TRANSFERING SHOWS

[Derek]

Posted: 12/28/04 at 9:58am

Okay, this may sound like a very stupid question, please dont hate me for it lol. i was wondering though, what would happen if a BIG Broadway show thats out now, or thats coming out would have to transfer theatres. A show like Wicked I mean, lets just say it would have to move out of the Gershwin. Because its doing so well, they wouldn't want to close it...where would they go?? Shows like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang...where else could they go? What other Theatres are suitable for big huge productions like that?? Maybe The Broadway?? I know it would probably never happen, but shows have had to transfer before. You're probably thinking "get a life" lol

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 12/28/04 at 10:16am

Well, the Broadway Theatre will be vacant after Bombay Dreams closes, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is going to be in the Ford Center, as 42nd Street is closing.

[Derek]

Posted: 12/28/04 at 11:13am

Yeah, there's no news right about what will be heading into that theatre???

[magruder]

Posted: 12/28/04 at 11:23am

Mambo Kings has booked the Broadway this summer.

As far as the Gershwin, it has never had a hit with the staying power evidenced so far by Wicked. The size of that theatre has proved too daunting for most shows. With the show's reported $30 million advance and strong replacement casting for the leads, I imagine Wicked will be at the Gershwin for a number of years to come.

Shows can transfer if the economics are right. Beauty and the Beast moved from the Palace to the Lunt-Fontanne in a somewhat downsized version, and has been at the Lunt now since 1999. The Chicago revival started at the Richard Rodgers, was forced out by Steel Pier and moved to the Shubert, where it was forced out by Gypsy, and moved to the Ambassador, where it is unlikely to be forced out by anything. At the time, it looked like Chicago was winding down, but the movie only seemed to bolster the show's box office. The show's relatively simple physical production makes a move economically feasible.

In the past couple of decades, the phenomenon of shows moving to other theatres has happened less and less, as shows became more technologically complicated. But still, there are examples. Annie moved three times, from the Alvin (now Neil Simon), to the Anta (now Virgnia) to the Eugene O'Neill and finally to the Uris (now Gershwin). The original 42nd Street opened at the Winter Garden, but moved to the Majestic and then across the street to the St. James. And Les Miserables originally opened at the Broadway and moved to the Imperial.

Updated On: 12/28/04 at 11:23 AM

[jjdude2000]

Posted: 12/28/04 at 1:29pm

Peter Pan moved from the Marquis to the Gershwin

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 12/28/04 at 5:08pm

Don't forget that Les Miz moved from the Broadway Theatre to the Imperial to make room for Miss Saigon. EDIT: never mind, the fabulous Magruder already covered that.

Updated On: 12/28/04 at 05:08 PM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 12/28/04 at 5:16pm

jj,
peter pan closed, then they decided to reopen, so it wasn't REALLY a transfer.

[magruder]

Posted: 12/28/04 at 5:22pm

I was going to mention that, but I figured I was being too obsessive. Peter Pan played for two months during holiday season at the Marquis, and then came back for a return engagement several months later at the Gershwin.

[jjdude2000]

Posted: 12/28/04 at 5:24pm

oops my bad