THE WEDDING SINGER starts previews MARCH 30th and opens APRIL 27!!- Page 2

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 1:47am

Yeah, the Broadhurst is out. It's already booked with a spring tenant.

[crazy smiles]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 2:02am

Donde this demo you all speak of? Oh um whose taking the Richard Rodgers? Cause isn't Moving Out actually moving out like in Dec.?

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 7:52am

Tarzan has been officially announced for the Richard Rodgers.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 9:10am

People...don't just suggest random theatres.

If they're not Jujamcyn theatres...they're not an option.

So anything except the Hirschfeld, Virginia (August Wilson), Eugene O'Neill, Walter Kerr and St. James are OUT.

[newsieboy23]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 11:19am

Claire Danes as charity? Where did you hear that?

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 12:20pm

Rob's blog announced that the Weisslers asked Clare Daines if she could sing, because they were interested in her for a Charity or Roxie replacement.

But she said she couldn't sing.

[newsieboy23]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 12:28pm

Ljay can you sing? Lets start a rumor!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 12:40pm

The rumored choice has always been the Hirschfeld. I think the original prognosis was that the Weisslers would close CHARITY in January when Applegate departed. HOWEVER, since this is the Weisslers -- and now that there is a REPLACEMENT TONY AWARD, coupled with the fact that CHARITY has actually been doing pretty well, I would imagine the Weisslers will fight to keep their show open.

I have a feeling JERSEY BOYS just isnt going to catch on, even though I hear good things about it. So it could be the Virginia. Who knows? There are lots of "announced" productions just "waiting" for a theatre -- so WEDDING SINGER isn't in the lone boat.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 12:44pm

Sweeney also would need to survive the winter months - which given the shelf life of Sondheim musicals is not a given.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 12:46pm

If anything, the holiday season would help SWEENEY.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 12:48pm

I think SWEENEY has been selling pretty well. LuPone is a draw, apparently, and I think the show will probably get critical support. That doesn't mean it will run, of course.

I would sort of think that they would want a bigger house then the Eugene O'Neil, though, but maybe not.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 12:48pm

But then comes January 2...

My guess: as with previous productions, this Sweeney will end up a succès d'estime.

Updated On: 10/7/05 at 12:48 PM

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 12:52pm

Thr recent revival of INTO THE WOODS ran for eight months, and that recieved mixed reviews, at best.

With the way this production looks already, I'm thinking the reviews will be very positive. And I'm sure they'll want to try and keep it open until the TONYs.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 12:53pm

Woods was always more popular and audience-friendly than Sweeney.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 12:56pm

Wow...someone's very opposed to the success of this production.

If I'm the one to have faith in it...so be it.

But I see this SWEENEY as lasting.

[newsieboy23]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 1:00pm

Like Chicago, there is a possibitity of Charity moving theatres to stay open and create room from Wedding Singer. I think the music box would be great for charity. Smaller house, which is good if you move, and a great view for most every angle. Will anyone doubt that fact that the theatre will be available soon?
Just a thought.
Updated On: 10/7/05 at 01:00 PM

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 1:00pm

I'm not opposed to the show being a success. I'm a big Sweeney fan, though I haven't been to this production yet. I just don't see it lasting, even with it likely receiving very good reviews.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 1:01pm

Sweet Charity at the Music Box would be financial suicide. There's absolutely no way to run that production profitably in a 1,000 seat theatre.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 1:05pm

The Music Box would not be a good choice.

The Weisslers could move CHARITY if they wanted to. I mean, they moved CHICAGO out of the Richard Rogers after only three months.

But somehow, I don't see CHARITY moving.

[Songsstresss]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 1:11pm

Any talk or announcements of casting for Wedding Singer other than Benanti?

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 1:15pm

Here's a look at the recent track record of Sondheim musicals in New York over the past 10 years:

Passion
Four Tony Awards, rave reviews, 280 performances

Follies
First Broadway revival, mixed reviews, 117 performances

Into the Woods
First Broadway revival, two Tony Awards including Best Revival, mixed to good reviews, 279 performances

Assassins
First Broadway production, five Tony Awards including Best Revival, mostly rave reviews, 101 performances.


As far as Sweeney Todd, it has failed financially twice on Broadway, with the original production (557 performances) losing about a million dollars, and the 1989 revival (188 performances), I'm assuming having lost almost everything.

Given that this production of Sweeney seems to be splitting people into love it/hate it camps, can it be expected to suddenly turn the show into the Broadway smash hit it has never been?

Updated On: 10/7/05 at 01:15 PM

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 1:18pm

ASSASSINS was supposed to be a limited run. In fact, it ran much longer than expected due to extensions.

So that does not count.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 1:21pm

Assassins does count. It bowed out gracefully, but it was hoped that it would have been able to extend through the summer and into the fall, but it wasn't selling any tickets and had to cancel an extension once the Roundabout subscription base dried up.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 1:21pm

The only difference is that this production of SWEENEY has a budget of about 3 dollars. I saw the financial breakdown on this show a while back, and I can't remember what the budget is, but it could return its investment in just a few months if it sells well.

It is VERY expensive to move a Broadway show to a different theatre -- and it almost never happens unless the show is LES MIZ or CHICAGO which has years left in its run.

I don't think CHARITY will move.

[RYANWOODS]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 1:24pm

The Wedding Singer i think is likley to go into The Eugene O'Neil as Sweeny Todd can easily transfer to a small venue (like Music Box or the other small J theatre) Thats if Sweeny Todd survives past the fall.

Dont forget in London the show played at 200 seated venue,and one of the smallest theatres in London and only played there for a bout 6 months or less, so with over triple the capacity its going to be tough - but Petula is a pull


I cant see Chitty surviving past its 1st year anni. Got feelings that A Chrous Line/Poppins could be moving in there for the fall of 06