FROZEN closes on Broadway- Page 3

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 5:54pm

rkade21 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "FROZEN is still scheduled to open on the West End later this year."

I was trying to figure that out, the NYT article suggested it will not be, but might've only been referring to currently running productions:

Schumacher said the company remains committed to “The Lion King” and “Aladdin” on Broadway, to “The Lion King” and “Mary Poppins” in London’s West End, and to touring productions of “The Lion King” and “Frozen” in North America and “The Lion King” in Britain."

If you read further in the Times article, it does actually mention the planned upcoming London production: "Not only does Disney plan to resume the North American tour of “Frozen” once theaters open, but Schumacher also said he plans to open additional “Frozen” productions over the next year in London, Sydney, Hamburg and Tokyo."

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 5:56pm

Kad said: "Nobody should be putting any faith into production plans announced before this pandemic."

Exactly. Until we have a sense of what is possible and when, prognostication is a perilous occupation. It does not matter a whit what is being "pushed," "rehearsed," or anything else until we start to understand when Broadway might be viable, and how. At this point, we are not even close to the first phase. Why are we talking about the last phase like we know anything? Until we have a vaccine or a truly effective anti-viral regime (and it goes without saying that we don't know when that will be), we are going to be looking at socially distanced audiences and performers and that, and nothing else, is going to dictate what is possible. 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 6:01pm

Princeton2 said: "Mr Roxy said: "Wonder if Phantom will ultimately survives. Disney has deep pockets so this is,a shot across everyones bow."

They dont have deep pockets. They are losing billions. Almost all their revenue streams have stopped, and they have also made some big purchases recently. Disney Plus is pretty much their only major form of income at the moment."

This. Disney's strategy of buying instead of creating is now harming them. Fortunately its massive holdings will allow them to get financing if needed,  so I'm sure it'll survive. But is going to hurt. 

And as others have noted,  I wouldn't use Frozen's closing as  a barometer for other shows. It was underperforming as it was, and it was never the massive hit that was expected.  

[WestEndGal]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 6:12pm

Ahhh really sad news. Especially gutted for the new cast to only have a month or so in the show

[AADA81]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 7:00pm

There will be more to come with all of the changes in response to COVID.  Tourists, who play a large role in keeping some long running shows open, may not be coming to NYC as before.  If theaters can only be considered full at a much lower capacity, that right there will put shows out of business.  Can shows stay closed for a year and still come back?  The financial cost of that may not be tenable for some productions.  There are so many things we don't know yet that will impact this, and everything else in our lives for the significant future.  This is the time we're living in.

[BizBuzz]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 7:15pm

This is sad to read, but not too shocking or something to start getting completely dismayed about.

No doubt it’s been bought forward by this awful situation and it’s so sad the production never got to end properly, but an end of Summer or year closure was always on the cards unless fortunes turned on Frozen, prior to Covid, it was not performing where it should be.

I think Disney are being smart. Aladdin and The Lion King are more robust to survive in a downturn of tourism and can sustain. Frozen never really entered that league. Also I am sure the closing has allowed financial relief for the company as it will mean the assets of the show can be shipped to London should that go ahead.

I would only panic if Disney announced Lion King was closing! 
 

As for replacing with Beauty and the Beast. Not yet, no family shows will light up til Summer 2021 at earliest unless there is a clear medical break thru that suddenly makes travel and safety ease.
 

The future of mega musicals with high production costs are on hold. Sustainable and cost effective will see theatre thru the next year

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 7:22pm

I  have to disagree with Jordan.  Cost wise, I think "Chicago" is better suited to survive this crisis.  It's weekly costs are significantly lower than that of other major shows.  The question is if the Weisslers are willing to spend the $$ in the meantime, until Broadway can re-open.  I cannot imagine Broadway without "Chicago".  There is so much than can happen until it is safe for Broadway to return.  

[Rogerdellibovi]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 7:26pm

What shows are in the most danger of never opening back up?

[Jakeevan942]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 7:38pm

I fairly certain that Disney has been looking for a means to shut this down, while not totally admitting defeat like they did with Mermaid and Tarzan. This was the perfect opportunity. In a perfect world, they would have had the show re-reviewed with the tour changes to ride out until they wanted the St. James for something new, but they cut their losses given the current situation.

And Mrs. Doubtfire only has the Buena Vista Theatrical affiliation because of the Disney/Fox merger-These creatives were working on the project before the Disney acquisition, and now McCollum is just licensing the IP from Disney

[BizBuzz]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 7:41pm

Depends on time... but immediately springs to mind is Mean Girls. Also Harry Potter, it’s been struggling to land. It’s gross has not been in the mega league for such a title and size house. Struggle to get an audience to visit a show? You’ve got double struggle to get them to spend a whole day or two repeated nights. 
 

Tina, Diana, Girl From North Country, Jagged worry me as time goes on... possibly followed by Aint too proud, West Side and Company. 

 

[BizBuzz]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 7:41pm

Depends on time... but immediately springs to mind is Mean Girls. Also Harry Potter, it’s been struggling to land. It’s gross has not been in the mega league for such a title and size house. Struggle to get an audience to visit a show? You’ve got double struggle to get them to spend a whole day or two repeated nights. 
 

Tina, Diana, Girl From North Country, Jagged worry me as time goes on... possibly followed by Aint too proud, West Side and Company. 

 

[FlyHigh523]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 7:41pm

Rogerdellibovi said: "What shows are in the most danger of never opening back up? "

I’d honestly say Mean Girls is next. Obviously I do not want any shows to close, but I think MG will likely close due to the pandemic. 

[FlyHigh523]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 7:41pm

Double

Updated On: 5/14/20 at 07:41 PM

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 7:55pm

I can't imagine Diana will ever open, or Sing Street ever see a single preview. I think Take Me Out and American Buffalo also won't happen, unless they recast or work with the stars' schedules, which I'm sure already be screwed up by the Hollywood production backlog.

[IAMREADING]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 7:59pm

FlyHigh523 said: "Rogerdellibovi said: "What shows are in the most danger of never opening back up? "

I’d honestly say Mean Girls is next. Obviously I do not want any shows to close, but I think MG will likely close due to the pandemic."

I love that show but I’m bracing for this too. I am pretty sure they don’t even have a Cady now unless Sabrina’s other projects or what not also got pushed back. When the Broadway shutdown first got extended to June (her run ends June 7) the official Facebook page suggested she may extend but now that it’s September idk 😐 

[ChildofEarth]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 8:02pm

I’m worried about Hadestown and Six as well. Both shows doing well but the production teams behind them don’t have infinite money.

[MannPhan24601]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 8:16pm

IAMREADING said: "FlyHigh523 said: "Rogerdellibovi said: "What shows are in the most danger of never opening back up? "

I’d honestly say Mean Girls is next. Obviously I do not want any shows to close, but I think MG will likely close due to the pandemic."

I love that show but I’m bracing for this too. I am pretty sure they don’t even have a Cady now unless Sabrina’s other projects or what not also got pushed back. When the Broadway shutdown first got extended to June (her run ends June 7) the official Facebook page suggested she may extend but now that it’s September idk ?"

 

I remember reading on fb somewhere that Sabrina plans on returning whenever broadway reopens and Mean Girls stays open, same with Jordan Fisher in DEH

 

[StephieElise]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 8:39pm

BroadwayGuy12 said: "rkade21 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "FROZEN is still scheduled to open on the West End later this year."

I was trying to figure that out, the NYT article suggested it will not be, but might've only been referring to currently running productions:

Schumacher said the company remains committed to “The Lion King” and “Aladdin” on Broadway, to “The Lion King” and “Mary Poppins” in London’s West End, and to touring productions of “The Lion King” and “Frozen” in North America and “The Lion King” in Britain."

If you read further in the Timesarticle, it does actually mention the planned upcoming London production: "Not only does Disney plan to resume the North American tour of “Frozen” once theaters open, but Schumacher also said he plans to open additional “Frozen” productions over the next year in London, Sydney, Hamburg and Tokyo.""

It was just announced this morning that the Sydney production has been pushed back to December (although frankly I still think that’s a long shot, sadly). 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 8:48pm

Sad but Disney will survive. 

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 10:36pm

If West Side closes ya know....

....they handled the Amar Ramasar thing just terribly so

It’ll be karma for giving such a big middle finger to people rightfully upset about that casting

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 10:51pm

For the BatB revival... if its just a bolstered version of the ****ty version based on the new movie playing on a cruise ship I'm going to be pissed.... and it probably will be....

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/14/20 at 11:24pm

Are shows still paying rent, etc? If the cast members are still rehearsing for Doubtfire is that just on them or are they getting paid stll?

[Broadway Buddy]

Posted: 5/15/20 at 12:23am

Lots of cast and crew members have announced that Doubtfire will be one of the shows returning and I hope that still applies after this extension and most likely a couple more.

Like most people, I bet Mean Girls is next. They’ve been in the same boat as Frozen for a little while now where they don’t sell out every night and if they do it’s pretty last minute.

Don’t see American Buffalo, Diana, or Take Me Out surviving either.

Keeping my eyes and ears open. Very devastated about Frozen though. That show brought a lot of joy to me and the people I took both times I went.

[KKeller6]

Posted: 5/15/20 at 1:12am

I feel like whenever Broadway does reopen, will we have 30+shows running at a time for awhile? Or will we have, say 15 or so for maybe years? Just a feeling. 

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/15/20 at 1:29am

KKeller6 said: "I feel like whenever Broadway does reopen, will we have 30+shows running at a time for awhile? Or will we have, say 15 or so for maybe years? Just a feeling."

I believe it will snow ball. If a few shows make it work, others will follow. The rough part will be for those who dare to give it a try first.