What goes on with the Lucille Lortel?

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 2:22pm

Is this theatre still working?  It looks abandoned as the marquee has been totally empty for years.  What gives?

[Alex M]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 2:24pm

Colin Quinn has a show there right now. I walk past the theatre all the time, I think they were just doing some (needed) renovations that stretched way longer than expected.

Updated On: 1/23/23 at 02:24 PM

[little_sally]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 2:24pm

Colin Quinn's latest show, Small Talk, is currently playing there. It looks like there's been some updating inside the theater as well.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 2:45pm

That's so crazy because it literally looks abandoned.  Why don't they at least have anything on the marquee?  It's all blank.

[Alex M]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 2:47pm

When was the last time you walked by? I was over there last week and there was a sign up for the show.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 2:49pm

Broadway Flash said: "That's so crazy because it literally looks abandoned. Why don't they at least have anything on the marquee? It's all blank."

 

There is signage and window cards on the front of house.  Marquees are expensive --- and not worth the cost of creating and installing them for shows that only run a month or two.  There's not a lot of walk-in business over there. 

 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 3:31pm

Is this the first show theyve had there in a while?

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 3:34pm

They do have a marquee with changeable letters that usually will have the show name and dates. Not sure if OP is ignoring that and expecting something more elaborate or if they’ve really left it blank, but there is a marquee there (unless it’s been damaged and/or removed for some reason, it’s been a while since I’ve worked/seen a show there)

[JoeW4]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 3:54pm

According to IOBDB, the theatre was empty for a full year prior to Colin Quinn's current show - so yeah actually, that IS pretty unusual. I'd be curious to know why that was, but I guess the important thing is that they're back in action.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 3:57pm

I pass the theatre somewhat often and haven't seen anything on the marquee in a while.  I'm wandering if this play Small Talk is the first thing they've had in there in some years.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 3:59pm

JoeW4 said: "According to IOBDB, the theatre was empty for a full year prior to Colin Quinn's current show - so yeah actually, that IS pretty unusual. I'd be curious to know why that was, but I guess the important thing is that they're back in action."

 

They actually haven't been empty all that time.  They do quite a few1-2 nighter rentals (that wouldn't be listed on IODBD) -- including being one of the venues for the New York Comedy Festival.

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 4:22pm

an interesting nugget: https://regionalcouncils.ny.gov/cfa/project/258795

 

curious as to why there's been no further public announcement about this...

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 1/28/23 at 8:24pm

I was at Lortel for today's matinee. The marquee is up listing the show dates, with signage and window cards out front as well. The theater certainly doesn't look abandoned. It's a very nice space, my one quibble (as with most New York theaters) is there aren't enough bathrooms.

PS the show is classic Colin Quinn, if you're a fan of his you'll have a great time. The 75 minutes flew by.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 1/28/23 at 9:38pm

Isn’t that where Kate’s one woman show was? 

[JoeW4]

Posted: 1/28/23 at 11:02pm

SouthernCakes said: "Isn’t that where Kate’s one woman show was?"

 

No, Kate’s show is at the Connelly

[JSquared2]

Posted: 1/29/23 at 12:24pm

SouthernCakes said: "Isn’t that where Kate’s one woman show was?"

 

Are we supposed to guess who "Kate" is?

Winslet

Middleton

Hudson

McKinnon

Jackson

Buah

Hepburn

Smith

 

Any of the above??

[Alex M]

Posted: 1/29/23 at 2:13pm

JSquared2 said: "SouthernCakes said: "Isn’t that where Kate’s one woman show was?"



Are we supposed to guess who "Kate" is?

Winslet

Middleton

Hudson

McKinnon

Jackson

Buah

Hepburn

Smith



Any of the above??"

get a life

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 1/29/23 at 3:17pm

JoeW4 said: "SouthernCakes said: "Isn’t that where Kate’s one woman show was?"



No, Kate’s show is at the Connelly"

Oh! Thanks! There are so many good spaces downtown it’s nice to see them getting some commercial tenants. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 1/29/23 at 3:56pm

Kate 
The queen of bone-piercing absurdist social satire, Kate Berlant—a comedian's comedian whom you might recognize from her appearances on such cult faves as The Characters and Search Party—returns to NYC with a multicharacter solo comedy show. Bo Burnham (Inside), who has long cited Berlant as an influence on his work, directs this limited theatrical run.
https://www.timeout.com/newyork/theater/kate

Updated On: 1/29/23 at 03:56 PM

[Jumpin_J]

Posted: 2/1/23 at 7:27pm

Here's the main issue with the Lortel. It's a not for profit venue. This is why a majority of shows that play there are from other NFP theaters such as Red Bull Theater and Manhattan Class Company. There's very little incentive for any other type of show to take out rent to produce there as there are severe restrictions on who can put on shows in the Lortel.