What is the soonest a show was revived after closing?

[(Insert Clever Name)]

I’m lazy and with all this talk with fans to “revive x show that closed yesterday”, I was wondering how quickly something had actually been revived

[TheSassySam]

In recent memory, Motown had a pretty quick turn around with its closing on Jan. 18 2015 and restarting performances on July 12 2016. 

 

Same with An Act of God - An Aug. 2 2015 closing with a June 6 2016 restart date. 

[JBroadway]

TheSassySam said: "In recent memory, Motown had a pretty quick turn around with its closing on Jan. 18 2015 and restarting performanceson July 12 2016.



Same with An Act of God - An Aug. 2 2015 closing with a June 6 2016 restart date."

 

I definitely don't count those as revivals. Those are what I've sometimes heard referred to as a "remount" or a "return engagement." For it to be a revival, IMO, it has to be a different production, not just a replica of the old one. 

 

[WhizzerMarvin]

Technically I believe a show has to be closed for three(?) years before it can officially be considered a revival.

[brettarnett]

Gypsy sprung to mind as the Peters revival closed May 2004 and the LuPone revival began March 2008.

[JBroadway]

WhizzerMarvin said: "Technically I believe a show has to be closed for three(?) years before it can officially be considered a revival."

 

That's just according to the Tonys though, right? I think if, in theory, a completely new production of, let's say Great Comet, were to open on Broadway this year - we as audiences would have to consider it a revival - even if the Tonys deemed it ineligible. 

Also, to the OP: are we just talking about Broadway? The Off-Broadway revival of RENT opened very soon after the Broadway one, and that (IIRC) was an entirely new production, not just a transfer like Jersey Boys and Avenue Q. 

 

(Also, Whizzer - love your signature quote! Never noticed it before. One of my favorites!) 

[HeyMrMusic]

The original Les Misérables closed May 2003 and a revival opened November 2006. (Isn’t this where the three-year rule originated?)

[A.Douglas]

Les Miserables:

Original Run: 3/12/87 - 5/18/03

First Revival Run: 11/9/06 - 1/6/08

A little over three years between the closing of the original run and the opening of the revival.

[Dollypop]

One month.

The original production of EQUUS, starring Shakespearean actor Douglas Campbell closed and a month later it re-opened at another theater starring Anthony Perkins.

[SomethingPeculiar]

There were two MACBETHs in 2013:  Alan Cumming's ran April-July, and then LCT/Ethan Hawke's began previews in October. Which was kind of insane, but I would guess LCT's plans had been long in-development when the Cumming production was announced in February ahead of an April opening.

For GLASS MENAGERIE, there were less than 3 years between the closing of Cherry Jones' production and the start of previews for Sally Field's.


Motown and Act of God were really just return-engagements (like Dreamgirls, Whorehouse, return of the Hair revival, holiday shows like Elf/White Xmas/Peter Pan, etc.) Return engagements seemed more common back in the Golden Age.

[Valentina3]

Well, I'd be down for a Hello, Dolly return engagement starring...literally anyone. Just keep that damn production on Broadway.

[Call_me_jorge]

The 2005 la cage and the 2010 la cage.

[mailhandler777]

A.Douglas said: "Les Miserables:

Original Run: 3/12/87 - 5/18/03

First Revival Run: 11/9/06 - 1/6/08

A little over three years between the closing of the original run and the opening of the revival."

5yrs between the close of the 1st revival and the open of the 2nd revival.