Riedel on the Harry Potter Broadway theater

[10086sunset]

Posted: 10/13/16 at 6:03pm

http://nypost.com/2016/10/13/broadway-theater-owners-all-want-the-harry-potter-play/

Seems all three want this and who could blame them...

[10086sunset]

Posted: 10/13/16 at 6:05pm

He also says Sunset Blvd is a go at the Palace come January...

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 10/13/16 at 6:41pm

Ten years for a play is a huge call, I'm guessing School Of Rock will be pushed out of the Winter Garden 

[Jonwo]

Posted: 10/13/16 at 6:48pm

It's a shame that the Shubert isn't available as that would be perfect for Cursed Child.

I imagine the producers probably want a theatre that is similar in capacity to the Palace Theatre in London which is 1400 seats but also can feel intimate so the Palace, Marquis, Broadway and Lyric are out of the running. I'd go for the Al Hirschfeld or the Imperial.

Updated On: 10/13/16 at 06:48 PM

[James2]

Posted: 10/13/16 at 8:01pm

Riedel claims near the end that the Tony eligibility committee met this week, but I have not seen any news about eligibility.  I think the first meeting usually happens in November.  Does anyone know if what he claims is true?

[Wick3]

Posted: 10/13/16 at 8:17pm

"But all the wonderful magical effects — flying broomsticks, levitating wizards, green jets of fire — might seem puny from the rafters."

I understand the Palace Theatre in London has capacity of 1400 people, but I had no idea it also has FOUR floors (stalls, dress circle, grand circle, and balcony) when I went there. I saw the play in London from the balcony thinking it would be similar to the Schubert theatre when I saw Matilda from the balcony but boy that view up there in London is definitely the 'rafters.'

I actually think the Lyric would be great for Harry Potter given it can house 2000 people per performance. Remember this play is in 2 parts so 8 performances a week is really 4 shows (does that make sense?) Hmmm... in a week, instead of 16,000 distinct people watching the show, only 8,000 people would watch the show since the same audience (2,000 people) would watch 2 performances (part 1 and 2) that week. Given how popular Hamilton is and that only has 1 part, imagine how long this show would be sold out for?!?

Ok true the Lyric is huge and if you're in the cheap seats like I was in London, you wouldn't get the same experience but that's true of most Broadway shows nowadays, to be honest. Ultimately what I like about the Lyric is more people can see the show per performance. 

Regardless of which theater they choose, I'd be curious to see how they do the pricing. In London's West End, the premium tickets cost 95GBP each, or 190GBP for both parts (roughly $232 given today's exchange rate.) Having seen Hamilton and Book of Mormon charge over $450 per performance for their premium seats, that means people on Broadway may possibly pay over $900 each to see both parts of Harry Potter!?!?!?!?!? EGADS!

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 10/13/16 at 9:04pm

Does anyone here know anything about the staging requirements for the show? I've heard that it's very technically complex with a lot of effects.

Of the listed theatres, do any (Hirshfield?) have limitations that might also be a factor?

 

Updated On: 10/13/16 at 09:04 PM

[Jonwo]

Posted: 10/13/16 at 9:20pm

The Palace isn't that big stage wise and actually that made the show feel intimate in the quieter moments of the show. 

[asmith0307]

Posted: 10/13/16 at 10:22pm

The eligibility committee may have met today? Not sure though

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 10/14/16 at 9:39am

It seems way too early for the committee to have met already. But I don't know for sure.