Vanities to Play the Lyceum

I'm kind of surprised at this, but the Broadway-bound musical Vanities remains on track for a New York run. The show just booked the gorgeous and historic Lyceum Theater, recently (sniff sniff) vacated by [title of show]. Vanities will begin previews on February 2nd toward a February 26th opening. So I guess if [title of show] does make it make to Broadway later this season (see my post below), it will have to find another theater.

The reason I'm surprised is that Vanities is a small musical (the cast numbers a mere three) at a time when smaller musicals are having a hard time staying afloat. (cf. [title of show], Xanadu, Spring Awakening, Glory Days, A Catered Affair, Passing Strange, and the still-open but struggling 13.) Plus, there's the whole, you know, tanking economy thing. But apparently the producers were pleased enough with the show's recent run at the Pasadena Playhouse that they feel confident bucking those trends.

Vanities will feature the Broadway directorial debut of two-time Tony winner Judith Ivey, a performer whom I simply adore. Now, great actors don't always make great directors, but they don't necessarily make bad ones either. Up-and-coming choreographer Dan Knechtges will provide the musical staging. And the cast comprises the very talented trio of Lauren Kennedy, Sarah Stiles, and Anneliese Van Der Pol. So I'll definitely be getting a ticket to one of the preview performances, and I certainly hope that the show will prove my suspicions unfounded.

Comments

[Justin]

Im sorry, but maybe its because I sat in the balcony and was thrown off by climbing 4500 stairs, but I found the Lyceum to be, with the exception of the lobby, old run down and VERY dusty. Not to start a fight, but what did you find beautiful about a theatre in desperate need of renovation. :)

[Alicia]

I remember seeing my dads production of VANITIES as a kids and then the subsequent HBO production with Annette OToole and Shelley Hack (the third actress escapes me). I suppose the producers are banking on the fact that this is a show that people are familiar with (to a degree) and the appeal that it will have with the middle-aged, female target demographic.