WATER FOR ELEPHANTS at the Imperial Theatre, Opening March '24

Previews begin February 24, with opening set for March 21:

https://www.telecharge.com/eventoverview.aspx?cityName=NY%20City%20Area&productId=14224

Since the dates are in the system and ready to go active, an official announcement tomorrow seems likely.

Updated On: 9/11/23 at 06:26 PM

It’s amazing to me how often Telecharge slips the announcement.

https://www.waterforelephantsthemusical.com/

WEPRE912 on Telecharge Offers is the code for the presale, which is going on now.

pablitonizer said: "I see a similar fate as 'Life of Pi', I hope I'm wrong!"

On paper, a musical with circus elements has significantly more potential than a nonmusical play. They won't be able to rely on the book or film to sell tickets –– it will have to stand on its own as a musical.

I do think LIFE OF PI's WOM was hurt badly by the fact that if you sat in the Orchestra section, you didn't get to see the full show since so much relied on the stage floor. Tony nominations for Best Play and Best Actor could have helped its "must see" narrative, too. It very clearly wanted to be CURIOUS INCIDENT, but that show became the once-every-few-years phenomenon of a play being embraced more like a musical; the must-see play of last season was LEOPOLDSTADT (and to some extent the star-plays PRIMA FACIE, GOODNIGHT OSCAR, and DOLL'S HOUSE).

Updated On: 9/12/23 at 10:40 AM

WOW. I don't think I've ever seen a show at The Imperial charge $114 a seat for the last row mezz all the way to the side.

Ok boomers, this is going to be a hit!

Not surprised by this at all...i saw it twice in Atlanta earlier this summer and it had a "sure bet" feel around it....and sold out nearly every performance over the course of the month.

With this, Lempicka, The Notebook, The Outsiders and Harmony- all I’m seeing is a very weak 2024 season. Full of musicals destined to flop. I hope I’m wrong.

Updated On: 9/12/23 at 05:43 PM

Sadly, you are not wrong. I've seen all four of these musicals in their out of town tryouts, and though each has strengths, none are particularly good. For me, Harmony is the real head scratcher since it had a full production off-Broadway and the reviews were hardly the kind to encourage a Broadway transfer.

Lempicka - accomplished, but ultimately unsatisfying

The Notebook - schmaltz (made me think of Bridges of Madison County for some reason)

The Outsiders - a mess

In terms of financial status, I'm sure that almost any new musical will flop in the foreseeable future. In terms of quality shows, the 2024 season is going to be a hit. The Notebook was hit with near universal praise. Lempicka was, as well. Harmony's were strong, especially with a NYT Critic's Pick, and I think the score is beautiful and hope the show has reworked a little more. Here Lies Love got great mostly reviews, How to Dance in Ohio is also pretty strong, like Kimberly Akimbo. Water for Elephants, Back to the Future, and The Outsiders are just plain mediocre, neither of them bad (unlike Bad Cindy, Almost Famous, KPOP, and NYNY). As much as I enjoyed it, Once Upon a One More Time was definitely a mess and the weakest link in terms of new musicals this season. All of these shows are in a fairly good shape before their Broadway bows. Awards season will be tough. I think Here Lies Love and and Once Upon a One More Time will be forgotten except for the design categories and choreography, respectively.



I think Best Musical looks like this right now:



Best Musical:

• The Notebook

• Harmony

• How to Dance In Ohio (should it close before awards and be forgotten, I could see Here Lies Love somehow making it here, or even Water for Elephants)

• Lempicka

• The Outsiders (could also see Here Lies Love or Water for Elephants making it here if How to Dance in Ohio is still open)

Updated On: 9/12/23 at 06:21 PM

Back to the Future being up for Best Musical makes my heart sink. Honesty, I was looking forward to flying in to see some shows but none of these are particularly exciting to me. Listen to Limpecka and I didn't hate the music but they never could seem to find a melody they liked so they just kept changing it. The Notebook was fine, but it was kind of neither here nor there for me. The rest just don't appeal to me in any meaningful way the way Kimberly Akimbo did.

But we also have Boop in Chicago in December, and I could see that taking the Shubert or something. And The Bedwetter was suppose to come in this season too.

Updated On: 9/12/23 at 06:56 PM