Universal joins as Producer on SIDE SHOW

[DCS]

I had heard through the grapevine that something like this was coming, and now Deadline is reporting that Universal Pictures has joined SIDE SHOW as an above the title producer. I would assume the backing of Universal also probably means they get screen rights to the show if Condon moves forward with a movie version in the future.
Deadline Article

[Liza's Headband]

Yes, you would assume correctly! Good move. Makes sense.

[Marway44]

It's not selling well at all. I hope this helps sales.

[DCS]

It's a bit early to say it's not selling well since the advertising campaign hasnt really kicked off yet. They havent even taken out an ad in the Sunday NY Times yet (although I suspect we will see a full page ad this coming weekend). I am betting the sales push will begin in earnest starting this weekend.

[Marway44]

I hope so, and I hope the changes work well. I will miss "The Tunnel of Love".

[Up In One]

Marway you have a connection at the box office?

[DCS]

While I also liked Tunnel of Love in the original, it just doesnt fit in the show the way it has been revised. This new version is vastly different than the 1997 Broadway production....so much so, that it will be interesting to see how the Tony Admin committee handles whether its eligible for Best Book or even Best Score (i think the % of new music in the show as well as the changes to the existing songs might be a close call). I think Universal jumping in as a producer puts some real financial muscle behind the show (maybe they are hoping for a repeat of what they saw with Wicked and its popularity with girls)

[Marway44]

Up In One: I don't have a connection at the box office, but it is clear to see if you look at Telecharge. The mezzanine at just about every show has maybe 5 seats sold. I really hope sales pick up soon.

[JRybka]

I actually think they could turn it into an amazing movie down the road.

[Matt Rogers]

Maybe the naysayers are right and this is going to be an absolute flop, but Jesus Christ, can it play its first preview before yapping about how low the ticket sales are? You could get Book of Mormon seats with a discount code prior to first performance when word of mouth exploded and the discount was immediately pulled. I'm not saying that will happen here but you never know.

And this production of Side Show is truly magnificent.

[Musical Master]

I hope that fate is on this show's side this time. But with fierce revival competition coming in March next year, it may be hard.

[SNAFU]

WICKED has made Universal more money then any of it's movies, ever! It continues to do so. I am surprised it took this long for them to invest in another show. They must see some promise in it.

[DCS]

I think Universal sees a potential hit that appeals to the same Wicked audience...a story about 2 sisters overcoming difficult circumstances but staying strong and united.....just like Frozen.....Im sure they also see a future feature film directed by Bill Condon in a few years, which they now have the rights to

[CapnHook]

Didn't they just go on sale?

[Broadwayboobs]

Box Office officially opens October 6th. Can we at least wait for that to open to talk about ticket sales.

[Smaxie]

>I am surprised it took this long for them to invest in another show.<

They have invested in eight other Broadway shows since Wicked.


Universal at IBDB

[SNAFU]

I stand corrected. Thanks Smaxie!

[NewSynchopation]

Wow, they have not made good investment choices since WICKED.

[TalkinLoud]

3 plays that recouped, a musical that ran 3 years and won Best Musical, and a musical that won Best Revival. Yeah, terrible.

[NewSynchopation]

PORGY AND BESS lost money, and they would have lost more money on the viciously expensive CRY-BABY and BRING IT ON than they would have made on those three plays, but yes BILLY ELLIOT was a success, though a garbage musical.

[Liza's Headband]

Artistic merit to an empire like Universal is irrelevant. All that matters is the commercial success.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

"BILLY ELLIOT was a success, though a garbage musical."

How about keeping your (rude) opinions on acclaimed shows to yourself, ASSHOLE?

[NewSynchopation]

So I am not allowed to have an opinion on a message board for opinions about theatre, just be causes you don't share my opinion? I will not hush my opinion merely because you don't want others to see that somebody doesn't like your precious little favorite musical. It was painfully bad to sit through and generic in the worst of ways with soap operatic drama that literally made me laugh in the middle of the show. It was one of the worst travesties in Tony award history when that show won over NEXT TO NORMAL, excepting Julie Andrews not winning for MY FAIR LADY and the years where PASSION, THE LION KING, and A CHORUS LINE won for best musical (blegh).

[Deena Jones]

Jeffrey, go pour yourself a stiff one!

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Still, you're obviously in the minority, and I don't like people like you being mean on something that the majority of people disagree with.

Both 'Billy Elliot' & 'Next to Normal' were very well received by critics and audiences, so they were both obviously neck and neck together during Tony season. While 'Billy Elliot' was the one the swept the Tonys that year, 'Next to Normal' still took home it's fair share of the gold (Lead Actress, Original Score, and Orchestrations), as well as the Pulitzer Prize in Drama. So overall, N2N (as with every other show at there) didn't need to win Best Musical, the most it really needed was it's respected fanbase. When a show wins the Tony for Best Musical, it's never because it needs it, it's because it earned it.

[Marway44]

Good point Broadwayboobs...the box office is not open yet. I'm sure people are waiting to buy at the box office.