Mel Brooks / WireImage
There seems to be more gossip/rumor surrounding that monster musical currently in residence at the Hilton Theater, Young Frankenstein. Last week we discussed how there seem to be tons of empty seats when a spy for this blog (ok, a friend who went to see the show) recently attended a performance. Then came news that the producers were eliminating all the premium priced tickets (which seemed a sure sign that ticket sales were sluggish). Now comes news that other shows have been "scouting" the Hilton Theater as a possible location for a new show - Spiderman: The Musical.
In yesterday's NY Post, Michael Riedel had a fabulously dishy column regarding this subject (I know the Mr. Riedel is an often controversial figure on the Great White Way, but I have to say - I luuuvhhh him). It appears that the producers of the new musical Spiderman (which is being directed by Lion King's Julie Taymor and will feature music and lyrics by Bono and the Edge - of the band U2) have been speaking with the designers of the Hilton Theater to find out if the space could be altered to accommodate Spidey. Not a good sign for the show currently in performance and surely a sign of weakness. Producers don't get interested in a theater unless they are pretty certain that the show currently performing in that theater is on its way out.
This is particularly ironic because last year the YF producers essentially did the same thing to The Pirate Queen. You may remember this, The Pirate Queen had barely opened when the producers of YF were searching for a theater to house their new mega musical. One day they descended on the Hilton with measuring tapes and blueprints remarking how it would be a great theater. Obviously the folks at The Pirate Queen weren't happy (they had only been open a very short time) and felt like the YF producers were vultures circling their prey. Well, we know how that story ended - YF did take over the theater. This week YF seems to be feeling a bit of the pain that the folks at The Pirate Queen felt.
It is a dizzying reversal. A new mega musical from Mel Brooks, an all star cast, sky high premium prices, a huge advance ticket sale...and now this. The producers are now looking at sluggish sales, the possibility of a shut out at the Tonys and, now, the threat of a very early closing. Yikes. No one likes to see shows fall from grace in this manner, but many B'way insiders do feel like the producers showed a bit of arrogance and hubris with this production and maybe hope that they might be slightly more humble in the future. Perhaps when they set out to producer the rumored Mel Brooks follow up - Blazing Saddles.
~ See You On The Aisle
Reader Comments
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Wow, I guess even if all of the ingredients are there you don't have a winning recipe. I am still underwhelmed with Spidey. All ingredients-music by Rock Gods U2 and an amazing director but...we will have to see. Seriously, Spiderman the Musical?? I might just have to choose Shrek...
Next'll be Howard the Duck: The Musical....
Howard the Duck..Quack that. Yes, Spidey seems an odd chouce but if anyone can do a bang up job it is Julie Taymoor. The question is...Who cares?
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