Drury Lane - What next?

[bobbievanhusen]

Put in a production of The Boy From Oz, with Hugh Jackson playing Peter Allan. People wont care if hes not quite the right age for it, they'll go and see Hugh in anything. I'd pay big bucks to see him do that show again. Unfortunately he also makes it very hard to find someone of a similar level who could take over the role.

Lets have some new shows that have never played London and far less film to stage adaptations

[alicechallice]

Jan 26, 2024 4:01:02 GMT bobbievanhusen said:

Put in a production of The Boy From Oz, with Hugh Jackson playing Peter Allan. People wont care if hes not quite the right age for it, they'll go and see Hugh in anything. I'd pay big bucks to see him do that show again. Unfortunately he also makes it very hard to find someone of a similar level who could take over the role.

Lets have some new shows that have never played London and far less film to stage adaptations

That's a coincidence you bring up TBFOz, 

I was talking about it yesterday with a colleague who'd worked on the original production in Australia. She'd misremembered that it had eventually made it to the West End. 

He could totally pull it off still. 

It would be a good high-profile job to go alongside any special announcements that Hugh needed to get off his chest. You know, what we've been wondering for years... how much longer he's going to be playing Wolverine in the MCU, I mean. Of course.   

[Matt]

Jan 26, 2024 10:59:56 GMT alicechallice said:

Jan 26, 2024 4:01:02 GMT bobbievanhusen said:

Put in a production of The Boy From Oz, with Hugh Jackson playing Peter Allan. People wont care if hes not quite the right age for it, they'll go and see Hugh in anything. I'd pay big bucks to see him do that show again. Unfortunately he also makes it very hard to find someone of a similar level who could take over the role.

Lets have some new shows that have never played London and far less film to stage adaptations

That's a coincidence you bring up TBFOz, 

I was talking about it yesterday with a colleague who'd worked on the original production in Australia. She'd misremembered that it had eventually made it to the West End. 

He could totally pull it off still. 

It would be a good high-profile job to go alongside any special announcements that Hugh needed to get off his chest. You know, what we've been wondering for years... how much longer he's going to be playing Wolverine in the MCU, I mean. Of course.   

I would expect him to be involved with The Greatest Showman, even if it’s just workshopping, so I’m sure this would clash.

[bobbievanhusen]

Jan 26, 2024 12:51:43 GMT Matt said:

I would expect him to be involved with The Greatest Showman, even if it’s just workshopping, so I’m sure this would clash.

Unlikely to clash, seeing as TBFO would never happen now.

I can't think of anyone else who could possiblu play Peter Allen. Mayb puttinghe Jonathan Bailey once his star rises.

Looking at that list of shows at Drury Lane, Best Little Whorehouse is the most baffling. Such a massive theatre for a small show.

[danb]

Barrowman could’ve smashed it in his prime.

[theatreian]

I thought I'd post the complete list of shows from 1919!

Cinderella (1919)
Rose Marie (1924–1927)
Showboat (1928–1929)
Noel Coward's Cavalcade (1931–1932)
Three Sisters (1934)
Oklahoma! (1947–1950)[93]
Carousel (1950–1951)[3]
South Pacific (1951–1953)[94]
The King and I (1953–1956)[94]
My Fair Lady (1958–1963)[46]
Camelot (1964–1965)[3]
Hello Dolly! (1965–1967)[3]
Mame (1969–1970)
The Great Waltz (1970–1972)[3]
Gone with the Wind (1972–1973)
Billy (1974–1976)
A Chorus Line (1976–1979)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1980)
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1981–1983)
42nd Street (1984–1989)
Miss Saigon (1989–1999)
The Witches of Eastwick (2001)
My Fair Lady (revival) (2001–2003)
Anything Goes (revival) (2003–2004)
The Producers (2004–2007)[96]
The Lord of the Rings: The Musical (2007–2008)[97]
Oliver! (revival) (2009–2011)[98]
Shrek The Musical (2011–2013)[99]
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2013–2017)[100]
42nd Street (revival) (2017–2019)[102]
Frozen (2021–2024)

[TallPaul]

Shall we all guess what was BurlyBeaR's first Drury Lane show?

I'm going for the original production of My Fair Lady. Being so much younger, mine was the revival, in 2003. 😁

I can remember it as though it was yesterday. Tickets from the TKTS booth, then a quick McDonald's when it was on the corner of its current home, rather than the side.

[alece10]

My first one at Drury Lane was A Chorus Line when I moved to London in 1977

[theatrefan62]

Mine was the Anything Goes revival. I slightly depressed that was 20 years ago now haha

[richey]

My first was Miss Saigon in 1990. It was only my second encounter of a West End show.
Can't believe it was over 30 years ago.

[danb]

Ours was Miss Saigon too, but I can’t remember if it was from the ropey side slips in the upper circle or the ‘fine for me/hopeless for my 5’2” wife’ front row of the balcony. Either way it was still one of the best bargains in town at the time. I don’t recall ever sitting in a decent seat here til ‘Anything Goes’ where we treated ourselves to side stalls seats. Sally Ann was more than worth it.

[peggysue]

Mine was Billy in 1974. Fantastic show with Michael Crawford and a very young Elaine Paige

[BurlyBeaR]

Jan 26, 2024 17:25:29 GMT TallPaul said:

Shall we all guess what was BurlyBeaR 's first Drury Lane show?

I'm going for the original production of My Fair Lady. Being so much younger, mine was the revival, in 2003. 😁

I can remember it as though it was yesterday. Tickets from the TKTS booth, then a quick McDonald's when it was on the corner of its current home, rather than the side.

Wrong! It was 42nd Street. The 2017 one! It was a treat for my 30th birthday 🙂

[Peter]

My first was Miss Saigon from the nosebleed seats up in the gods. A very formative experience in that I have never ventured into the balcony again…

[theatrenerd]

My first was Oliver! in 2009 (with a tour of the theatre the following day), followed by Shrek in 2012, then Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 2014.

I am still yet to visit The Lane post-restoration, the pictures online look fantastic!

[theatreian]

My first visit was Miss Saigon, though can't remember the year. It's a great thing though looking back at a particular theatre and it's history for all of us. Maybe this thread could continue into other major theatres too.

[SuperTrooper]

Jan 26, 2024 16:27:02 GMT theatreian said:

I thought I'd post the complete list of shows from 1919!

Cinderella (1919)
Rose Marie (1924–1927)
Showboat (1928–1929)
Noel Coward's Cavalcade (1931–1932)
Three Sisters (1934)
Oklahoma! (1947–1950)[93]
Carousel (1950–1951)[3]
South Pacific (1951–1953)[94]
The King and I (1953–1956)[94]
My Fair Lady (1958–1963)[46]
Camelot (1964–1965)[3]
Hello Dolly! (1965–1967)[3]
Mame (1969–1970)
The Great Waltz (1970–1972)[3]
Gone with the Wind (1972–1973)
Billy (1974–1976)
A Chorus Line (1976–1979)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1980)
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1981–1983)
42nd Street (1984–1989)
Miss Saigon (1989–1999)
The Witches of Eastwick (2001)
My Fair Lady (revival) (2001–2003)
Anything Goes (revival) (2003–2004)
The Producers (2004–2007)[96]
The Lord of the Rings: The Musical (2007–2008)[97]
Oliver! (revival) (2009–2011)[98]
Shrek The Musical (2011–2013)[99]
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2013–2017)[100]
42nd Street (revival) (2017–2019)[102]
Frozen (2021–2024)

You've missed out Pirates of Penzance, between Whorehouse & 42nd St!

[alece10]

Jan 26, 2024 23:58:53 GMT SuperTrooper said:

Jan 26, 2024 16:27:02 GMT theatreian said:

I thought I'd post the complete list of shows from 1919!

Cinderella (1919)
Rose Marie (1924–1927)
Showboat (1928–1929)
Noel Coward's Cavalcade (1931–1932)
Three Sisters (1934)
Oklahoma! (1947–1950)[93]
Carousel (1950–1951)[3]
South Pacific (1951–1953)[94]
The King and I (1953–1956)[94]
My Fair Lady (1958–1963)[46]
Camelot (1964–1965)[3]
Hello Dolly! (1965–1967)[3]
Mame (1969–1970)
The Great Waltz (1970–1972)[3]
Gone with the Wind (1972–1973)
Billy (1974–1976)
A Chorus Line (1976–1979)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1980)
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1981–1983)
42nd Street (1984–1989)
Miss Saigon (1989–1999)
The Witches of Eastwick (2001)
My Fair Lady (revival) (2001–2003)
Anything Goes (revival) (2003–2004)
The Producers (2004–2007)[96]
The Lord of the Rings: The Musical (2007–2008)[97]
Oliver! (revival) (2009–2011)[98]
Shrek The Musical (2011–2013)[99]
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2013–2017)[100]
42nd Street (revival) (2017–2019)[102]
Frozen (2021–2024)

You've missed out Pirates of Penzance, between Whorehouse & 42nd St!

I took my mum and dad to see it when they came to visit me from Cornwall. Michael Praed and Bonnie Langford I seem to remember?

[theatreian]

Jan 26, 2024 23:58:53 GMT SuperTrooper said:

You've missed out Pirates of Penzance, between Whorehouse & 42nd St!

The website I used obviously not totally correct, apologies.
Pirates:Opening May 26, 1982
Closing: October 29, 1983
Cast:
Pirate King
Tim Curry
...
Samuel
Sylvester McCoy
...
Frederic
Michael Praed
...
Ruth
Annie Ross
...
Major-General Stanley's Daughters
Carolyn Allen
Jackie Downey
Carol Duffy
Gaynor Miles
...
Edith
Janet Shaw
...
Kate
Bonnie Langford
...
Isabel
Louise Gold
...
Mabel
Pamela Stephenson
...
Major-General Stanley
George Cole

[bigredapple]

Watching the national lottery musicals night and the thought struck me

What if we don’t get a new show, but a move of something existing ? Phantom? LW show in a LW theatre?

I suppose logistically it’s a nightmare to move a show, but it’s not impossible?

[mrbarnaby]

Jan 27, 2024 20:10:05 GMT bigredapple said:

Watching the national lottery musicals night and the thought struck me

What if we don’t get a new show, but a move of something existing ? Phantom? LW show in a LW theatre?

I suppose logistically it’s a nightmare to move a show, but it’s not impossible?

As if that’s ever going to happen.

You don’t have a theatre like Drury Lane and move Phantom in.

[bigredapple]

Jan 27, 2024 20:22:50 GMT mrbarnaby said:

Jan 27, 2024 20:10:05 GMT bigredapple said:

Watching the national lottery musicals night and the thought struck me

What if we don’t get a new show, but a move of something existing ? Phantom? LW show in a LW theatre?

I suppose logistically it’s a nightmare to move a show, but it’s not impossible?

As if that’s ever going to happen.

You don’t have a theatre like Drury Lane and move Phantom in.

Why not? 🤣 the grandeur fits the Paris opera house. Make it immersive!

[mrbarnaby]

Jan 27, 2024 20:29:40 GMT bigredapple said:

Jan 27, 2024 20:22:50 GMT mrbarnaby said:

As if that’s ever going to happen.

You don’t have a theatre like Drury Lane and move Phantom in.

Why not? 🤣 the grandeur fits the Paris opera house. Make it immersive!

I trust you are joking. It’s so clueless a suggestion I can’t take it seriously.

[danb]

Given that it has a) only recently been redesigned & refitted at some (relative) expense in its current home, b) only just come off being a regular listing on tkts and c) has recently closed on Broadway, I would say it isn’t quite the stable, sure thing it once was. Doubling its capacity would be financial suicide.

[bigredapple]

Jan 27, 2024 22:51:31 GMT danb said:

Given that it has a) only recently been redesigned & refitted at some (relative) expense in its current home, b) only just come off being a regular listing on tkts and c) has recently closed on Broadway, I would say it isn’t quite the stable, sure thing it once was. Doubling its capacity would be financial suicide.

Thank you for politely explaining appreciated!