#26
Posted: 2/26/10 at 9:20pm
Fair warning: I have not seen the show but will be seeing it soon.
If award nominations were the sole, driving motivation, I would agree that trying to bring the show in this season would be worthwhile.
Having said that, I've always thought that the Weisslers' financial and business sense was at least as keen as their love of hype and awards. If I'm correct in that, I think there are a great many reasons why waiting until next season (be it summer or fall) is a far wiser move:
-- to expand on something others have noted, there isn't a theatre they can be sure they have right now, unless they were to take a temporary booking in the Neil Simon (which seems unlikely). Yes, it's possible that the "Looped" may not last at the Lyceum, but if you're willing to consider a theatre of 800 seats or so, why not wait and secure something like the Golden, without the Lyceum's second balcony, or the Kerr, which has a 2nd balcony but has 850 some-odd seats even without it. A summer or fall opening would bring even more desirable theatres into the mix like the Music Box, the Barrymore, the Schoenfeld, and perhaps the O'Neill.
-- on a related note: I believe the Vineyard seats 120 people (10 rows of 12). So a week's worth of audiences there would just barely fill one performance in a small Broadway house. While rave reviews will help move tickets, they would do well to build an advance for this so it doesn't burn bright for a short time and flame out -- especially with a show featuring serious subject matter, no stars and a score that some consider a gem and some consider recycled. As someone else said, better to build the anticipation and make it an event -- not unlike "Orphans Home Cycle" which faced some similar circumstances and opted to wait. Even "Rent" (with similarly serious subject matter, no stars and a much-heralded score) had two months from its Opening at NYTW before it started previews on Broadway.
-- "Paradise Found" is scheduled to begin previews at the Chocolate Factory in London on May 19 (thru June 26). There can be no question that if/when "The Scottsboro Boys" moves to a bigger theatre, it will require some re-staging. I just don't see how she could do one without screwing the other. If they work towards an "Avenue Q"-like summer opening, she'll be back in plenty of time, as would John Cullum.
As a theatre fan, nothing would please me more than to see Kander & Ebb and Stroman bring a terrific new musical to Broadway. But if it is that, it will still be terrific and new in 3-4 months which the businessman in me says is the financially prudent financial way to go and the course that gives the show the best chances at a long and healthy run.
If award nominations were the sole, driving motivation, I would agree that trying to bring the show in this season would be worthwhile.
Having said that, I've always thought that the Weisslers' financial and business sense was at least as keen as their love of hype and awards. If I'm correct in that, I think there are a great many reasons why waiting until next season (be it summer or fall) is a far wiser move:
-- to expand on something others have noted, there isn't a theatre they can be sure they have right now, unless they were to take a temporary booking in the Neil Simon (which seems unlikely). Yes, it's possible that the "Looped" may not last at the Lyceum, but if you're willing to consider a theatre of 800 seats or so, why not wait and secure something like the Golden, without the Lyceum's second balcony, or the Kerr, which has a 2nd balcony but has 850 some-odd seats even without it. A summer or fall opening would bring even more desirable theatres into the mix like the Music Box, the Barrymore, the Schoenfeld, and perhaps the O'Neill.
-- on a related note: I believe the Vineyard seats 120 people (10 rows of 12). So a week's worth of audiences there would just barely fill one performance in a small Broadway house. While rave reviews will help move tickets, they would do well to build an advance for this so it doesn't burn bright for a short time and flame out -- especially with a show featuring serious subject matter, no stars and a score that some consider a gem and some consider recycled. As someone else said, better to build the anticipation and make it an event -- not unlike "Orphans Home Cycle" which faced some similar circumstances and opted to wait. Even "Rent" (with similarly serious subject matter, no stars and a much-heralded score) had two months from its Opening at NYTW before it started previews on Broadway.
-- "Paradise Found" is scheduled to begin previews at the Chocolate Factory in London on May 19 (thru June 26). There can be no question that if/when "The Scottsboro Boys" moves to a bigger theatre, it will require some re-staging. I just don't see how she could do one without screwing the other. If they work towards an "Avenue Q"-like summer opening, she'll be back in plenty of time, as would John Cullum.
As a theatre fan, nothing would please me more than to see Kander & Ebb and Stroman bring a terrific new musical to Broadway. But if it is that, it will still be terrific and new in 3-4 months which the businessman in me says is the financially prudent financial way to go and the course that gives the show the best chances at a long and healthy run.
"No matter how much you want the part, never let 'em see you sweat." -- Old Dry Idea commercial
