Matilda to take the Shubert- official

[castlestreet]

http://broadwayworld.com/article/MATILDA-THE-MUSICAL-to-Play-Shubert-Theatre-on-Broadway-Previews-Begin-March-2013-Opens-April-2013-20120719


Can't wait!

[theaterfan862]

The Shubert is perfect for Matilda! I am very excited!

[bwayphreak234]

[IMG]

I really hope they extend the design beyond the proscenium like they did in London. The Shubert seems like an excellent choice that would allow them to keep the design pretty similar to the original!

[SonofRobbieJ]

I should know this, but does the Shubert have a center aisle? The show needs one desperately...if only for the single funniest bit of absurd staging I've ever seen in my life.

[devonian.t]

the perfect home for this show!

[Phantom of London]

Should look good in the Shubert, hope the show has as much fun in New York as it did in London, the show has already got a rave from the New York Times.

[bwayphreak234]

Would someone be so kind as to share what why the show needs a center aisle? I am curious!

[SonofRobbieJ]

There are lots of entrances and exits through the audience. But there is one bit of staging that was so shocking and strange and funny that demands that center aisle. No. I will not spoil what it is. I had no idea it was coming and I haven't stopped laughing about it since. And I saw it three months ago.

[themysteriousgrowl]

I bet you've stopped laughing about it a few times in the past three months, Robbie.

To purpose otherwise would be ridiculous.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Well...I'm ridiculous. So, there's that. But the instinct to laugh whenever I think about the moment hasn't abated all that much.

And 'to purpose otherwise'? Dost thou mean 'purport'?

[defyingravity11]

I'm very excited to see this! BILLY ELLIOT left me cold, so I'm hoping MATILDA is as good as everyone says.

[jv92]

Drat! I was hoping they'd take the Winter Garden, making MAMMA MIA! move to a smaller house so I could finally go back to the Winter Garden again. I heard that was the plan before MEMPHIS announced its closing.

Looks like a fun show, though! It's a really nice children's book.

[Phantom of London]

It was planned for Mamma Mia to go to a smaller house, until Judy Craymer issued a big fat caveat 'hands off'.

The Shubert doesn't have a center aisle, so I wonder if this is the big layoff between August and March for a refurbishment and a rebuild of the orchestra.

Matilda needs a middle aisle, only for one part of the show, I tell you the rest wwhen I post later.

[wealllovechicken]

and the Tony for Best Musical goes to...

[ACL2006]

I would imagine they'll "remodel" the orchestra section for that center aisle, hence why the theater will likely be vacant for nearly 7 months.

[wealllovechicken]

I would imagine it's going to have a nice life there.

[Phantom of London]

That's what I think, it is not essential the show has a center aisle, but needs an aisle and the effect works better if the aisle is in the center, so guess a big hiatus is to remodel the orchestra, after all Memphis is doing nearly $600k, which is enough to go to the holidays, so this must be the only reason for such a big lay off.

Having seeing the show in London the staging is no mean feat, it tears up the traditional design for the proscenium up and redefines what a arch is, the stage is elaborate, the staging isn't, don't expect another Ghost.

[Fosse76]

"after all Memphis is doing nearly $600k, which is enough to go to the holidays"

You know this, how? The producers originally planned for the show to make it through the Holidays and close after New Years.

[DEClarke]

In a EPK I saw, it appears that the children's desks rise out of the floor and lower to where their tops are even with the floor. Can the Shubert handle that too?

[florida theatre kid]

I am so excited for both this and Kinky Boots! Two shows I'm very much looking forward to next season.

[theatreguy]

Bumping this old thread for those wondering about a center aisle - the seating IS being adjusted at the Shubert to accommodate one.

[RippedMan]

They wouldn't have picked the theater if it couldn't handle the shows set design. The show has already won raves in London. They aren't going to change anything for NYC. Expect the same show.

[kyl3fong2]

Does anybody know if any of the UK cast members will be transferring over with the production? Bertie Carvel was a real highlight for me when I saw the show in London.

[THDavis]

Can anyone else recall instances where the theatre was reworked/remodeled to accommodate a specific show? I'm guessing they're doing this with the confidence that the show will be as successful as it has been in the UK, but is it common?

The only occurrences I can think of would be Spiderman and I've heard Cats was allowed to do some pretty elaborate renovations of the Winter Garden (although I could be wrong about how elaborate.) Phantom and Mary Poppins would likely need some additional equipment throughout the auditorium as well.

[Nickhutson]

Starlight Express comes to mind...

Wasn't there a Baz Lurnham production of La Boheme that had a pretty radical design?

[nasty_khakis]

The Hal Prince "Candide" redid the Broadway to be an in the round environmental seating. One of the show's financial problems was they couldn't keep enough seats to meet their weekly nut.

I also think "Dude" used a similar idea in the Broadway as well as "Via Galactica" in the Uris/Gershwin.