Chicago at the Richard Rodgers

[Dallas Theatre Fan]

Hello everybody,  In 1996 Chicago opened at the Richard Rodgers Theaters only to quickly move to the Shubert in February 1997.  Why did it change theaters so quickly?  Did the Weissler's think it would sell better in the Shubert or did Steel Pier kick them out?

[Tag]

Here you go

[Fantod]

^ That says it's unreadable for me, so I'll respond with what I recall in case everyone else can't see it:

Basically the Broadway transfer was an experiement, the original production had opened there in 1975, and the theatre was already booked for Steel Pier a few months later, which was supposed to be a big hit. The producers decided to use that theatre, knowing that they could switch theatres if it ran and there would be no embarrassment if they closed. At least, that's what I recall. I could have dreamt that and there's actually a totally different reason.

[¿Macavity?]

I'm also interested in this... Oh, thanks Tag, but I don't want to buy a book at this moment.

[Mr. Nowack]

Fantod recounts it exactly as its told in Jenn Tepper's book.

[Broadway Bob*]

Remember that at the time (1996) a Broadway transfer of an Encores! production was still new. No one knew if it would be successful or not. And even if it was successful, no one expected it to be the juggernaut it became. They booked into the Rodgers planning on a limited run, but then it exploded and became the sell out hit of the season, even landing on the front page of The New York Times (GUYS & DOLLS was, I believe, the last time a Broadway opening was on the FRONT page of the TIMES). But, as stated above, the theater was already booked with STEEL PIER and so (since they decided to keep CHICAGO open) a transfer became necessary. Now theater transfers were common place many years ago but had fallen out of fashion due to the cost of moving the shows. However, CHICAGO had 2 national tours hitting the road so they just built a brand new set at the Shubert and took the original set out on the first national. Saved them time and money in the long run.

Also of note is that originally the show was supposed to transfer to the Martin Beck (now called the Hirschfeld) but the Jujamcyns decided instead to give the Beck to the new Lloyd Webber musical WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND, leaving CHICAGO without a home for a short time. Suddenly whatever was playing the Shubert at the time closed prematurely making it available for CHICAGO to settle in there for many years. And, ironically, WHISTLE closed in DC and never made it to NYC.

I was obsessed with CHICAGO when this revival first opened. I miss that incomparable original cast. I've seen a LOT of amazing people in the show over the years but no one has come close to matching those originals in energy, brilliance, and Fosse style!

[BroadwayNYC2]

According to Shoenfeld's book, Whistle was going into the Shubert. 

[Mr Roxy]

Saw the original and it was indeed memorable.

[bwayphreak234]

Tag - thank you for the link! I downloaded the book and have not been able to stop reading it! So fascinating.

[Broadway Bob*]

BroadwayNYC2 said: "According to Shoenfeld's book, Whistle was going into the Shubert."

Well, I lived in NYC at the time and walked by the Beck with its WHISTLE posters and marquees all over it many times. Maybe that show was getting switched around too until they decided not to bring it in. Broadway real estate is a strange thing sometimes.

[Tag]

Sorry all, I just assumed you'd be able to access the link to Schoendeld's book that I posted that addresses this.  Either way just Google "Chicago moves from Richard Rogers" in Google Books and you should be able to see the excerpt.

[Smaxie]

Bob, you are not misremembering.  Whistle was booked for the Martin Beck.  Here is a NY Times report about it from February 11, 1997, and two paragraphs I've extracted:

"Whistle Down the Wind,'' the new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical in tryouts at the National Theater in Washington, will not open on Broadway this year. The musical, which was scheduled to begin performances at the Martin Beck Theater on June 3 and open on June 15, needs more work, the composer said yesterday.

...

The change in plans for ''Whistle'' comes as a blow to Rocco Landesman, who moved heaven and earth to book the musical for the Martin Beck Theater, part of the Jujamcyn Theater chain, of which he is president. 'I'm very disappointed,'' said Mr. Landesman, who said that as late as Friday afternoon he had expected ''Whistle'' to come in. ''We're losing a major show. It's a bummer.''  Worse, Mr. Landesman had chosen to take ''Whistle'' instead of ''Chicago,'' which has been playing to sold-out houses and now has a $9.2 million advance. ''The question my colleagues and business partners now have to consider is whether they really want to continue doing business with someone this stupid, meaning me,'' he said ruefully.

http://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/11/theater/whistle-runs-out-of-steam-on-the-road.html

[BroadwayNYC2]

Well, I lived in NYC at the time and walked by the Beck with its WHISTLE posters and marquees all over it many times.

Wasn't accusing you of remembering wrong, just found that passage interesting in the book. I wish Whistle found its way to NY. I saw the DC production and found it quite thrilling (flaws included). 

[CATSNYrevival]

I also wish Whistle Down the Wind had made it to Broadway. I don't know much about Hal Prince's staging and why it didn't work out in DC or why they couldn't just postpone the opening by a few months and continue to work on it, but the West End production seemed to do alright for a while. Why did that production not transfer?

[Smaxie]

I think too that it was in anticipation for Whistle that Jujamcyn extended the front mezzanine at the Martin Beck to add 200 more seats. 

[Broadway Bob*]

BroadwayNYC2 said: "Well, I lived in NYC at the time and walked by the Beck with its WHISTLE posters and marquees all over it many times.

Wasn't accusing you of remembering wrong, just found that passage interesting in the book. I wish Whistle found its way to NY. I saw the DC production and found it quite thrilling (flaws included)."

No harm. I took no ill intention in your post, just a furthering of discussion. I saw the excerpt in the link and wondered about it myself. Maybe WHISTLE was supposed to go to the Shubert but Landesman lured it away to the Beck therefore unseating CHICAGO which instead went to the now vacant Shubert. Good for CHICAGO since the Shubert is a MUCH better theater and I'm sure gave it much better visibility through the years than the off-the-beaten-path Beck would've. This thread is making me miss CHICAGO. I wonder how it is faring these days? Last time I revisited was around 2007(ish) when Joey Lawrence was in as Billy Flynn. Half the leads were great, half were terrible, and the entire ensemble was sleep-speeding through the show. It was a mere SHADOW of what it had once been. Made me sad! I'm NYC bound in October. I wonder if I dare try it again? (Someone tell Walter Bobbie to go polish his gem back up!!!)

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

 

[RippedMan]

They extended the Hirschfeld mezz? who knew!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

That explains why the overhang in that theater is so harsh.  Very interesting!