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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2017 15:14:59 GMT
My unfounded concern would be Phoenix seems to be cursed and the home for the dregs. DEH would be better placed on Shaftesbury Av or Strand. Always hoped it'd land in the Gielgud.
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Post by Jon on Dec 27, 2017 15:26:22 GMT
My unfounded concern would be Phoenix seems to be cursed and the home for the dregs. DEH would be better placed on Shaftesbury Av or Strand. Always hoped it'd land in the Gielgud. The Phoenix isn't cursed, it's just had a bad run of shows which many theatres have, the Shaftesbury had a string of flops before Hairspray and now like it or not, it's had a successful show in Motown, likewise The Piccadilly as well. It only takes one show to turn things around. Not to mention, Once ran there for two years so it's not always been flop after flop |
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Post by daniel on Dec 27, 2017 15:27:04 GMT
The one problem Phoenix has is that it's somewhat off the beaten track, so doesn't get the same level of walk up tourist trade as the venues on the Strand/Shaftesbury Ave. If Ben Platt (or someone of that level of fame) were to star in the show, then it wouldn't be an issue as that will drive the sales, otherwise I think it would be better suited to one of DMT's larger playhouses, or the Savoy.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2017 16:47:32 GMT
The one problem Phoenix has is that it's somewhat off the beaten track, so doesn't get the same level of walk up tourist trade as the venues on the Strand/Shaftesbury Ave. If Ben Platt (or someone of that level of fame) were to star in the show, then it wouldn't be an issue as that will drive the sales, otherwise I think it would be better suited to one of DMT's larger playhouses, or the Savoy. Is Ben Platt really that well known here outside the realm of theatre fans? I'm not convinced we'd get an open-ended run of this anyway, and if it's a limited run then the Phoenix would be fine. |
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Post by welsh_tenor on Dec 27, 2017 16:54:58 GMT
Open ended transfer with Mr Platt staring for a limited three month run ala Ms Menzel when Wicked transferred! Please please please!
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Post by Jon on Dec 27, 2017 17:02:21 GMT
The one problem Phoenix has is that it's somewhat off the beaten track, so doesn't get the same level of walk up tourist trade as the venues on the Strand/Shaftesbury Ave. If Ben Platt (or someone of that level of fame) were to star in the show, then it wouldn't be an issue as that will drive the sales, otherwise I think it would be better suited to one of DMT's larger playhouses, or the Savoy. The Phoenix is a stone's throw away from the Palace, Prince Edward and it's on the same street as the Wyndham's and Garrick so it's not really off the beaten track unlike the Shaftesbury. It's true that is doesn't stand out compared to the others. |
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Post by Dan213 on Dec 27, 2017 17:09:01 GMT
The one problem Phoenix has is that it's somewhat off the beaten track, so doesn't get the same level of walk up tourist trade as the venues on the Strand/Shaftesbury Ave. If Ben Platt (or someone of that level of fame) were to star in the show, then it wouldn't be an issue as that will drive the sales, otherwise I think it would be better suited to one of DMT's larger playhouses, or the Savoy. Is Ben Platt really that well known here outside the realm of theatre fans? I'm not convinced we'd get an open-ended run of this anyway, and if it's a limited run then the Phoenix would be fine. He was in Pitch Perfect. I know quite a few non-theatre people that know who he is |
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Post by ali973 on Dec 27, 2017 17:40:44 GMT
I dunno guys..that off the cuff remark on WhatsOnStage holds no weight as far as I'm concerned.
I'd find it a very tough sell to make this show crossover and do well.
There were so many other big shows that were either rumored or had a topic that could have been a lot more viable for London: Hedwig, Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, for example. Even when In the Heights, came it was an independent production in a fringe venue and not a major production based on the original (at that point it was even available for amateurs everywhere). Fun Home took forever and only coming in as a limited run in a niche venue. So just because a show is a smash success in the US, it doesn't make it viable for London.
Sorry, I just can't imagine this in London at all.
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Post by Jon on Dec 27, 2017 17:51:45 GMT
Dear Evan Hansen has one advantage that the others don't is that the composers Pasek and Paul have done two big movies with La La Land and The Greatest Showman and they can use that in the marketing and considering it's making $1m a week the producers will likely be at least considering a London run.
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Post by ali973 on Dec 27, 2017 18:10:13 GMT
I think it can serve as a decent tagline ("from the writers of ...") if everything else is in the right place, but I don't think you can sell a show alone based on the work of a young team that is still virtually unknown.
Is there even a single quote by the original team that indicates there has been talk of a London production? Given how it still did not even announce dates, let alone open, in major American markets, I'd wait this out for a long time if it were to happen.
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Post by showtoones on Dec 27, 2017 19:11:37 GMT
I dont see Dear Evan Hansen going to the Phoenix. For anyone who thinks Chicago will only do 1 year doesn't know Barry and Fran Weissler. The show costs nothing as they put the Adelphi/Cambridge/Garrick set in storage after the run was over as they knew it would come back.
DEH needs to Duke of Yorks or maybe the Geilgud?
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Post by Jon on Dec 27, 2017 19:43:44 GMT
I dont see Dear Evan Hansen going to the Phoenix. For anyone who thinks Chicago will only do 1 year doesn't know Barry and Fran Weissler. The show costs nothing as they put the Adelphi/Cambridge/Garrick set in storage after the run was over as they knew it would come back. DEH needs to Duke of Yorks or maybe the Gielgud? The Duke of York's is way too small and also Chicago really struggled in its last year at the Garrick and was kicked out of the Cambridge to make way for Matilda so it's not a guarantee that it'll become a long runner at the Phoenix |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2017 19:52:07 GMT
I dunno guys..that off the cuff remark on WhatsOnStage holds no weight as far as I'm concerned. I'd find it a very tough sell to make this show crossover and do well. There were so many other big shows that were either rumored or had a topic that could have been a lot more viable for London: Hedwig, Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, for example. Even when In the Heights, came it was an independent production in a fringe venue and not a major production based on the original (at that point it was even available for amateurs everywhere). Fun Home took forever and only coming in as a limited run in a niche venue. So just because a show is a smash success in the US, it doesn't make it viable for London. Sorry, I just can't imagine this in London at all. I agree I'm afraid. This type of show for whatever reason does well on Broadway but not in the West End. Really can't see it anywhere other than a fringe venue. Although as MT fans we hear about it a lot, it's actually very niche, and would not bring in the UK coach trips. |
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Post by Jon on Dec 27, 2017 20:03:21 GMT
I disagree that DEH is niche or can only work in the fringe or somewhere like the Young Vic. If we can have shows like Everybody's Talking About Jamie come to the West End from Sheffield then DEH has a chance of coming over.
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Post by ali973 on Dec 27, 2017 22:43:06 GMT
I disagree that DEH is niche or can only work in the fringe or somewhere like the Young Vic. If we can have shows like Everybody's Talking About Jamie come to the West End from Sheffield then DEH has a chance of coming over. Besides the blue background and a title with the character...there's really nothing these two shows have in common. Everything about Everything About Jamie makes a case for it to come to London. It's a British show about British people by British people that did well regionally. DEH..isn't and its suburban setting makes it a tough sell to a big public. And before we start comparing it to Hamilton on the grounds of them being both American and let's look at where Hamilton is..let's not. |
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Post by showtoones on Dec 28, 2017 6:22:36 GMT
I dont see Dear Evan Hansen going to the Phoenix. For anyone who thinks Chicago will only do 1 year doesn't know Barry and Fran Weissler. The show costs nothing as they put the Adelphi/Cambridge/Garrick set in storage after the run was over as they knew it would come back. DEH needs to Duke of Yorks or maybe the Gielgud? The Duke of York's is way too small and also Chicago really struggled in its last year at the Garrick and was kicked out of the Cambridge to make way for Matilda so it's not a guarantee that it'll become a long runner at the Phoenix It will really depend who they get for Roxie and Velma. If they get names or if Zayne plays Billy Flynn etc it will be there for a while.Also DEH has a cast of 7-8 people so they don’t need a huge theater. The theater they are in in nyc has 1009 seats which is much bigger than the 600 seats at the Duke of York’s but it could still work - i do agree it’s on the small side. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2017 9:16:53 GMT
I disagree that DEH is niche or can only work in the fringe or somewhere like the Young Vic. If we can have shows like Everybody's Talking About Jamie come to the West End from Sheffield then DEH has a chance of coming over. Besides the blue background and a title with the character...there's really nothing these two shows have in common. Everything about Everything About Jamie makes a case for it to come to London. It's a British show about British people by British people that did well regionally. DEH..isn't and its suburban setting makes it a tough sell to a big public. And before we start comparing it to Hamilton on the grounds of them being both American and let's look at where Hamilton is..let's not. By that logic, The Lion King should have been a massive fail. Its a show about animals in the wilderness. I don't see hyena's or gazelles buying tickets for west end shows, yet its been a long time hit. The Sub-urban setting and the people involved in the story aren't what make Dear Evan Hansen the hit it is. Its the relatable story and emotion of wanting, struggling, to fit in and ultimately the currently very salient effect of social media. Regardless of who or where, its the journey that's internationally recognisable. For that reason I believe DEH has great potential appeal here in London. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2017 9:38:05 GMT
I have DEFINITELY had the misfortune of sitting near hyenas in the theatre in my time. Always laughing at the unfunniest of jokes, just so you know that they know why the joke was supposed to be funny when the play was originally written, that sort of thing.
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Post by ali973 on Dec 28, 2017 10:59:12 GMT
That Lion King metaphor you used was really really..funny.
I get what you're saying, but I still don't agree with you. And clearly comparing Disneyfied Africa with dancers dressed in masks singing songs by Elton John (in a London accent) based on one of the most popular animated movies is not quite the same as small-town, suburban, pill-popping America.
The West End hasn't been a space that attracts emotional rollercoaster musicals lately. Maybe I'm not expressing myself succinctly - but there's something about it that does not seem to be like a good fit.
We can argue until the cows come home but the fact is that besides the rumors that have been invented out of nowhere, I've yet to see any indication that this is happening, as much as even them saying "we are in talks". I know for a fact that the producers won't make a single move before opening the show domestically in the States for a tour.
I also think that there needs to be a major show that closes down IF this was to ever come. I don't see a West End with Kinky Boots, Dreamgirls, Tina, Ballroom, Hamilton, Bat Out Of Hell AND Dear Evan Hansen competing. Though they made differ (Kinky vs Bat Out Hell are vastly different), there's a lot of overlap and they are all vying for the same audience.
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Post by partytentdown on Dec 28, 2017 16:27:36 GMT
Does anyone remember the hype around Next To Normal, which I think was a similar level hit on Broadway a few years back? Everyone was convinced it would run for years and come to London, but once its original cast had left sales slowed down and the 'next big thing' came along, and the transfer never happened for whatever reason. Not saying it's the same for this, but in my mind the show had a similar vibe and fan base, quite an American centric plot and the same sort of buzz. Discuss!
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Post by Mark on Dec 28, 2017 16:58:55 GMT
Does anyone remember the hype around Next To Normal, which I think was a similar level hit on Broadway a few years back? Everyone was convinced it would run for years and come to London, but once its original cast had left sales slowed down and the 'next big thing' came along, and the transfer never happened for whatever reason. Not saying it's the same for this, but in my mind the show had a similar vibe and fan base, quite an American centric plot and the same sort of buzz. Discuss! Evan is in a different league of commercial success than next to normal ever was. It's making more than shows like Book of Mormon and Kinky Boots, and it's making more now with increased prices since Platt left the show. n2n was easy enough to get a ticket to. Evan is a case of cancellation line only. |
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Post by lewis on Dec 28, 2017 17:43:17 GMT
any ideas about young british musical talent who could tackle this?
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Post by danb on Dec 28, 2017 18:17:06 GMT
Liam Doyle if they crack on before he looks any older.
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Post by welsh_tenor on Dec 28, 2017 18:53:01 GMT
Would second Liam Doyle and also heard rave reviews about George Ure in the recent Starlight workshop he’s of the age and look!
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Post by HereForTheatre on Dec 28, 2017 18:54:41 GMT
To be fair Ben Platt is hardly "young", as in close to characters age so the actor doesn't have to be young, just look youngish. I mean it says nothing about his suitability for the role but i was struck by how much Mark Anderson in The Toxic Avenger sounded like Ben Platt. They have very similar voices. And he does have the geeky baby faced thing going as well.
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