Tango Steps Back Into Town
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
Of course, Forever Tango’s move to the Royal George means curtains for I Hate Hamlet, which has limped along for six months after receiving mixed reviews. Royal George owners Perkins and Jujamcyn Theatres spent heavily on advertising to sustain the play during a long, cold winter, and two-for-one ticket promotions seemed to become the norm to bolster humdrum business.
Forever Tango obviously looked like a much better bet. The show’s producers considered the Athenaeum Theatre, but Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill was already slated there at least through June 9. The Athenaeum’s also not air-conditioned, which makes it a less attractive summer venue.
While Guber remains behind the scenes at Mandalay, the company’s president is Scott Sanders, who formerly worked at Radio City Music Hall. Sanders was unavailable for comment, but a source familiar with his history says he was responsible in large part for reestablishing Radio City Music Hall as a major venue for concerts and other live shows, including the historic theater’s annual Christmas and Easter extravaganzas featuring the Rockettes precision dance team.
