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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 13:50:45 GMT
If it does well on tour and the Dominion remains empty I wouldn't be surprised if WWRY does a brief run there, I can see it now
"FRESH FROM ROCKING AUDIENCES ALL OVER THE UK THE SMASH HIT QUEEN MUSICALS RETURNS HOME"
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 14:40:15 GMT
I would say that only one of The Big Four in my book (Apollo Vic, Dominion, Drury Ln and Palladium) is able to sustain long-running shows, with that being the Apollo Vic. The Dominion hasn't had a major success since WWRY closed, 42nd Street is closing soon - we'll have to see how Frozen does in that theatre, and obviously the Palladium has their strategy of panto season, musical season and lots of other pop-ups. The Palladium has gotten it right with this. The other two seem too big for the musicals of today to sustain, and I think they would do well to have similar strategies to the Palladium, with its limited seasons. This probably seems like a stupid post but it's just an observation. I don't think you can really snub The Lyceum out of the largest capacity venue category given it's only 63 seats behind the Dominion. The Lyceum has had Lion King playing uninterrupted since 1999 (almost 7 years longer than Wicked at the ApVic). What we're seeing now is a change of events as by-and-large the age of the mega-musical has become dormant. Granted theres always some exception to the rule (Hamilton this time round) but these big shows than run for decades playing to 16,000 a week just aren't emerging often or at all. Given the wobbly economic state of affairs the UK has experienced over the last ten years, despite a noted rise in audience figures this year, its no surprise than shows are finding it hard to sit down for extended periods of time. I disagree that the Dominion and Drury Lane should follow the Palladiums lead for a number of reasons. 1 This 'strategy' isn't something new. The Palladiums' roots are in Music Hall and Variety and have been since its inception early 1900's, which is essentially what they are hosting now albeit in contemporary variation. 2 As a receiving house for touring acts playing one-off London dates the Palladium has an established niche, if two additional venues jumped onto this there'd be some over saturation risking profitability of all 3. 3 With the Hammersmith Apollo and Palladium Pantos, London doesn't need another 2 2000-capacity pantomimes at Christmas.
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Post by Dr Tom on Dec 18, 2018 14:50:09 GMT
What an interesting page. Had no idea that South Pacific (the film) was shown for over four years. Just shows the different age. Great Comet of 1812 or Something Rotten, please. I don't see Something Rotten ever transferring to the West End. It's very American humour at the expense of the British and it would die a death. If it does, it will be a stripped down version at the Union Theatre, or some similar fringe venue.
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Post by wickedgrin on Dec 18, 2018 15:00:54 GMT
Once upon a time (in a land far far away) - sorry I have seen too many pantos recently, a big star would have filled these theatres for a few weeks residency - such a Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin etc. and even now comedians and singers could do the same thing but they have chosen to go down the arena tour route - far less shows/work and a bigger return. But how brilliant would it be to see French and Saunders at the Dominion or Cher, Kylie, Bette Midler?
I hate arena shows as you end up paying a fortune just to look at a screen all evening and arena shows just don't work for comedy at all. How great it would be to see these artists in the relative intimacy of a large theatre?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 15:52:53 GMT
Great Comet would never work at the Dominion. A purpose-built theatre a la Marble Arch would suit it best I reckon.
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Post by Jon on Dec 18, 2018 16:01:05 GMT
That could work really well If it wasn't for the "hand of god" as firefingers points out! I think motorised walls would work so they can reduce capacity for the Monday-Saturday shows then increasing it for Hillsong.
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Post by Phantom of London on Dec 18, 2018 20:11:41 GMT
Once upon a time (in a land far far away) - sorry I have seen too many pantos recently, a big star would have filled these theatres for a few weeks residency - such a Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin etc. and even now comedians and singers could do the same thing but they have chosen to go down the arena tour route - far less shows/work and a bigger return. But how brilliant would it be to see French and Saunders at the Dominion or Cher, Kylie, Bette Midler? I hate arena shows as you end up paying a fortune just to look at a screen all evening and arena shows just don't work for comedy at all. How great it would be to see these artists in the relative intimacy of a large theatre? I wish Hugh Jackman done the Dominion or the London Palladium for a few weeks, than doing the 02, for 2 nights at least the benefit of doing one of the theatres I suggested you get to see him live!!!
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Post by carmella1 on Dec 18, 2018 20:33:00 GMT
Makes too much sense Phantom.
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Post by Ade on Dec 18, 2018 21:46:57 GMT
Once upon a time (in a land far far away) - sorry I have seen too many pantos recently, a big star would have filled these theatres for a few weeks residency - such a Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin etc. and even now comedians and singers could do the same thing but they have chosen to go down the arena tour route - far less shows/work and a bigger return. But how brilliant would it be to see French and Saunders at the Dominion or Cher, Kylie, Bette Midler? I hate arena shows as you end up paying a fortune just to look at a screen all evening and arena shows just don't work for comedy at all. How great it would be to see these artists in the relative intimacy of a large theatre? I wish Hugh Jackman done the Dominion or the London Palladium for a few weeks, than doing the 02, for 2 nights at least the benefit of doing one of the theatres I suggested you get to see him live!!! I’d imagine for many performers the decision comes down to time. If they can spend 2 nights in an arena and see the same number of people as they would in 2 weeks in the theatre, from their side of things it’s a far more attractive proposition. I agree longer term residencies would be amazing but it’s a big ask for many performers to commit to that, especially if it’s part of a much larger tour.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2018 21:52:01 GMT
Imagine Cher, Celine or Britney bringing their Vegas shows to the Dominion for a run! I would die.
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Post by Jon on Dec 19, 2018 16:35:27 GMT
Also in Vegas, they’re being paid a lot of money to do a residence
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Post by BoOverall on Dec 19, 2018 17:27:18 GMT
Fingers crossed for the oh-so-enticing musical based on Katie Price’s life, written by her and starring her. On ice.
Boasting an Act One finale recreating “”A Whole New World”, the legendary Royal Variety Performance duet with Peter Andre, being reprised again at the end of Act 5 as part of a mega mix, this has hit all over it...well, it sounds like hit to me and must surely be Ealing Broadway bound. Oh I have the most unnatural of frissons running through me at the thought 😀
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Post by mrbarnaby on Dec 20, 2018 7:25:27 GMT
Frozen will supposedly be reopening Drury Ln. A friend who is on a tech course visited the theatre backstage and said scenery was being made. Yeah- that’s not true at all. Frozen is 2 years off. If it’s happening st all. LW theatres don’t want the show at all now seeing as it’s such a dud. Don’t be surprised if something else re opens this theatre.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2018 15:36:59 GMT
Frozen will supposedly be reopening Drury Ln. A friend who is on a tech course visited the theatre backstage and said scenery was being made. Yeah- that’s not true at all. Frozen is 2 years off. If it’s happening st all. LW theatres don’t want the show at all now seeing as it’s such a dud. Don’t be surprised if something else re opens this theatre. I hope they don't change their mind cause I hate Frozen with a passion, and having the musical there feels like such a waste for a great theatre.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2018 15:47:58 GMT
Frozen will supposedly be reopening Drury Ln. A friend who is on a tech course visited the theatre backstage and said scenery was being made. Yeah- that’s not true at all. Frozen is 2 years off. If it’s happening st all. LW theatres don’t want the show at all now seeing as it’s such a dud. Don’t be surprised if something else re opens this theatre. Also highly likely that they've been shown the scenic workshops at Drury Lane (as occurs on the tours) and misunderstood the difference between 'ability to construct sets in house upcoming productions' with 'actually being sets for the next production'.
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Post by bengal73 on Dec 20, 2018 23:27:21 GMT
Frozen it is for Drury lane then
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Post by musicalmarge on Dec 21, 2018 1:06:11 GMT
Dominion will get My Fair Lady possibly I’m hearing....
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Post by Jon on Dec 21, 2018 1:27:24 GMT
Dominion will get My Fair Lady possibly I’m hearing.... Not too surprising considering Nederlander are the producers on Broadway, would prefer MFL to be at Drury Lane.
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Post by westendwahwah on Dec 21, 2018 10:17:45 GMT
Dominion will get My Fair Lady possibly I’m hearing.... Have heard they’re readying for this too, but need something to fill 6-12months until it’s ready to be brought over
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2018 10:20:37 GMT
I think they should just burn the place down and start again to be honest. For the love of LuPone it's a fugly auditorium.
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Post by Phantom of London on Feb 12, 2019 18:04:43 GMT
I asked this question before Christmas, when Bat out of Hell was closing and nothing else was on the horizon, since then Hello Dolly was strongly rumoured, but that seems to have disappeared into the ether now.
However I notice at the end of April the US tour of Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella wraps up, if the tour is anything like the version that played the Broadway Theatre, New York it was quite stunning and enjoyable, so don't know why the Nederalnders do not bring this one over.
Nothing is worse than an empty theatre.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 13, 2019 9:52:59 GMT
Well Back to the Future is happening again- opening Manchester Jan 2020 so maybe that will go there and a filler show(s) in between.
No producer would ever buy R&H Cinderella in that huge theatre. Unless Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift were in the lead role.
The problem is no producer wants it.. it’s a barn of a theatre without the intimacy (or beauty) of Drury Lane or the Palladium.
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Post by Dr Tom on Feb 13, 2019 9:57:28 GMT
However I notice at the end of April the US tour of Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella wraps up, if the tour is anything like the version that played the Broadway Theatre, New York it was quite stunning and enjoyable, so don't know why the Nederalnders do not bring this one over. The current Cinderella tour is the non-equity one, mostly one or two nights in small venues and downscaled. I wouldn't surprise if it starts back up again as it's been successful. I would like to see Cinderella here on a scale similar to the original Broadway revival. But chances are, we're more likely to see it premiere at one of the fringe venues. It's not the right show for the Dominion. It would suit somewhere smaller.
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Post by jaqs on Feb 13, 2019 9:58:19 GMT
They should just bring back We will rock you and hope it sells on the back of Bohemian Rhapsody’s success.
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Post by ali973 on Feb 13, 2019 11:17:09 GMT
The problem is no producer wants it.. it’s a barn of a theatre without the intimacy (or beauty) of Drury Lane or the Palladium. This. I loathe going there. That brown all over the place. The only thing it has going on for it is the very large bathrooms.
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Post by QueerTheatre on Feb 13, 2019 12:41:02 GMT
I have it on very good authority that the dominion is Out Of Action for the next 7-9 months for restoration work, so whatever is happening won't be happening soon....
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Post by TallPaul on Feb 13, 2019 12:45:33 GMT
I've posted this somewhere already, in the Predictions thread I think; the Dominion is being stripped of asbestos.
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Post by mrbarnaby on Feb 13, 2019 13:19:48 GMT
I've posted this somewhere already, in the Predictions thread I think; the Dominion is being stripped of asbestos. Otherwise known as Residue of Kimberly Walsh’s Performance in Elf.
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