Groundhog Day the Musical - Old Vic

[viserys]

...and yet, seeing the Thread come alive, made my heart beat faster briefly...

[Being Alive]

Summer 23, tickets on sale before the end of the year...get excited

[HereForTheatre]

That's great news.

[tal]

I didn't manage to see it last time around, so I hope my anxious wait will finally come to an end.

[stuartmcd]

Any idea which theatre this will be going into? Back to the Old Vic?

[og]

Are we expecting a new version or is it likely to be what we saw in Old Vic?
I only saw it once and the automation and staging of the original blew me away. Really want the opportunity to bring a few people along who've listened to my ravings over the years about it, who missed such an incredible theatrical experience.

[zahidf]

Announcement tomorrow

[mrbarnaby]

Sept 13, 2022 15:50:27 GMT og said:

Are we expecting a new version or is it likely to be what we saw in Old Vic?
I only saw it once and the automation and staging of the original blew me away. Really want the opportunity to bring a few people along who've listened to my ravings over the years about it, who missed such an incredible theatrical experience.

It will be a more simplified staging. They had endless issues with the (many) revolves on Broadway and so they need a version which isn’t so temperamental - and easier to tour when the time comes.

[og]

Dec 5, 2022 9:18:11 GMT mrbarnaby said:

Sept 13, 2022 15:50:27 GMT og said:

Are we expecting a new version or is it likely to be what we saw in Old Vic?
I only saw it once and the automation and staging of the original blew me away. Really want the opportunity to bring a few people along who've listened to my ravings over the years about it, who missed such an incredible theatrical experience.

It will be a more simplified staging. They had endless issues with the (many) revolves on Broadway and so they need a version which isn’t so temperamental - and easier to tour when the time comes.

Groundhog It. That 3-way revolve within a revolve was incredible and meant for some ridiculously spectacular scene. I don't recall London having the same issues they had in the US but I guess for it to be able to come back producers needed to be confident it would work.

Great news that an actual confirmation - with dates (and the tease of a tour) is on its way.

[mattnyc]

This is so exciting!!! I love this show so so much.

[Stephen]

I'm very excited too. Saw this on Broadway but was considerably younger then and feel it will really hit different now. I'd be looking at trying to book in for a cheap preview ticket early on. Are these easy to get at the Old Vic? How does it work?

[Dave B]

Dec 5, 2022 10:31:55 GMT Stephen said:

I'd be looking at trying to book in for a cheap preview ticket early on. Are these easy to get at the Old Vic? How does it work?

Their PWC Previews scheme is pretty great. Six weeks before the first performance, they put the first 5 shows on sale with all available tickets for £10. Join the queue at noon and hope. It is not as popular as it was and it has been a long time since I failed to get PWC tickets.

If the announcement is today, there will likely be a members and a general sale within the next few days - you can buy tickets at normal prices if a date being locked in is more important to you.

I don't think anything has sold out quickly (if at all) at OV recently and many people here report PWC success on a regular basis so that is certainly my plan.

[londonmzfitz]

Dec 5, 2022 9:18:11 GMT mrbarnaby said:

Sept 13, 2022 15:50:27 GMT og said:

Are we expecting a new version or is it likely to be what we saw in Old Vic?
I only saw it once and the automation and staging of the original blew me away. Really want the opportunity to bring a few people along who've listened to my ravings over the years about it, who missed such an incredible theatrical experience.

It will be a more simplified staging. They had endless issues with the (many) revolves on Broadway and so they need a version which isn’t so temperamental - and easier to tour when the time comes.

I saw the Old Vic first preview, and cast were putting place name flags (think like the things you see on a golf course) into holes in the revolve as "Phil" walked through - they'd tip sideways, fall over, "Phil" would be stepping over them while trying to sing (Andy Karl rolling his eyes).  That was gone by my second visit - caused an unintentional laugh though.  

[ronnette]

I am here day after day after day for this!

[og]

Dec 5, 2022 11:14:16 GMT londonmzfitz said:

Dec 5, 2022 9:18:11 GMT mrbarnaby said:

It will be a more simplified staging. They had endless issues with the (many) revolves on Broadway and so they need a version which isn’t so temperamental - and easier to tour when the time comes.

I saw the Old Vic first preview, and cast were putting place name flags (think like the things you see on a golf course) into holes in the revolve as "Phil" walked through - they'd tip sideways, fall over, "Phil" would be stepping over them while trying to sing (Andy Karl rolling his eyes).  That was gone by my second visit - caused an unintentional laugh though.  

Teething issues on a preview performance are kind of to be expected and this sounds forgivable.

That opening scene where the mini News Van starts up stage and "drives" in a straight line down stage without actually moving thanks to the multiple revolves, mindbogglingly technically brilliant and set the the tone. The staging and movement for Hope will have to be choreographed very differently to be as impressive as it was using the multi-revolve.

[ronnette]

Do you need to have OV Membership in order to get hold of the PwC preview tickets?

[Mark]

Dec 5, 2022 11:42:47 GMT ronnette said:

Do you need to have OV Membership in order to get hold of the PwC preview tickets?

No.
I managed them fine when I did it for Jitney and A Number. The 47th was certainly busier.

[mkb]

Would be a shame to ditch that complex revolve, rather than make it reliable. It was fascinating and mesmerising to watch.

[twofiftytwo]

They had multiple revolves in the original Old Vic production and after pushing the first preview by a few days had no issues with the revolves for the remainder of the run. The stage for the Broadway transfer was different configurations, so as I remember it things had to be resized, but it was always the same number of revolving pieces. That production was notably riddled with stage issues, but beyond any reassuring investors may need I can’t see why they’d need to remove the revolves now it’s going back into its original theatre. That just seems like they’d be creating more work for themselves, given it all worked perfectly here the first time.

[mattnyc]

Andy Karl has such a fondness for this show - I’d love it if he decided to do it again. What are the odds that’ll happen, though?

[llevy453]

Dec 5, 2022 15:06:30 GMT mattnyc said:

Andy Karl has such a fondness for this show - I’d love it if he decided to do it again. What are the odds that’ll happen, though?

And if he can't, who?

[og]

Dec 5, 2022 14:54:44 GMT twofiftytwo said:

They had multiple revolves in the original Old Vic production and after pushing the first preview by a few days had no issues with the revolves for the remainder of the run. The stage for the Broadway transfer was different configurations, so as I remember it things had to be resized, but it was always the same number of revolving pieces. That production was notably riddled with stage issues, but beyond any reassuring investors may need I can’t see why they’d need to remove the revolves now it’s going back into its original theatre. That just seems like they’d be creating more work for themselves, given it all worked perfectly here the first time.

As MrB states, if indeed the plan is to tour it, it might struggle on the road with such complexities.

There's no way you'd get this on and off an artic every week for 6 months without spending a heck of a lot more than is financially viable for a touring musical.

[twofiftytwo]

Dec 5, 2022 17:06:22 GMT og said:

Dec 5, 2022 14:54:44 GMT twofiftytwo said:

They had multiple revolves in the original Old Vic production and after pushing the first preview by a few days had no issues with the revolves for the remainder of the run. The stage for the Broadway transfer was different configurations, so as I remember it things had to be resized, but it was always the same number of revolving pieces. That production was notably riddled with stage issues, but beyond any reassuring investors may need I can’t see why they’d need to remove the revolves now it’s going back into its original theatre. That just seems like they’d be creating more work for themselves, given it all worked perfectly here the first time.

As MrB states, if indeed the plan is to tour it, it might struggle on the road with such complexities.

There's no way you'd get this on and off an artic every week for 6 months without spending a heck of a lot more than is financially viable for a touring musical.

That’s true!

I don’t know MrB’s sources, but from what I’ve heard the plan after this revival is to take it to Australia before it goes anywhere else as TM is quite keen to bring his second musical “home”. I’d love it to tour here though as it certainly deserves more of a life than it’s had so far.

[ronnette]

When the tickets / dates go on sale I’m gonna need some help from you pros determining opening / press night dates, when is best for going to previews etc.

[BurlyBeaR]

Dec 5, 2022 18:28:53 GMT ronnette said:

When the tickets / dates go on sale I’m gonna need some help from you pros determining opening / press night dates, when is best for going to previews etc.

You are in the right Place ronnette. Our lovely members are the most helpful on these things.