Bette Midler in HELLO, DOLLY coming to London in 2019?

[jacobsnchz14]

https://twitter.com/mrCarlWoodward/status/997161383711166464

@mrCarlWoodward

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I’m hearing that Bette Midler is coming to town: Hello Dolly! is — the London Palladium. 2019.

[haterobics]

Is there any reason to believe this is more than just some random person on Twitter "hearing" something?

[DAME]

Would David go as well?

[Dollypop]

Does British Airways give frequent flyer miles?

[EleanorC]

Dollypop said: "Does British Airways give frequent flyer miles?"

Yes, both Avios points and BA Executive club tier points! If you need any other info, I know a lot about their reward system and predominately fly with British Airways. 

I also share your love of Hello Dolly :), have been reading the other thread for a while and crossing the pond to see BM once more and BP in her final performance!

[Dollypop]

Eleanor, there's always room for another Dollypop!

[EleanorC]

Too kind??- there will only ever be the original Dollypop!

Here’s hoping the production lives on in London, will be so sad when it finishes in the US!

[Dallas Theatre Fan]

The Rumors are starting to heat back up again.  16 week run (possibility of 20, depends on how Bette feels) at the Dominion over the summer.   No word on casting but, I think David Hyde Pierce is part of the package.  Rudin will probably try to talk Gavin Creel and Charlie Stemp into doing the run.  

I'm excited!!!

[Call_me_jorge]

Wonder if they’d use an alternate and if they'll get a Broadway or West End actress to fulfill that duty! Hope this comes to fruition and maybe they'll film it like King and I did???

[r7]

There is only one set, and one set of costumes.... The first National tour isn't over until August of 2019. Would Scott really sink that much into a limited run? Think about the ROI... It would have to wait... 

[Dallas Theatre Fan]

I think Rubin will probably built a new set.  the Dominion has a wide stage, almost 40 feet!  So, most of the set pieces need to be elongated.

Bette will only still do six shows,  my dream is Donna Murphy is talked into spending a summer in London but, it won't happen.  The name being floated around is Jane McDonald and some even think Elaine Paige will be the alternate. 

  

[SomethingPeculiar]

r7 said: "There is only one set, and one set of costumes.... The first National tour isn't over until August of 2019. Would Scott really sink that much into a limited run? Think about the ROI... It would have to wait..."

Scott does what Scott wants, if the past few years have taught us anything. And the design package could later be used in an international/UK tour, like K&I. Though, this thread now has 2 theatres rumored (Dominion and Palladium), so let's believe it when we see it.

Word was Bette wouldn't do the Broadway return engagement without DHP, so if this happens, I would assume he'll go to London. Also safe to assume she'll do a 7-show week.

[ACL2006]

but does Donna Murphy go with Bette again to be the alternate for Mondays?

[qolbinau]

Thats all I want! But the expense of moving Donna over and flying her back every week (I assume unless she wants to check off a lot of European travel shed want to go back) seems excessive for someone that is probably not too well known in the West End. Maybe theyd use a West End veteran.

[Theatrefanboy1]

It is quite strange that there have been these rumours about hello dolly with Bette milder in the west end in 2019. Because I have been hearing that she was planning on touring this year. Unless the rumour of touring was more traveling over to London for half a year. But as well heard that by mid summer she would be touring (so maybe the rumours are true. That shell head over and do a July to January reprise.

[BJR]

Also, who invests in this when DOLLY on Bway - a solid year of huge business - didn't recoup. Costs would be lower in London but so would ticket prices. 

Also, does Rudin produce in London? I thought often Bway producers partner with London ones for transfers, since the industries have their own quirks.

[Huss417]

BJR said: "Also, who invests in this when DOLLY on Bway - a solid year of huge business - didn't recoup. Costs would be lower in London but so would ticket prices.
"

According to Forbes is did recoup.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/leeseymour/2018/08/27/hello-dolly-closes-with-broken-records-trickling-roi/#4d4014d72dd0

[David10086]

BJR said: "Also, who invests in this when DOLLY on Bway - a solid year of huge business - didn't recoup. "

 

DOLLY didn't recoup its investment from this past revival? That's quite contrary to what others have reported over the past year. Does anyone know for certain? 

 

[qolbinau]

I definitely did recoup. However, to their point for some strange reason only just. The running expenses must have been insanely high, It didn't even seem to recoup before Bernadette took over.

 

[Huss417]

The Forbes article I posted pretty much explains it. :)

[Dallas Theatre Fan]

I thought Bette and Scott were doing this production as a passion project more than anything else.   It was always going to be hard to make money in this production.

The rumors about it happening at the Palladium are dead, Joseph is playing there over the summer so it will be at the Dominion if it happens.

 

[SomethingPeculiar]

The advertising expenses ($150K per week if Forbes is correct) could be a factor in the low profit. Also, Bette's not the only one who made bank: other salaries rise with a star like her, and sometimes there are "bumps" post-recoupment or when the gross is over a certain amount. After the books were closed, the investors probably made a total profit of ~ 15-20%, which is still a LOT better than the shows closing this afternoon. Investors could also make $$ from the tour, and they got a Tony + bragging rights.

[Impossible2]

Y'all do realise these official 'figures' are always heavily inflated out the wazoo right?

 

[BJR]

I stand corrected! Thanks for the link. 

[SomethingPeculiar]

Still to be taken with a grain of salt, but the random tweeter who posted the original rumor about Bette at the Palladium now says:

"Hearing that HELLO DOLLY will be heading to Dominion Theatre, London this summer for a limited 16 week engagement - minus Bette Midler. Bernadette Peters will instead star. Domain purchased here - http://hellodollylondon.com"

"It's v real"