Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

#1

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/27/14 at 2:54pm

I had heard through the grapevine that something like this was coming, and now Deadline is reporting that Universal Pictures has joined SIDE SHOW as an above the title producer. I would assume the backing of Universal also probably means they get screen rights to the show if Condon moves forward with a movie version in the future.
Deadline Article

#2

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/27/14 at 2:58pm

Yes, you would assume correctly! Good move. Makes sense.

#3

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/27/14 at 5:46pm

It's not selling well at all. I hope this helps sales.

#4

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/27/14 at 5:52pm

It's a bit early to say it's not selling well since the advertising campaign hasnt really kicked off yet. They havent even taken out an ad in the Sunday NY Times yet (although I suspect we will see a full page ad this coming weekend). I am betting the sales push will begin in earnest starting this weekend.

#5

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/27/14 at 6:05pm

I hope so, and I hope the changes work well. I will miss "The Tunnel of Love".

#6

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/27/14 at 6:13pm

Marway you have a connection at the box office?

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Up In One

#7

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/27/14 at 6:14pm

While I also liked Tunnel of Love in the original, it just doesnt fit in the show the way it has been revised. This new version is vastly different than the 1997 Broadway production....so much so, that it will be interesting to see how the Tony Admin committee handles whether its eligible for Best Book or even Best Score (i think the % of new music in the show as well as the changes to the existing songs might be a close call). I think Universal jumping in as a producer puts some real financial muscle behind the show (maybe they are hoping for a repeat of what they saw with Wicked and its popularity with girls)

#8

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/27/14 at 7:27pm

Up In One: I don't have a connection at the box office, but it is clear to see if you look at Telecharge. The mezzanine at just about every show has maybe 5 seats sold. I really hope sales pick up soon.

#9

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/27/14 at 8:30pm

I actually think they could turn it into an amazing movie down the road.

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"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."

#10

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/27/14 at 8:31pm

Maybe the naysayers are right and this is going to be an absolute flop, but Jesus Christ, can it play its first preview before yapping about how low the ticket sales are? You could get Book of Mormon seats with a discount code prior to first performance when word of mouth exploded and the discount was immediately pulled. I'm not saying that will happen here but you never know.

And this production of Side Show is truly magnificent.

#11

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/27/14 at 11:11pm

I hope that fate is on this show's side this time. But with fierce revival competition coming in March next year, it may be hard.

#12

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/27/14 at 11:14pm

WICKED has made Universal more money then any of it's movies, ever! It continues to do so. I am surprised it took this long for them to invest in another show. They must see some promise in it.

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Those Blocked: SueStorm. N2N Nate. Good riddence to stupid! Rad-Z, shill begone!

#13

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/27/14 at 11:47pm

I think Universal sees a potential hit that appeals to the same Wicked audience...a story about 2 sisters overcoming difficult circumstances but staying strong and united.....just like Frozen.....Im sure they also see a future feature film directed by Bill Condon in a few years, which they now have the rights to

#14

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/28/14 at 12:01am

Didn't they just go on sale?

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"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#15

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/28/14 at 9:32am

Box Office officially opens October 6th. Can we at least wait for that to open to talk about ticket sales.

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"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. Ralph Waldo Emerson

#16

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/28/14 at 10:24am

>I am surprised it took this long for them to invest in another show.<

They have invested in eight other Broadway shows since Wicked.


Universal at IBDB

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Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

Updated On: 8/28/14 at 10:24 AM

#17

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/28/14 at 3:20pm

I stand corrected. Thanks Smaxie!

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Those Blocked: SueStorm. N2N Nate. Good riddence to stupid! Rad-Z, shill begone!

#18

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/28/14 at 3:27pm

Wow, they have not made good investment choices since WICKED.

#19

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/28/14 at 3:30pm

3 plays that recouped, a musical that ran 3 years and won Best Musical, and a musical that won Best Revival. Yeah, terrible.

#20

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/28/14 at 3:34pm

PORGY AND BESS lost money, and they would have lost more money on the viciously expensive CRY-BABY and BRING IT ON than they would have made on those three plays, but yes BILLY ELLIOT was a success, though a garbage musical.

#21

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/28/14 at 3:43pm

Artistic merit to an empire like Universal is irrelevant. All that matters is the commercial success.

#22

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/28/14 at 4:04pm

"BILLY ELLIOT was a success, though a garbage musical."

How about keeping your (rude) opinions on acclaimed shows to yourself, ASSHOLE?

#23

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/28/14 at 6:17pm

So I am not allowed to have an opinion on a message board for opinions about theatre, just be causes you don't share my opinion? I will not hush my opinion merely because you don't want others to see that somebody doesn't like your precious little favorite musical. It was painfully bad to sit through and generic in the worst of ways with soap operatic drama that literally made me laugh in the middle of the show. It was one of the worst travesties in Tony award history when that show won over NEXT TO NORMAL, excepting Julie Andrews not winning for MY FAIR LADY and the years where PASSION, THE LION KING, and A CHORUS LINE won for best musical (blegh).

Updated On: 8/28/14 at 06:17 PM

#24

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/28/14 at 6:55pm

Jeffrey, go pour yourself a stiff one!

#25

Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

Posted: 8/28/14 at 7:14pm

Still, you're obviously in the minority, and I don't like people like you being mean on something that the majority of people disagree with.

Both 'Billy Elliot' & 'Next to Normal' were very well received by critics and audiences, so they were both obviously neck and neck together during Tony season. While 'Billy Elliot' was the one the swept the Tonys that year, 'Next to Normal' still took home it's fair share of the gold (Lead Actress, Original Score, and Orchestrations), as well as the Pulitzer Prize in Drama. So overall, N2N (as with every other show at there) didn't need to win Best Musical, the most it really needed was it's respected fanbase. When a show wins the Tony for Best Musical, it's never because it needs it, it's because it earned it.

Updated On: 8/28/14 at 07:14 PM