sometime in 2005/2006 that was scuttled due to a lack of funding. It then received an out of town tryout in late 2007 at the Asolo Rep in Sarasota. It finally opened on Broadway at the Hirschfeld about a year later in the fall of 2008.
#4Shows with the longest “gestation” period before setting foot on a stage
Posted: 4/15/22 at 6:00pm
I think Hadestown probably fits here, with what I think was about a 15 year incubation period and wow does it show. It made a huge transformation from its older iterations
#5Shows with the longest “gestation” period before setting foot on a stage
Posted: 4/15/22 at 6:50pm
SATURDAY NIGHT feels like the obvious answer. That was never produced prior to 2nd Stage right? And even then, it’s more of an interesting artifact than a great work of art.
#6Shows with the longest “gestation” period before setting foot on a stage
Posted: 4/15/22 at 6:57pm
Harmony can definitely be added to the list.
sassylash3s
Stand-by Joined: 7/5/11
#7Shows with the longest “gestation” period before setting foot on a stage
Posted: 4/15/22 at 7:06pm
I believe the musical which would ultimately become GRAND HOTEL got as far as an out-of-town tryout in the 50’s but ultimately didn’t make it to Broadway until the late 80’s.
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