Was the Pajama Game going to have an open run after its stint at Roundabout

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Was the Pajama Game going to have an open run after its stint at Roundabout

Posted: 4/4/08 at 9:06am

I remember reading a couple of articles after the Pajama Game played at the American Airlines theatre saying that it was looking for another theatre for an open run to be done by different producers.

They then released articles saying that they could't find another theatre so they called the project off.

I might be wrong about this. If I am right can someone please shead more light on the subject of this story.

"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear" Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll

Updated On: 4/4/08 at 09:06 AM

re: Was the Pajama Game going to have an open run after its stint at Rounda

Posted: 4/4/08 at 9:09am

The idea was toyed with, but nothing definite was ever announced.

I don't know if it was so much a matter of a theatre, but it would have been a huge financial risk, considering the fact that the production would have transferred without Harry Connick Jr.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

re: Was the Pajama Game going to have an open run after its stint at Rounda

Posted: 4/4/08 at 10:06am

This is an old Roundabout ploy. The only reason for Pajama Game's sellout success was the presence of Harry Connick. Except for Kelly O'Hara, the rest of it just wasn't a particularly good production. It looked cheap and the Gladys didn't do the Steam Heat number (yeah, go figure, hiring a Gladys who can't dance). Roundabout started making noises about sending the production on tour, with one slight change: no Harry Connick. Needless to say, none of it came to fruition.

Roundabout is notorious for pulling these stunts. Half the time what's listed in the prospectus (when they're trying to get subscribers) never happens. One of their other boners was the revival of Nine. Because of -- and only because of -- Antonio Banderas, it sold like hotcakes. Banderas even extended his contract for a month. Then, they had the NERVE so advertise that the success had "nothing" to do with Banderas' presence and they recast it when he left. Guess what? It closed in less than a month.

While on one of my favorite peeves, beware Roundabout's telemarketers. They are RELENTLESS once they have your phone number. Pleading with them, both on the phone and at the box office, to stop bothering you falls on deaf ears. The only way I FINALLY got them to shut up was to scream obscentities at them. SOMEHOW, I got off the list. Personnally, I take being considered one of Roundabouts undesirables a badge of honor.

BroadwayEd

re: Was the Pajama Game going to have an open run after its stint at Rounda

Posted: 4/4/08 at 10:07am

You know what works, Ed? Hanging up the phone.

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

re: Was the Pajama Game going to have an open run after its stint at Rounda

Posted: 4/4/08 at 10:10am

I actually would have liked to have seen John Stamos in NINE. I don't know why -- just would have.

"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."

re: Was the Pajama Game going to have an open run after its stint at Rounda

Posted: 4/4/08 at 10:17am

I don't see how you could possibly and logically fault Roundabout for selling tickets because of a star...

You may have felt that THE PAJAMA GAME was cheap and terrible - and while I agree - it wouldn't have been the success that it was without Connick - but cheap and terrible it wasn't. The rewrites were all vast improvements. And I don't see what beef you have with Gladys not doing "Steam Heat." Just because that's not the way it was written doesn't mean that it doesn't make more sense now. Frankly, it doesn't matter who does that number. It's a throwaway number that exists purely so Fosse would have something fun to choreograph. THE PAJAMA GAME's lack of a transfer or a subsequent tour didn't have everything to do with Roundabout. They were outside producers that decided to scrap the project.

And I'm not the biggest Roundabout fan either, but your accusations are pretty silly. Half the time, the things they advertise never happen? Well "half the time" is a vast overstatement. Last season, more than one show was changed. But if you are going to fault Roundabout for that, then you didn't really understand the situation. There is a disclaimer on every advertisement for the season saying "all shows subject to change." When you put together 8 directors with 8 different plays a year in advance, things are bound not to always work out. It wasn't done out of malice. And often times - particularly last season - when Roundabout had to cancel a few shows - it wasn't 100% their decision.

Yes, NINE sold like "hot cakes" because of Antonio Banderas. I don't think anyone would dispute that. But you simply cannot ignore the other merits of that production. A brilliant Benanti, Rivera, Masterson, Krakowski paired with one of the best scores ever written with drop-dead brilliant direction. So would the production have been standing room only without Banderas? No. But would it still have been an exceptional production? Completely. Why does it make you angry that shows make money based on the star? That's baffling.

Did Roundabout actually say "The success of NINE had nothing to do with Antonio Banderas"? Something tells me they didn't. I don't see how that's "NERVE."

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

re: Was the Pajama Game going to have an open run after its stint at Rounda

Posted: 4/4/08 at 10:24am

I tried hanging up on them -- it didn't work -- they kept callling.

This is the last time I'm going to address this issue. Yes, first of all, the Roundabout DID say that the the absence of Banderas was not going to affect the popularity of the show.

And it is not SILLY to expect people to fork out a lot of money, then not deliver what they not-so-tacitly announced. Hope you get burned a few times and then tell me how "silly" it is.

BroadwayEd

re: Was the Pajama Game going to have an open run after its stint at Rounda

Posted: 4/4/08 at 10:27am

If you purchase a subscription, find out that one or more of your shows have been changed, you are entitled to a full refund.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

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