What's Next For The Imperial?- Page 4

[Dirty Rotten Scoundrel]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 10:10am

Just saying: The music that I have heard from High Fidelity (6 songs or so from the Norbert Leo Butz/Sherie Rene Scott/Julia Murney demo) is awesome. I'm really excited for this musical. Does that mean that it's going to be sold out every night or any night for that matter? Probably not. But I'm still excited and am posting this. Buahahaha; AND I'll see it so that I can tell Matt Caplan how incredible his solo CD is without tons of RENT fans mobbing him (I hope).

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 12:06pm

I think people are overestimating the staying power of the LES MIZ revival. I think an extension of the six month engagement is entirely possible, but I don't think it is Cameron Mac's intention to somehow dupe the public by turning a "limited special return engagament" into another 5 year revival.

People aren't that sentimental...

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 12:59pm

I don't know if Billy Elliot is coming to the States. After Lestat...

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 1:07pm

BILLY ELLIOT is already an established hit.

Not like LESTAT which recieved abismal reviews.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 1:08pm

I think that you are mistaken by putting Billy Elliot and Lestat on the same plane. I wouldn't try to compare the two, considering one of the two has a pretty good success currently going on while the other one just came and went.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 2:26pm

I think Billy Elliot is sort of like taking Avenue Q and putting it in London. Q is something so American that it's sort of hard to grasp unless you know a lot about the country, etc. Billy Elliot I feel is the same way. It is so incredibly British that American audiences might not grasp it. Granted, the movie was a minor hit here, and with great reviews and Elton John, I think it could be a hit.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 2:35pm

Who's Will Chase?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 2:37pm

I think Billy Elliot is sort of like taking Avenue Q and putting it in London.

AVENUE Q is in London and I hear it's doing great.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 2:45pm

Well, then that's good.

Will Chase is an actor.

[jv92]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 2:54pm

I personally would love to see Curtains at the Imperial. It's such a great musical comedy house. However, I'm pretty sure High Fidelity will play the Imperial. I do hope Curtains comes in this season though.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 3:04pm

I have always agreed with that Bobbybubby.

[broadwayguy4]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 3:27pm

The Music Box would be a perfect space for High Fidelity. Imperial is way too big. I've heard the demo for the show, and it sounds terrible. I liked the movie, but mostly because of Jack Black performance. The lead character is detestable, even though it was played by John Cusack who is in essence the kind of guy that you want to like. And he couldn't make that guy likeable.

[QMAN03]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 5:12pm

Why does Curtains (a great show by the way. Just saw it) want to go into a theatre that is already occupied when they can just take an open theatre like the longacre, music box or belasco?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 5:15pm

I would love to see CURTAINS in the Belasco.

It's such a dark old theatre. Perfect for a comical murder mystery musical.

Posted: 8/18/06 at 5:18pm

As a rule, shows doen't do well in the few theatres on cross streets East side of 7th Avenue.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 5:41pm

The Music Box is already booked with David Hare's new play starring Julianne Moore.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 5:56pm

I don't see how HIGH FIDELITY will be a commercial hit unless they get a TV/movie star to do the show on Broadway.

As for Billy Elliot, the show has to be completely REVAMPED for Broadway. Even if you don't account for the the dialect and the historical background that Americans won't understand, the show still needs revamping for the US. The UK show has a relatively big orchestra and has a huge cast. The cast will have to be significantly trimmed for Broadway and the music re-orchestrated for less instruments. That's simple economics my friends.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 5:56pm

I don't see how HIGH FIDELITY will be a commercial hit unless they get a TV/movie star to do the show on Broadway.

As for Billy Elliot, the show has to be completely REVAMPED for Broadway. Even if you don't account for the the dialect and the historical background that Americans won't understand, the show still needs revamping for the US. The UK show has a relatively big orchestra and has a huge cast. The cast will have to be significantly trimmed for Broadway and the music re-orchestrated for less instruments. That's simple economics my friends.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 7:47pm

The cast for BILLY ELLIOT is only huge because British Equity/labor laws dictates that all child performers need to be at least triple cast. They won't do that for New York.

I saw the show in London last month and don't think it needs much revamping for American audiences at all. I know nothing about the mine strikes in Northern England in the 1980s and I was able to follow the story just fine. It's simply great musical theatre.

The orchestra in London was also only ten pieces. They would actually probably have to contract MORE musicians to meet the union minimum for the Imperial Theatre.

[Julian2]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 8:33pm

I'm all for Curtains asap.
I would love for it to take the Imperial and open before Febuary (thats when I'm probably going) Not likely, I know, but I can dream.
Also, has anyone else noticed that K/E's great succeses are all one word c-started titles? Cabaret, Chicago? Could Curtains be the third crown jewel in the K/E crown? ooooo . . .

[loverly]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 8:53pm

Julian2, you are so silly. :)

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 8:57pm

that's actually a really good point!!!
interesting...

[little_sally]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 9:25pm

I can't wait for Curtains, and I wish it were going into the Imperial. I want to see it now! I don't want to wait until spring.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 9:27pm

yeah, i seriously rather see CURTAINS than HIGH FIDELITY...

[coolphantom919]

Posted: 8/18/06 at 9:53pm

HIGH FIDELITY