if you could own two broadway theaters?
if you could own two broadway theaters?
rahack
Swing Joined: 5/20/11
#1if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 6:15pmif you could own two broadway theaters, which ones would they be and why?
#2if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 6:20pm
Gershwin and Eugene O'Neill
$$$
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Updated On: 6/26/11 at 06:20 PM
Okayfine
Stand-by Joined: 6/2/08
#2if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 6:23pm
I would own the Broadway, so I could fill it w/ big, splashy musicals & charge enormous rent & the Hayes so I can fill it w/ intimate shows & charge much less rent.
Updated On: 6/26/11 at 06:23 PM
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#3if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 6:24pm
Damn you, gol! Those were my theaters! And my reason!
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If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#4if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 6:25pm
The Marquis. I would completely overhaul that barn and make it an opulent Broadway house.
The Gershwin so I could kick Wicked out and put a decent show in that house... one can dream I guess 
But in all seriousness... the Marquis and the Belasco.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
Updated On: 6/26/11 at 06:25 PM
#5if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 6:31pm
The Circle in the Square, because the structure of the theatre is unique on Broadway and presents some incredibly interesting staging possibilities. I feel like it's abused at times with the productions that go in there. I still really hope that Oklahoma! revival hits it at some point-putting the bandstand in the audience would be so fun! Spelling Bee did the best with utilizing the whole space and really transforming it.
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The Vivian Beaumont, because the Lincoln Center is (obviously) gorgeous, and the massive space on that stage combined with the intimate feel of the audience seating makes anything that goes there so special. I don't think 'War Horse,' 'Coast of Utopia' or even 'Light in the Piazza' could have been staged nearly as effectively and beautifully in any other houses on Broadway. Also, it's the Lincoln Center sooo... built in subscriber base of rich benefactorous people!
"Are you sorry for civilization? I am sorry for it too." ~Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck
Updated On: 6/26/11 at 06:31 PM
#6if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 6:33pm
The concept of someone buying the Gershwin to kick out Broadway's most lucrative show, is laughable...
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Updated On: 6/26/11 at 06:33 PM
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#9if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 6:44pm
The Netherlander so it could house larger plays and smaller musicals without being totally overwhelmed by seating capacity.
The Marquis to hopefully get another successful show in there. The seats are so comfortable and the sight lines are great. The only change I'd make is to add more escalators and stairs to get out of the theater. It's always clogged to the point of giving me anxiety.
#10if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 6:51pm
The concept of someone buying the Gershwin to kick out Broadway's most lucrative show, is laughable...
It was a joke.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
gypsy4
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/07
#11if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 6:58pmThe Gershwin and New Amsterdam!
#12if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 6:59pm
I would buy the Gershwin cuz it houses my favorite show and cuz, ya know...the financial security it has :P
But also I think the Marquis Theater, and turn it into a place where National Tours can play.
"Life in theater is give and take...but you need to be ready to give more then you take..."
#13if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 7:03pm^ That's a great idea. A Broadway house for national tours. I really like that idea, and the Marquis would be perfect. Of course they would have to play tours that don't already have a company on Broadway, but that would be pretty cool!
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#14if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 7:04pm
If you're looking for most profit, I'd say the Minskoff and Gershwin. I don't think Mormon is anywhere near as profitable as Lion King.
I'm not really sure how to pick this criteria otherwise, sorry. I guess my favorites are the St. James (the theatre is grand, huge, and gorgeous) and the Belasco (most gorgeous theatre I've ever been in.)
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
#15if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 7:10pm
I think BOM is gonna be quite lucrative in the long run just like Lion King
And bwayphreak thats what I was thinking. There's plenty of tours of shows that have not been on Broadway in quite some time....I wish they would do that.
"Life in theater is give and take...but you need to be ready to give more then you take..."
#16if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 7:14pm
Of course it is/will be, I just was noting that if you have to pick the two most profitable theatres, I think the Minskoff is and will be far more profitable, mostly owing to the fact that it's a much bigger house.
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
Updated On: 6/26/11 at 07:14 PM
#17if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 7:16pmIt would be cool to have the touring shows of the same Broadway productions that closed a few years ago return for just a couple of weeks. That's what Hair is doing. Hair's run is a little too long though IMO. I think a regular lineup of shows of say eight shows per season would be cool. Just a couple weeks per show. Lots of this year's tours have already closed on Broadway, or have not played on Broadway, so it would work... West Side Story, American Idiot, NetWorks Beauty and the Beast, 25th Anniversary Tour of Les Miserables, Fiddler on the Roof, Burn the Floor, Cats, Next to Normal, South Pacific, Young Frankenstein, Riverdance, Shrek...
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#18if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 7:19pm
Bwayphreak - it sounds like a good idea in theory but the reality is that most shows close for one reason: they couldn't sustain an audience. Hair, which you cite, is attempting it but from all of my sources, it isn't going well. There are huge discounts available and it's selling pretty poorly. Though I do like the idea of a set number of shows per season, like most regional theatres have. They could be touring productions, etc. but I think it works best if they aren't shows that closed recently.
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
Updated On: 6/26/11 at 07:19 PM
gypsy4
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/07
#19if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 7:21pmbut isn't bringing in national tours what MSG is for?
#20if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 7:28pm
Having touring shows make a stop (albeit a brief one) on Broadway could either work out very well, or a bust. I suppose it would all depend on the show and the fanbase it has built into New York itself. If you had a show like Spring Awakening or American Idiot or something like that make a stop, even if just for a week or two, you would have quite the turnout from fans of the show who saw it multiple times while it was open on Broadway. You wouldn't be likely to get as much visit from the tourists (but you could, I suppose).
Long story short...I think a theatre on Broadway for touring companies would be more geared towards those who are Broadway regulars, who might attend a performance of a 'beloved, long-lost show'.
#21if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 7:51pmI think Wicked or Lion King tour's taking a theater around Christmas they could make a ton of money. Just a thought.
Vespertine1228
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/30/05
#22if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 8:01pm
My first choice would be Circle in the Square. It's perfect for transferring those downtown shows that are "too small" for Broadway. With every seat so close to the action in the round, there's an intimacy you don't get even with the Helen Hayes or the Booth.
My second choice would be the Broadway. To me it's the most beautiful and most comfortable of the big houses.
#23if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 8:08pm
The Gershwin and the Booth.
One, the ultimate Musical house, and one, the ultimate Play house. High rent, and I'd GUT the Booth before re-opening it.
AwesomeDanny
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/30/09
#24if you could own two broadway theaters?
Posted: 6/26/11 at 8:19pmbwayphreak, the NetWorks tour of Beauty and the Beast should not go anywhere near a Broadway stage.
