Finding Neverland to the Palladium

[FrontRowDress]

From Leicester to the Palladium if a not very cryptic message from westendproducer is to be believed.

[MamasDoin'Fine]

It has a long wait if it wants that theatre!

[Bob30]

Could it not slip in between scrooge and charlie? Because charlie doesnt start until June? Though i may be forgetting a show that has already booked the palladium for that gap

[MamasDoin'Fine]

'Neverland' is a major production, it wouldn't do a filler season.

[Jonwo]

How big is the Curve as I imagine Finding Neverland would be too small for the Palladium whereas Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is likely to be a big show.

[Princeton Returns]

I guess this could mean either Charlie is delayed or it could change to Drury Lane. Unless Finding Neverland has a big name for the West End run I can't see it lasting in such a large venue. Charlie needs a long get in so it could only run late jan to march/april

[Nickhutson]

Charlie isn't delayed. They've announced that it's going to the Palladium, whereas Neverland hasn't.

Marc and Scott are limiting their SMASH writing so they can be in London for Charlie - so it's definitely happening.

[Phantom of London]

Finding Nevereland Isn't going into the Palladium for reasons pointed out, nor is it going into Drury Lane, all these theatres are too big, the production is either going into the Piccadilly theatre or Adelphi theatre, one of these will be available by January the latest, with both likely to be available by March.

[FrontRowDress]

That will be disappointing news for Judy Craymer and the Spice Girls.

[MusicalBoy]

Really POL? Both are undoubtedly going to be available by March? So Michael Jackson's death can help a sub-standard production run for years, but Whitney's can't help what seems like a much better production (with a plot!) to run for more than a few months?

And you're predicting that, even under the supervision of the team that made Mamma Mia a long runner against all odds and with a very popular girl group as a basis, Viva Forever is going to set records by becoming among the fastest jukebox musicals to close?!

That's a moronic thing to say.

[AnythingGoes23]

Viva Forever is booking extremely well and Bodyguard not so badly, so I don't think those theatres will be free come January, or even Spring...

Neverland... you'll find out tomorrow if something official can be achieved by early evening today for Baz, if not he'll probably run a rumour article on this. It's still not finalised as I know and I am hearing changes every day or hour from people so I haven't posted anything.

My current understanding is it is filler for 12 weeks, but others are saying its an open ended run with Charlie now opting for the Drury Lane and Shrek posting notices for Feb 2013, but only this morning I got told Finding Neverland is too big of a show for Palladium and isn't coming in at all and is waiting for other theatres to open up.

The West End has a heck of a lot of shows waiting to come in for end of year and 2013 its quite wonderful actually given the state of Broadway.

[Princeton Returns]

How can Neverland be too small for the Palladium??! The Curve isnt exactly massive. I just cant see Neverland filling the Palladium or similar sized theatres without a star name

[Phantom of London]

'Really POL? Both are undoubtedly going to be available by March? So Michael Jackson's death can help a sub-standard production run for years, but Whitney's can't help what seems like a much better production (with a plot!) to run for more than a few months?

And you're predicting that, even under the supervision of the team that made Mamma Mia a long runner against all odds and with a very popular girl group as a basis, Viva Forever is going to set records by becoming among the fastest jukebox musicals to close?!

That's a moronic thing to say.'

Should of said that's a ironic thing to say.

'Viva Forever is booking extremely well and Bodyguard not so badly, so I don't think those theatres will be free come January, or even Spring...'

You've just dulled my day, ten again several million in the bank, only means a couple of months booked up, you wait til both these shows are chewed up and spat out by the critics, then see the box office flat line.

[devonian.t]

^ boy oh boy

But back in the real world, my understanding is that Charlie always wanted Drury Lane, just to cope with the massive physical profuction.

Anything2, you'll know how well Shrek box office is holding up, but maybe next Feb is about right for its run to end.

Neverland for the Palladium sounds like massively naive producing, unless that casting coup can still be pulled off, but I doubt it.

[AnythingGoes23]

Viva Forever as painful as i feel to write is more or less critic proof. The money banked from group sales sold will see them comfortably through the first booking period and there are talks of already releasing a second period for the latter half of 2013 due to demand,

Neverland topic is very bizarre, it's kinda come out of nowhere. It was rumoured a while ago in the industry but as west end producer said, no one every thought much of it.

Shrek want to continue on, but it struggles between half terms and holidays and it's weekly running fee means they can't discount greatly to just fill seats... I think it will hold on until Feb at least.

[THEATRE FAN]

And THE BODYGUARD has an advance of over £1.2 million which they are ecstatic about as they have done no advertising apart from a few ads and they didn't get the coverage that VIVA did because of the Spice Girls. The Adelphi certainly won't be free anytime soon. They'll kick marketing in after Olympics, it proving very popular with groups/coach parties and from what I hear its going to be very good - it has a great team.