West Side Story???- Page 3
West Side Story???
West Side Story???#50
Posted: 8/9/21 at 1:49pm
Such a shame. Hopefully this is not the end for this production and Ivo van Hove will be able to bring it to Europe. I live in Amsterdam, where he has his theatre company, so there is always hope. Lazarus played here as well (even though it was also cut short because of covid).
West Side Story???#51
Posted: 8/9/21 at 1:52pm
Obviously very sad for everyone in the production.
There is a story here, where is Michael Riedel when you need him.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
West Side Story???#52
Posted: 8/9/21 at 2:00pm
Michael Riedel? Say a bad word about his good friend Scott Rudin? pshhh.
We can infer that the "story" is a combination of the following: it had a cast of 50 and an orchestra of 25; the general manager's sales projections showed that it would bleed money for the first few months of reopening, especially with Delta and Winter; the $10M stimulus would run out quick, and Barry Diller and David Geffen didn't want to pour any more money into a show that would never recoup its investment.
On top of that, the movie is coming out this December, and most people will choose the Spielberg movie over the mixed-reviewed Broadway show...
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/31/12
West Side Story???#53
Posted: 8/9/21 at 2:05pm
Before COVID hit, I really thought this revival was gonna be a companion for the new film version
West Side Story???#54
Posted: 8/9/21 at 2:14pm
I don’t understand this decision. It was selling out wasn’t it?
They could have just publicly stated that Rudin was no longer involved or profiting from it and reopened it?
Such a shame. I absolutely loved it. A Thrilling and exciting night in the theatre. Very glad I saw it.
West Side Story???#55
Posted: 8/9/21 at 2:34pmIt's really sad. Isaac must be particularly upset, he would have snatched a Tony nod for sure. The movie would have boasted the sales, I don't understand this decision
West Side Story???#56
Posted: 8/9/21 at 2:37pm
Disappointing as I thought it was thrilling but not surprising. The "story" is not about Rudin (he's gone just as he is from his shows that are reopening) but about 2 key factors. The producers have another major revival iron in the fire and the last thing they want is competition for their megahit. Also, as noted, the SVOG money, while appealing to the less well-heeled among us, is a trap and these savvy producers are right to be wary. Other producers are not and this will become a chapter in the case book for management students for years to come.
West Side Story???#57
Posted: 8/9/21 at 3:06pmI think a revival of shrek is in order
West Side Story???#59
Posted: 8/9/21 at 4:03pm
I've whispers of a big musical artist doing a sit down for a few months (much like Vegas) starting in 2022. Maybe they go to the Broadway?
West Side Story???#60
Posted: 8/9/21 at 4:04pm
everythingtaboo said: "Wow, I can't believe I missed this by like a week and a half because of the shut-down.
And they won't even be eligible for the Tonys. It'll be like it never happened. What a shame, especially for this young and I'm sure so excited cast."
Could you please explain why this show won’t be eligible for the Tonys? I have an understanding of how the Tonys voting works but shutdown has made everything confusing to follow!
West Side Story???#61
Posted: 8/9/21 at 4:08pm
everythingtaboo said: "And they won't even be eligible for the Tonys. It'll be like it never happened."
Can't say I agree with this mentality. People saw the show. Audiences had reactions to it, positive or negative. That's the only criteria for whether a show "happened." Thousands of theatrical productions play every year all around the world, and are not eligible for Tony Awards, but they have an impact over the people that see them. That's what theatre is about.
bway0 said: "Could you please explain why this show won’t be eligible for the Tonys? I have an understanding of how the Tonys voting works but shutdown has made everything confusing to follow!"
The production had its opening night, which would normally mean it would be eligible. The problem is that they didn't have time to invite enough of the Tony voters to see it.
West Side Story???#62
Posted: 8/9/21 at 4:44pm
What a complete and utter shame. One of the greats is revived with a new vision and then this happens. The reviews were mixed but word of mouth and overall audience reception were still to be determined. Still, this is a revival that no doubt would have thrived after a live Tony performance.
In situations like like –much like the Virginia Woolf revival that will certainly go down as a mythological production for the hundreds who saw it– I do wish they would simply film the d*mn thing and distribute it to streaming somewhere before tearing down the set.
I know, I know it's never that simple and that all the unions make the option prohibitive... but godd*mn what a complete and utter shame.
West Side Story???#63
Posted: 8/9/21 at 6:20pm
I would not be shocked to see them put the set and costumes into storage, wait for the movie to come and go in the minds of people, and then announce they are going to remount the production again at a smaller theatre. Maybe the spring 2022-2023 season perhaps?
What are the chances that the Funny Girl revival really does have an A+ star headlining and they wanted the theatre for it? How wild that for once a Rudin show looses a theatre to a bigger show that wants it when it's always been the other way around?
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
West Side Story???#66
Posted: 8/9/21 at 6:54pm
Jordan Catalano said: "The set? You mean the projector and the sprinklers?
"
I mean they have to make sure they remember what Rubbermaid box they put the sprinklers in before putting it up in the attic if they wanna use them again.
West Side Story???#67
Posted: 8/9/21 at 6:58pmThat’s basically it. And they can just go to Target and buy some new tshirts and jeans when it’s time to redo the wardrobe.
West Side Story???#68
Posted: 8/9/21 at 7:01pm
I know Jordan is being facetious, but in fact this WWS had elaborate sets for the bridal shop, Doc's soda shop, the apartment house staircase and bedroom etc. Unfortunately half of them were permanently set up offstage and were only in view via the giant video screen. I'm not disparaging this choice anymore-- the rest of the performance was so thrilling, I've forgiven the odd choice of what sets are in view of the audience and what sets aren't. Not having this show come back is huge loss for the theater-going public, period.
West Side Story???#69
Posted: 8/9/21 at 7:09pm
“bway0 said: "Could you please explain why this show won’t be eligible for the Tonys? I have an understanding of how the Tonys voting works but shutdown has made everything confusing to follow!
JBroadway said: “The production had its opening night, which would normally mean it would be eligible. The problem is that they didn't have time to invite enough of the Tony voters to see it.”
thank you JBroadway!
West Side Story???#70
Posted: 8/9/21 at 7:13pm
Someone in a Tree2 said: "Not having this show come back is huge loss for the theater-going public, period."
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
West Side Story???#71
Posted: 8/9/21 at 7:19pm
Not having this show come back is huge loss for the theater-going public, period.
Don't speak for the theater-going public, period.
West Side Story???#72
Posted: 8/9/21 at 7:31pm
It’ll be interesting to see when other shows follow their decision. Other producers will need to do the same calculation and decide how much they want to risk depending on a public coming out of a depression to pay an inappropriate amount of money on a luxury and expose themselves to a deadly variant during flu season.
This is not the only show that would have bled money, they’re just the first ones to be realistic.
West Side Story???#73
Posted: 8/9/21 at 7:34pm
Someone in a Tree2 said: "Not having this show come back is huge loss for the theater-going public, period."
Upon reflection, your comment deserves two thumbs-up, not just the one I previously gave you. Period.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
West Side Story???#74
Posted: 8/9/21 at 7:41pm
This is not the only show that would have bled money, they’re just the first ones to be realistic.
Great comment, they knew they would never recoup so they made the right decision.
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