Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 4/14/24- Page 2

[GoldenGiggery]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 1:37am

I'm not really seeing much of an issue for Outsiders as it currently stands. They just exited previews this past Thursday, and while the critical reception is decidedly mixed, the word of mouth has been pretty strong; the seats are selling well, and the grosses continue to climb. This show has the makings of a summer hit with tourists. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 8:35am

GoldenGiggery said: "I'm not really seeing much of an issue for Outsiders as it currently stands. They just exitedpreviews this past Thursday, and while the critical reception is decidedly mixed, the word of mouth has been pretty strong; the seats are selling well, and the grosses continue to climb. This show has the makings of a summer hit with tourists."

I'm just hoping it can build enough momentum to last through the summer when-I think?-tourist crowds slow down and potentially student groups as well since I think a lot of people commented about how they saw those which will obviously not be coming to the theater during the summer- I don't think 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 8:47am

I just clicked through and looked at the numbers. Some of them would make me vomit if I was in charge. 

[singer234]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 9:02am

There are going to be a lot of empty mid-sized musical houses in the fall. I hope shows currently out of town or in development are working hard on edits, because they may get the chance to move to Broadway sooner rather than later (if they even want to at this point!).

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 9:10am

GoldenGiggery said: "I'm not really seeing much of an issue for Outsiders as it currently stands. They just exitedpreviews this past Thursday, and while the critical reception is decidedly mixed, the word of mouth has been pretty strong; the seats are selling well, and the grosses continue to climb. This show has the makings of a summer hit with tourists."

THE OUTSIDERS has also gotten a huge chunk of group sales from schools as well (per a friend of mine who works for TC). 

-

This season was always going to be a bloodbath in terms of competing for sales and I don’t think the reviews help anyone either unless it’s a unilateral rave (which also does not guaranteed success). With all but one show (Illinoise) now open or in previews, we’re starting to get a better idea of who will sink or swim. 

With regards to quality, it seems like a LOT of shows just decided to rush to Broadway without a more thorough period of development and it leaves things feeling underbaked.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 10:32am

quizking101 said: "GoldenGiggery said: "I'm not really seeing much of an issue for Outsiders as it currently stands. They just exitedpreviews this past Thursday, and while the critical reception is decidedly mixed, the word of mouth has been pretty strong; the seats are selling well, and the grosses continue to climb. This show has the makings of a summer hit with tourists."

THE OUTSIDERS has also gotten a huge chunk of group sales from schools as well (per a friend of mine who works for TC).

-

This season was always going to be a bloodbath in terms of competing for sales and I don’t think the reviews help anyone either unless it’s a unilateral rave (which also does not guaranteed success). With all but one show (Illinoise) now open or in previews, we’re starting to get a better idea of who will sink or swim.

With regards to quality, it seems like a LOT of shows just decided to rush to Broadway without a more thorough period of development and it leaves things feeling underbaked."

I thought about this a week or two ago because how many of these shows actually had out of town tryouts before rushing to the Main Stem?

[Kad]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 10:36am

hearthemsing22 said: "quizking101 said: "GoldenGiggery said: "I'm not really seeing much of an issue for Outsiders as it currently stands. They just exitedpreviews this past Thursday, and while the critical reception is decidedly mixed, the word of mouth has been pretty strong; the seats are selling well, and the grosses continue to climb. This show has the makings of a summer hit with tourists."

THE OUTSIDERS has also gotten a huge chunk of group sales from schools as well (per a friend of mine who works for TC).

-

This season was always going to be a bloodbath in terms of competing for sales and I don’t think the reviews help anyone either unless it’s a unilateral rave (which also does not guaranteed success). With all but one show (Illinoise) now open or in previews, we’re starting to get a better idea of who will sink or swim.

With regards to quality, it seems like a LOT of shows just decided to rush to Broadway without a more thorough period of development and it leaves things feeling underbaked."

I thought about this a week or two ago because how many of these shows actually had out of town tryouts before rushing to the Main Stem?"

I don't think any of the major new shows this season opened cold on Broadway. Outsiders, Heart of Rock and Roll, Lempicka, Water for Elephants, Gatsby, How to Dance, and The Notebook all had out of town productions in the last season or two. Suffs and Hell's Kitchen both began at the Public. Illinoise was out of town before it came to the Armory. I may be forgetting something, but the majority of shows did try out somewhere in the recent past.

Updated On: 4/17/24 at 10:36 AM

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 10:41am

Even out of town tryouts should’ve had more time to fix the material - I’m mainly thinking about GATSBY and HELL’S KITCHEN, both premiered elsewhere last fall and that’s not nearly enough time to fix the problems they both have for a Spring Broadway turnaround.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 4/17/24 at 10:45am

quizking101 said: "Even out of town tryouts should’ve had more time to fix the material - I’m mainly thinking about GATSBY and HELL’S KITCHEN, both premiered elsewhere last fall and that’s not nearly enough time to fix the problems they both have for a Spring Broadway turnaround."

right- I forgot- Papermill and The Public Theater. But I agree they shouldn't have shot for Broadway so soon. Spread the wealth between 24/25 and 25/26! 

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 9:16am

Isn't time for "Chicago" to close like "Phantom"? 

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 9:25am

Zeppie2022 said: "Isn't time for "Chicago" to close like "Phantom"?"

They will close when their star/stunt casting prospects have fully dried up - it’s still the cheapest show to run. Ariana Madix brought in a windfall that helps during lean months, and then you have Jinkx Monsoon rejoining for 20 performances during the end of Pride Month - and they were also a cash cow the last time.

They recouped an entire lifetime ago and now it’s just printing money.

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 9:46am

Zeppie2022 said: "Isn't time for "Chicago" to close like "Phantom"?"

I would argue it wasn't even time for Phantom to close. 

Their sales were amazing once they announced their closing, and people stopped taking for granted their continued existence on Broadway. 

Plus, it's still the show I hear people talking about the most waiting for another show to start. For example, last week I was at Great Gatsby and a couple of friends were talking about how they saw the show once a year, and miss it. A stranger in another row, interjected how jealous she was. 

I've heard multiple versions of that conversation about Phantom.  

[Kad]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 10:09am

Phantom’s sales were amazing because it was closing. It wasn’t necessarily that people stopped taking it for granted- it was sudden scarcity of opportunity to see a historic and much loved production. 

Updated On: 4/18/24 at 10:09 AM

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 10:52am

Zeppie2022 said: "Isn't time for "Chicago" to close like "Phantom"?"

Did you see the Chicago grosses last week? They've been on a pretty good tear with stunt castings lately. Yes this week was rough but it's been looking healthier than normal over the last year plus with people like Pamela Anderson, Jinx Monsoon, etc

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 11:01am

Why?  I'd rather a show with good bones be on the boards than the mediocre crap we've gotten this season.  At least with Chicago, being great is possible, dependent on the current cast.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 11:13am

I'm curious. What do we think would be better for Broadway? An overstuffed season with a lot to choose from, or many houses sitting empty with potentially mediocre shows?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 11:19am

I truly don't understand your choices - they seem too similar to me: lots of mediocre choices or a only "some" choice - but they're STILL mediocre?  (Maybe I'm missing your point - or reading it weirdly.)

 

I'm thinking you meant lots of mediocre choices vs fewer but higher quality choices? And if that's what you meant, which it looks like everyone else is assuming: I, too, will take quality of quantity every time.  Give me even FIVE very good/great new musicals a season? I'd be happier than one could imagine.   The producers want money makers - and their not going to get that with mediocre shows (most of the time).

And better for whom? The audience member, the producers?  (And I promise I'm not being snarky.)

Updated On: 4/18/24 at 11:19 AM

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 11:19am

hearthemsing22 said: "I'm curious. What do we think would be better for Broadway? An overstuffed season with a lot to choose from, or many houses sitting empty with potentially mediocre shows?"

This is a very odd dichotomy you are presenting with respect quality vs. quantity and also is a bit extreme.

Not everything that gets to Broadway needs to be on Broadway, but if they aspire to that, they need to bring their A-game. With the market still not fully recovered from the pandemic and ticket prices remaining high and getting higher, people aren’t going to run the risk of seeing something middling and so shows should be more deliberate in taking feedback and fixing their shows rather than moving full speed ahead unchecked.

Even us bridge-and-tunnel folk who see many things (or in my case, everything) are exhausted by the number of options there are since we want to support the new shows, but unless you have access to discount price tickets, that’s damn near impossible.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 11:20am

hearthemsing22 said: "I'm curious. What do we think would be better for Broadway? An overstuffed season with a lot to choose from, or many houses sitting empty with potentially mediocre shows?"

I’d rather shows take their time to finish developing and come to Broadway when they’re ready and set up for success, rather than the “Quick! This is our chance!” mentality this season’s producers seem to have. We’re oversaturated with new shows that will be gone before most people even have time to catch them, and some of the most consistently mediocre reviews I’ve read in a minute.

“Quality over quantity” has rarely been more applicable.

Updated On: 4/18/24 at 11:20 AM

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 11:23am

Kad said: "Phantom’s sales were amazing because it was closing. It wasn’t necessarily that people stopped taking it for granted- it was sudden scarcity of opportunity to see a historic and much loved production."

I think taking the show for granted and sudden scarcity are different ways of saying the same thing, but here's my larger point about Phantom:

Covid increased costs by 15%, the Majestic Theatre needed to be renovated, and the show needed to be more like the London and touring versions, using a smaller orchestras and cheaper, redesigned sets to keep weekly operating costs down. 

Those are all short term or addressable problems. Other than an initial post lockdown slump that impacted most shows, there's every indication that audiences still want to watch Phantom.    

If Phantom was remounted on Broadway next season, I'd still bet on Phantom to outlast all the new musicals launched at the same time.  

[Wick3]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 12:38pm

Also remember that majority of patrons who watched Phantom before pandemic were foreigners/visitors. The US got rid of all of its covid vaccine policy entry requirements in May 2023 (it got rid of the proof of negative test result in June 2022.)  Phantom announced its closure in September 2022 and then closed in April 2023.

One of the hardest things to do is to market a show and Phantom has been associated with NYC Broadway for decades and I still hear from tourists in Times Square whether Phantom of the Opera is still playing.  

Looking back, a better solution was to renovate the Majestic in 2021/2022 and then have Phantom reopen in spring 2023 (after all the covid/mask/vaccine policies have finished.)

Updated On: 4/18/24 at 12:38 PM

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 4:28pm

"They will close when their star/stunt casting prospects have fully dried up - it’s still the cheapest show to run. Ariana Madix brought in a windfall that helps during lean months, and then you have Jinkx Monsoon rejoining for 20 performances during the end of Pride Month - and they were also a cash cow the last time."

Seems like they have been stunt casing forever and I will let others tell me if the show is in "good shape" or the cast just goes through the motions. "Phantom" showed nothing will run forever and I was just wondering when they were down almost 25% from the previous week.

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 4:30pm

"Phantom’s sales were amazing because it was closing. It wasn’t necessarily that people stopped taking it for granted- it was sudden scarcity of opportunity to see a historic and much loved production. "

Before making the closing announcement, think Phantom was barely covering costs. 

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 4:33pm

"Why? I'd rather a show with good bones be on the boards than the mediocre crap we've gotten this season. At least with Chicago, being great is possible, dependent on the current cast."

Like I said in another post, is the show in good shape? I have no idea but usually shows that run as long as "Chicago" don't have the best of casts and have performers not giving it their all. I will be willing to hear people tell me that is not true with "Chicago".

Updated On: 4/18/24 at 04:33 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/18/24 at 4:47pm

Right now? It's in very good shape.  Robyn Hurder is KILLING it (from what I've heard.)   Do they have their "life support" performances?  Indeed.