NY Daily News: "Jon Robin Baitz's dramedy 'Other Desert Cities' opened a month ago to critical kisses and strong word of mouth in their Off-Broadway house, and people want to see it. It's about a family facing off and confronting hard truths, and tells a story with wit, bite and smarts. No wonder it has hit a nerve. Unfortunately, the play can't extend and can't move to Broadway this season. All the theaters are taken and a transfer is in the pipeline for the fall.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Iffy shows get booked while potential hits like 'Other Desert Cities' wait their turn for Broadway
NY Daily News: "Jon Robin Baitz's dramedy 'Other Desert Cities' opened a month ago to critical kisses and strong word of mouth in their Off-Broadway house, and people want to see it. It's about a family facing off and confronting hard truths, and tells a story with wit, bite and smarts. No wonder it has hit a nerve. Unfortunately, the play can't extend and can't move to Broadway this season. All the theaters are taken and a transfer is in the pipeline for the fall.
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Comparing this article to last week's NY Times review of the show, it's clear that this show is not staying off-Broadway for long - there's too much buzz and everyone wants to see it on B-way. What's interesting is the reviewers' attributions as to why shows like this one don't travel to Broadway right off the bat:here, the reviewer says it's a lack of space combined with a glass ceiling of sorts for "off-Broadway playwrights" trying to break in, but the NY Times revealed there was a space and a plan for the show, but that desires for artistic integrity in casting drove it off-Broadway with an opportunity to transfer.
On Broadway it feels more like the producers with the biggest budgets or the shows with the largest mass appeal, especially for non-theater goers, make it on the Great White Way these days. It's not wonder we are flooded with shows bases on films or big contenders like Disney. It's rough world, but it makes sense. Producer's are out to make money and sometimes those show's that make you think really are the key to that goal. It takes the right show to make those a commercial success and that's a risk many people aren't willing to jump on without some hesitancy, unless the playwright was a big enough name. Despite the unfortunate nature of the beast, it also makes the glory of success that much better. As the article said "even cynics agree Broadway is a form of success" and there is something to be said for the underdog show that is great, makes you think, and breaks Broadway's commercial appeal must be something to look at because it made it onto the stage despite all the odds.
It's sad that great shows like this can't make it to Broadway because Broadway is now only filled with big budget musicals with special effects. So many great plays get passed over because they aren't big enough of there is no space left for them on Broadway. It's truly a shame and not fair to all the great artist struggling off-Broadway. I hope that this show gets it chance on day, it sounds truly interesting.
This show will get there. And honestly, I think it's just as well that it's staying off a little longer. Hype about an off-Broadway show will garner more interest, and from what I can tell, this is "smart theatre." I think that more people will see this when it moves to Broadway (and I believe it will, in its time) because it got hype off-Broadway. I feel like if it had gone directly to Broadway, it would have had a rather short run, forced to compete with the popular demand for shiney theatre.
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