The Minutes by Pulitzer Winner Tracy Letts at the Steppenwolf Theatre

[222disneyland]

Posted: 11/14/17 at 9:48pm

The Minutes by Pulitzer Winner Tracy Letts (August: Osage County) currently is playing the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago.  

 

From the Offical Site  “In The Minutes, Tracy Letts’s scathing new comedy about small-town politics and real-world power, the writer who brought you August: Osage County exposes the ugliness behind some of our most closely-held American narratives while asking each of us what we would do to keep from becoming history’s losers.” https://www.steppenwolf.org/tickets--events/seasons/2017-18/the-minutes/

 

 Has anyone seen it? How does it compare to August: Osage County

Or is it more like Superior Doughnuts ?

 

Its currently playing in Chicago from Nov 09 Dec 31st 2017

 

It runs for 100 Minutes 


The address of the Steppenwolf Theatre is Steppenwolf Theatre

1650 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614

 

 

 

 

Updated On: 11/14/17 at 09:48 PM

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 11/14/17 at 9:52pm

Can't wait to see it - When will the reviews run?  It will help determine if I want to make a trip to Chicago in December! 

[222disneyland]

Posted: 11/14/17 at 10:05pm

VernonGersch, I have an old page here https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1105275&dt=19. People were complaining (and rightly so) it was half arsed. So I created a new one with correct spelling and more information. Some information is there.

[MN4Theater]

Posted: 11/15/17 at 8:48am

Caught a preview of this the other night.  It's an interesting show with good actors but takes a while to get moving.  There's a lot of people reading long speeches which could be boring but is mostly captivating.  As with most of Letts' work, it has a dark turn and it's pretty chilling when it happens.  Still, not sure how this one will fare in NYC.

[broadwayrocks2]

Posted: 11/15/17 at 10:55am

MN4Theater said: "Caught a preview of this the other night. It's an interesting show with good actors but takes a while to get moving. There's a lot of people reading long speeches which could be boring but is mostly captivating. As with most of Letts' work, it has a dark turn and it's pretty chilling when it happens. Still, not sure how this one will fare in NYC."

 

Does anyone know if this is coming to Broadway this Spring ? Venue ?  thanks

 

[CoercedBull]

Posted: 11/15/17 at 11:14pm

All signs point to the Broadway production being either postponed or cancelled! The Steppenwolf website announced it as a Chicago premier of the Broadway-bound play, but there's no longer any sign of that info on the site. No venue has yet been announced, even though previews were slated to begin in February. Doesn't look like it's going to happen. It's a shame, because everything Letts does is worth seeing, I think.

I live in Chicago, and will be seeing this next weekend. My wife and I see everything Letts does, and we're both excited about this one. I'll post my thoughts here once I've seen it.

[velevele]

Posted: 11/20/17 at 8:22am

I saw it this weekend. Not sure what I was expecting, but this wasn't it. If you're going, you might not want to read reviews or summaries first, as there's a plot sort-of twist that it's better not to know about in advance. I didn't think it was much like either "August" or "Superior Donuts", both of which I also saw at Steppenwolf. My companion and I, in our post-show discussions over the rest of the weekend, couldn't really decide if we liked it or not, or what we thought of it. (Sorry to be so vague and unhelpful! I think that this is one of those shows where people will have quite different reactions to it, and I'm still not entirely sure about mine.)

 

I like to tell people that the Steppenwolf downstairs theater has no bad seats, but that's not true for this production. We were in Row B to the far left, and I had a fair amount of my view blocked by an annoying large prop that was right in my way (and that didn't need to be in that particular place). The actors are seated for much of the production, so there were a couple of them I often couldn't see.  I would recommend sitting a minimum of five rows back for this production, and avoid the far left and far right at the orchestra level.

 

On the whole, I'm glad I saw it - I like Letts' work a lot - but this really didn't scream "successful Broadway transfer!" to me.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/20/17 at 1:00pm

After seeing August and loving it and seeing it multiple times, and then seeing Superior Donuts and thinking "why does this exist?" I'm curious to see his other works, and there isn't much competition this year for new plays. I'd love to see it. But maybe it belongs off Broadway somewhere. 

[whatdoesntkillme]

Posted: 11/25/17 at 10:51pm

I saw this today and loved it. It's truly stunning. I agree with the aforementioned advice not to read reviews--seriously, go in blind. I think the writing is smart and it makes a good point. It was written before the election, but there are a number of issues raised that are particularly resonant given recent political and cultural events. I really hope it does transfer to Broadway--New York would be lucky to have it. It's a little slow to get going, but after the first 1/3 or so it really takes off. 

[CoercedBull]

Posted: 11/26/17 at 5:52pm

I was already excited to see this, but everyone's reviews here have me giddy about it! Seeing it in a couple of hours. Will absolutely report back.

[CoercedBull]

Posted: 11/26/17 at 11:34pm

Um, whoa. I'm still processing, but I think I absolutely adored this play. It's complicated and wrings dry its central question. The dialogue soars and sears, and there isn't a single wasted word. Quick, biting theater.

 

Like everyone else said, don't read ANY specifics about the play. There's a certain tension that would be completely removed with even the smallest of spoilers.

 

I really hope this transfers to Broadway. Signs look grim for the potentiality, but it's an extraordinary work and I think it could do really well in NYC.

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 11/27/17 at 2:37am

why would it be announced to go onto Broadway and then suddenly radio silence on that front?

[markypoo]

Posted: 11/27/17 at 9:58am

Perhaps because of the lack of a commercial producer or producers; essential in order for the show to transfer to Broadway?

[Smaxie]

Posted: 11/27/17 at 10:06am

It has a commercial producer attached to it. 

Scott Rudin to Produce New Tracy Letts Play on Broadway

[markypoo]

Posted: 11/27/17 at 10:17am

Well, shame on me for living in blissful ignorance of the situation.

[CoercedBull]

Posted: 11/27/17 at 10:29am

They have yet to announce a theater for the show, despite it being slated to start in February. I wonder if the lack of a theater is a part of the reasoning? Either way, it'll be a shame if it doesn't transfer.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 12/22/17 at 5:29pm

The Minutes is shifting the previously announced timeline for its Broadway premiere...
https://www.broadway.com/buzz/190787/exclusive-tracy-letts-the-minutes-is-shifting-timeline-for-broadway-premiere/

[markypoo]

Posted: 12/22/17 at 7:48pm

That press release tells us basically two things:

1) Nothing, and

2) Nothing.

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 12/22/17 at 7:51pm

so bummed this isn't transferring   i really wanted to see it

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 12/23/17 at 3:33pm

"Delayed" in regards to a Broadway transfer usually is a face-saving way of saying "not happening anymore." I wonder what happened? The reviews were good in Chicago. Maybe a 90 minute straight play with a large cast and no stars was too much of a financial gamble.

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 12/23/17 at 4:05pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: ""Delayed" in regards to a Broadway transfer usually is a face-saving way of saying "not happening anymore." I wonder what happened? The reviews were good in Chicago. Maybe a 90 minute straight play with a large cast and no stars was too much of a financial gamble."

That would be unfortunate if true. Suspect it will get to N.Y. one way or the other even if Off-Broadway like Man From Nebraska which would be fine as long as there is a chance to see it somewhere.

[bandit964]

Posted: 12/27/17 at 9:36am

Are the Shuberts going to begin their renovation @ The Cort?  Could this be why?

Updated On: 12/27/17 at 09:36 AM

[darquegk]

Posted: 12/27/17 at 1:20pm

I keep misreading the thread title as "The Muppets by Pulitzer Winner Tracy Letts." What I wouldn't give to see THAT show...

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 12/27/17 at 6:24pm

Now I really need to hear Miss Piggy yell, “eat the fish, bitch!”

[CoercedBull]

Posted: 1/25/18 at 9:41am

I spoke to someone at Steppenwolf about this transfer. Apparently negotiations fell through because Tracy and Anna wanted the show to transfer with the entire cast, and it was getting to be cost prohibitive. The person I spoke to said they're still trying to negotiate, but I'm sure that's just a way to save face. Looks like this really isn't happening anymore!