HOME ALL THAT CHAT ATC WEST COAST SHOPPIN' RUSH BOARD FAQS

LOGIN REGISTER SEARCH THREADED MODE

not logged in

Threaded Order | Chronological Order

DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News?

Posted by: MarkBearSF 12:27 am EDT 09/14/14

At Seth Rudetsky's Deconstructing Broadway show in SF tonight, he "shared some news" that DISASTER! is moving to Broadway with the director (? may have been a producer) of Xanadu at the helm. ...and he brought investor packets with him.

I recall heating the hopes/intent to move it. Was tonight's "news" news?


reply to this message |

Not News

Posted by: aislestorm 12:31 am EDT 09/15/14
In reply to: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - MarkBearSF 12:27 am EDT 09/14/14

Just Seth Being delusional.


reply to this message |

Every day a little Seth

Posted by: WaymanWong 01:19 am EDT 09/15/14
In reply to: Not News - aislestorm 12:31 am EDT 09/15/14

Any basis for that comment? I've worked with Seth, and he's a pro who's produced various benefits and Off-Broadway shows.

I saw ''Disaster!'' three times and thought it was a riot (even though it could use some trimming). In its last incarnation, it got lots of terrific reviews, including one from the Times and a 5-star rave from Time Out New York.

Earlier this spring, co-creator Jack Plotnick told Queerty.com that ''Disaster!'' hoped to head for Broadway: ''It got the kind of reviews you dream about, which helped us attach a couple of incredible Broadway producers.''

Only time will tell if ''Disaster!'' gets there, but I'd rather cheer its chances than rain on its parade.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News?

Posted by: pecansforall 02:26 pm EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - MarkBearSF 12:27 am EDT 09/14/14

If this is really gonna happen why hasn't Seth blabbed about it incessantly on this board? Why is it not mentioned on the DISASTER website? Why isn't it mentioned on SETH TV? Why hasn't Seth tweeted about it? Why isn't it on his Facebook?

I heard him mention it once on XM Satellite. He said something like, "...busy getting DISASTER ready for Broadway". When he said that I thought WHAT?! I was surprised because he seemed so casual about it and I had heard nothing about the show even potentially going to Broadway.

Seth, you usually post here. Could you let us know what's going on?


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News?

Posted by: ryhog 02:31 am EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - MarkBearSF 12:27 am EDT 09/14/14

This is what is called an aspirational announcement. If you had a dollar for every aspirational announcement that never materialized, you could produce the next Spider-Man without raising a penny.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News?

Posted by: Chromolume 07:27 pm EDT 09/15/14
In reply to: re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - ryhog 02:31 am EDT 09/14/14

This is what is called an aspirational announcement. If you had a dollar for every aspirational announcement that never materialized...

Are you saying they shouldn't be holding their breath? ;-)


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News?

Posted by: ryhog 08:33 pm EDT 09/15/14
In reply to: re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - Chromolume 07:27 pm EDT 09/15/14

I have no response anywhere near as witty as Mr. Christenfeld's but it did make me look up the etymology of aspiration and respiration.


reply to this message | reply to first message

That would make it a respirational announcement. (NM)

Posted by: Seth Christenfeld (tabula-rasa@verizon.net) 08:13 pm EDT 09/15/14
In reply to: re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - Chromolume 07:27 pm EDT 09/15/14

Seth, recalling 9th grade biology


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: That would make it a respirational announcement. (NM)

Posted by: Chromolume 08:35 pm EDT 09/15/14
In reply to: That would make it a respirational announcement. (NM) - Seth Christenfeld 08:13 pm EDT 09/15/14

Aspirational would work as well (look up "aspiration" lol). ;-)


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News?

Posted by: enoch10 11:48 am EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - ryhog 02:31 am EDT 09/14/14

i don't know. i saw him with gavin creel in provincetown a couple of weeks ago and gavin creel started to say something, looked to him and said "is is ok to mention this?", he said "yes, it's definite" and gavin creel announced DISASTER was coming to broadway.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News?

Posted by: ryhog 12:13 pm EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - enoch10 11:48 am EDT 09/14/14

if it were definite, seth would not be schlepping investor packets to Cali. I liked the show, and have no desire to rain on its parade, but I think that definite in the creator's mind and in reality are not always the same thing. Hence the term aspirational. were it to come in at some point, someone is likely to lose big, and that licensing potential that I agree with you about will have a hard time overcoming the loss.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News?

Posted by: Kimmelhisway 05:06 pm EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - ryhog 12:13 pm EDT 09/14/14

And how many times was Yank definite. Several as I recall, at least according to those involved. And yet.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News?

Posted by: ryhog 06:14 pm EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - Kimmelhisway 05:06 pm EDT 09/14/14

and not, mind you, for any lack of enthusiasm on the part of the creatives.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News?

Posted by: Kimmelhisway 07:26 pm EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - ryhog 06:14 pm EDT 09/14/14

Exactly.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News?

Posted by: enoch10 12:26 pm EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - ryhog 12:13 pm EDT 09/14/14

so, mr know all and see all - what are you going to say if it comes in? are you somehow the authority on the current state of this show? is there some reason why your opinion should hold more sway than seth rudetsky's in this matter? what access to data do you have that he doesn't?


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News?

Posted by: ryhog 02:47 pm EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - enoch10 12:26 pm EDT 09/14/14

I've never pretended to know all. If anything, I have frequently pointed out that no one does. I do see an awful lot, but not all. I did see this, and liked it, which is saying a lot since I abhor the venue where I saw it.

If it comes in, I will say what I said in the post above-that someone is likely to lose a lot of money, with no reasonable path to making it back. I've never claimed to be an authority on the current state of the show and no one's opinion should hold more sway than anyone else's-Seth included. His opinion is of course colored by self interest whereas mine is obviously based on my impression of what I saw, which may be different from what the show will be. I respect what he has done, and wish him well, but that does not mean that I can be less than objective in assessing it. There is someone who announces every single day a plan to bring their "baby" to Broadway. They are all optimistic and enthusiastic, as they should be. You can't evaluate a show based on the creator's enthusiasm for it.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News?

Posted by: enoch10 12:58 pm EDT 09/15/14
In reply to: re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - ryhog 02:47 pm EDT 09/14/14

i wasn't basing it on his enthusiasm for it i was basing on him saying it was going to happen (actually, allowing creel to say it was going to happen) and i believe he's in a better position to say than you are.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News?

Posted by: NeoAdamite 12:50 pm EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - enoch10 12:26 pm EDT 09/14/14

so, mr know all and see all - what are you going to say if it comes in?

He never said it couldn't come in, only that it was unlikely.

Shows are often announced as 'Broadway bound' with this much assurance, and few actually open. Generally I don't have much confidence in such statements (even for shows I like) until a theater has been booked.

I haven't seen this show, and so have no opinion regarding its Broadway prospects.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News?

Posted by: bwaydiva1 01:26 pm EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - NeoAdamite 12:50 pm EDT 09/14/14

"...until a theater has been booked"

And even then, it's not a done deal until it begins previews. (Rebecca? Had a theater with a marquee, and look what happened there. I'm sure there are other examples.)

Seth has a lot of influential friends and I'm thinking he'll bring his show to Broadway. I think it could be a lot of fun.


reply to this message | reply to first message

Gavin Creel ...

Posted by: enoch10 12:04 pm EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - enoch10 11:48 am EDT 09/14/14

in provincetown, by the way, was superb. i've never enjoyed him more in any setting. he's was personable (if kind of all over the place) funny and in fine, fine, voice. in fact, i don't think i'd realized before what a really extraordinarily good singer he is. if there is a better male, american, broadway singer out there right now i can't think of who he is.

and he had wonderful stories, including one about saying no to sondheim because he needed to go on vacation with his boyfriend and sondheim being supportive.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News?

Posted by: bwaydiva1 11:51 am EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - enoch10 11:48 am EDT 09/14/14

YAY!!! I've wanted Seth on Broadway for ages!!!

This could have appeal in the vein of Xanadu.


reply to this message | reply to first message

But XANADU wasn't a hit.

Posted by: footlight9 01:44 pm EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - bwaydiva1 11:51 am EDT 09/14/14

It was only capitalized at $5 million and couldn't even recoup that. The proposed transfer of DISASTER! is capitalized at $9 million. If it couldn't sustain a run at St. Luke's, lord knows why they think it would be able to sustain one on Broadway.


reply to this message | reply to first message

Music licensing question

Posted by: MarkBearSF 03:29 pm EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: But XANADU wasn't a hit. - footlight9 01:44 pm EDT 09/14/14

The show uses 70s music throughout. (probably 20+ songs, from what I recall at the Triad)

I'd assume that there was no small effort getting rights to all the songs for the original production (and possibly renegotiated for Broadway). However, thinking of later regional licensing - I'd assume that all the rights would be packaged up with the show and later productions wouldn't be burdened with managing the many royalties involved, right?


reply to this message | reply to first message

I suspect you have the I vesfor sheets

Posted by: dramedy 02:17 pm EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: But XANADU wasn't a hit. - footlight9 01:44 pm EDT 09/14/14

Whats the weekly nut projected to be. $9m seems awefully high for waht I thought was a small show.

Did xanadu recoup anything? I think its average weekly for the run was undrr 250k. That was probzbly break even.


reply to this message | reply to first message

invester sheets

Posted by: dramedy (gdramedy@aol.com) 02:18 pm EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: I suspect you have the I vesfor sheets - dramedy 02:17 pm EDT 09/14/14

Id love to see the chart if you want to email it. Thanks


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: But XANADU wasn't a hit.

Posted by: bwaydiva1 02:08 pm EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: But XANADU wasn't a hit. - footlight9 01:44 pm EDT 09/14/14

Maybe they have good casting lined up for Disaster? (Like big stars-and they sure cost money. But, they can bring in huge dividends if they prove to be a draw.)


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News?

Posted by: KingSpeed 03:16 am EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - ryhog 02:31 am EDT 09/14/14

And lots of times, aspirational announcements do materialize.


reply to this message | reply to first message

Odd.

Posted by: footlight9 02:18 am EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - MarkBearSF 12:27 am EDT 09/14/14

There has been consistent weirdness with this show and who is directing it. The reading, benefit presentation, and initial Off-Broadway run were all directed and choreographed by Denis Jones. Then, when the show transferred to St. Lukes, Jones was suddenly credited only as the choreographer and Jack Plotnick (Seth Rudetsky's co-writer) was credited as director, even though the show was virtually the same as it had been in every previous incarnation. Now, Rudetsky is going around town saying they're moving it to Broadway with Chris Ashley taking over as director.

I think most of this is moot, since I don't ever see this making it to Broadway and don't even understand why the possibility is being discussed, but it just seems bizarre.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: Odd.

Posted by: KingSpeed 03:15 am EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: Odd. - footlight9 02:18 am EDT 09/14/14

Have you seen it?


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: Odd.

Posted by: footlight9 09:57 am EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: re: Odd. - KingSpeed 03:15 am EDT 09/14/14

Yes, hence how I know the show changed minimally even though the director credit changed consistently.

I thought the show was a lot of fun and super-well crafted, but it was a harmless diversion perfectly suited to a tiny theater with low production values. Moving it to Broadway would be completely absurd. The creators should shift their energy toward licensing it to community theaters, where it would have a much more successful life.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: Odd.

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 03:34 pm EDT 09/15/14
In reply to: re: Odd. - footlight9 09:57 am EDT 09/14/14

"I thought the show was a lot of fun and super-well crafted, but it was a harmless diversion perfectly suited to a tiny theater with low production values. Moving it to Broadway would be completely absurd."

Not if they moved it to Broadway and deliberately maintained the campy, cheesy quality of the previous productions. I think it could be a riot and big hit.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: Odd.

Posted by: enoch10 11:54 am EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: re: Odd. - footlight9 09:57 am EDT 09/14/14

yes, but getting it on broadway - even briefly - would be shifting their energy toward licensing it to community theaters in the best possible way.

it's a smart move. if it comes too broadway i wish it well but out in the real world - this thing could make a fortune.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: Odd.

Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 04:19 pm EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: re: Odd. - enoch10 11:54 am EDT 09/14/14

Has this strategy ever really worked? Have any of these shows like Xanadu, [title of show], Lysistrata Jones, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (that pretty much lost their entire investment on Broadway) ever recouped enough through regional thetare licensing to make back their original investment and thus turn a profit?


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: Odd.

Posted by: jbronsto 06:16 pm EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: re: Odd. - BroadwayTonyJ 04:19 pm EDT 09/14/14

I can't imagine any of the titles listed there have. However, some of the musical revues possibly have (Leader of the Pack) and I wouldn't be surprised if 13 ends up in the black as well (although they have a long way to go as there licensing is almost entirely to schools instead of regional theatres). A Year With Frog and Toad may also have come close to making money through licensing.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: Odd.

Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 12:53 am EDT 09/15/14
In reply to: re: Odd. - jbronsto 06:16 pm EDT 09/14/14

I wonder how close Seussical is to recouping its original investment. In the Chicago area alone there have been at least 20 regional productions (probably more) since the original show closed on Broadway in 2001.

Historically I have read that Paint Your Wagon, Take Me Along, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and Kiss of the Spider Woman all recouped over the years through national tours and regional theatre licensing.

Not sure about Once on This Island and The Will Rogers Follies, but if they haven't, I'm sure they are pretty close.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: Odd.

Posted by: ryhog 01:22 am EDT 09/15/14
In reply to: re: Odd. - BroadwayTonyJ 12:53 am EDT 09/15/14

how are you defining regional production to come up with 20 or more in Chicago alone? There is a HUGE financial difference between a subscription run in a huge regional theatre and a school or amateur production that may pay $100 a show. You would need about a quarter million performances of the latter to recoup Disaster's $9mil cap.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: Odd.

Posted by: enoch10 01:24 pm EDT 09/15/14
In reply to: re: Odd. - ryhog 01:22 am EDT 09/15/14

do you know why DISASTER has a 9 million dollar cap? what's bumping up the price so much? i hope they aren't planning on adding huge special effects. not only does the piece not need them it could prove counterproductive and scare away some of the smaller regional houses which i see as potentially being this thing's bread and butter.

as for whether those titles recouped outside nyc or not i don't know. i questioned the "even if we lose money it's worth it to get a broadway imprimatur" for years but the fact that people still do it leads me to believe it must work.

i don't think it makes as much difference for high schools but it makes sense it would help significantly with marketing for regional productions.

i know i've asked this before but there used to be some publication that listed shows being done regionally and in colleges. man, i wish i could remember where that was.

do i see DISASTER making MAMA MIA kind of money? no. but it is a better play than either XANADU (which i liked very much) or LYSISTRATA JONES and it's easier to do than ANDREW JACKSON and more fun that any of the three.

it's nostalgia strikes the right tone and it would be (unless they screw it up with a bunch of big special effects) cheap and easy to do for struggling companies. and if they can turn this into a cult hit all bets are off. but i suspect if that was going to happen we'd have seen it happen off-b'way.

regardless, i can see this as something people will be willing to take a chance on and i mean both audience and investors and, especially, small companies looking for something good and fun to do that should be an easy sell and a crowd-pleaser.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: Odd.

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 03:38 pm EDT 09/15/14
In reply to: re: Odd. - enoch10 01:24 pm EDT 09/15/14

"Do i see DISASTER making MAMA MIA kind of money? no. but it is a better play than either XANADU (which i liked very much) or LYSISTRATA JONES and it's easier to do than ANDREW JACKSON and more fun that any of the three."


It's also a million times better and funnier than MAMMA MIA!


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: Odd.

Posted by: ryhog 11:35 pm EDT 09/15/14
In reply to: re: Odd. - Michael_Portantiere 03:38 pm EDT 09/15/14

was Mamma Mia supposed to be funny?


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: Odd.

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 12:13 am EDT 09/16/14
In reply to: re: Odd. - ryhog 11:35 pm EDT 09/15/14

You honestly don't think a great deal of MAMMA MIA! is supposed to be funny? I think that was definitely the goal, but it was...not achieved.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: Odd.

Posted by: ryhog 12:20 am EDT 09/16/14
In reply to: re: Odd. - Michael_Portantiere 12:13 am EDT 09/16/14

I try not to think about it. (I was just being snarky)


reply to this message | reply to first message

Agreed (n/m)

Posted by: enoch10 06:19 pm EDT 09/15/14
In reply to: re: Odd. - Michael_Portantiere 03:38 pm EDT 09/15/14

,


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: Odd.

Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 11:00 am EDT 09/15/14
In reply to: re: Odd. - ryhog 01:22 am EDT 09/15/14

I'm just an avid fan of theatre -- I do not work in the industry, and I'm not an "insider". I define regional theatre in the most basic of terms, i.e, professional theatre in the general region of Chicago and its suburbs (which is quite a vast area including Aurora, IL, Munster, IN, and Milwaukee, WI). There are hundreds of small professional (mostly non-equity) theaters in this area. However, the big 4 equity giants are Goodman, Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, and Chicago Shakespeare. Chicago Shakespeare did Seussical this summer (I saw it) -- I don't think it was part of their subscription series. However, it was performed on their main stage, and the cast included at least one well-known actor (Cory Goodrich) who has appeared on Broadway. There was at least one other production of Seussical in Chicago running concurrently with the Shakespeare one this summer. Both Drury Lane and Lincolnshire Marriott have done productions of it also (although I don't think either one was part of a subscription series). The others have all being done by smaller (probably non-equity) theatre groups.

The show has been a phenomenon in the Chicago area -- quite frankly I've never quite seen anything like it during my 50 years of going to the theatre.

The only other musical approaching Seussical in terms of number of productions over the last 15 years (in the Chicago area) would be The Last Five Years. Nevertheless, it should be pointed out that most of the big commercial theaters that primarily do musicals (Drury Lane, Marriott, Paramount, and Theatre-at-the-Center) have ever done The Last Five Years (or any other Jason Robert Brown musical).


reply to this message | reply to first message

Correction in last sentence: should read "have never done" nmi

Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 11:22 am EDT 09/15/14
In reply to: re: Odd. - BroadwayTonyJ 11:00 am EDT 09/15/14

.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: Odd.

Posted by: brown_daryl 08:38 pm EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: re: Odd. - jbronsto 06:16 pm EDT 09/14/14

Seussical is probably in the black by now.


reply to this message | reply to first message

How long do investors collect?

Posted by: MarkBearSF 09:42 am EDT 09/15/14
In reply to: re: Odd. - brown_daryl 08:38 pm EDT 09/14/14

Isn't there commonly some limit to the amount of time investors receive payments for later productions (10 years?)


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: How long do investors collect?

Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 10:50 am EDT 09/15/14
In reply to: How long do investors collect? - MarkBearSF 09:42 am EDT 09/15/14

I don't know the specific answer to your question. However, I do know that Harold Prince has stated that it took 17 years for Sweeney Todd to pay off its initial investment. I have read (anecdotally reported) that Sunday in the Park with George was a somewhat similar case. Steven Suskin wrote in one of his Opening Night books that a tour with Gene Kelly (at least a decade after the Broadway run) finally put Take Me Along in the black.


reply to this message | reply to first message

re: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News?

Posted by: bobby2 12:46 am EDT 09/14/14
In reply to: DISASTER! to Broadway - Is this News? - MarkBearSF 12:27 am EDT 09/14/14

How would I go about getting an investor packet? How much do they usually look for?


reply to this message | reply to first message


All That Chat is intended for the discussion of theatre news and opinion
subject to the terms and conditions of the Terms of Service. (Please take all off-topic discussion to private email.)

Please direct technical questions/comments to webmaster@talkinbroadway.com and policy questions to TBAdmin@talkinbroadway.com.

[ Home | On the Rialto | The Siegel Column | Cabaret | Tony Awards | Book Reviews | Great White Wayback Machine ]
[ Broadway Reviews | Barbara and Scott: The Two of Clubs | Sound Advice | Restaurant Revue | Off Broadway | Funding Talkin' Broadway ]
[ Broadway 101 | Spotlight On | Talkin' Broadway | On the Boards | Regional | Talk to Us! | Search Talkin' Broadway ]

Terms of Service
[ © 1997 - 2014 www.TalkinBroadway.com, Inc. ]

Time to render: 0.498029 seconds.