It's Time for New York To Start Laughing Again

[ddenoff2]

Posted: 11/22/20 at 8:03am

With regard to some of the works already announced for post-pandemic performances,  I'm very happy for Brian, Diana, Warren and the entire creative team of Thoughts Of A Colored Man.  The Lehman Trilogy The Minutes and American Buffalo, and For Colored Girls (anticipated) will be welcome theatre.  

HOWEVER, for my own taste (and, selfishly, projects) I definitely agree that post-pandemic "It's Time for New York To Start Laughing Again"!! 

SO, since this group is a great barometer of taste,  how would everyone welcome a Broadway revival of 39 Steps!? Arnie Burton would resume his brilliant turn (1000 performances so far and counting) , Cliff Saunders and other alums would also return, and then perhaps some innovative ideas for rotating stars...perhaps NPH or another gent to play the WOMEN, a brilliantly funny lady to play Hannay?  Let's have your ideas!

I already own a dupe of the Broadway set, props and costumes and our 'red nose' Something Funny is Happening In New York for the run at Union Square Theatre in 2015 clearly rebranded the show as a family-friendly comedy and we were thrilled to get busloads of kids as young as 5 having a ball, going home with red noses, and then sending us videos of their reenactments of the train scene on their sofas at home, 

AND it's brilliantly inexpensive to produce and run, which will welcome the anticipated lower average ticket prices in the initial years to come, and is tri-state friendly since international tourists will probably be the LAST to return.

Apologies for the self-promotion, but I really DO value this board's opinion and if you feel this is inappropriate, the mod is welcome to delete.

I do have two wonderfully light and entertaining musicals 'on the agenda' as well, including the first revival in 40 years of a beloved oeuvre with a ridiculously wonderful cast!!

Thankoo for your 'thoughts'

Updated On: 11/22/20 at 08:03 AM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 11/22/20 at 10:50am

ddenoff2 said: "HOWEVER, for my own taste (and, selfishly, projects) I definitely agree that post-pandemic "It's Time for New York To Start Laughing Again"!!"

Post-pandemic, people will continue to have their own tastes, and within the broader range, they will have days when they want simply to be entertained and others on which they want to be challenged, provoked, scared, etc. As the other thread on this subject that you chose not to add to makes clear, some here do want only laughs and some don't. That was the case before and during the pandemic and will be after. If you think you have something people will like, go for it, but don't expect anyone to be able to tell you how others will feel. 

[ddenoff2]

Posted: 11/22/20 at 11:22am

Always true of course. As James M. Nederlander always said..."the only ones who know if a show will succeed is the audience."  And you're right, plenty of people want the challenged...And sorry if I missed the previous thread.

[Tom5]

Posted: 11/22/20 at 1:40pm

Three 'uppers' on my list which might make it on the tail end of 2021: Sarah Silverman's 'The Bedwetter', Neil Simon's 'Plaza Suite' and 'The Music Man' (Hugh Jackman).

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 11/22/20 at 2:43pm

Saying a show attracts busloads of five-year-olds is a surefire way to get a lot of people to not want to see a show. Kidding aside, is it safe to assume that the original broadway production and the most recent off-broadway production recouped or came close? They both had fairly long runs. My guess is that there isn't a pent up demand for 39 Steps, and that the actors you mentioned wouldn't be a box office draw, but that if it's a fun, entertaining, escapist show, people might want that.

[blaxx]

Posted: 11/22/20 at 5:45pm

I rather not go back to the theater than to watch The 39 Steps yet again.