Treasure Island Comes To Broadway Summer '07

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 10:11am

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/105372.html

"B.H. Barry will direct Barry and Vernon Morris' Treasure Island — based on the Robert Louis Stevenson classic — on Broadway this summer.

Variety reports that the $3.5 million action-oriented show hopes to capitalize on the upcoming "Pirates of the Caribbean 3," which will arrive in movie theatres in May. Treasure Island will tell the story of the adventures of young Jim Hawkins "as much through action sequences as through dialogue.

Barry's Island made its premiere at Gotham's Ohio Theater in 1996 and was subsequently seen on Sanibel Island, FL. The Broadway production will feature designs by Tony Straiges. The set, Variety says, will consist "mainly of four rolling, interlocking platforms, accessorized with maritime elements such as barrels and ropes."

The cast of 14 — which has yet to be announced — will also perform traditional sea shanties."

Seems very random.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 10:24am

From Barry's website:

"To bring this exciting tale to vibrant life, we're launching something new: the action play. We will present the terrifying clang of swords, the sound and smell of musket fire, the roar of cannon and the feel of sea spray, not just in front of the audience, but all around them. With this show we're going to create family adventure and the theatrical equivalent of a white-knuckle thrill ride.

Once in a rare while the right combination of elements for Broadway magic come together, anchored by the perfect story, the perfect director and just the right timing. Yet Broadway audiences want something new, and new plays, struggling to succeed, often rely heavily on overpaid stars—who later leave, crippling the show—or big effects which bloat the budget and weekly operating expense. Treasure Island, a beloved work of classic adventure, is bigger than any star. This show shuns trickery and contrived special effects. It tells an essential story with sparkling imagination, lots of gusto and movement, dramatic lighting, the clanging of swords and fantastic stage fighting.

Structured for success with all the right elements and a strong team, the capitalization can recoup quickly, the weekly operating expenses are low and the weekly break-even is less than 50% of house capacity. Everything is in place for Treasure Island to become a huge success, both artistically and financially."

....sounds like swashbuckling fun.

[MotorTink]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 10:33am

They've already go the VEGAS Stage version, so that's one thing they don't need to worry about.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 11:45am

So...it's a relatively inexpensive show, a cast of only 14, a minimal set, and it can stay "afloat" at only 50% capacity.

That means the tickets will be what, $120?

*eyeroll*

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 12:40pm

Did anyone see "Under the Black Flag" in London? I'm getting a little worried.

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 1:41pm

it would fit nicely in the belasco, but i really could care less for the show

[folkyboy]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 1:44pm

yeah i just never got into the pirate craze.

i'll still see it regardless but yeah: not really enthused

[junglered]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 1:58pm

Yawn...

[Vespertine1228]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 2:11pm

I'm actually excited about this. We need swashbuckling fun on Broadway. It's so much more exciting to watch people fighting onstage than watching people fight in front of a CGI screen at the movies.

I really wish Shakespeare in the Park would do something cool like Robin Hood or Zorro. I would assume that would be acceptable, although they'd need a big name for the lead. I suppose I'll just content myself with the many fights in Romeo and Juliet.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 3:43pm

Um...

Do we need this show?

It's kinda a weird choice.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 5:04pm

Cool. It actually seems like fun!

I think it could work in The Hellen Hayes.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 5:07pm

It seems cool...but Idk Bway? sounds like the show at "Treasure Island" in vegas.

[purpleprince101]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 6:59pm

i am not sure if i like this...

[adamgreer]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 10:27pm

I'm unsure what this is going to look like...On one hand, they talk about these incredible effects. That would suggest to me it's rather expensive. However, then they say it can be profitable at less than 50% house capacity (doesn't that depend on the theater?). What kind of effects are they?

I have visions of the "mist" being a guy standing in the pit with a spray bottle pointed at the audience.

This really could go either way. I think the novel would make for a very interesting musical, if done as "swashbuckling fun." However, this particular concept sounds a bit odd. It'll be interesting to see.

[gustof777]

Posted: 2/1/07 at 10:53pm

why god why?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 2/2/07 at 12:20am

So this is just a straight play? Seems like a weird sale. The fact that they're hoping to capitalize off of the Pirates movies makes it seem like it's all for the money and now the artistic success. Seems weird to me.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 10:46am

I'm sorry, but how can a pirate ship be done minimalist?

[Calvin]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 11:30am

I'm sorry, but how can a pirate ship be done minimalist?

Have you ever been to any of the lesser-funded Six Flags theme parks?

[folkyboy]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 11:35am

the pirate ship ride always made me have flip flops in my tummy

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 1:28pm

This looks pretty stupid...

[courtnyj]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 1:48pm

This sounds ridiculously campy and bad. I never got into the pirate thing anyway.

[TI Guy]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 2:19pm

Hello,

I read this thread and am happy to answer your questions.

No, this is not a big, expensive, effects-driven show. Quite the opposite, we're stripping away what we consider superfluous for the sake of creating great theater. That starts with a great story (one of the best known in literature) and well-crafted dramatic situations. Stevenson wrote Treasure Island with the language of action, so that's how we'll present it.

Fortunately, B.H. Barry is the perfect person to use the language of action to tell a great tale of heroic adventure. He's envisioned the show, which I'll remind you isn't a musical, in the tradition of great story telling: there's basically no set, just rolling platforms that that actors rearrange (while singing wonderful, a capella sea chanteys) to create the sense of where you are. Set pieces like barrels, ropes, planks, etc. rearrange and reconfigure to aid in the illusion. Look for Set Designer Tony Straiges to come up with something simple yet stunning.

The show will be a place where your imagination is set free. We'll provide great costumes, great lighting, great scenic, great story, great acting, great action and an adventure that gets the audience involved. Besides, who doesn't like sword fighting?

Jay
Assistant to the Producer

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 2:45pm

Okay....but what theater is it going to go into? I'm not sure I see anything opening up anytime soon.

[Elphie3]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 5:20pm

If only they were teaming up with the creators of "Avenue Q" to do "Muppet Treasure Island" on Broadway. :)

[bjh2114]

Posted: 3/15/07 at 5:24pm

Okay....but what theater is it going to go into? I'm not sure I see anything opening up anytime soon.

My guess would be the Lyceum. Inherit the Wind closes in early July there, and the theatre is relatively small.