Yes, ticket sales for "Wicked" show no signs of slowing down, and the residents of Oz won't be evicted from the Oriental Theatre anytime soon.
April 15, 2007 (Press Release) --
Still, Broadway in Chicago vice-president Eileen LaCario calls all the talk about Broadway in Chicago running out of theaters for its many future shows "premature."
" 'The Color Purple' and 'Jersey Boys' are planned tours at this point," she says. "Both are scheduled to move on. There is a lot that would need to take place before we run out of space to put shows in."
"Jersey Boys" already has extended through April 9, 2008, with executive producers hopefully to remain here longer. This puts the LaSalle Bank Theatre out of commission until later that spring.
"The Phantom of the Opera" is scheduled to play the Palace Theatre in October [home to "The Color Purple" as of Tuesday]. Expect "Purple" to fade in October to make way for the man in the mask. "Phantom" has played the Auditorium Theatre before, but with the Joffrey's 20th Anniversary production of "The Nutcracker" currently booked in the Auditorium Dec. 12-30, a "Phantom" move to the Auditorium would mean a shortening of its run.
The soonest Broadway in Chicago could present a new season based on our calculations? January 2008.
That's the bell. Let's begin the speculation game on what's currently on Broadway -- and whether it will come here:
Good bets
"Avenue Q": Now that the exclusive Las Vegas engagement has flopped, producers are finally ready to roll out a belated national tour of the show. The question is not if, but when and where the puppet musical for mature audiences will hit Chicago.
"The Drowsy Chaperone": A Broadway show comes to life in a fan's living room. Comedy, music and dance ensue. It's the kind of Broadway schtick for audiences that want their shows peppy and non-threatening. And it's exactly the kind of show Broadway in Chicago season subscribers seem to love.
"Mamma Mia!": Chicago audiences can't resist this show featuring songs from the Swedish pop group ABBA. Having played here over the holiday season in 2004 and 2006, it's on the verge of becoming a holiday tradition. ABBA-humbug!
"Les Miserables": It's lasted longer than both the French student uprising (the basis of its story) and the French Revolution, and Chicago theatergoers have always been willing to storm the barricades one day more.
Likely
"Mary Poppins": Based on the much loved movie, Disney's musical about the original "supernanny" will probably blow through town at some point to sprinkle a spoonful or two of family-friendly theater cheer.
Doubtful
"Tarzan": Savaged by critics and featuring an inflatable set and a less than m
emorable score by Phil Collins, only a nightly loincloth malfunction could put butts in the seats of a national tour at this point.
"Xanadu": To the tune of the title song: A film / nobody came to see / It stars that chick from "Grease" / don't bet on Xanadu!
"Legally Blonde": Promises to be the "Sweet Charity" of this season. And we all know what happened to the Christina Applegate revival of that show.
Source: http://www.msn.com
" 'The Color Purple' and 'Jersey Boys' are planned tours at this point," she says. "Both are scheduled to move on. There is a lot that would need to take place before we run out of space to put shows in."
"Jersey Boys" already has extended through April 9, 2008, with executive producers hopefully to remain here longer. This puts the LaSalle Bank Theatre out of commission until later that spring.
"The Phantom of the Opera" is scheduled to play the Palace Theatre in October [home to "The Color Purple" as of Tuesday]. Expect "Purple" to fade in October to make way for the man in the mask. "Phantom" has played the Auditorium Theatre before, but with the Joffrey's 20th Anniversary production of "The Nutcracker" currently booked in the Auditorium Dec. 12-30, a "Phantom" move to the Auditorium would mean a shortening of its run.
The soonest Broadway in Chicago could present a new season based on our calculations? January 2008.
That's the bell. Let's begin the speculation game on what's currently on Broadway -- and whether it will come here:
Good bets
"Avenue Q": Now that the exclusive Las Vegas engagement has flopped, producers are finally ready to roll out a belated national tour of the show. The question is not if, but when and where the puppet musical for mature audiences will hit Chicago.
"The Drowsy Chaperone": A Broadway show comes to life in a fan's living room. Comedy, music and dance ensue. It's the kind of Broadway schtick for audiences that want their shows peppy and non-threatening. And it's exactly the kind of show Broadway in Chicago season subscribers seem to love.
"Mamma Mia!": Chicago audiences can't resist this show featuring songs from the Swedish pop group ABBA. Having played here over the holiday season in 2004 and 2006, it's on the verge of becoming a holiday tradition. ABBA-humbug!
"Les Miserables": It's lasted longer than both the French student uprising (the basis of its story) and the French Revolution, and Chicago theatergoers have always been willing to storm the barricades one day more.
Likely
"Mary Poppins": Based on the much loved movie, Disney's musical about the original "supernanny" will probably blow through town at some point to sprinkle a spoonful or two of family-friendly theater cheer.
Doubtful
"Tarzan": Savaged by critics and featuring an inflatable set and a less than m
emorable score by Phil Collins, only a nightly loincloth malfunction could put butts in the seats of a national tour at this point.
"Xanadu": To the tune of the title song: A film / nobody came to see / It stars that chick from "Grease" / don't bet on Xanadu!
"Legally Blonde": Promises to be the "Sweet Charity" of this season. And we all know what happened to the Christina Applegate revival of that show.
Source: http://www.msn.com
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