Noises Off: Celebrating in style
Shuberts' new theater to host September preem
"It was more like $7 million when we started," he says. "I have misgivings about the cost, which is enormous."
Originally planned to be finished in May, the theater now will host a September preem. "That's still a secret," Schoenfeld says of the first production. "But it will be a world premiere of a play by a most distinguished American playwright."
More immediate, Abrams publishes a 10-pound tome called "The Shuberts Present: 100 Years of American Theater," with a $60 pricetag and a limited 10,000-copy printing. Text is by the staff of the Shubert Archive, and it's evident from the look of the book that Maryann Chach, Reagan Fletcher, Mark E. Swartz and Sylvia Wang had nearly every legit artifact from the past 100 years at their fingertips.
"The Shubert brothers, Lee and J.J., kept everything," says Schoenfeld. "They did not dispose of their books. In fact, their record-keeping was so extensive that it formed the government's antitrust case against them."
More cause for celebration, the Shuberts soon may be producing the long-awaited musical "Le Passe-Muraille" by Michel Legrand, with James Lapine directing. An impending movie deal for the helmer could materialize, pushing back the start date. "We'll know in February," says the chairman.
The 'Crucible' crew
Has David Richenthal set a new record here?
The lead producer of "The Crucible" has put together 16 or 17 producing entities (with multiple partners in several of those) to bring the Arthur Miller revival to Broadway.
"I've lost count," Richenthal says of the exact number. It certainly tops the number of producers on "Angels in America" or "The Kentucky Cycle."
"There is a large group of supporters because this is one of the most expensive single plays in the history of Broadway," Richenthal says. With a 28-member cast, "The Crucible" is capitalized at $2.2 million, with some debt "likely on top of that," possibly another $200,000. The production originates in New York and, as Richenthal explains, "There's no out-of-town venue to share expenses."
"The Crucible" begins previews Feb. 16, in the dead of winter. As for novel marketing strategies, Richenthal says, "I've hired two movie stars, Liam Neeson and Laura Linney." He puts the advance at $1.5 million and climbing.
Hooping for the best
The new Disney musical "Hoopz" will have its preem at Trinity Rep in Providence, R.I.
Trinity Rep's Oskar Eustis says he's looking for a fall 2003 opening. The artistic director came to the Harlem Globetrotters project in its post-Savion Glover phase, when Suzan-Lori Parks took over as book writer.
"Our hope is to do a full production," Eustis says. "Anything can change at this point. We've been working with Disney on 'Hoopz' for the past year and a half. We don't even have a composer."
Marion McClinton will direct.
'Men' makes move
Producer Jonathan Pollard looks to bring the new musical "Men" to Off Broadway this summer. Based on the Dorris Dorrie movie, the tuner is by Joe Di Pietro and Jimmy Roberts. A backer's audition is planned for spring. … The BBC has announced the first Intl. Festival of Musical Theater in Cardiff, Wales. Called "The Global Search for New Musicals," the 17-day fest will be held Oct. 20-Nov. 3 and is sponsored by the BBC as well as the city and county of Cardiff. Joanne Benjamin is the fest's chief executive, Julian Woolford its artistic director. Deadline for submissions is Jan. 14, with showcase selections announced in June. Further information is available at www.cardiffmusicals.com or through the Intl. Festival of Musical Theater in Cardiff.
