GROSS: Yeah, wow. So I have a theater question for you. And this is literally about the structure of the theater, the building itself. As a theatergoer, I love going to the theater. But the thing I really dread about it is intermission when you're waiting on that endless line to use the bathroom. And you're hoping that the show doesn't start before the line is over and before you get to actually use it. And I think some new theaters are opening with more restrooms - you know, with more stalls in the restrooms and more stalls in the women's room than the men's room to take into account the longer time, et cetera. From your perspective of somebody who's been producing theater for a long time and who knows a lot about the history of the theater, do you think that the restroom problem has improved over the years? And why did it take so long for anybody to figure out that they need more?
Transcript
GROSS: Yeah, wow. So I have a theater question for you. And this is literally about the structure of the theater, the building itself. As a theatergoer, I love going to the theater. But the thing I really dread about it is intermission when you're waiting on that endless line to use the bathroom.
RUDIN: (Laughter) Yes.
GROSS: And you're hoping that the show doesn't start before the line is over and before you get to actually use it. And I think some new theaters are opening with more restrooms - you know, with more stalls in the restrooms and more stalls in the women's room than the men's room to take into account the longer time, et cetera. From your perspective of somebody who's been producing theater for a long time and who knows a lot about the history of the theater, do you think that the restroom problem has improved over the years? And why did it take so long for anybody to figure out that they need more?
RUDIN: Well, I think they've - I think everybody's always known that they need more. The problem is they're in these - they're basically in these old buildings that are all landmarked, that are very hard to change. Slowly, for example, the Shuberts have tried to redo all of the bathrooms, all of the lounges, get more stalls for women and do all that. But the only time they can do that is when a theater's dark. And the good news and the bad news is that most theaters are not dark anymore. There's an enormous amount of product. Shows close. A new show comes in a minute and a half later. They don't have the time to keep a - to take a theater offline.
And that's the issue. I mean, now you're looking - it's very interesting. In the next two or three years, three of the biggest musical houses are going to go offline because the Palace is being raised so they can make retail space in the bottom of the building. The St. James stage is being extended 8 feet to make room for "Frozen." And there's one more - I can't remember what the third - oh, the Shuberts are building a new theater on 45th Street next to the Imperial, which is going to require that the Imperial go offline. So you're looking at three of the best theaters in New York that are going to be dark for the next few years, which is going to create an enormous booking jam in the theaters that will still exist, which means no renovations for a long time.
GROSS: Well...
RUDIN: By the way...
GROSS: Yeah?
RUDIN: By the way, when we had the Larry David play at the Cort, which is one of the worst theaters for ladies' rooms, the ushers would send women across the street to Chipotle.
GROSS: You're kidding. That's so funny.
RUDIN: That's what they would do, yeah, all the time.
GROSS: Glad I asked. OK (laughter).
RUDIN: Exactly (laughter).
