The Minutes - Moving Theatres

[MollyJeanneMusic]

Due to some planned renovations, The Minutes is leaving the Cort and will reopen on March 15, 2022, exactly two years after its scheduled opening date.

What are we thinking about this?  The article states that they're hoping the whole cast will return, but do we think that's feasible?  What does this say about the return of Broadway next year, if it happens at all - or is the two-year gimmick just a gimmick?  And which theatre should be the next host of The Minutes?

[JBroadway]

Unless I'm missing something, it's unclear whether they hope to move back into the Cort once renovation is complete, or whether they expect to find a new theatre. But that's probably because they themselves don't know.

Like with all Broadway shows, nobody really knows anything definite about the timeline of the return. The 2022 date is probably just a guess/wishful thinking. It sounds plausible, but who knows at this point. 

As for getting the cast back, I'm sure they hope to get everyone back, and I'm sure everyone wants to, and intends to come back. But again, only time will tell whether they actually will. Especially with the bigger stars like Armie Hammer. 

Unfortunately, I have a feeling that this little bit of news might end up being the end of The Minutes, and the planned re-opening might just be a bit of a pipe-dream, like when closing shows announce a tour that never ends up happening. But I hope I'm wrong. One thing is in their favor: there will probably be plenty of empty houses once Broadway does re-open. 

[HogansHero]

FWIW this strikes me as the sort of show that is more likely to find an audience during the recovery period, and yes March '22 we will still very much be in recovery under the best of circumstances.

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

I'm worried this is the end of the line for the Broadway run. Letts has been quite vocal about how he thought this piece was speaking directly to the Trump era...so I always worried that interest in bringing it back after his presidency would diminish. Would the play feel as immediate now? 

If it does come back, I expect they will lose Armie Hammer at the very least, he has no reason to wait around for Broadway to reopen and will undoubtedly be locked into a film contract whenever it does. I hope it returns in 2022, it deserves to actually open.

[Jordan Levinson]

I don't think this will open despite today's news. Will people actually want to see Trumpian pieces about halfway through Joe Biden's presidency? 

At the very least, the Cort is getting renovated. I hope more theaters follow suit. 

[JBroadway]

Sadly, the things that defined the "Trump era" will not magically disappear when Trump leaves office. The social issues that led to his rise are still very much present, and will continue to be for some time. I also don't necessarily agree with Letts that the play is specific to the Trump era. After all....

 

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The play deals with the topics of indigenous erasure & genocide, American imperialism, revisionist history, the US's refusal to atone, etc. While there are connections here to the Trump administration, it goes much deeper and wider than him. We as a society have barely scratched the surface of this issue, and I doubt Biden will suddenly become a champion for Indigenous people. 

A part of me wonders if Letts touted it as a "Trump era play" simply for marketing purposes, to make it seem more urgent and relevant (I actually think the play IS urgent and relevant in many ways, but not because of Trump) 

[Wick3]

I agree that Trumpism won't magically disappear. It really depends on the Republican Party and the direction it chooses to move forward under a Biden/Harris presidency.

It will also be interesting to see what the midterm elections will be like in 2022.

[Mattbrain]

If this Late Late Show interview from last month is anything to go by, Armie Hammer and the rest of the original cast are still committed.

[Owen22]

JBroadway said: "Sadly, the things that defined the "Trump era" will not magically disappear when Trump leaves office. The social issues that led to his rise are still very much present, and will continue to be for some time. I also don't necessarily agree with Letts that the play is specific to the Trump era. After all.

Ummm....THIS!

 

[Jordan Levinson]

I'm not saying the characteristics and effects of Trumpism will magically disappear, I'm just wondering if enough people- especially New Yorkers- would be eager to see a show so heavily involved with politics in a post-COVID world and after a frenetic/controversial 2020 election season. I don't see this sticking around for a while even if it does eventually open.

[CoercedBull]

This play has had such a long road to Broadway already, so it's sad to see that road made even longer. I saw this at Steppenwolf a couple of years ago and was pretty thrilled by it. I hope it's able to reopen on the schedule they're purporting.

[JBroadway]

Jordan Levinson said: "I'm not saying the characteristics and effects of Trumpism will magically disappear, I'm just wondering if enough people- especially New Yorkers-would be eager to see a show so heavily involved with politics in a post-COVID world and after a frenetic/controversial2020 election season. I don't see this sticking around for a whileeven if it does eventually open."

 

Well, that remains to be seen I guess. I certainly hope people don't begin to check out just because Trump is gone. I hope people don't say "thank god I don't have to worry about politics anymore," when in fact, this is the first time in 4 years that we have any hope of creating real positive change, which requires active involvement from the people. If people were willing to engage with political theatre in 2016, they should be willing to engage with it in 2022. Especially because, like I said, the issues presented in this play are only tangentially connected to Trumpism. Maybe you're right that New Yorkers will be "over" socio-political theatre, but if that's the case, then that will be a dead canary in the coal mine that is our country. 

As for it sticking around - it will be a limited run anyway, so that's not really a concern. 

[Phantom of London]

Renovation for the Cory Theatre, what are they waiting for fast track it and get on with it, no better time than present to do big renovations.

Saying of which the Nederlander Group must be rubbing their hands at the timing they chose to do major renovations on the Palace.

[SouthernCakes]

Can someone spoil the big twist for me!

[JBroadway]

SouthernCakes said: "Can someone spoil the big twist for me!"

 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Well, the big plot twist is that the town was the site of a horrible slaughtering of indigenous people, and that this small town's proud history has largely been either fabricated or misrepresented to make their ancestors seem like heroes. And that even the name of their town was derived from a racial slur.

And the one man in the town who wanted to make this history widely known, to atone for their ancestors' crimes, was fired and silenced. All of this is revealed to Armie Hammer's character, who has been kept in the dark throughout the play, and he speaks out against their willful ignorance. 

Then the other big stylistic twist is that the play suddenly becomes more surreal, and all of the city counsel member begin a kind of tribal ritual which involves smearing themselves with blood. This is the twist that I think had some people scratching their heads, and feeling a bit frustrated by the sudden change in style. Though I personally thought it worked.

 

[HogansHero]

apropos of what I wrote above (and have written on other occasions), this piece in the Times today suggesting that it may take until 2025 to see full recovery of tourism.  Here is the article

[Call_me_jorge]

Arnie Hammer was recently on a late night talk show(I believe it was corden) and he talked about the minutes pretty extensively and he seemed pretty hopeful it would be back. I hope he’s right for his own sake.

[SouthernCakes]

Thanks for that! Not at all what I was thinking! I love Letts’ writing! Hopefully I can see it at some point.

[Wick3]

Call_me_jorge said: "Arnie Hammer was recently on a late night talk show(I believe it was corden) and he talked about the minutes pretty extensively and he seemed pretty hopeful it would be back. I hope he’s right for his own sake."

You're right it was Corden! Here's a snippet from youtube (skip to 0:45 for the Minutes discussion: