Who chooses Revivals?
Who chooses Revivals?
Stand-by Joined: 6/21/04
Who chooses Revivals?#0
Posted: 6/28/04 at 1:38pmJust a curiosity question -- Who is that decides what shows should get revived? Is it the authors of the show? Or producers? I've never really thought about it before, but I'm a bit curious.....Thanks.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
re: Who chooses Revivals?#2
Posted: 6/28/04 at 1:46pmAn author may "decide" it, but then would need to find producers to actually fund and run it.
Stand-by Joined: 6/21/04
re: Who chooses Revivals?#3
Posted: 6/28/04 at 1:47pmThanks. Sorry if it was a dumb question, I was just curious.
re: Who chooses Revivals?#4
Posted: 6/28/04 at 1:51pm
Producers decide such things -- they're the folks who can come up with the $5-10 million needed to mount a show, so obviously they get to choose. Some revivals originate at large not-for-profits such as Roundabout -- Assassins, Cabaret, the upcoming Pacific Overtures -- so in that case it's up to Todd Haimes, the artistic director, to decide what shows to do each season (contingent upon approval by his board, that actually finances each production out of the theatre's coffers). Some revivals have originated at Encores -- Chicago, Wonderful Town -- and commercial producers will then come in to provide the money for the full commercial production.
Occasionally an established writer or composer can push for a revival of one of his works to be done and use his contacts to see the project come to fruition (Albee is the main reason there will be a revival of his "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" later this season, and he's personally overseeing the casting) but it's still up to the folks with the money to say yes.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/03
re: Who chooses Revivals?#5
Posted: 6/28/04 at 2:08pm
There are any number of revivals where everybody asks "Who wanted to see this show again?" This question often translates to: "What were they thinking?"
Seriously in the last few years we have had a lot of commercial productions of plays that there has been no audience groundswell, no public outcry clamboring to see again. Usually they are plays. The Elephant Man, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Jumpers come immediately to mind.
Producers who ultimately go and find the money to get the shows up ought to ask themselves this basic question before they continue.
Then again sometimes the decision pays off. Who knew that A Raisin in the Sun would get such a bang-up production and be a financial success?
re: Who chooses Revivals?#6
Posted: 6/28/04 at 6:08pmThank you MargoChanning. You always have the info on everything. Updated On: 6/28/04 at 06:08 PM
Stand-by Joined: 6/21/04
re: Who chooses Revivals?#7
Posted: 6/28/04 at 10:50pmThanks everyone. That was real informative. And I used to think I knew a lot about musical theatre. Hah! I have so much to learn...
Stand-by Joined: 6/21/04
re: Who chooses Revivals?#8
Posted: 6/28/04 at 10:51pmActually, I'm going to qualify that last post. I suppose I can still say I know quite a bit about musical theatre in general, it's just the gossip/business aspects of it that I have a lot to learn about.
re: Who chooses Revivals?#9
Posted: 6/28/04 at 10:57pm
This was a very interesting thread. I figured folks with the bucks had sway but how the germ of the idea comes to fruition is interesting.
Patrick Wilson Fans --New "UnOfficial Fan Site". Come check us out!
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
re: Who chooses Revivals?#10
Posted: 6/29/04 at 11:34pm
I wish they'd revive CARRIE!
Videos
