Richmond CenterStage

[burt]

If you've seen THE LION KING, or plan to see it before it closes at The Landmark Theatre on March 11th, you may wonder about the magic of the colorful costumes and how they are manipulated by the actors who wear them.

Check out this story from RVANews:

http://rvanews.com/e...lion-king/57003

[wrldcoupe4]

Went to Lion King last night... incredible.

[burt]

Went to Lion King last night... incredible.

Great.

Glad you enjoyed it. I've seen it here in NYCity and it's truly a visual treat.

Did the house look full?

[burt]

Here's a nice pic of The Landmark Theatre in Richmond:

(click "previous" or "next" to see other photos.)

http://www.facebook....&type=1

[burt]

These are recent photos of Richmond CenterStage on East Grace between 6th and 7th Streets (The Landmark Theatre in The Lower Fan near VCU is under the same management.)

The RCS pictures include the interior of The Carpenter Theatre and the members' bar and lounge; The Gottwald playhouse which has seating that can be reconfigured for about 250 people. Note the seating near the stage is in a tiered pit that can be lowered or raised in segments. There's also a shot of a rehearsal room.

If you're curious about the suspended clouds in the starry ceiling of The Carpenter Theatre, they are for acoustic purposes and can be adjusted to accommodate musicians' requirements.

You can flip from photo to photo by clicking "previous" or "next."

http://www.facebook....&type=3

[wrldcoupe4]

Great.

Glad you enjoyed it. I've seen it here in NYCity and it's truly a visual treat.

Did the house look full?

Not a sellout, but all but a couple hundred seats (mostly on the periphery) were taken.

[burt]

Style Weekly theatre critic, David Timberline, adds his praise for THE LION KING:

http://www.styleweek...ent?oid=1672561

According to Weekly Variety, the show grossed $1,293,138 in its first week at The Landmark Theatre. That figure is about $203,000 less than capacity.

[burt]

Mayor Jones announced today a proposal to finance a $50 million renovation of The Landmark Theatre (see 3rd from last paragraph in this story from today's RTD:)

http://www2.timesdis...ngs-ar-1735139/

In other Richmond CenterStage news, comedian Brian Regan will appear on the Carpenter Theatre stage Thursday, May 17th.

And in an unusual summertime booking, The Carpenter Theatre will present Idina Menzel in concert on Friday, June 29th.

Ms Menzel was the original green-faced witch in WICKED when it opened on Broadway.

Shortly after Richmond's National Theatre re-opened as a concert venue (about four years ago) Menzel performed there.

http://www.richmondcenterstage.com

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

Mayor Jones announced today a proposal to finance a $50 million renovation of The Landmark Theatre (see 3rd from last paragraph in this story from today's RTD:)

http://www2.timesdis...ngs-ar-1735139/

In other Richmond CenterStage news, comedian Brian Regan will appear on the Carpenter Theatre stage Thursday, May 17th.

And in an unusual summertime booking, The Carpenter Theatre will present Idina Menzel in concert on Friday, June 29th.

Ms Menzel was the original green-faced witch in WICKED when it opened on Broadway.

Shortly after Richmond's National Theatre re-opened as a concert venue (about four years ago) Menzel performed there.

http://www.richmondcenterstage.com

Well, that was rather unexpected... but I love it!

Even though it's sort of a memory blackout thing (aging will do that to you ), I went to see THE LION KING luckily before it ended on Wednesday at 7:30 PM. Although the Landmark was spectacular in all it's beauty, I did believe maybe there was room for a little bit of improvement, but am shocked that Mayor Jones would invest so much into renovating it. I knew money would go to Shockoe revitalization, James River, and Port of RVA industrial park, but I never would have guessed that he wanted the Landmark renovated! But, I am definitely happy about it.

[burt]

Well, that was rather unexpected... but I love it!

Even though it's sort of a memory blackout thing (aging will do that to you ), I went to see THE LION KING luckily before it ended on Wednesday at 7:30 PM. Although the Landmark was spectacular in all it's beauty, I did believe maybe there was room for a little bit of improvement, but am shocked that Mayor Jones would invest so much into renovating it. I knew money would go to Shockoe revitalization, James River, and Port of RVA industrial park, but I never would have guessed that he wanted the Landmark renovated! But, I am definitely happy about it.

"Financing" the renovations does not mean the city will pay the whole bill -- just that they will negotiate the financing (I think.)

And Wednesday was not the closing of THE LION KING. It is in Richmond (at The Landmark) until March 11.

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

"Financing" the renovations does not mean the city will pay the whole bill -- just that they will negotiate the financing (I think.)

And Wednesday was not the closing of THE LION KING. It is in Richmond (at The Landmark) until March 11.

You got me there... my grammar is just about as good as that of a housefly... what I meant to say was I SAW the LION KING on Wednesday at 7:30.... I'll try monitoring what I post before I say something stupid (like Short Pump is actually a good place )

[burt]

A "sit-down" engagement of a hit show like THE LION KING benefits the city's economy in many ways. It might be a while before it happens again in Richmond. Next year's Broadway series will offer a number of shows but none will play longer than one week at The Landmark Theatre.

And if the Mayor's plan to finance a $50 million renovation of the old theatre materializes the building will be out of commission for quite a while. Technically, the downtown Carpenter Theatre has the stage and facilities to mount big shows but its seating capacity (1,800) is about half that of The Landmark (3,500.) Big touring shows are reluctant to play in houses with less than 2,500 seats where weekly gross ticket sales can approach or exceed $1 million (the first week's gross of THE LION KING at The Landmark was about $1.3 million.)

Here's a story of the impact touring shows have on the local economy from today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdis...eco-ar-1736575/

[burt]

Variety reports that in its second week ending Sunday, February 26th, THE LION KING pulled in $1,405,764 at The Landmark Theatre. The show will end its 4-week run in Richmond this coming Sunday, March 15th.

The third and fourth week grosses will be posted when they are available.

Meanwhile. it was the second highest gross among the ten national touring shows ending February 26th. WICKED in Tempe (Phoenix) topped the list.

[burt]

The Times Dispatch reports today that THE LION KING has only a few scattered single seats available for a few of its 6 remaining performances at The Landmark Theatre.

Over 90,000 people will have seen the show during its 4-week run in Richmond.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/business/business/2012/mar/08/tdbiz01-few-seats-remain-for-lion-king-performance-ar-1748853/

[wrldcoupe4]

The LION KING will have entertained 93,000 people and grossed over $5.5 million when it finishes up this weekend. Economic impact of nearly $20 million to the local economy. It's also the highest grossing engagement at the Landmark, ever.

http://rvanews.com/e...-landmark/57533

[burt]

Due to a throat ailment, singer John Mayer has cancelled his planned 18-city tour from April 9th through May 6th.

Mayer was scheduled to appear at Richmond's Landmark Theatre on Tuesday, April 24th. Tickets bought through credit cards will be automatically credited. Other tickets will be refunded at point of purchase.

From today's RTD:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/entertainment/flair/2012/mar/10/tdmet02-singer-john-mayers-throat-problems-cancel--ar-1754614/

[burt]

The LION KING entertained will have 93,000 people and grossed over $5.5 million when it finishes up this weekend. Economic impact of nearly $20 million to the local economy. It's also the highest grossing engagement at the Landmark, ever.

http://rvanews.com/e...-landmark/57533

THE LION KING gross of $5.5 million in its 4-week (32 performance run) is unquestionably a house record for The Landmark.

However, WICKED in its 3-week (24 performance run) in March 2011 pulled in $4.8 million and attracted 77,000. Had it played one additional week and drawn 20,000 (out of a potential capacity of 28,000) its total box office take would have topped $6 million.

In fact, WICKED returned to The Landmark last fall for two weeks (16 performances) and grossed more than $2 million.

[burt]

The Greek singer/musician YANNI will appear at The Carpenter Theatre on Wednesday, June 6th.

I announced in these pages last week that IDINA MENZEL, the original green witch on Broadway in WICKED, is booked into The Carpenter Theatre on Friday, June 29th.

And congratulations to The National Theatre about a block and a half from Richmond CenterStage and The Carpenter Theatre. The National is beginning its fourth year and has presented more than 600 concerts. Incidentally, one of those concerts in the National's first year was IDINA MENZEL.

[burt]

Weekly Variety reports that THE LION KING grossed a total of $5,603,311 at The Landmark Theatre during its 4-week run.

Week one was $1,293,138

Week two ------ $1,405,764

Week three ---- $1,408,206

Week four ------ $1,496,203

Incidentally, according to Variety, seating capacity for this show was reduced from 3,600+ to 3,200+ and the reason for doing so was not explained.

One local news source quoting "officials" reported that 93,000 tickets were sold which generated $900,000 in admission taxes for the city.

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

Speaking of Landmark, Mayor Jones' plan to spend $50 million to renovate the Landmark Theater seems to be quite controversial.

So controversial, that it can be compared of the CenterStage fiasco. To this day, how CenterStage was actually financed still remains a mystery.

Jones' plan to renovate the Landmark is part of his city financing plan which also includes Shockoe revitalization, MAJOR riverfront plans, and the Port of Richmond.

http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/backstage-taxes/Content?oid=1688889

[burt]

The Richmond Forum, which inevitably sells out each of its programs at the 3,600-seat Richmond CenterStage Landmark Theatre, wrapped up the 2011-2012 season last night. Robert Reich and Charles Krauthammer debated liberal and conservative views.

Next season, the following big names in politics, government, art, anthropology and film-making will hold forth on the Landmark stage:

Gabrielle Gifford and her husband Mark Kelly

President Bill Clinton

Steven Spielberg and Doris Kearns Goodwin

Portrait photographer Platon

Jane Goodall

From today's RTD (click "related" column for dates:)

http://www2.timesdis...lbe-ar-1791954/

[RVA-Is-The-Best]

THE LION KING gross of $5.5 million in its 4-week (32 performance run) is unquestionably a house record for The Landmark. However, WICKED in its 3-week (24 performance run) in March 2011 pulled in $4.8 million and attracted 77,000. Had it played one additional week and drawn 20,000 (out of a potential capacity of 28,000) its total box office take would have topped $6 million. In fact, WICKED returned to The Landmark last fall for two weeks (16 performances) and grossed more than $2 million.

And here's BizSense's take on the successful, historic run the Landmark made with the Broadway production:

http://www.richmondbizsense.com/2012/03/28/in-like-a-lion-out-like-a-king/

Indeed, the LION KING had grossed $5.6 million, but they also racked up more than 95,000 people into the theatre. This is really good, and should probably inspire the mayor to do more good things for it by financing that 50 million dollar renovation

[burt]

The Richmond Forum, which inevitably sells out each of its programs at the 3,600-seat Richmond CenterStage Landmark Theatre, wrapped up the 2011-2012 season last night. Robert Reich and Charles Krauthammer debated liberal and conservative views.

Next season, the following big names in politics, government, art, anthropology and film-making will hold forth on the Landmark stage:

Gabrielle Gifford and her husband Mark Kelly

President Bill Clinton

Steven Spielberg and Doris Kearns Goodwin

Portrait photographer Platon

Jane Goodall

From today's RTD (click "related" column for dates:)

http://www2.timesdis...lbe-ar-1791954/

It wasn't easy to lure Steven Spielberg to participate in the Richmond Forum on January 5th, 2013. Doris Kearns Goodwin used her influence.

From the current Style Weekly:

http://www.styleweek...ent?oid=1691367

Style Weekly is negotiating with Spielberg's Dreamworks company and CineBistro in Stony Point Fashion Park to host the Richmond premier of the Lincoln film. The movie will not be released until next December.

[burt]

For upcoming events at Richmond CenterStage facilities (The Carpenter Theatre, Gottwald Playhouse and Rhythm Hall on East Grace between 6th and 7th Streets) as well as The Landmark Theatre at Laurel and West Main Streets on Monroe Park, click "Events" on their website:

http://www.richmondcenterstage.com

[burt]

Last night I went to The Firehouse Theatre to see a play with music called DESSA ROSE. I mention it in this thread because it is a co-production of The Firehouse Theatre and Richmond CenterStage. In fact, it was directed with extraordinary imigination and intelligence by The Executive Director of RCS, Richard Parison.

Casting, scenic design, lighting, costumes, and the 6-piece orchestra are first rate...worthy of an off-Broadway run in NYC.

You won't leave the playhouse whistling the score, and the book may or may not grab you, but I bet a quarter you'll agree it's stunningly professional. It raises theatre in Richmond to a new level.

The Firehouse Theatre is about two doors west of Lombardy on West Broad Street. And you can park free in the Lowe's lot across the street.