Will NT’s Production of The Crucible transfer to Broadway?

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 10:01am

A couple weekends ago, I got to see the West End transfer of The National Theatre’s production of The Crucible and thought it was excellent! Yes, I know it hasn’t been too long since the Crucible was last on Broadway, but this production was just incredible! The scenic design was basic but clever. Especially with the rainfall curtain that’s used before the show and during the interval. Also, the acting from this cast was just superb! I know that NT productions that transfer to Broadway are RARE, but could this one be an exception? Just curious. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 10:31am

I’d love to see it play New York. The last Broadway revival of The Crucible was a major disaster for me.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 10:38am

After the financial failure of SALESMAN last season and Ivo's VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE before that, I don't really see a commercial producer committing to a Miller revival without a couple of big stars in the cast. But who knows!

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 11:09am

TotallyEffed said: "I’d love to see it play New York. The last Broadway revival of The Crucible was a major disaster for me."

I didn’t see the last production but I will take your word for it! As Ermengarde said, it will need a cast with big stars, which is doable. Milly Alcock would help sell tickets, but she needs to deliver more with her performance as Abigail as I was kinda disappointed with her. Also, Brian Gleeson stole the show with his John Proctor! Overall, the staging of this show is just stunning!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 11:11am

I see no reason this particular production would ever transfer here. 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 11:15am

Jordan Catalano said: "I see no reason this particular production would ever transfer here."

I mean, you’re probably right, but I was just curious. Like I said, it’s rare for a NT production to transfer to Broadway. 

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 11:22am

Why are we increasingly relying on the English to direct classic American plays?

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 11:39am

verywellthensigh said: "Why are we increasingly relying on the English to direct classic American plays?"

Maybe it’s because they have better interpretations of these plays! 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 11:39am

I'm not sure anyone is "relying" on them.  Haven't British directors always been keen on working with classic American plays?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 12:42pm

JasonC3 said: "I'm not sure anyone is "relying" on them. Haven't British directors always been keen on working with classic American plays?"

I think the opinion of certain people is that some of the British-director-does-American-play productions should remain in England, not transfer to Broadway (despite rave reviews & awards when some of them transfer here). It rarely happens the other way around. I doubt the British press would be keen on Americans reinventing their classics for British audiences with regularity.

The country of origin doesn't matter to me. The cushion of subsidized theatre is much stronger in the UK, allowing directors more freedom to explore. And the fact that the Brits have a much, much deeper history of plays necessitates reinvention.

But the existing Broadway play model is such that the title is virtually meaningless outside of IP brands. It's all about the star and an overwhelmingly positive critical reception.

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 12:42pm

I adored the last revival, but I get it was mixed reception to say the least. Thought it was perfect. 

[verywellthensigh]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 1:00pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "JasonC3 said: "I'm not sure anyone is "relying" on them. Haven't British directors always been keen on working with classic American plays?"

I think the opinion ofcertainpeople is that some of the British-director-does-American-play productions should remain in England, not transfer to Broadway (despite rave reviews & awards when some of them transfer here). It rarely happens the other way around. I doubt the British press would be keen on Americans reinventing their classics for British audiences with regularity.

The country of origin doesn't matter to me. The cushion of subsidized theatre is much stronger in the UK, allowing directors more freedom to explore. And the fact that the Brits have a much, much deeper history of plays necessitates reinvention.

But the existing Broadway play model is such that the title is virtually meaningless outside of IP brands. It's all about the star and an overwhelmingly positive critical reception."

Who in this thread has an opinion that British-director-does-American-play productions should remain in England?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 2:30pm

verywellthensigh said: "Who in this thread has an opinion that British-director-does-American-play productions should remain in England?"

When did I refer to the thread specifically?

It's a sentiment that has been expressed by critics of Roundabout, by journalists & critics, by people on here, and by other folks in the community: it's the opinion of some people that Broadway holds British directors and British-born productions in higher regard than their American counterparts.

In my own opinion, a good show is a good show and I don't really care where it originated, but the above sentiment has existed for years (particularly since the 1980s with the "British invasion" shows).

[BETTY22]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 2:44pm

Yes please.........

[blaxx]

Posted: 7/7/23 at 11:44pm

BroadwayNYC2 said: "I adored the last revival, but I get it was mixed reception to say the least. Thought it was perfect."

You did?  It was awful.

This production is better but still dry (pun intended) and dull.

[binau]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 3:52am

I assume it’s also not just a conspiracy that Broadway ‘needs’ British productions/directors but also practically having an ‘out of town tryout’ in London, looking at the reviews, sales and coming with a little bit of buzz to NYC etc is probably easier and cheaper than trying to launch things off the ground in the USA. 

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 8:51am

There are WAY more opportunities for directors across the UK.  It's a smaller country and most producers don't have to go way out of the way to view an up-and-comer to file their talent away for later use (I'm sure, say, Kansas City might have some really good directors, but whoever gets to really see them work to get a reputation). There are often tours of established shows with "new" directors reshaping productions.  London itself has many more "professional" opportunities, a lot of West End, fringe and off West End productions don't cost a lot to produce and/or are subsidized.  And a lot of these directors get to cut their teeth on American plays and musicals, allowing them to experiment in ways American audiences don't necessarily allow. I saw the recent Doll's House, & Juliet and upcoming Cabaret revival directors direct fringe and off West End long before they became star directors. Chicago gave us a bunch of talent for the same reason, as New York non-Broadway companies rarely do revivals, and working on classically written pieces, I'm sure, really help with the development of a director.  British directors get to experiment, they get to fail, they get to find their own voice. That's very important.

[BJR]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 8:58am

binau said: "I assume it’s also not just a conspiracy that Broadway ‘needs’ British productions/directors but also practically having an ‘out of town tryout’ in London, looking at the reviews, sales and coming with a little bit of buzz to NYC etc is probably easier and cheaper than trying to launch things off the ground in the USA."

Correct. And also, core Bway play audiences are Anglophiles. There's an unspoken belief in the US that as far as theatre talent goes, it's Brits > New York > everywhere else.

The number of times a British import won Best Play over an American playwright, even a celebrated one. Or a British actor no one knows here wins (or is nominated), but who would likely never be competing with an actor from outside New York with little name recognition, because NY producers would rarely hire such an actor in the first place. Because see above.

And I, for one, wish that production would transfer, as I'm a giant fan of Es Devlin and that set looks incredible.

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 9:00am

As for the West End Crucible, unless it's changed (I saw it at the National) I expected a more current "social justice": production, something that examines the new ethos exemplified in a new play that's making the rounds, John Proctor Is the Villain. Except for casting a non-hunk as John (and I do believe the role's been recast for the West End) it's basically your same old Crucible. With rain. It's not a bad production, but the recent Ivo Broadway version was way more exciting.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/8/23 at 9:44am

Wasn’t it filmed for NTLive at The National? Should be on their streaming platform soon, if it was. 

[teamyali]

Posted: 7/9/23 at 4:22am

Jordan Catalano said: "Wasn’t it filmed for NTLive at The National? Should be on their streaming platform soon, if it was."


Yes, that’s right. It’s with Erin Doherty (aka Princess Anne in The Crown) as Abigail at the National run. 
 

As for NT productions transferring to Broadway, I have more faith that they will bring The Motive and the Cue (directed by Sam Mendes), currently running at the National to rave reviews and sold out performances. It will be in the West End too (at the Noël Coward Theatre) this December 2023 to March 2024. They’re likely to get the 2024-2025 Broadway season, though. 

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/9/23 at 9:44am

teamyali said: "As for NT productions transferring to Broadway, I have more faith that they will bring The Motive and the Cue (directed by Sam Mendes), currently running at the National to rave reviews and sold out performances. It will be in the West End too (at the Noël Coward Theatre) this December 2023 to March 2024. They’re likely to get the 2024-2025 Broadway season, though."

Yes to this. And to Mark Gatniss winning the Tony.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/9/23 at 1:35pm

Our local art cinema shows the Live in HD versions of NT productions on Saturday mornings (with brunch delivered to your seat at the interval). Many times these productions are brilliant (STREETCAR, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF) but their recent OTHELLO was unbearable. I was heading to the city to see CAMELOT when they showed THE CRUCIBLE.

Updated On: 7/9/23 at 01:35 PM

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 7/9/23 at 5:29pm

What about Dear England? will that transfer to new york

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 7/10/23 at 6:12am

Broadway Flash said: "What about Dear England? will that transfer to new york"

It will likely go to the West End first but like I said earlier, Broadway transfers of productions from the National Theatre are rare. I only raised the question about The Crucible because it’s an American classic and thought if it would transfer.