WICKED IS coming to LA!!!- Page 2

[Popular]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 2:48pm

If you are talking about the Wilshire theater where 700 Sundays is going to be, that is in Beverly Hills and that theater sucks. I don't like the layout of it at all...and the sound is horrible, at least it was years ago when I saw Dreamgirls from the balcony.

I miss the Shubert in Century City Updated On: 10/26/05 at 02:48 PM

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 2:52pm

I was focusing my comments on the Tour.

As for Chicago and BW productons, like others have said, perhaps the TV and Film opportunities out here are worthwhile or interesting to some.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 2:56pm

For those of you not familiar with L.A., "Hollywood" is a term that's used to describe all of the movie biz, but it's also a designated region in Los Angeles. It's not a full-blown city, and is a part of Los Angeles. The Pantages (where the Wicked tour played) is in the heart of the area known and defined as Hollywood, on Hollywood Blvd. But there are other theatres in Los Angeles that "Wicked" could "sit down" in. Some are in Hollywood, and some are in the surrounding area that makes up L.A.

The "Hollywood" of movieland, includes Hollywood, Burbank, Universal City, Studio City, Culver City, Century City, the West Side and Los Angeles in general. (and others)

I know it's a bit confusing, and I've lived out here for years.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 2:56pm

Why is this even a topic? Other than the original post, have ther actually been ANY discussions (not including wishful thinking by fans) of an LA sitdown? He said "highly anticipated" but who has actually anticipated this? No one associated the show in any way, shape or form has mentioned any plans for yet another US-based company of Wicked.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:01pm

No one connected with the show is interested? How would you know this? I believe several of the producers of "Wicked" might be interested, since they are L.A.-based. So is Stephanie Block (and others).

And there are few (million) people in Los Angeles that didn't get to see Wicked when it was in town. They might be interested in a sit-down, as well.

[Patronus]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:36pm

I also miss the Shubert, Popular.

I really loved that theatre and the location.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:44pm

I never said that. So don't make presumptions. I said where has it been mentioned? Not one person involved with Wicked has mentioned the possibility of a sit-down in LA.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:44pm

I grew up going to the Shubert. It is a shame that it is now gone.

Trivia - did you know that some of the seats from the Shubert are in the Kirk Douglas Theater in Culver City (which I actually worked in when it was called the heinous Culver Theater, a really bad Tri-plex movie theater!).

I was at one of the donor events and they told us that they took the seats from the old Shubert. So, at least a part of it lives.

[RYANWOODS]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 4:31pm

Really? Why are they going to do another open-ended run in LA when they have NYC and Chicago and a tour...and London in 2006. A lot money set wise.

[Popular]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 4:33pm

well it's all speculation at this point. The way I heard it, it's not necessarily a sit down, but just a longer run that it had here earlier.... of course that is just rumor as well. We'll have to just enjoy san diego and OC and wait to hear anything else.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 4:40pm

Though I hate to say it, with the way things are going, I wouldn't be surprised if Las Vegas got the show.

Though it may be too long for the Casinos to make enough money off of it. I don't see how you can cut Wicked into an hour (though I am sure many on this board would not mind a bit if it was cut to 90 minutes).

[DefyingEDCT]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 4:46pm

Can I have proof of this? I honestly think thats rediculous, as much as I love Wicked, they are gonna DRAIN this thing dry. So many productions, thats going to be 4, possibly 5 total! Its gettin a little outta hand

[JulianHookbucks]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 4:46pm

link? please?

Posted: 10/26/05 at 4:53pm

Here are some thoughts on this subject:

1) It was a HUGE hit out here in LA, selling out and prompting overpriced ebay sales. It had momentum and could have ran a lot longer.

2) Los Angeles does major tourist business and gets a wealth of new meat weekly, surely adding to the box office potential outside of the millions who live within easy travel distance to the city

3) NBC/UNIVERSAL has a stake in the show. I wouldn't be suprised if it found a home somewhere on our near Universal Studios Hollywood/CityWalk if the numbers crunched the right way.

4) Years ago, we had a sitdown production of Phantom Of The Opera that went on for 4 years and would have run alot longer, had it not been for some much needed repairs to the Ahmanson.

[Popular]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 4:56pm

Oh goodness, that's what got me in trouble the first time... the Pantages was just so close to me.... City Walk is even closer! HA

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 5:47pm

How many productions did we have worldwide of "Les Miz" or "Phantom"? I mean, I think it's overkill, but having potentially 5 productions of Wicked running isn't that over the edge given that it sells out everywhere it is. I'm sure as long as the producers can make money, they are going to keep doing that.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 5:56pm

yeah i miss the shubert.. saw mamma mia there... why did they close it down? it was great... yeah, the wilshire ain't that great... and i don't really like its location... pretty crappy area... i've always wondered if they had a sitdown production of ANY show where they would have it here... Ahmanson, as someone said, housed Phantom for four years then renovated and brought Miss Saigon for 9 months (which I believe was a highly successful production) and we've had Lion King for like a year and then Producers for six months or so... anyways...

how come the Wicked Tour is playing for like six weeks in all these cities but then it hits san diego and is there for like two weeks... that's dumb...

[Popular]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 5:59pm

Not sure but these short runs are brilliant cause it is a tease and makes that city hunger for more when it comes back... look at Denver, already selling tickets for 2007! Very possible that it would take that long for it to come back to L.A. as well.... just too much going on with San Diego and OC at the same time.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 6:07pm

The Shubert closed down because the whole ABC Entertainment Center was torn down to make room for a new office building.

Here is a story about the razing of Shubert and the ABC Entertainment Center

Razing the Shubert Updated On: 10/26/05 at 06:07 PM

[bluesoprano]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 6:10pm

Maybe the show will go to the Ahamanson Theatre since the Pantages is booked till August. But who knows, with so many shows coming to LA I want to see where they put Wicked.

[mygfdontliveincanada]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 6:21pm

I know it's total specualation right now, but I bet they'll do something similar to what they did with "The Producers." I'd be willing to bet money that the Pantages will announce that after their 2005-2006 season, "Wicked" will come back for a 6-9 month run. Or, at the end of the current tour dates on the books right now, the tour will come back to LA for a large chunk of time.

Having a long run with a end date set right off the bat tends to work in LA, especially if you have a TV or Movie celeb in one or two roles. Both times I saw "The Producers," it was on Wednesday nights, and every seat was taken, partially due to the long but limited run and due to the two stars (Jason Alexander and Martin Short).

[AugustusGloop]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 6:29pm

You're right about one thing: WICKED will indeed be coming to LA. However, you're way off on the date.

According to sources close to the production (read: they're in the show), a company of WICKED will be moving to LA for an extended period of time, beginning in early 2007. It will not be a new company -- either the tour will sit down for a while, or the Chicago company will pick up and move.

My money is on the Chicago production moving. I don't think that Chicago can sustain the show forever (sorry Chicago folks!). Plus the tour is in HIGH demand all over the country -- I believe it's already booked well into 2006. There are even rumors of another tour being sent out.

Hope I haven't dashed your hopes of springtime in LA with Elphie!

[Popular]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 6:30pm

yep, 2007 makes more sense.

[mygfdontliveincanada]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 6:41pm

The Chicago company moving makes perfect sense. LAers would jump at the chance to see Ana Gestyer in the show (Celebs sell like hotcakes here).

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 8:35pm

as of now the producers are expecting the chicago company to be there for another 2 - 3 years. They won't start focusing on LA until they have London 06 ready and rolling.