Hanover’s Hood

The neighborhood around the Hanover Theatre is still a bit rough, and Germain and Rosen want something to be done.

“There are a lot of businesses that need sprucing up…maybe some new businesses,” says Rosen.  ”I’m not saying we strong arm business owners…but maybe the administration should talk to the [business] owners…and try to make that stretch of stores look better and serve the theatre crowd better.”

“Can we come up with a game plan, a blue print for that [area] of the city?” asks Germain.  ”A facade program, anything to make that area more appealing for theater-goers.”

While tax incentives or a facade program would be a huge help, they must have missed our news that something is going to happen down there.

8:20

I’ve seen it before, it happens all the time (Foreigner)

We have a sales rep who is absolutely stoked over this announcement.

Foreigner – the geniuses behind karaoke mainstays “Hot Blooded,” “Cold as Ice,” “Jukebox Hero,” and “Double Vision” – is coming to the Hanover Theatre.

The show is Saturday May, 31, and tickets will range from $47-$197.  That high end grab includes a VIP Reception with the band.

Also in Hanover news: The 2008-2009 Broadway schedule should announced in early May.

Hanover Ribbon Cutting

Starts in 30 or so.  We’ll be over there, live blogging if anything interesting happens.

Everything named Frank

It seems there’s going to be a lot of Frank Carroll downtown: Federal Plaza and the section of Southbridge Street from Myrtle Street to Main Street were all just renamed Francis R. Carroll Plaza, on a vote of the City Council.  It’s a high profile section of town, especially with the upcoming opening of the Hanover Theatre.

7:30

Bernadette Peters! Joy Behar! Billy Ray Cyrus?

The Hanover Theatre Grand Opening Festivities have been announced:

• March 14: Bernadette Peters
• March 15: Joy Behar
• March 29: Billy Ray Cyrus

Not exactly the lineup that we were expecting to launch the theater theatre.  Anyone buy tickets yet?

Hanover gets booked

While rumors of the Opening Night act keep floating, the Hanover Theatre has started booking shows for the coming months, even if they aren’t announcing them:

• The Saw Doctors are scheduled for a show on 3/16/2008, according to pollstar.com
• B.B. King is lined up to perform on 5/16/2008, according to geffen.com
• And “Arthur Live” is on the roster for 5/18/2008, also according to Pollstar

Combined with the Broadway shows, it’s a diverse mix.

Hanover Theatre adds a show

Subscribers to the Hanover Theatre (Theatre? Theater?) Broadway package just received this note from the box office:

As you know, the response to our Broadway Series has been incredible!  Based on the overwhelming demand, we are adding an additional performance of Hairspray on Monday, March 24th at 7:30pm.

Subscribers have the option of upgrading their seats for the Broadway shows.

It’s a promising start to the theater, which some insiders say will be real tight to open by the yet-to-be-announced opening act this spring.