Is Diana going to Netflix?- Page 5

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/12/20 at 6:01pm

Seriously - anything is better than a Zoom reading at this point. Months ago, I was so grateful for those readings but...I just can’t anymore.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/12/20 at 7:19pm

CHICAGO received a new life after the release of the Academy Award winning 2002 film adaptation and TITANIC had a decent 2 year run thanks to the 1997 Academy Award winning film that had zero to do with it.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/12/20 at 7:37pm

This does seem to point towards the show never returning to Broadway. I mean, why pay $100+ for a ticket when you can watch it on Netflix?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 8/12/20 at 8:12pm

^ That's what I'm thinking as well. This show never opened, barely anyone saw it, it was a mediocre show at best. Some money is better than no money I guess. This isn't a long established show that people will still go to (Les Mis, Hamilton, Phantom), so I guess this is their only move. 

Updated On: 8/12/20 at 08:12 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/12/20 at 8:19pm

If that was the case, why would they have announced a new opening night today? There’s no reason at all to do that.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 8/12/20 at 8:22pm

I have no idea, I truly hope this succeeds but this seems like a strange move for a show with hardly any buzz this past Winter. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/12/20 at 8:29pm

To be fair, it played only 9 performances. I think this is a gamble they’re taking with a huge platform like Netflix, that it will promote the show and help it succeed when they reopen. And if they’re wrong, the show lives forever professionally filmed and one of the only real “Go-To” options for people who want to watch a (Professionally Shot) Broadway show at home. which is something that’s only happened a handful of times. I really don’t see a downside here.

[fosterfan2]

Posted: 8/12/20 at 8:36pm

chrishuyen said: "Legally Blonde is a big one for filmed/aired while still running, and I've heard Jerry Mitchell say that he attributed a lot of the later Broadway/touring audience to people who had first seen it aired on MTV. I believe Kate Shindle's also said something similar when she mentioned talking to people at stage door.

To a lesser extent, I believe Daddy Long Legs was as well during the run off Broadway. I think the interesting thing here is that despite the first few previews and the San Diego run, this show is largely unseen and has no cast album yet (they announced they were recording it so I wonder if it'll help stir up interest if they release it before the film). Legally Blonde (I presume) already had its fans of the musical based on the music/actors and not just the original movie.

Personally, I found the show fairly mediocre so I don't see a filmed version helping its ticket sales, especially since it doesn't seem to be a "bring the family" kind of movie where kids/teens would become super invested in it and see it over and over again (which I feel was the demographic for Legally Blonde). But if this turns into a success, it could definitely change how other producers approach shows. Then again, we're in pretty unique circumstances so maybe not...

I'd love to see the new Company filmed though?"

I agree with you about Company,as I posted yesterday. I'd even start a Netflix subscription just for that.  (I know,I know. I need to get one already!)

[Jmuep2]

Posted: 8/12/20 at 8:57pm

In my opinion, this is a fascinating move. It's great for Netflix because it's content (which they're gonna need in the coming months since there's so little production that's happened in the last six months), but it's also content that is value add to one of their biggest shows, THE CROWN. So much of the upcoming season of that is going to revolve around the story that's being told in DIANA that it makes sense for them. 

 

From the show's POV, I'm sure they're hoping it will raise their buzz level. I saw a survey that something like over 33% of people who'd never seen HAMILTON onstage wanted to buy tickets to it after having watched it on Disney+ last month. If DIANA can get half of that number of people interested, I would think that's a win for them when they open in the spring. 

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/12/20 at 9:10pm

chrishuyen said: "Legally Blonde is a big one for filmed/aired while still running, and I've heard Jerry Mitchell say that he attributed a lot of the later Broadway/touring audience to people who had first seen it aired on MTV. I believe Kate Shindle's also said something similar when she mentioned talking to people at stage door.

To a lesser extent, I believe Daddy Long Legs was as well during the run off Broadway. I think the interesting thing here is that despite the first few previews and the San Diego run, this show is largely unseen and has no cast album yet (they announced they were recording it so I wonder if it'll help stir up interest if they release it before the film). Legally Blonde (I presume) already had its fans of the musical based on the music/actors and not just the original movie.

Personally, I found the show fairly mediocre so I don't see a filmed version helping its ticket sales, especially since it doesn't seem to be a "bring the family" kind of movie where kids/teens would become super invested in it and see it over and over again (which I feel was the demographic for Legally Blonde). But if this turns into a success, it could definitely change how other producers approach shows. Then again, we're in pretty unique circumstances so maybe not...

I'd love to see the new Company filmed though?"

Both Legally Blonde and Daddy Longlegs failed to recoup their investment. So, not a valid point. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 8/12/20 at 9:18pm

Jordan Catalano said: "If that was the case, why would they have announced a new opening night today? There’s no reason at all to do that."

I read that as akin to announcing that you are closing to tour. Maybe you will, maybe you won't. But in this case, it's also essential to establish for Netflix marketing: this is not technically a Broadway show right now. 

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 8/12/20 at 9:34pm

Jordan Catalano said: "If that was the case, why would they have announced a new opening night today? There’s no reason at all to do that."

It costs nothing to announce an opening date, or a tour, etc. Just ask Ken Davenport. I think they really are trying to and probably will open. But sometimes these types of announcements are hail marys. Sometimes they are to show the investors that you are still fighting. And sometimes they are the statements of a delusional producer (see the above-referenced producer.)

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 8/12/20 at 9:45pm

To be fair, it played only 9 performances. I think this is a gamble they’re taking with a huge platform like Netflix, that it will promote the show and help it succeed when they reopen. And if they’re wrong, the show lives forever professionally filmed and one of the only real “Go-To” options for people who want to watch a (Professionally Shot) Broadway show at home. which is something that’s only happened a handful of times. I really don’t see a downside here.

Yeah, I didn't remember how many performances it played. You saw it right? Did you enjoy it? I don't see a downside from a fan perspective at all either, I just think it's an interesting move. 

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/12/20 at 10:23pm

IBDB says it played 9 performances. And I did really enjoy it. As I’ve said elsewhere, it’s a total throwback in a lot of ways to the british rock musicals of the 80s, which I was in no way expecting.

[broadwayghost1]

Posted: 8/12/20 at 11:27pm

It is being filmed in september without an audience and it will stream on netflix in the future. Just saw it on CBS news in new york.

[bear88]

Posted: 8/13/20 at 1:22am

If it can be done safely, I'm all for it.

I am definitely not the target audience for this production. I don't care about the Royal Family, or Diana, and the reviews have been decidedly mixed.

But it would be foolish not to recognize the fascination Diana and the Royal Family holds here. The producers have nothing to lose. Their show, unlike most, will be recorded for posterity - and that might even drive some ticket sales if people like it. Neither does Netflix. It will either do well for them, and serve as a musical extension of The Crown, or it won't, and at least they'll have something new to promote next year. (Let's face it, everyone will be out of material by 2021.) 

And for me, hey, I've got nothing to lose either except 2 1/2 hours (or however long the show is). I'm curious enough to watch it for free since I already have a Netflix subscription. I'm all in favor of more recorded musicals and plays.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 8/13/20 at 1:35am

I just realized that the tentative B'way reopening date for Diana was announced exactly a full year after its initial opening date at the Longacre was revealed- what a coincidence!

[Dolly80]

Posted: 8/13/20 at 3:40am

This is probably quite a smart move. Let’s face it, this show was only ever going to flop so at least now they can record it for prosperity. And IF it does open on Broadway as suggested, it will potentially have a bigger audience and more public recognition after being shown on Netflix.

Every time I see a photo of the lead actress trying to pass as Diana, a bit of me dies inside to think that anyone is even bothering with this show, let alone throwing money away doing it.

[Kimbo]

Posted: 8/13/20 at 8:26am

HogansHero said: "Jordan Catalano said: "If that was the case, why would they have announced a new opening night today? There’s no reason at all to do that."

I read that as akin to announcing that you are closing to tour. Maybe you will, maybe you won't. But in this case, it's also essential to establish for Netflix marketing: this is not technically a Broadway show right now."

This, right here. They can’t very well hype it up as “Netflix is filming a Broadway show that is never going to open!”  And I hope it does open. But to Jordan’s original question, and regardless of whether this was being taped for Netflix or not, there’s no harm in announcing a new opening night  - however, as more and more people in the industry seem to tacitly suspect that Broadway will stay closed through the winter and spring, and more likely until an effective vaccine is widely and readily available to a majority of the population, it’s a valid question whether any of the half dozen or so currently announced early 2021 opening dates will actually occur.
 

(Also, for that matter, I agree with what another poster said on the previous page:  it’s a huge gamble because the show will undoubtedly be reviewed as a finished product when it drops on Netflix, whether by the theater or television critics - and even if it is stupid fun as some seem to think, it’s hard to imagine the producers still moving ahead with reopening it if it gets anything less than race reviews, unless it really takes off as a giant Netflix cult hit a la “Tiger King”.  Most likely this is a way to guarantee a cast album, a partial return on their investment, and a way to establish the show as a licensable property for regional theatres, summer stock and schools for the after-times, in the years to come.)  But boy do I miss Broadway, and want all of these shows to come back. 

 

[Tom5]

Posted: 8/15/20 at 2:44pm

   Diana will easily receive a larger worldwide audience on Netflix than it would have ever gotten from a two year run on Broadway. Much larger and it will certainly include 100 percent of everyone whoever posted here. All great for the cast and Jeanna de Waal in the lead and I'm sure there will be much lively discussion about it later (what else will be happening?) But as for a follow up opening on Broadway with social distancing almost certainly still in place I don't see it happening. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 8/15/20 at 2:47pm

100% agree

[HogansHero]

Posted: 8/15/20 at 3:53pm

I agree except that there are too many unknowables to say "almost certainly" that there will be social distancing in May. But what we can say almost certainly is that there will not be a sufficient audience for this in May to rationally open it, unless the Rich's just want to throw away that many more gallons of creamer profit so they can have a party.

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 8/15/20 at 5:27pm

HogansHero said: "I agree except that there are too many unknowables to say "almost certainly"that there will be social distancing in May. But what we can say almost certainly is that there will not be a sufficient audience for this in May to rationally open it, unless the Rich's just want to throwaway that many more gallons of creamer profit so they can have a party."

I didn't realize the Rich's of Grove Entertainment are also the Rich's of the food products company. Hogan your knowledge never ceases to amaze me.  Looks like they didn't renew their domain registration. Grove Entertainment now points to an online Viagra storefront.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 8/15/20 at 5:54pm

Maybe they wisely invested those profits in Viagra!

[Kad]

Posted: 8/15/20 at 9:20pm

HogansHero said: " But what we can say almost certainly is that there will not be a sufficient audience for this in May to rationally open ."

Was there even a sufficient audience for this to rationally open in a pre-pandemic world?