What Next For The Majestic?- Page 5

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 2/19/24 at 3:50pm

hearthemsing22 said: "In an ideal world- if Phantom did come back, where would you place it?"

If it was exactly the same production as the one that closed, I actually think it would be beautiful in the Lyceum. The Lyceum has a sort of Rococo-feel that reminds me of the Il Muto scene. Of course, the Lyceum is in desperate need of a renovation but it has beautiful bones.

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 2/19/24 at 6:16pm

hearthemsing22 said: "FANtomFollies said: "I feel like I remember someone on the boards saying they won't bring Phantom back to the Majestic because they can't downsize the orchestra there due to the size of the house (union rules?). I could be wrong but I feel like I remember something like that being said."

In an ideal world- if Phantom did come back, where would you place it?"

If they were to bring the cheaper version over from London (which I hope they don't), they should put it in the Broadway theatre. The Shuberts have had a hard time filling that space. I think once they renovate it and fix the seating configuration problems in the mezzanine, they could totally house Phantom there. Then they can have an extended run there. Now that I think of it, I wonder if they could replace the giant chandelier in there and use that spot for Phantom's chandelier to rise and fall from that position night after night. 

[AKarp2013]

Posted: 2/19/24 at 6:53pm

I'm in the minority that actually really likes the Broadway Theater despite its horrendous rear mezzanine. The Shuberts would be wise to cut the rear mezz completely in half, eliminating 400 seats and turn it into an upper lobby of some kind.

I think the downsized version of Phantom that's currently playing in London could actually fit into the Broadway quite nicely. Will they do it? One never knows and I'm not good at speculating what Macintosh's plans are. It'll be back on Broadway in the not-too-distant future I'm sure. Where and when is anyone's guess.

Weren't there also rumblings of Phantom going into the Imperial or the Belasco?

Updated On: 2/19/24 at 06:53 PM

[jackkelly2024]

Posted: 2/22/24 at 12:17pm

I did hear the Belasco but I find it hard to believe given the prominence of the show. The interior also does not match the gilded opulence of the show's setting. 

 

On a sidenote, does anyone who received the Shubert insider pics/found that ig post of the renovated interior mind sharing here? The theater looks gorgeous. 

[Anastasia_Beaverhausen]

Posted: 3/9/24 at 5:50pm

Just saw this pic on the Forgotten Musicals Facebook group. Can't wait to see this theater complete! Sorry for the link, can't get the image to load....

Majestic

 

Updated On: 3/9/24 at 05:50 PM

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 3/9/24 at 8:16pm

Wow! It almost looks unrecognizable from what we have been used to for almost 40 years. Looks absolutely Beautiful! Also happy to see the original chandelier return. Still blows my mind that it sat in the rafters in a plastic bag for that long! 

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 3/10/24 at 12:35am

What we have to remember about theaters and Phantom is reason why the Majestic was chosen in the first place. The Shuberts agreed to structurally change the building, including using explosives to blow up the solid rock below the stage to fit the candelabras. That was 1986/1987, so who knows, maybe there are more theaters now that have stages that go deeper in the ground. For example, the Imperial had quite a high set piece from Billy Eliot that went down into the trap room so maybe it would be an option now. But since the new London show is so much smaller and cheaper maybe they could get it to fit somewhere else. On the tours, the candelabras just tracked in from the sides so I wouldn't put it past CamMack to try that with a new production on Broadway. 

Here's another pic of the front of the theater, the former lobby.

https://imgur.com/a/XOofSPk

Updated On: 3/11/24 at 12:35 AM

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 3/10/24 at 8:54am

Phantom4ever said: "By the way, here's a picture of the Majestic Theater lobby with what looks like a ghost sign that says "the theater lovers". I wonder if anyone can find an old pic of the theater as to when this sign dates from. Wouldn't it be cool if it were from Music Man or South Pacific?"

Can you try to post the picture again? I don't see anything :(

 

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 3/10/24 at 11:27am

I'm sorry! I can't figure out how to post a pic on here. I know I did it before with just copy and paste but it's not working. I'll keep trying.

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 3/10/24 at 1:09pm

Phantom4ever said: "I'm sorry! I can't figure out how to post a pic on here. I know I did it before with just copy and paste but it's not working. I'll keep trying."

I don't know if it's 'the right way' but I usually make a link by uploading a picture to Imgur.com then opening the image in a new tab, and copying the link from there.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 3/10/24 at 10:17pm

FWIW, Sweatyoracle is reporting that Stranger Things is going into the Majestic

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/11/24 at 9:40am

Seems to big but okay. 

[Smaxie]

Posted: 3/11/24 at 9:55am

RippedMan said: "Seems to big but okay."

In London, Stranger Things has a cast of 35 and it is a pretty elaborate physical production. It could certainly use the size and wing space of a musical house. 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 3/11/24 at 10:01am

Phantom4ever said: "By the way, here's a picture of the Majestic Theater lobby with what looks like a ghost sign that says "the theater lovers". I wonder if anyone can find an old pic of the theater as to when this sign dates from. Wouldn't it be cool if it were from Music Man or South Pacific?

https://imgur.com/a/XOofSPk"

That "ghost sign" is a watermark that says "@The_THEATER_LOVERS," which is a social media account. The pic is new, since you can the marquee of A Beautiful Noise and an Aladdin banner in the background.

 

Updated On: 3/11/24 at 10:01 AM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/11/24 at 10:19am

Smaxie said: "RippedMan said: "Seems to big but okay."

In London, Stranger Things has a cast of 35 and it is a pretty elaborate physical production. It could certainly use the size and wing space of a musical house."

But it's playing a relatively small house - about 1000 seats. And the Majestic is 1600. It is a big show, but they've made it work in a smaller place before. Plus, smaller place means higher ticket price, more demand, etc. It also uses a lot of split space - meaning like the set is kind of two stories sometimes, so I think they'd want as many full view tickets as possible. 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 3/11/24 at 11:12am

RippedMan said: "But it's playing a relatively small house - about 1000 seats. And the Majestic is 1600. It is a big show, but they've made it work in a smaller place before. Plus, smaller place means higher ticket price, more demand, etc. It also uses a lot of split space - meaning like the set is kind of two stories sometimes, so I think they'd want as many full view tickets as possible."

Shows also cost a great deal more to produce in NYC than in London. 1000 seats for a cast of 35 would be economically difficult. Stranger Things is a huge brand. Not sure if it has the power of Harry Potter, but it's not out of the realm of possibility that this packs them in on Broadway in a house that's on the larger side like The Majestic or Broadway.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/11/24 at 11:30am

No I get that. Just saying they didn't seem to care in London. I think it'll be a hit regardless. 

[Varun Gangawane]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 2:43pm

Phantom might extend or a new show could take its place. If there's a change, it might mean a revamp for the theater.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 2:50pm

Varun Gangawane said: "Phantom might extend or a new show could take its place. If there's a change, it might mean a revamp for the theater."

Phantom has been closed for almost a year and the theatre has been undergoing a massive renovation and refurbishment since then.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 3:00pm

It took a year to refurbish the Winter Garden Theatre back to traditional seating and a proscenium stage back in 2000 when CATS closed after an 18 year run. MAMMA MIA! was the musical that reopened the newly refurbished Winter Garden in 2001.

[Sammy232]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 3:16pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "It took a year to refurbish the Winter Garden Theatre back to traditional seating and a proscenium stage back in 2000 when CATS closed after an 18 year run. MAMMA MIA! was the musical that reopened the newly refurbished Winter Garden in 2001.

"

I think the theater owner can make things happen more quickly if there is a tenant pending - look at the Broadway, it's already been put back together post Here Lies Love. That closed around Thanksgiving?

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 3/14/24 at 4:23pm

Sammy232 said: "BrodyFosse123 said: "It took a year to refurbish the Winter Garden Theatre back to traditional seating and a proscenium stage back in 2000 when CATS closed after an 18 year run. MAMMA MIA! was the musical that reopened the newly refurbished Winter Garden in 2001.

"

I think the theater owner can make things happen more quickly if there is a tenant pending - look at the Broadway, it's already been put back together post Here Lies Love. That closed around Thanksgiving?"

Yes, however the Majestic is getting a complete restoration of the auditorium, lobby, restrooms and exterior. It's a much more involved job that what the Broadway needed.

 

[TheaterBoy7777]

Posted: 3/21/24 at 12:41pm

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 3/21/24 at 2:30pm

Thanks for the photos - progress on the exterior seems to be much much slower than the interior, but I'm thinking that will pick up soon with the weather getting warmer. 

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 4/19/24 at 4:46pm