Update on the Times Square Theatre- Page 2
Update on the Times Square Theatre
Update on the Times Square Theatre#25
Posted: 1/23/23 at 10:17pm
They literally made the Lyric SMALLER because it was such a barn. This convo is pure nonsense
Update on the Times Square Theatre#26
Posted: 1/24/23 at 12:34am
Did you expect anything less from the person who created a thread to state the Imperial wasn’t good enough for Bad Cinderella and the show absolutely needed to move to the Winter Garden?
Update on the Times Square Theatre#27
Posted: 1/24/23 at 12:50am
HogansHero said: "Call_me_jorge said: "I’ve wondered why they can’t lift it, like they’ve done with the palace. Make new retail space below it and create a space for a proper load out/in for the theatre itself. They could also build a hotel above it just like the palace. Why just keep the space empty?"
One last time: there is nothing left to lift."
Okay, but what does that mean exactly? Are you saying it’s in a state of near collapse, thus there is nothing? If that is the case why doesn’t the city tear it down. It seems silly to leave a decapitated building. Even if just ends being an empty lot, that’s better than what’s currently happening to the space.
Update on the Times Square Theatre#28
Posted: 1/24/23 at 10:02am
Because it has historical significance. I wish they’d leave the facade and build a whole new theater but I guess the lack of access from 43rd still would make it unacceptable. Maybe take the facade and move it to the empty lot near the Imperial? Or a new off Broadway space.
Update on the Times Square Theatre#29
Posted: 1/24/23 at 11:05am
The empty lot next to the imperial is being turned into a hotel. Weren’t they trying to build a new theatre there at some point?
Update on the Times Square Theatre#30
Posted: 1/24/23 at 2:41pm
How glorious would it be if there was a way for the Times Square Church to take the space allowing the Mark Hellinger Theatre to return to legit theatre use? I mean, the Times Square Theatre is currently a gutted shell, so TSC could customize to whatever their needs might be, and a quick Wiki search suggests a net loss of only 600 seats. I know it’s a pipe dream but it’s still such a shame to have lost such a beautiful jewel of a theatre.
Update on the Times Square Theatre#31
Posted: 1/24/23 at 2:45pm
Yea you’d think it would bring it more money than a church. That’s something that someone should definitely buy
Update on the Times Square Theatre#32
Posted: 1/24/23 at 3:11pm
Can’t buy it when it ain’t for sale.
Update on the Times Square Theatre#33
Posted: 1/24/23 at 3:15pm
BroadwayNYC2 said: "Can’t buy it when it ain’t for sale."
Exactly. The Time Square Church has turned down offers from Andrew Lloyd Webber, Garth Drabinski, Clear Channel, and Disney, amongst others.
The only silver lining is that they seem to be doing an excellent job in maintaining it, so there is a sliver of hope that should somebody finally persuade them to sell someday it won't be a terribly long process of restoring it (and that's all a huge IF that I don't assume we'll see anytime in the near future)
Update on the Times Square Theatre#34
Posted: 1/24/23 at 5:39pm
AEA AGMA SM said: "BroadwayNYC2 said: "Can’t buy it when it ain’t for sale."
Exactly. The Time Square Church has turned down offers from Andrew Lloyd Webber, Garth Drabinski, Clear Channel, and Disney, amongst others.
The only silver lining is that they seem to be doing an excellent job in maintaining it, so there is a sliver of hope that should somebody finally persuade them to sell someday it won't be a terribly long process of restoring it (and that's all a huge IF that I don't assume we'll see anytime in the near future)"
The best hope for "getting the Hellinger back" is for Times Square Church to be so succesful that it (the Church) needs more room than available in the Theatre. It would probably then be interested in selling Given what they could get for it, the church could build a new facility wherever it wanted.
I do give the Church credit for maintaining the inside- which leads to a question- was the interior landmarked before it was sold?
Update on the Times Square Theatre#35
Posted: 1/24/23 at 9:09pm
Or until people stop going to the church.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
Update on the Times Square Theatre#37
Posted: 5/8/24 at 9:49am
Broadway Flash said: "What is the status of this?"
Continued nonsense. Many people have explained but you don't seem to want to listen.
Update on the Times Square Theatre#38
Posted: 5/8/24 at 9:58am
Im talking about NOW. it was supposed to be a store. Is that still happening? I don’t see any construction happening. ATG they should buy it while they still can
Broadway Star Joined: 12/9/23
Update on the Times Square Theatre#39
Posted: 5/8/24 at 10:12am
It's been well established that the church refuses to play ball on selling the place. They make way too much money in offerings. Multiple big time producers have made offers too. It's staying a church.
Update on the Times Square Theatre#41
Posted: 5/8/24 at 11:22am
Construction is on a bit of a pause right now. I'm told the tenants ran into a bit of a money issue with one of their sources of funding pulling out.
The building is set to house several stores with one larger "flagship" store...but supposedly the business lined up for said flagship is no longer interested, hence some funding dropping out. They are potentially rethinking the main floor layout as there is a chance they might eliminate the flagship space in favor of several stores with an equal footprint. But the construction is paused until they procure additional funds. New 42 hasn't kicked them to the curb yet, so one assumes they are planning on restarting soon.
Update on the Times Square Theatre#42
Posted: 5/8/24 at 11:56am
There is a ton of empty real estate on 42nd Street. It’s a kind of terrible idea to develop the old Times Square Theatre as a shopping center.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
Update on the Times Square Theatre#43
Posted: 5/8/24 at 12:00pm
Would agree. It should be something more of an "experience." Wish they could do something unique like in London they have "Witness to the Prosecution." It's a smaller show, but the space makes it so cool.
Update on the Times Square Theatre#44
Posted: 5/8/24 at 12:13pm
Why can’t the city condemn the building and tear it down? It will never be able to be a legitimate theatre and it’s gone through a litany of redevelopment plans that have lost funding over it. Just raze the thing and build a park or something.
Update on the Times Square Theatre#45
Posted: 5/8/24 at 12:13pm
And I'd love more information on the supposed zoning laws that would prevent the space from being used as a theatre (for film or theatre). Somone has cited loading dock issues taking up space on 42nd Street, but honestly, daily shipments of merchandise to sell in multiple stores would be more of an ongoing problem than loading in a set. Move CHICAGO there.
Update on the Times Square Theatre#46
Posted: 5/8/24 at 12:18pm
I'd say tear the original building down but keep the facade and build a new and accessible theatre in its place. It's kinda like what they did with the Sondheim (formerly the Henry Miller's Theatre).
Update on the Times Square Theatre#47
Posted: 5/8/24 at 12:21pm
Or they can literally RAISE the theatre like the palace and create a loading dock below the raised building.
Update on the Times Square Theatre#48
Posted: 5/8/24 at 12:27pm
Which does not account for where to park the goddamn truck without impeding regular flow. Are people not paying attention? It is not enough to create a loading space, you have to factor in what you are unloading from.
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05
Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28
Update on the Times Square Theatre#49
Posted: 5/8/24 at 12:33pm
For the 1000th time....if you raise the theater the loading dock would still be on 42nd St. It doesn't work. Multiple interested parties have looked into making it a Broadway theater. It has been deemed unfeasible every. single. time. It will not now, or ever, be a Broadway theater.
Raising the building is also not an option. It is historically landmarked. And it is one of 7 theater spaces that the city has charged New 42 with revitalizing and finding new life for. The Times Square Theater is actually the last of these spaces, with the org having found tenants for all other buildings with which it holds leases (New Victory which they operate themselves, Lyric, Todd Haimes, Hilton, etc). The city requires that they find a a tenant.
The facade, mezzanine structure, and boxes, have all been historically landmarked and will be preserved in the new design. But it will not be a Broadway theater.
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