THE KITE RUNNER play to open at the Hayes - News & Discussion Thread

Source:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/18/theater/kite-runner-broadway.html

I saw it on the West End and thought it was quite good. Slightly burdened by the adaptation process - there's a LOT of material from the book, so the show is too long, and covers too much ground. But it's pretty well-done nonetheless, and packs a big emotional punch.

JBroadway said: "Source:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/18/theater/kite-runner-broadway.html

I saw it on the West End and thought it was quite good. Slightly burdened by the adaptation process - there's a LOT of material from the book, so the show is too long, and covers too much ground. But it's pretty well-done nonetheless, and packs a big emotional punch."

When you saw it, what was the run time?

This is my favorite film so I absolutely cannot wait for this to come to New York.

That's lovely artwork on the website.

Summer is always a risky time to open a nonmusical play though, even in a tiny theatre and with some literary name value. Perhaps if it lasts the full 17 weeks, they'll be able to appeal to student groups in Sept/Oct.

Safe to assume 2nd Stage is only planning two Broadway productions for the [Helen] Hayes next season, with BETWEEN RIVERSIDE & CRAZY happening in the GRAND HORIZONS slot (mid December through late Feb) which would leave time for a second Broadway title in the spring right before the Tony cutoff.

Updated On: 1/18/22 at 11:36 AM

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "That's lovely artwork on the website.

Summer is always a risky time to open a nonmusical play though, even in a tiny theatre and with some literary name value. Perhaps if it lasts the full 17 weeks, they'll be able to appeal to student groups in Sept/Oct.

Safe to assume 2nd Stage is only planning two Broadway productions for the [Helen] Hayes next season, with BETWEEN RIVERSIDE & CRAZY happening in the GRAND HORIZONS slot (mid December through late Feb) which would leave time for a second Broadway title in the spring right before the Tony cutoff."

Wouldn't that mean 3 for next season? Kite Runner, Riverside and then one more in the slot Take Me Out has this year?

JBroadway said: "^Kite Runner isn't a 2nd Stage production"

Got it! Thanks!

Still excited about it though! The book and movie were really good!

I know this isn't the only reason to see a show, but I would be remiss to not mention that the design language for this looks so good! It's gonna be a really neat Playbill!

RippedMan said: "Is it a tiny show? Seems odd to take the Hayes and also take a non-profit's house for a few months."

It doesn't look like a big production. Maybe it's looking to build publicity for a touring production, or a bigger transfer if it takes off?

Updated On: 1/18/22 at 04:50 PM

I mean, this wouldn’t be the first time Second Stage used the Hayes for a rental production. What the Constitution Means to Me was exactly that. And, a few years back, they had Earnest Shackleton Loves Me at their off Broadway site.

I think that this is actually a smart move specially for a non profit. They don’t have to spend any of their own money to produce it and they get a chance to just collect from the producers of The Kite Runner. It gives them much needed financial assistance post shutdown.

RippedMan said: "Agreed. Just seems an odd move from the producers"



I don't see what's so strange about it. The Hayes is the smallest house, so it probably also has one of the lowest rents. I doubt they're expecting to do blockbuster sales, so why not pick a cheaper house, with fewer seats to fill? Even before the pandemic, the smaller houses tended to be in-demand for plays, and Off-Broadway transfers - for those very same reasons. And now that we're in tough times, it's all the more true.

And yeah, the production is fairly actor-driven. It's not a tiny production, but neither does it require a ton of space.