Posted: 8/5/16 at 2:15am
Btw, does anyone know about this stage design? Does/Will it have that monstrous elevator lifting and lowering the stage (from the studios/scenes and back to !0086 Sunset)? I was but almost a kid when I saw that unbelievably gorgeous set. "This Time Next Year" I hope I've seen this become a reality.
Posted: 8/5/16 at 2:23am
Steve C. said: "Btw, does anyone know about this stage design? Does/Will it have that monstrous elevator lifting and lowering the stage (from the studios/scenes and back to !0086 Sunset)? I was but almost a kid when I saw that unbelievably gorgeous set. "This Time Next Year" I hope I've seen this become a reality.
"
It's essentially a very well staged concert. There's virtually no set as one of the other posters mentioned. It's a bunch of conjoined stairs and pieces are rolled in and out. The orchestra is on stage. It's not opulent and eye popping as the original but it works. Loved at at the ENO in London.
Posted: 8/5/16 at 2:57am
Wah-wah! ;-(
Thx MrSparepart. I guess with "merely" a staged concert setting that will be how they can afford a 50 piece orchestra. It still sounds wonderful but I sure hope that tickets don't cost $400 a seat. Does a "staged concert" production even count, as so many are saying, "a revival" for Tony Awards?
What did seats cost at ENO ? 
Updated On: 8/5/16 at 02:57 AM
Posted: 8/5/16 at 3:22am
I honestly don't remember, but I suppose they were like average West End ticket prices. I always sat in the stalls/orchestra and there were some that were supposedly restricted (but were not) that were slightly cheaper. But overall, nothing out of the ordinary when it comes to the prices.
Posted: 8/5/16 at 3:56am
Steve C. said: "Wah-wah! ;-(
Thx MrSparepart. I guess with "merely" a staged concert setting that will be how they can afford a 50 piece orchestra. It still sounds wonderful but I sure hope that tickets don't cost $400 a seat. Does a "staged concert" production even count, as so many are saying, "a revival" for Tony Awards?
What did seats cost at ENO ?
"
The Tony Award winning revival of Chicago is a very well staged concert production, so I don't see why this wouldn't be eligible.
Posted: 8/5/16 at 6:20am
Tickets in London cost for a premium stalls ticket £155. However I snagged a good seat on the side for £75.
Posted: 8/5/16 at 6:39am
jimmycurry01 said: "Steve C. said: "Wah-wah! ;-(
Thx MrSparepart. I guess with "merely" a staged concert setting that will be how they can afford a 50 piece orchestra. It still sounds wonderful but I sure hope that tickets don't cost $400 a seat. Does a "staged concert" production even count, as so many are saying, "a revival" for Tony Awards?
What did seats cost at ENO ?
"
The Tony Award winning revival of Chicago is a very well staged concert production, so I don't see why this wouldn't be eligible.
"
Right..But no. The Chicago revival has a by far more finished quality to it than the ENO Sunset. For starters, Chicago has a "look" that gives it an edge whereby it really does not look like a concert at all. I also think that Chicago's extremely minimal presentation highlights the incredible dancing and movement that happens on stage. The ENO Sunset, though, is very much a presentation of the show with very little visual appeal.
Posted: 8/5/16 at 6:39am
jimmycurry01 said: "Steve C. said: "Wah-wah! ;-(
Thx MrSparepart. I guess with "merely" a staged concert setting that will be how they can afford a 50 piece orchestra. It still sounds wonderful but I sure hope that tickets don't cost $400 a seat. Does a "staged concert" production even count, as so many are saying, "a revival" for Tony Awards?
What did seats cost at ENO ?
"
The Tony Award winning revival of Chicago is a very well staged concert production, so I don't see why this wouldn't be eligible.
"
Right..But no. The Chicago revival has a by far more finished quality to it than the ENO Sunset. For starters, Chicago has a "look" that gives it an edge whereby it really does not look like a concert at all. I also think that Chicago's extremely minimal presentation highlights the incredible dancing and movement that happens on stage. The ENO Sunset, though, is very much a presentation of the show with very little visual appeal.
Posted: 8/5/16 at 6:43am
Thx Phantom; I wish Broadway prices were still at least these somewhat more tolerable lower prices. Is a stall the same as a "box seat" in the US? The exchange rate average on the 2 seats you mentioned average out to $100 for the side seat and $200 for the "stall" seat. As much as I would love to hear "Sunset Boulevard" with a 50 piece orchestra, my gut just says, "Look out!"...
Who played "Joe Gillis"? Barrowman again? (Please I love JB..people) Is Michael Ball still around? I know he was doing "Hairspray" but he would make a good "Max" I think.
Posted: 8/5/16 at 7:13am
The "stalls" are what the "orchestra" section is called in the UK
Posted: 8/5/16 at 7:41am
Michael Ball has done two other shows after HAIRSPRAY. He led the cast in SWEENEY TODD and MACK AND MABEL.
His current album for release later this year is a collaboration with Alfie Boe called TOGETHER. He will be busy touring with Alfie from early November to mid-December 2016.
Updated On: 8/5/16 at 07:41 AM
Posted: 8/5/16 at 7:54am
20 weeks?
So who is the lucky understudy? 'Cos that voice won't last.
Posted: 8/5/16 at 8:05am
Michael Xavier was Joe. The only people associated with the original version are writers, Glenn Close and Anthony Powell's Norma costumes.
Posted: 8/5/16 at 8:11am
More and more, many shows will be high priced events good for bragging rights for many. You have this,Dolly,and Comet. What else will come down the pike? Broadway is quickly pricing itself out of many budgets . I laugh about trying to build a future audience. When kids see shows like Hamilton at greatly reduced rates or free, they will be in for a big shock when they grow up and get severe sticker shock.
Posted: 8/5/16 at 5:01pm
I would pass on this. I didn't think her voice was adequate the first time so I can't even imagine her singing it now. Wish they would just do a really great 'true' revival of Sunset instead.
Posted: 8/5/16 at 5:28pm
sparepart973 said: "jimmycurry01 said: "Steve C. said: "Wah-wah! ;-(
Thx MrSparepart. I guess with "merely" a staged concert setting that will be how they can afford a 50 piece orchestra. It still sounds wonderful but I sure hope that tickets don't cost $400 a seat. Does a "staged concert" production even count, as so many are saying, "a revival" for Tony Awards?
What did seats cost at ENO ?
"
The Tony Award winning revival of Chicago is a very well staged concert production, so I don't see why this wouldn't be eligible.
"
Right..But no. The Chicago revival has a by far more finished quality to it than the ENO Sunset. For starters, Chicago has a "look" that gives it an edge whereby it really does not look like a concert at all. I also think that Chicago's extremely minimal presentation highlights the incredible dancing and movement that happens on stage. The ENO Sunset, though, is very much a presentation of the show with very little visual appeal.
"
Right... but yes, it is still a well produced concert production. The revival was originally produced as a concert for Encodes, and was billed as such. It then transferred to Broadway. The revival is a concert production of the musical and has been such since it's inception. While Chicago may be better staged than Sunset Blvd., that does not mean that it is not the precedent setter for staged concerts being considered for Tony Awards, because it is.
Posted: 8/5/16 at 6:19pm
This is very exciting news as it is one of my favorite musicals and scores. However, didn't she miss quite a few performances in London? Who would be the perfect standby??
Posted: 8/5/16 at 6:23pm
BroadwayConcierge said: "Between Sunset, Cats, Miss Saigon altogether... you'd think it's about to be 1995 on Broadway (which, incidentally, was the last Dolly! revival as well)!
"
Hahaha, makes ya think...
Posted: 8/5/16 at 6:35pm
If it's a concert, I'd rather hear a powerhouse vocalist.
Posted: 8/5/16 at 8:25pm
The most important thing is a Norma who has the voice for the score.
Posted: 8/5/16 at 8:26pm
Saw this on its opening night in London. First of all, I can't possibly imagine how this could be sustained over 20 weeks. I'm not too familiar with New York's Palace but the Coliseum is the largest theatre in London and only managed to facilitate the colossal orchestra because it is usually an opera house. Lincoln Center's Sweeney Todd with Emma Thompson was staged here in 2015 and also had the orchestra on stage. As other posters have said, the staging is very opulent and extravagant whilst also being minimalist. Very specific to the stage of the Coliseum so not sure how it would transfer to NY.
Consequently, the start-up costs will be huge. And even though it only ran for 5 weeks in London there were lots of empty seats, as well as Glenn missing some performances. As London isn't bound to Broadway's marquee naming guarantee, a lot of expensive refunds would likely have to be given if Glenn is ill again.
Moreover, early 2017 would put Glenn in competition with a lot of other actresses that would attract similar types of audiences; Bette Midler, Cate Blanchett and Sally Field. 20 weeks seems very ambitious and unsustainable for me if it is to be transferred on the same scale - perhaps some special concerts would be a better fit.
Posted: 8/5/16 at 8:55pm
Think of this like an Encores production with a larger orchestra. We will never see the likes of Norma's hydraulically lifted mansion again. It could've received above the title billing back in the day...
Posted: 8/5/16 at 9:00pm
MichelleCraig said: "Think of this like an Encores production with a larger orchestra. We will never see the likes of Norma's hydraulically lifted mansion again. It could've received above the title billing back in the day..."
I'm curious - for those of you in theatre business - would such a set be as massively expensive in 2016 as it was in 1994? I would think that in the 20 years, there's been improvements to the engineering, designs. etc that would make it a bit easier and less expensive? To me, seeing pictures of different revivals (including the London Collesium one) without that amazing set design, it really is missing something. Maybe if I win a powerball I can revive it the way it should be 
Posted: 8/6/16 at 8:59am
Sure, Close can't sing, but she can act and create a character very, very well. I get her allure (though, for me, Paige couldn't be topped in this role the first time around). My biggest gripe is that she is 20 years too old for the part of Norma.
Posted: 8/6/16 at 9:18am
dwirth said: "Sure, Close can't sing, but she can act and create a character very, very well. I get her allure (though, for me, Paige couldn't be topped in this role the first time around). My biggest gripe is that she is 20 years too old for the part of Norma.
"
The let her do a straight play and don't try to turn her into something she's not. The score is the way of storytelling this artform is all about.
