Renovations While Theatres Are Closed

[Jason Shatz]

Posted: 5/4/20 at 4:35pm

It looks like the theaters will be closed for a while. (Personally, I predict the fall at earliest, but most likely next year, whenever we have mass distribution of treatments or, better yet, a vaccine.)

Anyway, it seems like the perfect time for theaters to undergo whatever much-needed renovations can be done, particularly in making sure that the spaces are clean once it is safe again for audiences to gather.  What renovations do you think can and should be accomplished at this time?  Replacing worn-down seats, cleaning floors/bathrooms, etc.  And which spaces need them the most?

Be specific if you'd like - for example, "The seats in the orchestra of the XYZ Theatre are worn-down and should be replaced."

 

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/4/20 at 11:03pm

And who do you suppose will be doing the work? I can't imagine that interior renovation would be deemed "essential" at the moment.

[Wick3]

Posted: 5/4/20 at 11:21pm

I'd think the Majestic Theater (Phantom of the Opera) would have some sort of renovation given how it has not had any major renovations since 1988. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/4/20 at 11:24pm

There will likely be a very long period between phase 1, when construction will be possible, and phase 4, when theatre will be possible. I don't have any interest in guessing what will be undertaken but have at it.

[saxpower]

Posted: 5/5/20 at 12:25am

There may also be a period where theatre is permitted, but the shows are rehearsing, making sure sets are still working, etc, which will provide some time for at least maintenance. 

Still, I would think anything done would be more in the way of maintenance/repair than wholesale renovations- those take more time and I'm sure the theatre owners and other parties want to be  able to reopen quickly once the all clear is given and not risk  the "all clear" being given and being stuck waiting for plasterwork to go back and scaffolding to come down.   I remember reading they were able to replace all seats at the August Wilson between a Sunday matinee and Tuesday evening- so they could take the opportunity to do that sort of thing, replace carpet, etc- particularly in something like the Majestic or Ambassador which have had long term shows and less of a chance to fix things as they come up.

Of course, the other question is how many shows actually do manage to re-open- if the theatre is going to be dark, more could conceivably be done- the question might arise as to whether the Shuberts/Nederlanders/Jujamcyn would be in a financial position to do it after all this or would be inclined to spend the money until they get a better idea of the recovery. 

 

Depending what goes on with The Minutes, maybe the Shuberts can finally renovate the Cort which supposedly has been planned for a while. 

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 5/5/20 at 12:44am

Jason Shatz said: "It looks like the theaters will be closed for a while. (Personally, I predict the fall at earliest, but most likely next year, whenever we havemass distribution of treatments or, better yet, a vaccine.)

Anyway, it seems like the perfect time for theaters to undergo whatever much-needed renovations can be done, particularly in making sure that the spaces are clean once it is safe again for audiences to gather. What renovations do you think can and should be accomplished at this time? Replacing worn-down seats, cleaning floors/bathrooms, etc. And which spaces need them the most?

Be specific if you'd like - for example, "The seats in the orchestra of the XYZ Theatre are worn-down and should be replaced."

Cap ex projects will probably be among the first things to go as theater owners look to trim their budgets. I don't think we'll see much in the way of renovations during this.

 

[sparksatmidnight]

Posted: 5/5/20 at 3:30am

If they didn't spend the money while they were *earning* money, they certainly won't be spending them now or leading up to the reopening. New seats accross the board would be nice, though.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/5/20 at 8:56am

If construction work resumes in NYC, let's say July 15-Sep 1, there will still be months before theatre is allowed. This leaves the time to do renovations. Money is not an issue. The landlords have money (and could easily borrow if they wanted). They are never earning money during renovations but during the hiatus there is no opportunity cost. This is the logical time to do the work. 

[raddersons]

Posted: 5/5/20 at 9:18am

This is the perfect moment. Finally there is an opportunity for theater owners to add additional bathroom capacity in theaters with long running shows. Nederlander, Shubert, Jujamcyn, please, do this work!! It would make the theater going experience so much more pleasant. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/5/20 at 9:36am

The Ambassador certainly needs a renovation. Just a matter of if the theaters' owners want to foot the bill now without any revenue coming in.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/5/20 at 9:52am

Frankly, renovations may even be necessary in order to make theaters themselves safer for mass gatherings. Broadway theaters are generally compact spaces, both front and back of house.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/5/20 at 9:52am

Frankly, renovations may even be necessary in order to make theaters themselves safer for mass gatherings. Broadway theaters are generally compact spaces, both front and back of house.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 5/5/20 at 1:05pm

Oh my this thread is giving me anxiety. You know I'm always worried one of these threads is finally going to convince Cameron Mackintosh to mess with Phantom of the Opera in some way and now here we go again with "let's change let's update". Yeah sure maybe there is some chipping paint in the Majestic's auditorium. But I just worry that they start that and then the next thing you know, the new tour's scenery is being loaded in smh. So in that sense, I'd rather they not touch a thing. 

And as for the Ambassador, they just replaced the seats and the carpets a few years ago. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/5/20 at 1:32pm

Phantom4ever said: "Oh my this thread is giving me anxiety. You know I'm always worried one of these threads is finally going to convince Cameron Mackintosh to mess with Phantom of the Opera in some way and now here we go again with "let's change let's update". Yeah sure maybe there is some chipping paint in the Majestic's auditorium. But I just worry that they start that and then the next thing you know, the new tour's scenery is being loaded in smh. So in that sense, I'd rather they not touch a thing."

apples and oranges. Renovations are by the landlord, scenery is up to the tenant. Relax.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/5/20 at 3:13pm

What happened to the Cort Theatre renovations that were already announced? Are they still in the planning stages? But this goes to the original question - doing renovations is more than just letting workers in and getting to work. It's planning and design and budgets and contracting and supplies, very hard to do when there are current tenants in the venue, and no clear timetable for re-opening. Sure they can replace the seats over a long weekend, but that doesn't just happen with a couple of weeks or even months' notice, even in the best of circumstances. 

[Jason Shatz]

Posted: 5/5/20 at 4:39pm

I agree regarding the constraints.  And in my original question, I wasn't necessarily thinking about cosmetic alterations as much as I was thinking of ones that health and safety warrant.  For instance, "clean up that disgusting bathroom in the (insert theatre here)" or "replace a dirty water fountain in the (insert theatre here)". 

Updated On: 5/5/20 at 04:39 PM

[roadmixer]

Posted: 5/5/20 at 8:11pm

sparksatmidnight said: "If they didn't spend the money while they were *earning* money, they certainly won't be spending them now or leading up to the reopening. New seats accross the board would be nice, though."

Agree 100%.

Theaters would only renovate if they were forced to do so. If owners were inclined to spend money on seats, they would have done so by now. You could replace all of the seats during a load-in in most houses! If they cared about crappy bathrooms they could be done.

i believe that it would take a ticket-buyer revolt to force changes to the quality of the audience amenities. They would need to know that doing a renovation would lead to more money in their pockets.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/5/20 at 9:38pm

roadmixer said: "Theaters would only renovate if theywere forced to do so. If owners were inclined to spend money on seats, they would have done so by now. You could replace all of the seats during a load-in in most houses! If they cared about crappy bathrooms they could be done.

i believe that it would take a ticket-buyer revolt to force changes to the quality of the audience amenities. They would need to know that doing a renovation would lead to more money in their pockets."

I realize that ranting without being troubled by the actual facts is de rigueur in America, but "they" have renovated theatres without any revolt, And if you went to the trouble to understand how money flows to the Broadway landlords, you would know how silly the money in their pockets nonsense is.

[MCW1227]

Posted: 5/5/20 at 10:27pm

Kad said: "Frankly, renovations may even be necessary in order to make theaters themselves safer for mass gatherings. Broadway theaters are generally compact spaces, both front and back of house."

^^ this

[alex814]

Posted: 5/7/20 at 8:54pm

Wick3 said: "I'd think the Majestic Theater (Phantom of the Opera) would have some sort of renovation given how it has not had any major renovations since 1988."

Phantom shut down for a few days in 2008 to install a new sound system.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 5/8/20 at 8:40am

Installing a new production sound system is NOT renovating or updating a theatre.
The Majestic is a glorious house that currently looks like a sweaty brown armpit.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/8/20 at 9:02am

The Cort reno is a much bigger issue. They're building an "annex" and expanding the physical space on the west side of the building. That would take more than a year, but it has continually been delayed for various reasons (some of it due to the work that was happening to the buildings/lots surrounding the Cort).

[Robbie2]

Posted: 5/9/20 at 3:29pm

So many theaters could use some renovations during this closed down-pause but I highly doubt and of our Theater Owners are thinking about doing this at this time...prior to reopening whenever that may be?

[bandit964]

Posted: 8/4/20 at 9:45am

I'm not sure if this was announced before re: the Cort:

"The Shubert Organization has partnered with Berg + Moss Architects to design and construct a 49-story hotel adjacent to the historic Cort Theatre at 138 West 48th Street in Midtown, Manhattan. Proposed actions also include rehabilitation of the theatre and the construction of a five-story annex that would contain a portion of the new hotel component and back-of-house theatre spaces. ... "

https://www.newyorkyimby.com/2020/08/renderings-reveal-proposed-49-story-hotel-at-138-west-48th-street-in-midtown.html 

[raddersons]

Posted: 8/4/20 at 9:58am

Wow! How ugly! Berg + Moss love boring glass buildings, looks like this one will be no exception.

Thrilled for the Cort though.