Breaking News: NERDS Postpones Broadway Run

[disneybroadwayfan22]

What an awkward time to cancel the time during a rehearsal! So glad to see the cast's closeness in that picture

[BroadwayNYC2]

Well that sucks. That investor is a witch

Sucks, but it is their money....

[Call_me_jorge]

They seemed so ready. https://instagram.com/p/BCmCSe2FtiM/

[QueenAlice]

Well that's showbiz. And don't be fooled-- Raising money for ALL Broadway shows is a difficult. It's often a game of press your luck, raising money throughout the preview process to reach full capitalization (the real reason why shows often preview for so long: they legally have until opening night to raise capital). And yes it's common to gain and lose different investors during that process.

 

Sounds like the producers rolled the dice on this one, since a theatre was available, that they could get the funding in place in a very short time, but sometimes it just doesn't work out.   And if you lose a major investor, and there isn't time to find another, it can simply be paralyzing.  Doesn't mean it's a crooked situation like Rebeccca. I wish everyone involved good speed.

[RippedMan]

Too bad one of the Hamilton producers can't throw them a couple million to get the show to opening. 

That's awful. 

I was wondering what was going on since there isn't even a marquee up at the theater and they were to start previews in a few weeks. 

[newintown]

"You have to wonder what kind of person the investor is - who withdraws from the process at this point (already in rehearsals) knowing that everyone would then be out of work."

 

It may be a mistake to assume that there actually WAS an investor; this can very well be a case of a team charging ahead, hoping that some buzz might flush out the money they still need. When that doesn't happen, they make up a story about a cold-footed fictional investor.

[neonlightsxo]

"Too bad one of the Hamilton producers can't throw them a couple million to get the show to opening. "

 

Why would they waste their money?

[SmoothLover]

Does anyone have any idea what will be going into the theatre instead?

[neonlightsxo]

newintown said: ""You have to wonder what kind of person the investor is - who withdraws from the process at this point (already in rehearsals) knowing that everyone would then be out of work."

It may be a mistake to assume that there actually WAS an investor; this can very well be a case of a team charging ahead, hoping that some buzz might flush out the money they still need. When that doesn't happen, they make up a story about a cold-footed fictional investor."

 

Indeed. ^^

 

[Kad]

I am extremely sympathetic to the cast and creative team.

But I have to say- this whole production was suspect to me. The extremely late casting, the lack of advertising or meaningful announcements- nothing seemed to indicate this mounting was well-conceived. I don't mean to imply there was anything corrupt.

As for a national tour... I'll believe it when I see it.

[temms]

I agree with the posters suggesting there never was an investor. I suspect the theatre became available, they pounced hoping they could close the gap, but never did. Plenty of shows start rehearsal without all the money in place and succeed at getting it - we never hear about those. So we have no real idea how common it is but I suspect it's the rule more than the exception, and this time it didn't work out.

 

It truly does suck for the cast and creatives and there will be no schadenfreude from me, even if I questioned the Broadway prospects of this one from the first mention. This business is hard enough without getting a Broadway show and then having it swiped right out from under you because the producers couldn't get it together. That has to be a particularly bitter pill to swallow.

[Pootie2]

About that national tour--are there nationally touring shows that didn't appear on Broadway? I thought national tours were actual Broadway shows at some point, whether a hit or flop.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

No, shows can tour even if they've never played Broadway.

[Call_me_jorge]

Is it too late for Natasha to change their theatre to the longarce?

[Kad]

Recently, Flashdance and Dirty Dancing have had national tours without receiving a Broadway engagement.

It's uncommon, but it happens- properties like Dirty Dancing and Flashdance, for instance, probably were smarter to tour than go to Broadway anyway.

But a show like Nerds? The prospect of a tour seems unwise.

[LizzieCurry]

Pootie2 said: "About that national tour--are there nationally touring shows that didn't appear on Broadway? I thought national tours were actual Broadway shows at some point, whether a hit or flop."

 

Have you ever heard of Dirty Dancing? 50 Shades? Sex Tips? Evil Dead? Pokemon Live?

[Broadway kid 2]

Phyllis Rogers Stone said: "No, shows can tour even if they've never played Broadway.

 

"

 

[Pootie2]

Thanks for the answers.

 

LizzieCurry said: "Have you ever heard of Dirty Dancing? 50 Shades? Sex Tips? Evil Dead? Pokemon Live?"

 

As nationally touring theatrical shows? No, but I certainly don't follow that, which is why I asked.

 

(Pokemon Live, really?)

[Kad]

LizzieCurry said: "Have you ever heard of Dirty Dancing? 50 Shades? Sex Tips? Evil Dead? Pokemon Live?"

To be fair, 50 Shades, Sex Tips, and Evil Dead all at least can say they had an off-Broadway run before they went out.

Nerds can claim... NYMF and some small regional productions. I guess.

 

[LizzieCurry]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Live!

[RippedMan]

Would love to see the set design for this.

[LizzieCurry]

https://twitter.com/Chris_Luner/status/706854023018762240

[ACL2006]

I wonder if something just might try and slip into the Longacre in time for the Tony cut-off.

[wonderfulwizard11]

As sketchy a prospect this seemed for Broadway, it still does really suck for the cast and creative team. Here's hoping they all move on to another project soon.

[CindersGolightly]

I wouldn't be surprised to see a show sneak into the Longacre.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Count me as another who doubts there ever was a big investor who pulled out. The whole thing felt like overly optimistic producers who jumped at the vacant theater without amassing the necessary funds (or a cast). I don't think anything shady is going on- if anything they were just foolish to think such an obvious flop like Nerds wouldn't face a major uphill battle finding investors at all, especially given the mismanagement of not announcing the cast, designing artwork, having a website in beta until a week ago (even fully launched the website sucks), etc. Who would hand their money over to such ineptitude?

 

I feel for the cast and crew and wish them well. Sounds like they found out basically the same time we did. They deserve better and will hopefully find it.