Why Do Shows Change Theatres During their run?

[Joshua Rosenthal]

Posted: 12/12/20 at 11:04am

Anyone know any reasons as to why shows might change their theatre mid-run? I believe One show had to because of damage to a theatre, but anyone know why else? Thanks!

[JBroadway]

Posted: 12/12/20 at 11:12am

It doesn’t happen often. But I think the most common reason is when a show is doing better than anticipated (usually a limited run), and chooses to continue running longer - but the original theatre may already be booked by the next show, so they may choose to move theatres rather than close.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/12/20 at 12:44pm

Many other possible reasons, including especially to downsize (or upsize). Note that a show that is not below the stop clause cannot be kicked out and another show cannot be booked into it, unless there is an agreement, which is another reason that shows move.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/12/20 at 1:02pm

Because they get kicked out by The Music Man.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/12/20 at 2:44pm

CATSNYrevival said: "Because they get kicked out by The Music Man."

that falls within my list

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 12/12/20 at 4:53pm

JBroadway said: "It doesn’t happen often. But I think the most common reason is when a show is doing better than anticipated (usually a limited run), and chooses to continue running longer - but the original theatre may already be booked by the next show, so they may choose to move theatres rather than close."

If I recall correctly this is essentially what happened with Chicago and its first move. Steel Pier already had the Rodgers booked to open in the spring of 97, so the Weisslers decided to transfer Chicago for a limited run in the fall of 96. When it was clear that the revival was a hot ticket they began planning a transfer to another theatre almost immediately and managed to get it into the Shubert where it ran for almost six years before making its third move over to the Ambassador.

[OrchardAndRivington]

Posted: 12/12/20 at 5:13pm

CATSNYrevival said: "Because they get kicked out by The Music Man."

...or Rocky..

The timing of the Mamma Mia to the Broadhurst announcement (4/18/13) and Rocky's opening at the Winter Garden announcement (4/19/13) would indicate to me that the Shuberts were looking to make a deal with Judy Craymer to clear out the Winter Garden for the big, shiny new show from Europe... just maybe not so conspicuously since Mamma Mia had dipped to playing to around 50% of its Gross Potential at the Winter Garden by 2013.. while Beetlejuice was only growing and increasing its grosses when they were forced out by The Rudin Man. 

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 12/12/20 at 6:13pm

AEA AGMA SM said: "JBroadway said: "It doesn’t happen often. But I think the most common reason is when a show is doing better than anticipated (usually a limited run), and chooses to continue running longer - but the original theatre may already be booked by the next show, so they may choose to move theatres rather than close."

If I recall correctly this is essentially what happened withChicagoand its first move. Steel Pieralready had the Rodgers booked to open in the spring of 97, so the Weisslers decided to transferChicagofor a limited run in the fall of 96. When it was clear that the revival was a hot ticket they began planning a transfer to another theatre almost immediately and managed to get it into the Shubert where it ran for almost six years before making its third move over to the Ambassador."

Exactly, and then by the time Gypsy came around, everyone in the Shubert organization agreed Bernadette in Gypsy had a much better chance of selling out the Shubert than the sixth year of replacements for Chicago.  And obviously that worked out incredibly well for Chicago as it's managing to still run almost twenty years later.

Limited engagements extending are probably the most common reason (It's Only a Play, The Humans, August: Osage County are some other recent examples).  But also sometimes the physical requirements of the theatre.  The original Les Mis, for instance, which is a very "horizontal" show (meaning the bulk of the scenery comes from the wings and therefore it's wing space that's much more important than fly space) leaving the Broadway theatre (with it's large fly space) to make room for Miss Saigon (which of course utilizes the fly space much more).

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 12/12/20 at 6:57pm

It used to be far more common to move shows, than it is now, especially to the Broadway Theatre, which is one of the largest theatres on Broadway and the the biggest house in the Shubert Organization portfolio.

South Pacific transferred from the Majestic.

The Most Happy Fella transferred from the Imperial.

The Music Man transferred from the Majestic.

Fiorello transferred from the Broadhurst.

My Fair Lady transferred from the Broadhurust the show opened at the Mark Hellinger.

I Can Get it for Wholesale transferred from the Shubert.

Funny Girl transferred from the Winter Garden.

Cabaret opened at Broadhurst transferred to the Imperial then the Broadway.

Fiddler on the Roof opened at the Imperial transferred to the Majestic then the Broadway.

All the above shows that moved to the Broadway was their last move, before ‘permanent’ closing, it’s strange to move big show to the Shubert’s biggest house to die. Does anyone know why this happened? I appreciate the theatre the shows moved from had better footfall.

 

 

 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 12/12/20 at 7:27pm

Bigger theaters aren’t necessarily the most in demand. Mid size houses (where most of these shows transferred from)
Are always top of list. The Broadway barns are always home to short lived shows, blockbuster disappointments and shows on life support

[Fosse76]

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

Phantom of London said: "...the Broadway Theatre...the the biggest house in the Shubert Organization portfolio."

The largest Shubert-owned theatre on Broadway? Yes. In their portfolio? No. At least not by capacity. The Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia is larger by 88 seats. Physically, the Broadway I believe is the largest.

While producers may request a specific theatre for their show, it is the landlord that will ultimately decide, prior to execution of the licensing agreement. Part of the agreement, however, is that the show remains in the licensed theatre for the run of show. So a producer can't simply decide to move. If they move, it's because the landlord agrees it's at the end of it's run in that space. There are a lot of scenarios at play, but ultimately it's because the show is no longer viable in its current space, but could be successful elsewhere.

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

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/12/20 at 8:35pm

Phantom of London said: "It used to be far more common to move shows,than it is now, especially to the Broadway Theatre, which is one of the largest theatres on Broadway and the the biggest house in the Shubert Organization portfolio.

South Pacific transferred from the Majestic.

The Most Happy Fella transferred from the Imperial.

The Music Man transferred from the Majestic.

Fiorello transferred from the Broadhurst.

My Fair Lady transferred from the Broadhurust the show opened at the Mark Hellinger.

I Can Getit for Wholesale transferred from the Shubert.

Funny Girl transferred from the Winter Garden.

Cabaret opened at Broadhurst transferred to the Imperial then the Broadway.

Fiddler on the Roof opened at the Imperial transferred to the Majestic then the Broadway.

All the above shows that moved to the Broadway was their last move, before ‘permanent’ closing, it’s strange to move big show to the Shubert’sbiggest house to die. Does anyone know why this happened? I appreciate the theatre the shows moved from had better footfall."

 

The Wiz moved from The Majestic to the Broadway also. I saw it in both theaters. (It changed theaters to make room for Liza Minelli in "The Act" at The Majestic"

Purlie opened at The Broadway and transferred to two other theaters. One was the Winter Garden. The other The Anta. I never knew it moved from the Broadway but in looking for a Playbill for it on Broadway (I saw the tour) I could only find one from The Winter Garden.



 

Updated On: 12/15/20 at 08:35 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/12/20 at 8:39pm

Fosse76 said: "While producers may request a specific theatre for their show, it is the landlord that will ultimately decide, prior to execution of the licensing agreement. Part of the agreement, however, is that the show remains in the licensed theatre for the run of show. So a producer can't simply decide to move. If they move, it's because the landlord agrees it's at the end of it's run in that space. There are a lot of scenarios at play, but ultimately it's because the show is no longer viable in its current space, but could be successful elsewhere."

I do not recall seeing a run of the show provision such as that described here. What I recall is a notice of termination provision, usually 4 weeks as I recall. There can be lots of other provisions, especially when the landlord is also a producer, but I wonder what you are referring to specifically. 

[David10086]

Posted: 12/15/20 at 1:07am

This is a great thread! I have often wondered why the 1989 GYPSY revival with Tune Daly / Linda Lavin / Tyne Daly moved from the St James to the Marquis? Anyone know?

Updated On: 12/16/20 at 01:07 AM

[Mark Waltz]

Posted: 12/15/20 at 11:44am

Don't forget "Bajour" which transferred from the Shubert to the Lunt-Fontanne then closed a month later. I guess it was those tsetse flies that chased them out. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 12/15/20 at 12:21pm

Posed a similar question back in April in regards to the original Annie production. Basically, it was due to a shortage of theatres. Since the larger barn sized theatres, like the Uris, were unpopular the longer running shows got the short end of the stick and were forced to move.