The state of Broadway - February

[unclevictor]

Posted: 2/6/21 at 12:58pm

Nothing new to report in the article. Interesting that it lists shows coming back with exact months and dates.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/6/21 at 1:47pm

to what "report" are you referring?

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/6/21 at 1:59pm

There is an article up on BWW

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/6/21 at 2:08pm

Thanks. LOL I never look at anything other than this board.

[jo]

Posted: 2/6/21 at 4:54pm

"Many shows are expected to return, but have not yet made official announcements, including: Ain't Too Proud, Aladdin, The Book of Mormon, Chicago, Come From Away, Company, Dear Evan Hansen, Diana, Girl from the North Country, Hadestown, Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Jagged Little Pill, The Lion King, Moulin Rouge!, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Music Man, The Phantom of the Opera, Plaza Suite, Six, Take Me Out, Tina, To Kill a Mockingbird, West Side Story, and Wicked."

BWW Staff should recheck their report. At least 2 shows in the above list have made official announcements. Jagged Little Pill is selling tickets on Telecharge, starting June 1.  The Music Man has made an official announcement on its first preview date (Dec 20, 2021) and its Opening Night (Feb 10, 2022).

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/6/21 at 5:10pm

I think 6 of those shows currently have tickets on sale stating June 1st. Obviously those shows aren’t going to happen on that date, but they are on sale.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/6/21 at 5:28pm

At least a handful of those shows will never open/reopen. That list is a joke.

 

[fosterfan2]

Posted: 2/6/21 at 5:52pm

I hope Company returns.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/6/21 at 5:59pm

I think it absolutely will. It’ll probably have quite a few new cast members, but it’ll be back.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/6/21 at 6:13pm

i agree it will

[jo]

Posted: 2/6/21 at 6:20pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I think 6 of those shows currently have tickets on sale stating June 1st. Obviously those shows aren’t going to happen on that date, but they are on sale."

On Telecharge - they are also selling tickets for Mrs. Doubtfire and Jersey Boys.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 2/6/21 at 6:24pm

Company would easily benefit from a few casting changes, including for Bobbie. Believe me, I LOVE Katrina Lenk, but as others have stated, this just isn't the right show for her.

I really hope Patti LuPone, Jen Simard, and Matt Doyle all stay on board. The three of them stole the show early in previews from what I have heard.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/6/21 at 8:35pm

jo said: "On Telecharge - they are also selling tickets for Mrs. Doubtfire and Jersey Boys."

JB is not being sold on Broadway. It is racked up at NWS, where it was pre-Covid. As rehearsed, it is on sale for dates on which there will never be performances.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/6/21 at 11:29pm

fosterfan2 said: "I hope Company returns."

 

According to a piece in the Broadway Journal, "Company" should be ok. It was an article about the insurance that shows took out. I can't post a link. Sorry.

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/7/21 at 12:26am

Getting an insurance payout (which the article -- which is preposterously behind a paywall -- does say Company got and reopening are not the same thing. Some shows will take the payout and still pack up and go home. There is no requirement that you use funds received on an insurance claim to keep the show open, any more than you have to buy a new car if you got paid out for the one you totaled. That said, as I said above, Company will reopen. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/7/21 at 1:22am

I wasn't inferring that they will definitely re-opening because they got the payout. Was just conveying the information in the article that said they would be ok and can open with a cushion. And yes, from what I hear, they will re-open.

[Wick3]

Posted: 2/7/21 at 1:57am

Jordan Levinson said: "Companywould easily benefit from a few casting changes, including for Bobbie. Believe me, I LOVE Katrina Lenk, but as others have stated, this just isn't the right show for her.

I really hope Patti LuPone, Jen Simard, and Matt Doyle all stay on board. The three of them stole the show early in previews from what I have heard."

Given how much a hit Bridgerton was in recent weeks, i wouldn’t mind if Jonathan Bailey replaces Matt Doyle at some point.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/7/21 at 2:43am

He will be the main character in the second season of Bridgerton which starts filming in the Spring. He is also based in the UK. He's a star not a replacement at this point. 

[A Director]

Posted: 2/7/21 at 4:48am

Jordan Levinson said: "Companywould easily benefit from a few casting changes, including for Bobbie. Believe me, I LOVE Katrina Lenk, but as others have stated, this just isn't the right show for her.

I really hope Patti LuPone, Jen Simard, and Matt Doyle all stay on board. The three of them stole the show early in previews from what I have heard."

Any casting changes should begin with Patti. She's way too old for the role!

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/7/21 at 10:18am

uncageg said: "I wasn't inferring that they will definitely re-opening because they got the payout. Was just conveying the information in the article that said they would be ok and can open with a cushion. And yes, from what I hear, they will re-open."

I didn't think you were inferring that but I thought it could lead someone to that conclusion, especially to the extent that someone confused it with PPP loan forgiveness (which would not apply to this, so that is not inferred either).

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 2/9/21 at 9:09am

Funny mentioning about Patti being too old for the show. When I saw it in London that was the comments all around me from theatre goers. They thought she was far to old. Having been my first time seeing it I had nothing to compare to

I agree and while I hope that most cast returns. I wouldn't be surprised if there was an Anne Hathaway opening. I wonder if Cheyenne Jackson would take a role like Christopher Sieber's. I love Matt Doyle in the role. and Kyle Dean Massey. 

 

And as for that list, there are in my opinion another 4-5 (probably some of which being surprises) that will not reopen. When you look at the costs to reopen, recast, promote, retech, it is going to cost investors a couple million undoubtedly, and with a system so frail and warning signs (at least up here in Canada) of entering a depression... we will be lucky to see 6 shows open before December 1. 

It is strange, while I'm ready to go back to the theatre, there are a number of people I know that have no interest in returning. Since the proshot release of Hamilton, they argue that they'd prefer just to watch it at home, in their own time, when they want and not have to plan the trip in, pay such high costs, be surrounded by people. It's interesting, especially considering they are all under 50.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/9/21 at 9:28am

re going back vs. not going back, if you look at every other pandemic and epidemic in history, you will see that attitudes evolve as the safety becomes manifest. It is hard for many to wrap their heads around an end to this new and horrible normal we have been enduring but when people are immunized and there is herd immunity their attitudes will adjust. History shows that the renewed interest will be in the nature of an explosion rather than a trickle. Yes there will be a fringe of people who will never come out and play again, just as there are people who continue to be afraid of TB, but it will not be statistically significant.