Young Frankenstein to take the Hilton?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 6:33am

Boy, that would be a kiss of death. No pun intended....

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04182007/entertainment/theater/shiver_her_timbers_theater_michael_riedel.htm

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 6:39am

But didn't they already say they booked the St. James? I'd rather see it at the St. James anyway.

[Broadwayfanatic2]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 7:49am

NathanLaneStalker- Did you read the article?

It had been announced that "Young Frankenstein" was booked into the St. James, which will be vacant next week with the closing Sunday of "The Producers."

But, according to theater sources, Brooks is having trouble making a deal with Jujamcyn Theaters, which owns the St. James. And he's said to be extremely annoyed with the company's executives, who, he's heard, have been badmouthing "Young Frankenstein" all over town. (Insiders say the badmouthing probably stems from the fact that Brooks didn't cut them in as co-producers of the show.)

[...]

Still, sources insist that if he can't strike a deal for the St. James, Brooks will go to the Hilton.

And those poor little Pirate Queens will be forced to walk the plank.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 7:55am

I didn't read the whole article. I hardly ever read Riedel's articles. I know I will always be pissed by the time I'm finished with them. He's so full of ****. I could post countless links of articles that he writes that are just rumors or complete lies.

I doubt this is true. Remember the Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick rumor he spread and countless others. I won't beleive it unless I hear it come from Mel Brooks himself.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 9:22am

If Brooks and Stroman want it, PQ will close. It's that simple. I kinda hope that happens. I'd love to see a Mel Brooks show go down in flames. (Bitter much? Yeah....see any of my posts on The Full Monty)

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 9:31am

NLS - he's a gossip columnist. What the hell do you expect?

PS: Riedel's more often true than he is false.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 9:33am

This whole thing really makes me angry. Yes Pirate Queen didn't get very good reviews and yes it is not the best show on Broadway this season. But thsoe cast members are working their asses of. Like the article said, the grosses are going up and up every week. This is the type of show that doesn't succeed or fail based solely on reviews. I really think people need to stop saying it will flop that quickly. I assure you, it will not recoup, that is obvious. But, I for one personally have faith that this show could stay open until at least the end of the year if not a little longer. As for Stroman and Co. in the article, I think that's just plain rude, Tony winning director or not. I really hope Pirate Queen starts doing really well and stays open just to keep Frankenstein out. I also hope the deal with the St. James doesn't work out so Brooks can't open it there either. I would love to see him out on the curb, begging for someone to give him a theatre. That would be a reality check.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 9:34am

I hear what you're saying, but whatever Stro and Brooks want.....

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 9:36am

yeah, like they wanted the Flop Movie of THE PRODUCERS.
I agree, it was a very rude move and an insult to those Hard working Pirates.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 9:40am

Boy, such vindictive dialogue. You'd think they murdered someone.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 9:42am

Boy, such vindictive dialogue. You'd think they murdered someone.

Not someone, Yankee. Something. They murdered their spirit. OK, corniness over.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 9:43am

Stro and Brooks do not have the ability to kick a show that's selling well out of a theater. If they are so all-powerful why couldn't they keep the "best show in the history of Broadway" running longer than 6 years?

Pirate Queen's fate remains to be seen, but it is selling well so far. Reviews and internet message-board posts don't matter to this show's target audience.

I also don't think McColgan and Doherty are that concerned with recouping on Broadway. They put their own money in, it's not like there are a bunch of nervous investors wondering if they're ever going to get their $200,000 back. It's obvious that the goal here is to create another Riverdance type franchise that can tour the world endlessly. If they can manage to do that, losing a few million on Broadway will hardly matter.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 10:12am

it is sort of ridiculous that a director and a writer could push a show out of its theatre... not that I don't believe for a second that it couldn't happen, but could they please at least wait for the CD to be released... bastards.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 10:24am

I also hope the deal with the St. James doesn't work out so Brooks can't open it there either. I would love to see him out on the curb, begging for someone to give him a theatre. That would be a reality check.

Now you're the one that needs a reality check, dear. Any theatre owner would sell their first born to house the newest show from the creators of the winner of the most Tony Awards in history. I don't forsee Brooks out on any curb begging anyone to lease him their theatre for YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. As for taking THE PIRATE QUEEN from the Hilton, that remains to be seen, but it's obvious that any theatre owner would much rather have YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN on their marquee and their lease than the panned, ill-fated PIRATE QUEEN.

Once the Tony Nominations come out, I think THE PIRATE QUEEN folks will be the ones getting a reality check.

Updated On: 4/18/07 at 10:24 AM

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 10:28am

I wasn't saying it WOULD happen Foster. I am smarter than that. I am just saying that's what I wish would happen because Mel Brooks is a jerk. Do you have to undermine everyone, really?

[leeinlondon]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 10:32am

"Riedel's more often true than he is false."

As one Broadway lyricist once said to me "Riedel is always right, God knows how he gets his information".

Even when he is right people try to play down his comments as untrue... well they would now wouldn't they !

[D2]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 10:32am

Mel Brooks is a jerk with an amazing career, an amazing body of work and a place in the entertainment world any one of us would give their eyeteeth to have.

Show your disgust by not buying a ticket to YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, wherever it is playing. That'll show 'em.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 10:43am

I am just saying that's what I wish would happen because Mel Brooks is a jerk.

Have you met Mr. Brooks personally? I don't know why you would think he is a jerk. Just because he is successful and that the theatre community would rather see his show than the garbage that is THE PIRATE QUEEN? You sound bitter, perhaps jealous? I think it's a bit out of line to call Mel Brooks a jerk unless you know him personally.

Updated On: 4/18/07 at 10:43 AM

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 10:43am

Yes, I know he has an amazing career. I am not saying he isn't successful. I am saying that he shouldn't treat everyone else around him like crap. JESUS! You people are unbelievable.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 10:45am

You still haven't provided proof for your insults. How has he treated everyone else around him like crap, as you say?

[D2]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 10:46am

We're unbelievable?

I'd respond much more succinctly if I weren't laughing so hard.

Updated On: 4/18/07 at 10:46 AM

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 10:54am

Whatever, I can't think of anything specific at the moment, but I know I have heard several stories about how Mel Brooks' greed has created several situations where people have felt personally offended or attacked. There was a story in the New York times about a year ago that I remember reading. I think it had to do with the London run of the Producers. Don't remember though. Regardless, you can't possibly think that what Susan Stroman did by walking into the theatre with everyone there was professional. That is the issue at hand.

EDIT: As for being bitter or jealous Foster, that's simply stupid. Of all the people in the theatre community that I would be jealous of, Mel Brooks is not one of them. Updated On: 4/18/07 at 10:54 AM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 11:14am

Well the reality is that THE PIRATE QUEEN probably won't last through the end of the summer. Some other musical is going to take the Hilton - and frankly, Mel Brooks and Stro would make a lot more money on YF at that bigger theatre than at the St. James - particularly if they are anticipating another PRODUCERS scenario in which the show is really only a total sell out for the first year or so with the original leads...

I actually think THE PIRATE QUEEN will suffer the almost exact same fate as THE WOMAN IN WHITE, which sold well for about the first month and than quickly fell into a slump. The theatre owner wanted DROWSY CHAPERONE to open on Broadway before the end of the award season - so he gave WHITE the boot.

Of course they can do that. And after all their previous tenants, the Hilton desperately needs a show that will not close in 18 months at a total financial loss
Updated On: 4/18/07 at 11:14 AM

[bjh2114]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 11:31am

MB, do you really think the PQ number are going to start falling that quickly? Woman in White wasn't really a tourist show, whereas Pirate Queen is being advertised as such. I agree that the theatre totally has the right to and probably will eventually evict PQ, but I don't know if it will be as soon as that.
Updated On: 4/18/07 at 11:31 AM

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 4/18/07 at 11:42am

I love it when people call other people jerks...it's so...hypocritical. Technically, you're being a jerk by insulting someone.

Just food for thought.