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

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

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Tarzan has been officially announced for the Richard Rodgers.

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Claire Danes as charity? Where did you hear that?

Ljay can you sing? Lets start a rumor!

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

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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

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.

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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