Is "Crazy For You" Coming This Spring?

[nybkg609]

Earlier this year, the revival of "Crazy For You" had a development lab. But I haven't heard word yet on when this production will finally be a reality. Do you think they'll have an announcement in the coming weeks for hopefully an opening in the spring? Which theater do you think the show will be moving in? Please comment and let me know. 

[WayTooBroadway]

me

[SomethingPeculiar]

Some of us were talking about it on the "Confirmed Productions" thread last week, but it seems logistically unlikely for the 18-19 season.

CRAZY FOR YOU would probably have to open in the fall or winter because Stroman's LITTLE DANCER at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle starts NYC rehearsals February 7 and previews March 22. If Crazy opens in early February, they could start rehearsal around Thanksgiving. If they're trying to open it before Christmas (give Stroman a break before Little Dancer!), they'd probably have to start rehearsals about 6 weeks from now -- which would be an insanely quick sales period.

Their theatre would probably have to be available now, or before late November/early December. A lot of these currently "available" theatres seem too small for Crazy For You. Maybe it could be retooled to fit into the Belasco or Hudson? (And, FWIW, they haven't had a casting notice in a while, but it could be fully cast from last winter's workshop presentation.)

[OlBlueEyes]

I asked a producer whom I knew had been involved with a couple of Susan Stroman’s greater successes and his answer was like, Why do you think that I would know? I thought that the successful musical theater industry kingpins just knew what everyone else was up to and which production was going into what theater.

Tony Yazbeck and Laura Osnes are doing four nights together at 54 Below starting on October 2nd. A program weighted towards the songs of Gershwin. They probably won’t know either.

[bk]

I love that a revival of a smash hit musical needs a lab or God knows how many labs this thing has had.  They canned it from the Ahmanson - why do you think that is?  What's gonna be different about it that they need a lab?  

[Bwayfan292]

I just want Laura to star in something that wont flop

[OlBlueEyes]

bk said: "I love that a revival of a smash hit musical needs a lab or God knows how many labs this thing has had. They canned it from the Ahmanson - why do you think that is? What's gonna be different about it that they need a lab?"

In February, 2017, Susan Stroman just recreated the original production on its 25th anniversary. I didn't think that Crazy for You was any Broadway classic, but that night there was all kinds of energy in Geffen Hall. Maybe because so many of Stroman's colleagues and friends were present. Tony Yazbeck was also a perfect fit for his role.

The extended curtain call gives you an impression of the cast and audience interaction.

https://youtu.be/jqzxDDW4CGQ?t=103

I think Stroman if she brings back the show doesn't want to just recreate the original. She wants some new material.

[brdwybound04]

Does anyone think Crazy For You could sneak into the Shubert Theatre, assuming that TKAMB is truly a limited engagement and won’t extend, therefore ending its run early March? I know this would be a super tight turnaround to make Tony cutoff dates, but I think it could be done...?

[SomethingPeculiar]

TKAMB group tickets are on sale through June, so I would think it will run past March unless sales are horrible. (And as mentioned above, Stroman appears to have LITTLE DANCER commitments in Seattle from February through April.)

[Smaxie]

>Maybe it could be retooled to fit into the Belasco or Hudson?<

Only if John Doyle is directing. A musical the size of Crazy for You can't run profitably in a theatre with 1000 seats.

[bdn223]

The Gershwin Estate needs a revival of Crazy for You as soon as possible before the Gershwin catalogue starts going into public domain within the next 4 years with the entire catalogue being public within the next 15 years leaving the estate only with Crazy for You, Nice Work, “The Girshwin’s” Porgy and Bess, and An American in Paris as income. Considering Crazy for You is the best recieved of the 4, they will want to remind people of its existence so that they can still get money from regional productions instead of they doing “free” revivals of Oh Kay! And Girl Crazy. So it may not be this season, but its in the works.
Also Rachel Bloom won’t be available until February, so if I had to guess this might be pushed to next season.

[OlBlueEyes]

I thought that I had something pretty definitive here until I saw that the date of the L.A.Times article was May 23, 2018.

"There's no ego that radiates out of them," says Tony Yazbeck, a Tony nominee for "On the Town" who is set to costar in Stroman's likely Broadway revival of the musical "Crazy for You" this fall or winter. "Nobody fights. They all listen. Everyone respects everyone else's opinions."

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-ca-cm-susan-stroman-20180527-story.html

[Bwayfan292]

Not that it means anything, but this is the third event now that Laura has sung a song from Crazy for you. Either the girl’s got a limited songbook and just loves singing the songs, or we might get word on this show coming soon.

[Call_me_jorge]

What’s the latest a show ever announced a broadway run to the actual opening? Could it squeeze into this season in the winter? Like a November/December opening?

[trentsketch]

Everyday Rapture had a pretty short turn around from announcement to opening, but there were huge extenuating circumstances there. Roundabout's Lips Together, Teeth Apart revival got cancelled and Everyday Rapture was small and successful off-Broadway the previous season. They needed a limited run that wouldn't lose them a ton of money and Everyday Rapture fit the bill. It started previews April 19, 2010 and opened April 29. They somehow got Michael Mayer back to direct the Broadway production even though he was directing American Idiot on Broadway at the time. 

None of those are common. A show as large and dance heavy as Crazy for You is not the kind of show that's going to swing in at the last minute. I wish it would come in sooner rather than later (big fan of the show), but they'd have to announce soon and juggle Stroman's schedule to make it happen this season.

[IdinaBellFoster]

I seem to remember NEXT TO NORMAL announcing pretty late and opening right before the cut-off.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Call_me_jorge said: "What’s the latest a show ever announced a broadway run to the actual opening? Could it squeeze into this season in the winter? Like a November/December opening?"


CRAZY FOR YOU might not be officially "dead," but it seems logistically unlikely for the 18-19 season. Stroman's MARIE for Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre starts NYC rehearsals February 7 and previews March 22. If Crazy opens in early February, they could start rehearsal around Thanksgiving. If it's trying to open before Christmas (give Stroman some time off!), they'd probably need to start rehearsals 3-4 weeks from now -- which would be an INSANELY quick sales period. CFY's theatre would probably have to be available right now, or by Thanksgiving at the latest. That narrows the list of possible theatres down to basically the Hudson (if HOH isn't sticking it out til January), if that would even be big enough?

To answer your question about a late announcement: LADY DAY announced exactly one month before its first preview, but that was one star actress on a single set. For the SPRING AWAKENING revival, Ken Davenport announced 9 weeks before the first preview, but that's also not a great example. (It was a transfer from a regional theatre with most of the cast/design intact, and it was also a big financial flop.)

As much as I would like to see it on Broadway this season, it just doesn't seem likely.  FWIW, they also haven't posted any casting notices recently –– though it could be cast from the workshops/concert.

[QueenAlice]

I loved CRAZY FOR YOU when it first opened, but frankly the Gershwin catalogue has since been so recycled on Broadway over the past decade, a revival of CRAZY seems really unnecessary. We just had AN AMERICAN IN PARIS which shared a lot the same musical material.

[EdEval]

If any one plans to revive Crazy For You this spring they had better clean up their sexist book. As great as the Gershwin music, dancing and performances were the book made me squirm.  The Bobby Child character comes off as a brute towards Polly, the sole female mail carrier which come off today as being out right sexually harassing and abusive.

[OlBlueEyes]

Got in a shoutout to Laura Osnes as she and her husband were leaving 54 Below following her performance with Tony Yazbeck on Tuesday night.

“Is Crazy for You coming to Broadway?”

She turned to look back at me and answered, “We still don’t know.”

[Elegance101]

Then it’s probably a no for this season.