Riedel: Kelli O'Hara in THE KING AND I coming to the Beaumont...

[ljay889]

Not a surprise. WAR HORSE is looking to move.
I'm very excited for a large lavish KING AND I.

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/horse_declares_war_fB4vC7S3iZmmaStUBKO3NK

[PalJoey]

I'm excited for Kelli O'Hara's "Hello, Young Lovers"

[Kad]

Where would War Horse move to?

[ljay889]

They are looking at the Winter Garden, Richard Rodgers and St. James.

[PlayItAgain]

is nice work a limited run?

[AEA AGMA SM]

I thought of the Imperial as well, though at this time Nice Work is not being billed as a limited run.

[bjh2114]

Yay! Hopefully she can finally win a Tony with this one.

[CockeyedOptimist2]

I don't think Nice Work is a limited run. I read in an article that Matthew Broderick has a year-long contract, and I would imagine that Kelli's contract is the same, especially considering that they're allowing her a few weeks off this summer to do Far From Heaven at Williamstown.

Kelli O'Hara in The King and I at the Beaumont would be the best thing since Kelli O'Hara in South Pacific at the Beaumont. I hope it's true!

[Rentfan931]

I think Nice Work is an open run. Was there a rumor that Matilda may take the Winter Garden?

[RippedMan]

I doubt "King and I" would open this year. It says "War Horse" is looking to move this fall, so probably in the dead months of Sept/Oct. I guess O'Hara is trying to get out of "Nice Work." She's already gone for a month or so in July, and now she wants to leave before the end of the year for this?

[givesmevoice]

I was really hoping for someone other than Kelli O'Hara. I find her so bland, beautiful voice aside.

[AEA AGMA SM]

"Was there a rumor that Matilda may take the Winter Garden?"

The rumor I saw on this board a while back was that there would be a big shift, with Chicago moving to the Booth, Mamma Mia taking over the Ambassador and Matilda taking the Winter Garden. I don't recall if that rumor was ever substantiated in any way, but if Riedel's column is to be believed it sounds like Mamma Mia plans on staying put.

ETA - After all, if the producers aren't willing to move for the National I doubt that the RSC really got much further in any theoretical discussions. I would personally put my money on Matilda taking the Broadway once Sister Act closes up shop (and that is purely my speculation, not to be taken as any sort of fact or "insider" knowledge)

[ACL2006]

Matilda to the Winter Garden, Mamma Mia to the Ambassador, Chicago to the Booth. War Horse to the Imperial if Nice Work tanks. War Horse needs lots of wing space and I doubt it would move to a larger theater like the St. James since it's no longer selling out the Beaumont.

[bwayphreak234]

My dream revival is a Lincoln Center production of The King and I. So thrilled to see this actually happening.

[JohnyBroadway]

Lea Salonga as Lady Thiang please

[bwayphreak234]

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out... Sounds like there will be a lot of shows looking for homes and a lot of switching going on.

[Jonwo]

The Broadway would be far too big for Matilda, it needs a midsized theatre, I would thought the Shubert would be more likely than the Winter Garden given Mamma Mia! still does well although I do think it will move theatres within a few years.

Could the Lincoln Center host King and I in a theatre other than the Beaumount if War Horse doesn't budge?

I wonder how War Horse would adapt to a procesium stage, I imagine the upcoming tour will answer that question.

[CurtainPullDowner]

O'Hara would not be my first choice but I said that about SOUTH PACIFIC and I fell madly in love with her in it.
Casting the KING is very important.
MAMA MIA in the Ambassador? Never fit.

[somethingwicked]

Jonwo, the Dodgers are the commercial producing partners with the RSC on MATILDA, and their shows seem to wind up in Nederlander houses more often than not.

[Jonwo]

I imagine War Horse will finish at the Beaumont in September/October and LCT will have a show in between before The King and I opens in 2013.

somethingwicked, I think if Matilda goes into a Nederlander theatre then the Lunt Fontanne or Richard Rodgers would be likely options although I think it depends on which show closes first between Porgy and Bess and Ghost.

[RippedMan]

I'm glad Lincoln Center is just going to let War Horse play there indefinitely.

I'm surprised Memphis has lasted this long, but maybe it could make way for Matilda.

[Tag]

The Toronto production of War Horse plays on a proscenium stage and according to reviews, is just as well received as other productions.

[bwayphreak234]

Richard Rogers or the Shubert would be perfect for Matilda.

[MusicalMo]

Matilda will go into one of the Nederlander Theatres

[Jonwo]

The Cambridge Theatre where Matilda plays in London is only 1200 seats and has a small stage but I imagine they'll want a slightly bigger theatre for the Broadway transfer plus neither The Nederlander or the August Wilson are going to free any time soon.

[TheatreKid3]

If what is speculated actually does happen, then this will be one of the biggest simultaneous moves of productions ever, if not the biggest.

Also, I wouldn't be surprised if Disney tries to eventually move Newsies to a larger Nederlander house, especially after the Tony Awards (providing the show racks up and becomes a bigger hit than it already is). Even though I think the Nederlander is a perfect spot for it, I could see them reclaiming the Lunt-Fontanne or even putting it in the Rodgers to increase the amount of ticket sales per performance.

Whatever happens, it will be interesting.