the Belasco Theatre
the Belasco Theatre
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#1the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 8:39amWhy is it that Hardly nothing plays at the Belasco. When Dracula played there and closed it was dark for the longest time till Ceaser came in there. And it was the same thing with Ceaser closing and Awake and Sing opening up. between Ceaser and Awake and sing it was also closed for the longest time. I don't understand why that is with this theatre. I know that there are tons of productions looking to open up on Broadway. yet, it seems to me that none of them ever look at the Belasco as a choice. Why is it that the Belasco stays dark for a long time longer than any other theatre on Boradway?
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
#1re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 8:58amit's the farthest theatre away from Broadway so it's not necessarily a "hot spot" theatre. unfortunately, the distance is a problem
#2re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 9:23am
The distance really is the problem.
The only shows that should be booked there are the ones that producers know will sell regardless of location (ie: Denzel Washington in JULIUS CAESAR).
Nothing else seems to work there. It's a shame because it's such a gorgeous theatre.
"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde
winston89
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/18/06
#3re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 9:37am
I never really thought of the distance of a theatre was much of a problem since they are all in one general area. I know in London, the loctation of a theatre is a big part of ticket sales because they are all spread out all over the place in the west end. I recall people thinking that London's Guys and Dolls wouldn't do well becauseit is playing in a theatre right behind Picadilly sp? circus and no one ever sees it. But, on times sqare virtually every broadway show is advertiesed and you can see all the broadway theatres.
It still doesn't make sense to me logically that there are producers looking for a theatre for thier show and there is a perfectly good unused house. But, no one takes the Belasco into consideration
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
Updated On: 11/27/06 at 09:37 AM
#4re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 9:42amYou can't see all the Broadway theatres from Times Square.
"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde
#5re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 10:22am
"Nothing else seems to work there. It's a shame because it's such a gorgeous theatre."
Are you referring to the location or the space itself? Because, if it is the latter, I'd just add that I thought FRANKIE AND JOHNNY... and AWAKE AND SING utilized the theatre very well.
I believe JOURNEY'S END has booked The Belasco for a Spring 2007 opening.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
#6re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 1:58pm
Im sure that technically it isnt much further from "Broadway" as the Hirshfield, besides you can see it cause it has a good marquis, but still, distance shouldnt be a prob, im sure if a big name show like phantom or wicked were in there it would do well. I feel that productions dont opt for it because of the stage space, Dracula used the stage well, but there was no orchestra pit (I dont know if that was just for Dracula or if there is no pit in general)
but it is a really nice theatre, very "London" in feeling. It just needs something popular
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27199361@N08/ Phantom at the Royal Empire Theatre
#7re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 2:33pm
Note: The hirschfeld is WEST of Broadway, in seeing distance of The Marquis, The Music Box, The Shoenfeld, The Jacobs, The Golden, The Minskoff, and the Imperial.
I live in NY and can count the number of times I've passed the Belasco on my hands and feet. There's just nothing there making me see it. Whereas if I see many other shows, it's right there.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#9re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 2:54pm
'Twas in the pit.
And the theater itself isn't visible from any of the streets that are associated with Broadway, just like the Lyceum (I believe it's the Lyceum....either that or the Longacre....I get the 2 confused.)
#10re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 3:02pmIt's the same distanc the Al Hischfeld is from Times Square, just the opposite direction.
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#11re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 3:04pmOh, they said there was no pit, so me was confused.
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#12re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 3:13pmAnd let's not forget "Rocky Horror" played there in 75 and did poorly as well....
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#13re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 3:24pm
Ok well there was a pit, but it was under the stage and totally covered, unlike regular pits where the top was opened to the auditorium, so the top of the pit made an apron for the stage.
i totally forgot about that cause i remember the director sticking his head out of a trap door telling the audience to expect problems cause it was a preview.
I think i got it confused with J&H whose orchestra was onstage up in the flies to the left and right.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27199361@N08/ Phantom at the Royal Empire Theatre
#14re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 3:28pmAlso, the Belasco is haunted! lol. So only if the theatre ghosts allow a show there, will it play. Also, if they are unhappy with a show, they will demand its close! hehehe.
...What happened next, was stranger still, a woman breathless and afraid, appeared out of the night, completely dressed in white. She had a secret she would tell, of one who had mistreated her. Her face and frightened gaze, my mind cannot erase...But then she ran from view. She looked so much like you...
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#15re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 3:30pm
The conductor of Dracula was always visible.
The difference between the Hirschfeld and the Belcaso is that the Hirchfeld doesn't have Toys R Us blocking it and has a huge marquee.
Another Belasco problem is that the Balcony is completely cut off from the theater and requires a separate entrance. Turns a lot of people off.
Updated On: 11/27/06 at 03:30 PM
#16re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 3:35pmI think The Phoenix Theatre in London has a seperate entrance for the Upper Circle, which becomes a bit tricky.
...What happened next, was stranger still, a woman breathless and afraid, appeared out of the night, completely dressed in white. She had a secret she would tell, of one who had mistreated her. Her face and frightened gaze, my mind cannot erase...But then she ran from view. She looked so much like you...
#17re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 3:35pmYes, but DRSislove, it doesn't have seven theatres with 1500 people a piece seeing it 8 times a week.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird
purpleprince101
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
tourboi
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/15/05
#19re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 3:38pm
It's certainly sad. I love the Balasco!
It, like the Cort, is just on the wrong side of Broadway.
millie_dillmount
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/04
#20re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 3:40pmI didn't find distance that much of a problem with the Al Hirschfeld.
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
lisa902652
Stand-by Joined: 4/10/05
#21re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 4:09pmAnother problem is they have the worst staff there. Just plain rude and condescending. I dont like going there.
Smaxie
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/26/05
#22re: the Belasco Theatre
Posted: 11/27/06 at 4:14pm
The Belasco's sign, and chaser light marquee is quite visible from Broadway. At night, it's no trouble finding it, but it's not exactly high profile during the day.
A big problem for the Belasco is that in addition to the balcony with a seperate entrance, it has a relatively small orchestra level, so the number of prime locations for a producer to sell at top price is extremely limited.
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.
Videos