I'm ready for a "Grand Hotel" revival

David Carroll and Michael Jeter in ‘Grand Hotel’

by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder

I’m sure you’ve seen it. Every year, during the Tony Awards season, we see social media posts celebrating the same performance. It’s Brent Barrett, along with the late, great Michael Jeter, performing "We'll Take a Glass Together" from Grand Hotel at the 1990 Tony Awards.

The clip is important for a couple of reasons. The first is that it’s a perfect example of a fun, energetic musical theatre performance and the genius of Tommy Tune, who directed and choreographed the show. Another is a reminder of our fondness for Michael Jeter and David Carroll(whom Barrett was an understudy), both of whom we lost sadly way too soon.

But each year, when I see this joyous clip(as well as Jeter’s emotional Tony Award acceptance speech), I wonder the same thing - why hasn’t Grand Hotel made it back to Broadway?

Growing up in the late 1980’s, I thought that Grand Hotel was the biggest hit on Broadway. After all, their marketing was fabulous and led to gems like these:

The show was considered a success. It opened in 1989 and ran for over 1,000 performances. For the most part, it received positive reviews. Frank Rich from the New York Times said:

“Grand Hotel should satisfy those with a boundless appetite for showmanship untethered to content. Visual craftsmanship doesn't get much more accomplished than this on Broadway.”

It was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, winning five, including awards for Jeter and Tune.

And then, the show closed in the spring of 1992 and hasn’t really been seen since.

So, given that Broadway powers and audiences love a revival, why haven’t we seen Grand Hotel make its way back to 42nd Street?

My guess is that there are a couple of factors. Producing a musical on Broadway in 2024 is a lot different than it was in 1989. It’s far more expensive, and musicals like Grand Hotel seem more like a risk than a sure-fire hit, which might turn away investors. Also, while the show seemed popular during its original run, it may not resonate with 2024 audiences, and producers might opt for revivals that align more closely with current trends.

But personally, I would love to see the show make its return. Grand Hotel possesses a unique charm and depth that makes it a prime candidate for a revival.

For those not familiar with the show, it’s set in a Berlin hotel in the late 1920’s, and weaves together the lives of its guests and staff in a story of drama, romance, and intrigue, which include a fading prima ballerina; a fatally ill Jewish bookkeeper, who wants to spend his final days living in luxury; a young, handsome, but destitute Baron; a cynical doctor; an honest businessman gone bad, and a typist dreaming of Hollywood success. The musical is based on Vicki Baum's 1929 novel "Menschen im Hotel" and the subsequent 1932 film adaptation.

The good news is that I’m not alone in my desire to see this show come back to Broadway. I’ve spoken to a couple of producers who are very interested in the prospect, and Encores did a revival of the show in 2018, which featured Helen Yorke and Brandon Uranowitz, that was very well received.

Reviving Grand Hotel on Broadway is more than a nostalgic nod to the past; it’s about offering audiences a chance to escape into a world of glamour and grit, where every character's story intertwines to create a rich, unforgettable experience. With its timeless themes, compelling characters, and potential for artistic innovation, Grand Hotel is a revival worth waiting for.