Shubert Is Dark, New GM Sunny

It isn’t the best of times for Century City’s Shubert Theatre, L.A.’s most prominent home for big, long-running musicals. The theater hasn’t housed a multi-month run since “Ragtime” left a year ago.

Even that acclaimed production was somewhat tainted, from a commercial point of view, by widespread speculation that the show lost money. These rumors were capped by charges, made in January by the Securities and Exchange Commission, that Garth Drabinsky and his partner Myron Gottlieb enlisted Canadian friends to buy “Ragtime” tickets worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and then reimbursed them, in order to make the “Ragtime” run look more successful than it was. Drabinsky and Gottlieb denied the charges.

Still, the Shubert Organization remains upbeat about its local outpost. Since “Ragtime” left, the Shubert has hosted eight weeks of “Chicago,” two weeks of “The Last Empress” and six weeks of “Rent.” And the vacancies during the interim periods have “nothing to do with Garth Drabinsky” or with any Drabinsky-fueled perception that the theater or L.A. can’t support a long run, declared Shubert President Philip Smith, speaking from New York.

“It’s all based on the availability of product,” Smith said. Indeed, most observers agree that the only new musical that might support a long L.A. run right now is “The Lion King.” But that show’s producer, Disney, has so far shown no inclination to hasten a production of “The Lion King” back into the company’s hometown. Disney has reported that its “Beauty and the Beast” only broke even during its 1995-96 run at the Shubert.

Right now, the Shubert has no confirmed bookings that can be announced, Smith said. But the Shubert company moved quickly to replace Lawrence O’Connor, who recently announced his resignation as general manager of L.A.’s Shubert. The new general manager will be Mark Nichols, 40, who has been general manager of Radio City’s Christmas shows outside New York (including the one at Universal Amphitheatre last year) since 1996. Before that, Nichols spent six years in L.A. with the Center Theatre Group, rising from intern to associate general manager.

Speaking from New York, Nichols said that he is glad to return to L.A. and “the second-largest theater community in the nation.” He radiated enthusiasm about his new assignment. “The location of the Shubert cannot be beat,” he said. “Even though Center Theatre Group’s subscriptions are very appealing, many folks on the Westside would prefer not to make the trek downtown.” The Shubert Organization “is very interested in keeping that theater active.”

The departing O’Connor, who is also president of Theatre LA, said he plans to continue working in L.A. theater, but he wouldn’t say in what capacity.

HALF-PRICE INFO: Three days a week, you can now go online to find out which shows are offering half-price tickets through Theatre LA’s booth at Jerry’s Deli in West Hollywood.

Go to the Theatre LA Web site, at https://www.theatrela.org, click on Times Tix and register. You’ll receive an e-mail each Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, by 6 p.m. or soon thereafter, with the list of half-price offers that will be available at the booth on the following day between noon and 6 p.m.

This list is also available by calling (310) 659-3678 and listening to a recording, but Theatre LA General Manager Scott Leo said callers complained about not being able to get through. Via the computer, prospective theatergoers can print the list of shows for easy reference.

Plans to start additional half-price booths in other Jerry’s Delis are on hold while additional funding is being sought, Leo said.