Spring Awakening is coming back to Broadway. But when and where?- Page 7

[herewegoabc]

Posted: 7/7/15 at 8:25pm

""Does anyone know if they will have on-stage seating for this? I realize it might be more difficult to include given this particular style of show, but I was just wondering if there was any word on it. Ticketmaster doesn't have it listed, but I was curious as to whether the box office might open it up later?"
 Please click my link, it links to the ticket sales and theater information."

 

Yes, I've already looked at the ticketing information. I know that on-stage seating isn't listed as an option. I was just asking if anyone thinks it will be opened later via the box office. Did the LA production include on-stage seats?

 

[Ranger Tom]

Posted: 7/7/15 at 8:49pm

When they say it's "radically reconceived"  does that usually mean "smaller" and "on the cheap?"

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/7/15 at 8:53pm

The original idea was a limited run and a prestige tour, sitting in a few selected spots.  I can't imagine any Producer going into a show knowing they can't make money. Davenport has been around and sooner or later he could have a hit as lead producer. Just the fact that there are not a million producers listed (as most shows have these days) means they got the upfront money pretty easily and he must have presented a way to make a profit. A tour could be very profitable. 

And the Needers also would not go into a deal knowing the show was going to lose it's investment. The fact that they got the Brooks so quickly could mean they (the Needers) may be silent investors (and/or) Producers.

The show is not "just" deaf accessible, it is incorporated into the show very different then just someone signing as they go along. One of the things that the glowing reviews in LA pointed out is how this enhances the themes of the play and how well Arden has incorporated it.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 7/7/15 at 9:12pm

"When they say it's "radically reconceived"  does that usually mean "smaller" and "on the cheap?""

 In many cases, yes, but in this case it's definitely not going to be smaller. Some of the roles are now played by two actors (a deaf and hearing actor), so, unless they cut some of the ensemble roles, you are now looking at a cast that will be bigger than the original cast by sheer virtue of the concept. And from the photos and video clips I've seen it doesn't appear to be a radically reduced physical production, though the original wasn't a very large production either.

And while it may be an extremely tight, and probably very optimistic, recoupment schedule, there must be some ideal situation that makes it possible. I can't believe that even David Merrick in his heyday would be able to find an investor willing to put down money when there is absolutely no possible way for it to recoup, let alone Ken Davenport. It might be that they only have one, absolute, best-case scenario that they must hit with no stumbles, but there has to be some scenario in which it works (maybe by combining the capitalization with a tour, as others have suggested, if that's legally a possibility?)

At any rate, fool hardy or not, I'm glad this is coming in. The Deaf West production of Big River some years back was extremely moving and I agree with some others that their approach to they way they present musicals is very fitting for this show which has such a large theme of communication and the consequences of the lack thereof.

[ZellMorrowsPledge]

Posted: 7/7/15 at 9:13pm

If American Pyscho does end up going to the Brook Atkinson it would be funny to see two Duncan Sheik shows opening up at the same theater after the other.

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 7/7/15 at 9:41pm

"When they say it's "radically reconceived"  does that usually mean "smaller" and "on the cheap?""

Often, as AEA said, it means that, but I wouldn't describe this as being smaller. The Wallis, where it played most recently, felt full with the staging used. Like the original, the set design is basic, but this production uses lighting very well and uses projections in a very logical manner.

It just felt very different then the original. You can see and feel the influence of the original production, but it's not the same. As so many have said here, the themes and ideas in the show come across in a new way that the original didn't take on.

Updated On: 7/7/15 at 09:41 PM

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 7/8/15 at 1:09am

whats the size of the theater its playing at in LA?

Id certainly hope they would have special seating accommodations/pricing for deaf patrons as i can't imagine seating in the back of the mezz and being able to make out people signing on stage. 

[JoseLee_]

Posted: 7/8/15 at 1:27am

The L.A. production didn't have on stage seating like the original production.

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 7/8/15 at 1:54am

The theater it played most recently in LA was the Wallis-Annenberg Performing Arts center (First visit there and it's very nice). I believe it seats just about 500, so roughly half the capacity of the Brooks Atkinson (please correct me if I'm wrong there. I'm under the assumption it's about a 1000 seat theater). 

This version of the show has not utilized on-stage seating, as JoseLee mentioned.  As for seating accommodations for deaf patrons, I'm not sure. I did not see Big River or Deaf West's Pippin, so I'm not familiar with how that aspect was handled. 

When Pippin had it's tryout at ART, the performance I attended was a deaf accessible performance. A block of seats were reserved for patrons who needed to see the interpreters. If you have never seen a signed musical, that part alone is beautiful and expressive. I still remember catching glances at the man interpreting and he showed so much emotion...it was hard to keep your eyes off of hm!

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/8/15 at 1:55am

The reason this theatre was offered to the producer is that it is booked for the period after the load out date, and the landlord would rather have it rented in the fall than not. The Nederlander likely has a tenant lined up post AG, who would need an open run (as would any rational producer with a show that isn't star driven so that a limited run would make sense). The landlord doesn't care at all whether a producer recoups; they simply want whatever revenue they can get for as many weeks as they can get it and the puzzle was solved by SA. I think SA has a chance to have a decent run for the period allotted, but this nonsense about only wanting a limited run (and the laughable reference to Angela Lansbury) is just nuts. Oh, and I am sure by the time it opens, the show will have a long list of producers; the laundry list is not usually included in the original registration.

[LesMiz24601]

Posted: 7/8/15 at 2:17am

"lol Ken Davenport gives producing classes?"

 http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/ive-got-a-musical-to-sell-you

Updated On: 7/8/15 at 02:17 AM

[binau]

Posted: 7/8/15 at 4:07am

I wish the producers and cast success. It makes me feel so good that they are trying to showcase this production to a wide, mainstream audience. 

I don't know much about sign language, but it really does seem kind of beautiful/an artistic expression in this context.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zSggUTZZGU

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 7/8/15 at 8:30am

""lol Ken Davenport gives producing classes?"
 http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/ive-got-a-musical-to-sell-you"

You haven't heard? It's called "Adela Holzer 2.0."

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/8/15 at 11:58am

To be fair, Adele Holzer was/is a serial fraudster. To my knowledge and belief, Davenport is a huckster at worst and a person oblivious to his own questionable business acumen at best. This is an important distinction.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 7/8/15 at 2:04pm

Onstage seating would be difficult for this version of the show. The whole point of it is to see the characters signing and if the actors are downstage, you would miss their gestures. Some parts of the show are completely in ASL too (no dialogue) so you would be at a disadvantage seeing the projected text if you were onstage. 

Also, if this was to be staged as it was in LA (with the hydraulic lift and poignant ending), you wouldn't want to miss any of it by sitting onstage. 

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 7/8/15 at 2:20pm

was there on stage seating for the original production?

[vfd88]

Posted: 7/8/15 at 2:22pm

Yes.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 7/8/15 at 2:24pm

where?? I saw pics of the original and didn't see anyone sitting on stage

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 7/8/15 at 2:26pm

Thanks for making us all feel ancient, Philly.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/23/theater/23chea.html

 

Updated On: 7/8/15 at 02:26 PM

[vfd88]

Posted: 7/8/15 at 2:27pm

Hah! Exactly what I was thinking.

[PepperedShepherd]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 12:52am

No idea how they'll work "accessible" seating for the Broadway run. The Wallis is a fairly intimate house and, even in the mezzanine, I can't imagine anyone having trouble making out the signing there.

Segue: One of the great pleasures I had in my first viewing at the Wallis was sitting in front of a young deaf couple. Their responses throughout the performance added a level to my appreciation and enjoyment that is hard to quantify.

[starcatchers]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 1:43am

Daniel N. Durant, the absolutely brilliant Deaf actor who played Moritz in LA, announced today that he will be playing Moritz on Broadway. Exciting. 

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 2:08am

Great news. He was outstanding as Moritz. Frankly, he acted the sh!t out of the part without going too far. I hope to see many members of the LA cast transfer.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 2:09am

Where was the casting announcement made?

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 3:15am

I imagine that they'd want most, if not all, of the LA cast to transfer over to Broadway, since they all already have a good grasp on synchronizing the music with the signing (the visual cues, etc.) and therefore wouldn't have to spend several more hours reteaching all of these things to a different cast.