EVITA transfer?

[Littleshopofcarrie]

Posted: 11/24/19 at 7:22pm

Anyone think the City Center production of Evita could transfer for a limited run? Was so taken by the show this past week, would die to see it again in a smaller house.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 11/24/19 at 7:47pm

It would be difficult, with the lack of available theaters and also the lead (who seems to be the main reason this production would have a future life based on reviews) being tied to another major potential transfer coming in... but anything is possible

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/24/19 at 7:48pm

nope

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 11/24/19 at 11:13pm

If Roundabout was scrambling for a show, I could see it, but doesn’t seem like there’s much need or want.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 11/24/19 at 11:28pm

Not a chance. There were a lot of empty seats around me the other night in the orchestra. If it can’t even sell out a two week run, it has no chance on Broadway.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 11/24/19 at 11:44pm

The last revival did decent business, but only because of Ricky Martin. The numbers plummeted when he was on vacation, and when he announced he was leaving permanently, they ended up deciding to close to the show along with his departure. From the linked article, apparently they wanted to cast more bankable names, but it just didn't happen, and presumably the advance sales without Martin just weren't there. And the production did not recoup.

And at that time, Evita hadn't played on Broadway since the original production closed almost 30 years earlier. If this production were to transfer, it would be coming only 7 or 8 years after the previous (failed) production. So the market would be even smaller.

And as ColorTheHours mentioned, this run didn't even sell all that well to begin with. And granted, it's a huge theatre, but it was also a short run. And if they can't sell out 15 (or whatever performances) for their initial run, how can they be expected to fill houses for months? Even in a house that's half the size? Especially when many of NYC theatregoers will have already seen it. 

So I think we can say fairly definitively that, unless they cast some huge bankable names, this production would crash and burn on Broadway - and that isn't a judgement of the artistic merits of the production (I didn't see it) I'm just speaking financially. 

[VotePeron]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 12:30am

Nah, not gonna happen. Maybe a regional theater will hire Cannold to mount it on the west coast or something, but an Evita revival wasn't in demand 7 years ago, and it won't be this time.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 6:44am

Sadly, I do not think there is a chance of a transfer. I would love to see this transfer with Cannold's incredible direction and Solea Pfeiffer's out of this world performance.  However, as others have said, the last revival didn't fare too well.

[David10086]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 9:07am

JBroadway said: "The last revival did decent business, but only because of Ricky Martin. The numbers plummeted when he was on vacation, and when he announced he was leaving permanently, they ended up deciding to close to the show along with his departure. From the linked article, apparently they wanted to cast more bankable names, but it just didn't happen, and presumably the advance sales without Martin just weren't there. And the production did not recoup."

I never got to catch this revival at the time, though I wish I could have since I am a fan of Martin (at least his music - never saw him acting in anything). From what I've heard from those who did go to see him, he was better than his reviews suggested. I guess the box office reflected this.

 

I'm surprised - being a box office draw as he proved to be - there was nothing else offered to him in the past seven years. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 9:21am

David10086 said: "JBroadway said: "The last revival did decent business, but only because of Ricky Martin. The numbers plummeted when he was on vacation, and when he announced he was leaving permanently, they ended up deciding to close to the show along with his departure. From the linked article, apparently they wanted to cast more bankable names, but it just didn't happen, and presumably the advance sales without Martin just weren't there. And the production did not recoup."

I never got to catch this revival at the time, though I wish I could have since I am a fan of Martin (at least his music - never saw him acting in anything). From what I've heard from those who did go to see him, he was better than his reviews suggested. I guess the box office reflected this.



I'm surprised - being a box office draw as he proved to be - there was nothing else offered to him in the past seven years."


Things could have been offered to him, but maybe due to timing and/or fit for the role, it was turned down. Personally, I think three factors are at play here.

1) His reviews for EVITA were exactly raves across the board, mostly knocking his overly chipper approach to the character, and his star presence being somewhat of a distraction. (When Max von Essen took the alternate position, reviews were kinder.)

2) He’s been quite busy in other areas, including judging two international versions of THE VOICE, touring, and did some TV work (including an Emmy nod for the American Crime Story: Versace)

3) He has a full family now, and maybe he doesn’t want to commit to a long time away from his kids. (I realize this partially contradicts #2, but filming a TV series can still allow for commuting during the week, whereas Broadway cannot)

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 9:46am

The New York Times review of EVITA at City Center had a lot of qualms with the production, so that alone would give any producer pause about attempting to transfer it.

Before he died, Hal Prince was helpful of bringing his (magnificent) original staging of EVITA back to New York City. I hope that still happens.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 10:10am

If any production were going to transfer I would imagine it being the UK production from last year in Regents Park that’s transferring this summer to the Barbican.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 11:15am

I did not see this production, but I did see the Elena Rogers / Ricky Martin version.  I don't know if you can predict the success / failure of a new production based on that production.  It was not well-received by the critics (IMO, the production wasn't very good), Elena Rogers got some pretty devastating reviews (certainly after her London reviews), and as for word of mouth, I personally did not know anyone who did not have reservations about it (mostly about Rogers).  

That is not to say that I think it is time for a new production of Evita on Broadway yet.  I do, however, think that an outstanding production could  be successful, especially if they can do it in a smaller theatre, which I am convinced is possible.

Don't sn*, but last year I saw a brilliant regional production in a smaller theatre in Sarasota -- the Asolo, which premiered Bonnie and Clyde and is premiering Knoxville (based on All the Way Home), with the same creative team as Ragtime, in the spring. it was directed by Josh Rhodes, who has a number of (IMO) not particularly impressive Broadway credits.  I can honestly say that in some ways l was as impressed with it as I was with Hal Prince's original production (which I know sounds like BS, since that was one of the most brilliantly staged musical productions I have ever seen); but I am serious.  It was that good).  I remember thinking that it would fit right at home it in a smaller Broadway theatre that has hosted musicals. 

There is no question in my mind that to be successful in the relative near-term, a new production would need to be brilliant, original, smallish (keep budget and weekly nut down), and get great reviews; Rhodes' production has convinced me that that is possible.

 

 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 12:40pm

Jarethan said: "I did not see this production, but I did see the Elena Rogers / Ricky Martin version. I don't know if you can predict the success / failure of a new production based on that production. It was not well-received by the critics (IMO, the production wasn't very good),Elena Rogers got some pretty devastating reviews (certainly after her London reviews), and as for word of mouth,I personally did not know anyone who did not have reservations about it (mostly about Rogers).”

 

That’s a fair point. I’m sure the poor reception had some effect on the sales-sans-Martin. But I think there’s still something to be said for the lack of interest in the musical itself. Especially as it relates to the tourist crowd - which, as we all know, is the backbone of Broadway’s economy. The average tourist probably has very limited awareness of published reviews, or word-of-mouth within the NYC theatre community. And socIf the tourist-appeal for an Evita revival were strong enough, the tourists probably would have gone to see it on the title alone, without looking into reviews. But that clearly wasn’t the case, as the decline in sales without star power showed.


 

[Zion24]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 2:02pm

despite the recent revival, the right production could certainly make a go of it (the 2012 revival lasted a year in a huge theater, despite poor reviews, poor word of mouth,...) but here, they aren't filling City Center by any stretch, and the reviews (particularly from NYT) were not kind enough to warrant pumping more money into this...

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 2:40pm

Now that they ripped the band-aid off the "well she's not Patti LuPone" reviews that Elena was forced to endure, I think another revival might actually work. I'd love to think some version of the Regent's Park version might make it to Broadway, especially since Jamie Lloyd is still a hot name right now. 

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 3:07pm

Elena Roger was absolutely dreadful, I'm not sure she was forced to endure anything. Her piercing, shrill, colorless voice basically ruined the show for me.

I don't think there's one bit of a demand for ANY revival of the show right now. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 3:35pm

JBroadway said: "Jarethan said: "I did not see this production, but I did see the Elena Rogers / Ricky Martin version. I don't know if you can predict the success / failure of a new production based on that production. It was not well-received by the critics (IMO, the production wasn't very good),Elena Rogers got some pretty devastating reviews (certainly after her London reviews), and as for word of mouth,I personally did not know anyone who did not have reservations about it (mostly about Rogers).”



That’s a fair point. I’m sure the poor reception had some effect on the sales-sans-Martin. But I think there’s still something to be said for the lack of interest in the musical itself. Especially as it relates to the tourist crowd - which, as we all know, is the backbone of Broadway’s economy. The average tourist probably has very limited awareness of published reviews, or word-of-mouth within the NYC theatre community. And socIf the tourist-appeal for an Evita revival were strong enough, the tourists probably would have gone to see it on the title alone, without looking into reviews. But that clearly wasn’t the case, as the decline in sales without star power showed.

You are probably right.  But...

I know that The Color Purple revival was not a financial success, but it did run a season, despite being a revival of a show that opened less than 10 years earlier and only remained opened as long as it did because of Oprah Winfrey's sheer force.  The revival of Color Purple benefited from Cynthia Erivo's performance and John Doyle's stripped down approach to a ridiculously bloated original production.  

Evita is much more  known and acclaimed musical, with much better 'raw material' for a director to work with than TCP (IMO) and certainly provides the opportunity for two great performances.  Clearly, lightening rarely strikes twice, so the likelihood of landing a Cynthia Erivo level talent to play Evita is a hard order.  But I do bet that more people would flock to see great revival of Evita than a great revival of TCP.  

I have to admit that, having seen TCP three times, in NYC with La Chanze, in DC with Fantasia, and again in NYC with Erivo, I have never particularly liked the show.  I just don't think it has a good score or book, and was bored much of the time in all three visits.

 

 

[AntV]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 11:24pm

What is the other show Solea might be in?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/25/19 at 11:27pm

AntV said: "What is the other show Solea might be in?"

Almost Famous.