What's next for the Lunt-Fontanne?

This is first time in recent memory (or at least since BEAUTY AND THE BEAST opened there), that we haven't known what the next show going into the Lunt will be prior to the current tenant closing. It's no secret the Lunt is a much in-demand theatre due to its prime location in Times Square, so its sudden (although not completely unexpected) availability is an interesting situation to say the least. We knew MERMAID was taking BEAUTY's place, then knew MERMAID was kicked out for ADDAMS FAMILY, and knew GHOST was taking over after that. Now that the theatre is open, and there are no shows really waiting in the wings to take it, what do you think is next for the Lunt-Fontanne? Regardless I don't think it will sit empty long. We might even see some announcement within the next few weeks. But what show do you believe will claim this theatre next?

My only thoughts of what may be on the horizon:
-INTO THE WOODS transfers (but that's a long way off).

-SCANDALOUS switches from the Neil Simon.

-Disney elects to move NEWSIES (which I think is a bad decision, but it wouldn't surprise me as I'm sure they miss controlling the Lunt like it is the New Amsterdam).

-Disney rushes Aladdin to Broadway (that one is a HUGE long shot, but I'm throwing everything out here).

-Disney's first revival of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST returns home for the rumored limited holiday engagement (even though the holiday revival has been rumored, theres on chance of this happening this late in the game - I just threw this in as a wish).

- A CHRISTMAS STORY switches to a Nederlander contract and books it for the holidays.

Updated On: 7/25/12 at 01:19 AM

Twilight the musical

I still don't get why people are even thinking that Disney would switch theatres for Newsiews.

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I think all the fuss, as previous posters have stated is that for the past 5 years all of the Lunts tenants have been "FORCED" out to make way for a new show. Not to say its tenants were't loosing money, but within hours of a closing notice a new show would announce its plans to open there, and there was often a gaP large enough between the date of the announcement and the actual closing date, to cause everyone to realise it was an eviction rather than a true closing notice.

Beast was close to make way for Mermaid because Disney feared they had over saturated the market...which they did.

When Mermaid closed for Addams Family, many suspected that there would be a theater switcharoo and Poppins would instead close and Mermaid would move into the Amsterdam, since the TLM, was doing better than Poppins. Then peoPle suspected the only reason this plan didn't pan put, was because Mackintosh vetoed the Poppins closing, since he would lose money and Poppins still had life in it.

Addams family then closed for Ghost, and when the tour opened to positive notices, Lippa made clear to note, that he and Addams Family's producers wanted to put the changes into the Broadway production and have critics re-review the show...alla Spiderman 2.0. Sheilds and Reese were willing to remain in the production to make the changes, but the Neaderlanders were forcing them out for Ghost, and it was too expensive to switch theaters.

So with this pattern of "evictions" its weird that Ghost isn't following the pattern.

Mercades - I know it is under a Jujamcyn contract and that is not usually "how things work," but stranger things have happened.

bdn - That's exactly my point. The Lunt is arguably one of the most, if not THE most, in-demand theatre for commercial productions because of its location. As I said, this is the first time in recent memory that no one is sure what is moving in next - leaving the theatre vacant. It's an odd thing for the Lunt.

And I do remember the whole "close POPPINS and keep MERMAID debate," but I think the main problem was that, because the stage at the New Amsterdam is SO much bigger than the Lunt's, an entirely new set for MERMAID would have to have been built for the new specifications (which would cost way too much money). Let's not forget MERMAID was already in huge financial trouble after that lawsuit, too. IN the long run, it looks like keeping POPPINS open proved to be a good move. It wouldn't surprise me if we don't see a revamped MERMAID back on Broadway sooner rather than later though, bc something tells me Disney isn't going to let one of its most precious and adored titles sink away (no pun intended)so easily.

philly - Jekyll & Hyde is a possibility, but I don't see the Lunt remaining dark until April.

Updated On: 7/25/12 at 12:45 PM

BEAUTY was making a million dollars a week when it closed? I don't remember that.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/grosses/BEAUTY-AND-THE-BEAST

Also, I think the CHRISTMAS STORY idea would become more plausible should BRING IT ON extend at the St. James (which doesn't look likely as of now, but things could change after it opens).

I thought ITW was headed to the Hirshfield, if it extends?

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CALLED IT! Looks like they switched contracts after all!

Updated On: 7/26/12 at 05:02 PM