West End CABARET Revival (and B’way Transfer?) - News & Discussion Thread- Page 20

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/17/23 at 1:53pm

Also shows don’t just leave their sets. They have to restore the theater to its original design. So you can’t just borrow pieces. But sure. 

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 6/17/23 at 5:50pm

Annie Murphy would be an inspired choice. 

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 6/17/23 at 5:54pm

Plannietink08 said: "Annie Murphy would be an inspired choice."

Annie Murphy on Broadway would be AWESOME!!!!

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 6/17/23 at 8:39pm

They should do Cabaret at the Times Square Theatre.  They could set it up how they want, and load in from the Lyric.

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 6/17/23 at 8:44pm

Broadway Flash said: "They should do Cabaret at the Times Square Theatre. They could set it up how they want, and load in from the Lyric."

Umm…The Times Square theatre is gone. All that remains is its facade. The interior is going to be retail space. 

[StepShuffleBallchange]

Posted: 6/17/23 at 11:07pm

99.99% certain this is going to the August Wilson.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 6/17/23 at 11:11pm

Dylan Smith4 said: "Broadway Flash said: "They should do Cabaret at the Times Square Theatre. They could set it up how they want, and load in from the Lyric."

Umm…The Times Square theatre is gone. All that remains is its facade. The interior is going to be retail space."

I wouldn't be so sure. I don't think there's been any progress on those plans in YEARS. Not that is is ANYWHERE close to usable shape. 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 6/18/23 at 3:24am

This is absolutely not true.  The theatre has a proscenium arch, boxes, mezzanine, lobby, bathrooms downstairs and a seating area.  It is painted ivory with beautiful molding and intricate designs on the ceilings.  The only thing it needs is seats.  It is a 900 seat house, so a little bigger than the American Airlines theatre.  I'm calling BS on the loading dock situation.  They could load in through the front if they just renovated the front doors to make space for load in.  If someone really wanted it, they could make it work.  It's not a broadway house cause nobody wants to buy it, plain and simple.  The surrounding area could be one of the reasons.

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 6/18/23 at 4:12am

You also need to understand that it lacks proper loading space. The Times Square theatre has been abandoned for decades! It’s not like they can just pop in there and undo the renovations they did for the retail space. From what people are saying here, it looks like the August Wilson is the one that will be completely renovated for this production. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 6/18/23 at 1:55pm

StepShuffleBallchange said: "99.99% certain this is going to the August Wilson."

 

It will be interesting to see how they transform the Wilson to the Kit Kat Club at the August Wilson Theatre but somebody in the industry said to me they heard it may take the Walter Kerr...Anyone on that?

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 6/18/23 at 1:59pm

I've heard August Wilson from several different sources. It has the big lobby space they need for the pre-show and, while I think it would fit better in a smaller venue (the Kerr would be perfect), I think they want to (and know they can) sell more tickets than they are in London. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/18/23 at 5:33pm

I just don’t think the facade or the inside of the theater scream “kit kat club” so I’m very curious what renovations they’d do. Also with no box seats, I’m curious how they make the in the round concept work. 

[lopside]

Posted: 6/18/23 at 6:10pm

No one could have claimed the inside of the Playhouse in London would scream the Kit Kat, but that's the whole point of the refurbish. It's just that the August Wilson doesn't strike to me as the kind of space that they'd be willing to rechristen for the duration of the run as the Kit Kat Club, and they'd have to be hoping for at least a good couple of years if they want to even carry out the refurb in the first place. Or maybe I'm overthinking, as the Oliviers did introduce it as "the Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre". 

[east side story]

Posted: 6/18/23 at 6:37pm

I worked at that theater for years with JB and this venue could certainly work. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 6/18/23 at 7:47pm

The August Wilson is a painfully ugly theatre.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/18/23 at 8:17pm

I just think it has a unique flavor to it that most of the Broadway houses don’t have. It’s an interesting layout so I can see how they’d like the big front lobby. Too bad the Roseland Ballroom had to get demolished.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 6/18/23 at 9:33pm

It has a unique flavor, alright.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 6/19/23 at 10:14am

B-Roll Trailer with Mason and Maude 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Video-First-Look-at-Maude-Apatow-and-Mason-Alexander-Park-in-CABARET-20230619

[amiyagi]

Posted: 6/19/23 at 10:24am

Any idea how long both of them are in it? I have tickets for September

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 6/19/23 at 10:34am

amiyagi said: "Any idea how long both of them are in it? I have tickets for September"

I think their star contracts are usually around 4 months. 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 6/19/23 at 10:46pm

The space next to the theatre is for rent. The space where roseland used to be. Maybe they can buy it and incorporate it into the theatre. Also it seems like they’re already doing some project on the side of the theatre. I don’t think it’s an ugly theatre at all, I just don’t like the wall color on the inside. And maybe they’re using Cabaret as an opportunity to renovate it

[Voter]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 10:22am

Any idea what "announcement coming soon" would mean? Not a fan we have two discussion threads lol 

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 1:46pm

Saw the show last month, the final matinees of the last cast. All in all, loved the production. (Except for the actor playing Cliff, we all could've sworn he was an understudy new to the role. Alas, he's been in for half a year.) I'm excited by the idea of the production coming to Broadway. That said, I really shouldn't stand the in-the-round staging. I'd much prefer it played fully to the house. Maybe they can do a couple of boxes under the band areas, and that's about it. Maybe a couple of tables onstage toward the side, like in Xanadu. But I felt it took away to much for the big moments of the musical number to be 50% looking at someone's back.

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 2:14pm

I think they should keep the in-the-round staging. The August Wilson stage is pretty big backstage-wise. They definitely can remake the upper and lower levels like in London. Also, do any of us think that they will incorporate Yondr pouches for this production? I understand that they are strict with no photos at all with the London production. However, all they give you is a sticker to cover your camera. I honestly believe that they will be more strict about it here in the states and use Yondr pouches. 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 6/24/23 at 12:52pm

FINALLY saw the show in London today! Here are my thoughts!

★★★★★(★★)

 

From the moment I left the streets of London, I went underground and was transported to a magical place called the Kit Kat Club! No photos are allowed inside because this experience is for your eyes only! This spectacular production of Cabaret starts before the actual show starts! Before you enter the auditorium, you get to witness a dance performance at the Golden Bar! Thank god I got my drink before that started! Afterward, they opened the house and the sheer beauty of the Kit Kat Club was revealed! I traveled to the other bars, Green and Red. Each bar having their own themed drinks and atmosphere. I then made it to my seat where I had the most beautiful view of the round stage of the Club! The designer for this show really out did himself by converting this old West End theatre into an immersive experience! We then experience some pre-show entertainment from a gorgeous prologue company of dancers who run around the auditorium entertaining the audience before the show starts! On to the show itself, WOW! The club completely blacks out and we are greeted by the Emcee (Mason Alexander Park) and from there, we are off! Enjoying the marvelous score of Kander and Ebb! This cast is so interactive with the audience that it makes the experience even more fun to watch. Sally Bowles, played by the incredibly talented Emily Benjamin, delivers a class act of her own! News flash, she’s the understudy, but frankly, she needs to be the full time Sally! What a performance! By the end of the first act, I was already in tears. After watching “Tomorrow Belongs to Me (reprise)”, I was reminded of how fascism rose up in Germany almost a century ago and how it is rising again, but in my home country of the United States. I honestly don’t think anything can be done to stop this madness, but there will always be a glimmer of hope. Overall, this production has now surpassed Guys & Dolls as the best show in London and has received a 7 star rating from me! Can’t wait for American audiences to witness this soon once this eventually goes to Broadway! Lastly, American Producers, PLEASE bring Emily Benjamin to NYC! The world needs to see the talent that woman has!