Will popular titles or actors be the saving grace for broadway

[Theatrefanboy1]

When the theatres do reopen. Do you think it a popular title (ie a revival) or popular actor (major Hollywood name or big name ensemble casting like they did for the front page, its only a play, the best man) or a combination of both (Bette and David in hello dolly, Hugh  and Sutton in music man) be the saving grace for broadway theatre.

Part of me finds it hard to believe that producers will want to mount a show without one or the other for a while after this. Hoping to see some return. I also cant see a cut in ticket prices lasting for too long. I feel that many may be more inclined to follow one of these routes considering how much income it could bring as well to those working behind the scenes of a show.

[VotePeron]

This is a good point! I personally think quick, cheap revivals of well-known feel-good titles could really help. Something like Mamma Mia, Hairspray, Annie - shows that wouldn’t need stars but already have mass appeal.

[latitudex1]

I'll probably eat crow for this, but I don't think anyone is going to see stars in a full Broadway production unless the production itself is actually good. Smaller, cheaper revivals and even new, cheap-to-mount and run works make sense to me. There is also a huge opportunity for empty theatres to host one-off theatrical events and concerts headlined by stars.

Basically, post 9/11 Broadway, just amplified.

[Theatrefanboy1]

I definitely agree with that. I think financially either the cheaper to mount, popular revivals will the preferred calling. I also see a show like SIX with lower weekly operating costs taking the spaces.

In terms of limited runs I wonder who the could enlist. Of course after this I think a Barbra evening would do well if she would ever do a cabaret story time evening in a theatre. I’ve said for years Bette Midler I think would do well as a piano bar, storytime show. 

Its so surprising to see how many of those that took up residencies after 9/11 are no longer with us. 

[OhHiJohnny]

Maybe this will bring the Hollywood Bowl production of Into the Woods to Broadway? Popular title that hasn’t been seen since the last crisis with a bunch of Broadway A-Listers? And I know Skylar Astin has said they’d wanted to transfer.

[Theatrefanboy1]

OhHiJohnny said: "Maybe this will bring the Hollywood Bowl production of Into the Woods to Broadway? Popular title that hasn’t been seen since the last crisis with a bunch of Broadway A-Listers? And I know Skylar Astin has said they’d wanted to transfer. "

I would not be opposed to that.  Though Sutton would likely have to be replaced

[dramamama611]

No matter what ends up happening, it will be a case of the road not taken.   For new shows that take the gamble (it's always a gamble) OR a revival you simply won't know if it's the show/the production/the cast. 

 

Broadway WILL be back - but there very well could be a lot of failures before the public comes back ENOUGH.

[Jordan Catalano]

A lot of this I’ve said in other threads but 3 things I am pretty sure will be on broadway are

-Feel-good musicals will be massive hits when broadway reopens. “Mamma Mia” came along after 9/11 and even though the show is trash it was just what was needed at that time and was a massive success. Things like “Annie” and “Hairspspray” seem like natural fits.

-Cheap play revivals with huge stars will probably be the first new things open. 2-3 person plays with enormously famous people will be all the rage.

-Concerts will be a very regular thing on broadway for a while, whether for 2 weeks or 2 months I imagine they’ll get as many people as possible to see someone they’d normally see in a stadium but maybe feel a bit safer in a regular theatre.

[Alex Kulak2]

Jordan Catalano said:

-Cheap play revivals with huge stars will probably be the first new things open. 2-3 person plays with enormously famous people will be all the rage.

Someone tell Lucas Hnath to write 20 more plays for Laurie Metcalf.

[BeNice]

I was thinking about this a lot and I can see a world where instead of the old “I want to see show/concert x so badly I am going to plan to save my money!” it’s now going to be more like “I want to see this show/concert so badly I am going to plan to get my antibodies tested.”
I think as long as an event is created that gets people so excited (celebs or no) people will do what they do to make sure they can participate and witness. Things that have buoyed Broadway in the past have not been star driven but the likes of Chorus Line, Cats, Hamilton, etc.

[gibsons2]

Alex Kulak2 said: "Jordan Catalano said:

-Cheap play revivals with huge stars will probably be the first new things open. 2-3 person plays with enormously famous people will be all the rage.

Someone tell Lucas Hnath to write 20 more plays for Laurie Metcalf."

And Laura Linney.

[Jordan Catalano]

A revival of “Three Days of Rain” maybe with A-level talent like it had before with Julia Roberts, Paul Rudd & Bradley Cooper.

[nasty_khakis]

I'm guessing calls are already going to A+ list STARS to gage interest and what they'd want to do. If Meryl wants to return to the NY stage a producer will let her do just about anything. If Beyonce always wanted to do Funny Girl, it'll get done. However, I agree with Jordan it's going to be small one-set plays with 2-4 actors total vs "Tilda Swinton in Auntie Mame" that would need to run way longer to recoup the cost of the larger cast, costumes, and sets. 

We will probably see a renaissance of Neil Simon's early comedies, known crowd-pleasers known by name and by "oh it's funny!" Not only the Parker/Broderick Plaza Suite, but perhaps Sean Hayes/Tom Hanks Odd Couple, an Emma Stone/Superhero movie actor Barefoot in the Park, etc. 

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Maybe we’ll finally get the broadway premiere of “Legends!”

[Alex M]

Jordan Catalano said: "Cheap play revivals with huge stars will probably be the first new things open. 2-3 person plays with enormously famous people will be all the rage.”

Did someone say “Oh, Hello (back) on broadway”?

 

[Robbie2]

Bette Midler ~ Back on Broadway in Hello, Dolly!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B3-EIH6J_g

[Robbie2]

Harry Styles in the TOMMY revival 

[MlleDaae]

Not to be an ass, but popular titles and famous actors have been something Broadway's been doing for the last few years. Will the outcome be any different post pandemic? Guess only time will tell.

[iabwayfan]

Robbie2 said: "Bette Midler ~ Back on Broadway in Hello, Dolly!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B3-EIH6J_g"

 

I wish so much I could find this full show online. 

[Theatrefanboy1]

After reading an article on TImothee Chalamet in 4000 miles. I actually think that following this closure. There will be a New York transfer. It seems designed with a small one fix set and just two big stars. It wouldn’t surprise me at all that they brought this over to get some theatres filled and bums in seats.

 

i also agree with the one suggestion made for casting of The Who’s Tommy.  Someone like Harry Styles. I really think would work. But also be a bit of a requirement. 

 

Im surprised here to hear even where I am how many people have no interest in returning to the theatre or concerts or sporting events for a long time. So if that’s the case in smaller theatre cities I can only imagine the amplification of that sentiment in a larger body. 

[Robbie2]

iabwayfan said: "Robbie2 said: "Bette Midler ~ Back on Broadway in Hello, Dolly!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B3-EIH6J_g"



I wish so much I could find this full show online. "

true just snippets of a couple of numbers

 

[David10086]

I’m betting we will see big star names in scaled back revivals, like ALW did with Sunset Blvd in 2017. No need for a big stage setting when scaffolding works just as well.

[CATSNYrevival]

David10086 said: "I’m betting we will see big star names in scaled back revivals, like ALW did with Sunset Blvd in 2017. No need for a big stage setting when scaffolding works just as well. "

That orchestra wasn’t cheap.