MOTOWN Reopens Tonight

[Dysquith13]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 12:44pm

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL returns to Broadway tonight at the Nederlander Theater. I have a few brief questions:

1. Has a return like this happened before on Broadway? We've seen shows switch theaters (as The Humans is doing at the end of the month) but I'm not sure if we've seen something like this. Act of God and The Illusionists are the only recent examples I can think of. 
2. Will the show be any different from its original Broadway run? I wonder if being in a smaller theater will work better for the show.

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 12:56pm

I know the tour of the recent HAiR revival did a stop on Broadway over the summer of 2011, but I think that was always marketed as an extended tour stop.  Is the Motown return open-ended?

Updated On: 7/12/16 at 12:56 PM

[10086sunset]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 12:57pm

Believe this is the touring version of the original production.

I'm mostly curious why they decided to come back...

[quizking101]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 12:57pm

It's for 18 weeks only

[10086sunset]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 12:57pm

Alexander Lamar said: "I know the tour of the recent HAiR revival did a stop on Broadway over the summer of 2011, but I think that was always marketed as an extended tour stop.  Is the Motown return open-ended?

 

"

Believe its an 18 week run.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 12:59pm

HAIR - 2009 and 2011

FELA - 2009 and 2012

Both productions were extremely similar to the originals.  It seems like we are going to be getting more of this in the future.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 1:08pm

Shocked that the producers true to their word. Will this be eligible for any Tonys?

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 1:21pm

^no, doesn't it have to be a 3 season gap for a show to be eligible for revival?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 1:24pm

I'm going tomorrow night. Saw the tour last year.

[philly03]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 1:37pm

The Scarlet Pimpernel ran from Oct 97 - Oct 98 at the Minskoff, closed for a few weeks and re-opened in an overhaul in Nov 98 with brand new leads (Doug Sills stayed). The show then closed in May '99 at the Minskoff.

 

In the summer of '99, they scaled down the show (set/cast), tweaked the show again, and recast with Carolee Carmello, Ron Bohmer, and Marc Kudisch where it toured briefly in Houston, Dallas and Atlanta, eventually re-opening in the fall of '99, but closed in January of '00 (was supposed to be open-ended; I believe the producers thought they might get nominated for revival as they tried in 1999).

[quizking101]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 1:51pm

Call_me_jorge said: "^no, doesn't it have to be a 3 season gap for a show to be eligible for revival?

It could potentially be. The original opened in April 2013, and I think the eligibility rule is only applicable to when it was last up for Tonys and not when it closed. Their three-season eligibility blackout would've ended this April.

"

 

[10086sunset]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 2:06pm

I'm kinda surprised this isn't up on TDF. Maybe it's actually selling well?

[Dave13]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 2:34pm

I saw it on tour on July 1st. Great cast for a tour, but I would expect a better cast for Broadway. In my opinion this is subpar for Broadway. 

[Kate Monster3]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 2:48pm

Does anyone think its possible there will be a lottery or rush tickets available for this since its a limited run?

[10086sunset]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 4:09pm

Kate Monster3 said: "Does anyone think its possible there will be a lottery or rush tickets available for this since its a limited run?

 

"

I'd be shocked if there wasn't...I think they will have a problem moving tickets...

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 4:26pm

Can anyone explain what the changes were to this "version," at least based on the edits and changes for the tour?

[seaweedjstubbs]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 5:25pm

Kate Monster3 said: "Does anyone think its possible there will be a lottery or rush tickets available for this since its a limited run?"

They announced a $32 student rush on Twitter. https://twitter.com/motownmusical/status/752555587141898240

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 5:48pm

Wasn't it selling well when they closed?

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 6:31pm

Dave13 said: "I saw it on tour on July 1st. Great cast for a tour, but I would expect a better cast for Broadway. In my opinion this is subpar for Broadway. 

 

"

I do think this cast is very good. But the show has always been sub-par.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 6:35pm

That's the thing! It was selling very well on Broadway, but they closed it because they thought they could scale it back and make even more money. Which, to me, is saying we want the audience to pay the same price for less of a show. Which just seem dirty, and I don't think I'll see the show. But I'd image it'll sell fine. 

Was walk down the street and saw the huge Motown tour trucks driving pass, so it's the tour, no tweaks. This is solely to make money and squeeze money out of unexpecting tourists. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 6:36pm

WiCkEDrOcKS said: "Can anyone explain what the changes were to this "version," at least based on the edits and changes for the tour?

 

"

Didn't they have traps for broadway? So they probably eliminated those for the tour.

 

im pretty sure they were selling well when they closed. Isn't there a rumor Harvey bought them out so finding neverland could take the Lunt?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 7:13pm

Is the current production going back out on tour after the Broadway run?

I saw the original Broadway production early in its run, and the tour twice in DC in December. I enjoyed the tour a lot. I didn't notice any discernible differences, although Charl Brown was leagues better as Smokey Robinson in comparison to the actor I saw in DC. 

[Dave13]

Posted: 7/12/16 at 7:50pm

KnewItWhenIWasInFron said: "Dave13 said: "I saw it on tour on July 1st. Great cast for a tour, but I would expect a better cast for Broadway. In my opinion this is subpar for Broadway. 

 

"

I do think this cast is very good. But the show has always been sub-par.

 

"

Agreed. 

[@z5]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 1:17am

...Well, did anyone actually go to see it tonight?

[asmith0307]

Posted: 7/13/16 at 1:32am

@z5 said: "...Well, did anyone actually go to see it tonight?"

I did. It was okay. I liked it better the first time around. Tonight they had quite a few missed mic pick ups. Sometimes the soloists/featured singers never got their mics turned on.

 

I do have a question that someone else might be able to answer. I heard that they cut down on time. Does anyone know where? I think they may have cut a line or a scene in the first act, as well as since the automation is not as big, some of the transitions are tighter. Its been two years since I saw it last, so I don't remember some details of the first time.