Theater turnover - Page 2

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 2/19/17 at 5:31pm

 Some of the theaters in New York that have sat empty for six months or longer have done so because of renovation work inside.  Others have sat empty for periods of time because producers have a "hold "on the space but perhaps are still raising money for the production they are bringing in. Depending on the deal with the theater owner, they still may be paying rent while the theater is empty. And sometimes it's just a matter of timing. If say "In Transit" closed next week at Circle in the Square, you would unlikely see anything open there much before the summer because it's too late in the season to open another production by the Tony deadline.

 

But regardless of whether there is a tenant or not, almost every theater has a list of productions waiting in the wings trying to get in. The days of a theater sitting empty for five years because nobody wants it are long gone.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/19/17 at 7:52pm

I have no idea what some of you think you are saying because it is nonsense. One does not have to have physically loaded in a Broadway show (I promise I have never loaded in so much as a paper clip) to be well aware of the challenging logistics vis-a-vis most tours. Forgetting contracts and the like, most Broadway theatres are loaded in manually off relatively small trucks, from the street, in tightly permitted traffic lanes and across public sidewalks, often into the lobbies or seating areas of the house, and with no storage space or staging areas once inside.Without even getting into any of the more nuanced differences, these major (and time-consuming) differences are things that even a casual observer would be aware of if they applied their brain to the question. That, of course, seems to be a lot to ask for around here some times. 

[trpguyy]

Posted: 2/19/17 at 8:18pm

Miss Saigon, which was built to tour and move in 12 hours, just took us over three weeks to load in. 

FOH cable pulls in the Neil Simon take 6 stagehands approximately 4 hours, whereas virtually any road house would take 20-25 minutes. 

Generaly speaking, tours are "all about the loadout." Everything is temporary. Broadway is the exact opposite. Everything is an installation. It takes a lot of time. And all of that is separate from the very different politics. 

 

EDIT: while I wasn't personally involved with this one, we can use the Motown return engagement as another exhibit. It was a compete tour package that had been moving across the county for years. A well-oiled machine by the time it toured into the Nederlander, and that was still a week+ loadin. 

Updated On: 2/19/17 at 08:18 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/19/17 at 8:26pm

PT, no post in this thread contradicts what I have said (nor could it).People have mentioned their experience either on the road or perhaps in a regional theatre, which is, as I said, apples and oranges. There is no reason you should need a curriculum vitae to be aware of how Broadway loadins at the typical Broadway theatres proceed because, if as you say, you are in the theatre district regularly, you would have to be unconscious not to be aware of the basics. Beyond all that, the preponderance of the posts since my first one have been from a bunch of chihuahuas. 

[A Director]

Posted: 2/19/17 at 11:40pm

HogansHero - Excuse us for living!  Everyone doesn't have your vast knowledge about theatre in New York City.  Do you have any knowledge about loading in a show at different theatre around the country?

Hold on tight so you don't fall off your high horse.  HogansHero - FU!

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/20/17 at 2:04am

@A Director, if you look at my first post in this thread (#1 you'll see I couldn't have been nicer. Then this stampede of chihuahuas inflict themselves on the thread, adding nothing and subtracting plenty. 

This thread asked a question about Broadway. Not NY theatre. Not tours, Not regional. Not Australian. Not community theatre. There is an actual, factual answer to that question. And when people who don't know that answer-no fault in that-post about something that happens elsewhere, it's simply wrong. What you are asking me to do is ignore that, and let folks who legitimately want to know something get led astray. Sorry but I am not gonna do that. But what I am going to do is tell you that you are out of line. (IMHO)

@PT Like everyone else, you can listen to whatever you want. As can others, including the many people who consider themselves someone even though you are calling them no one. You came into my consciousness spouting incorrect information about something, and I called you on it. And you know it. It's really pretty simple: don't want me to tell you that you are wrong? Don't post incorrect answers to questions. And one more thing you are incorrect about: I never promised to do anything with you. 

[carnzee]

Posted: 2/20/17 at 2:21am

I appreciate your contributions to this board, Hogan. I for one DO listen to you.