Profile for carolynbrooks

JBroadway said: "@carolynbrooks – normally I hate when people throw around petty accusations like this toward new users, but you’re giving off the strong impression that you just joined this message board to revel in the failure of Paradise Square."

Certainly not! the failure of this show was predestined by a boring book, cheesy songs, and a crooked producer     

CarlosAlberto said: "I take that back, your whole post is melodramatic."

 

Aha, an entire company that went bankrupt based on cooked books, millions lost , not to mention the demise of his last company , Cineplex, now that is drama Carlos!          

 

I would have to say no. In a sample test of  available inventory for key shows on May 21 and May 28th that did not already have a strong trajectory, the result has been anemic. Prime example, Paradise Square, 10 nominations and 70% of the house is available for both Saturday evening  performances.           

Here is the most is the most intriguing thing:  Drabinsky's partner in crime on this show is Peter LeDonne, of Ash LeDonne and later LeDonne Wilner, the ad agency that abruptly closed after LIVENT tanked. LeDonne is a seasoned ad guy, no money might be the issue but something else is wrong - is there no ad agency involved? The sparse marketing is wallpaper and really dull and unimagined.            

and with a gross of $196,000 last week - who is ordering what shiva meal ?  

yes, I have the seen the show twice , a  few stellar performances - but beyond that - dull and quite uninspired.  

No crystal ball required. With last weeks gross of $206,000 and a capacity of 54%, there is no likely way this production can survive even the potential of a slew of Tony nominations next Monday. A double page ad or two and post opening buzz has sadly not helped . The curse of mixed reviews and that damn lamp post..           

Auggie27 said: "$253,000+ last week."

That gross says it all - post reviews, post covid full week. This is  about hanging on to Tony noms and possible awards show. However, if it does not get a Best Musical nom, it's all done.    

 

I am going to see the show on the weekend again , but I heard from friends last night, that the seats were either upgraded to fill the orchestra, more comps  and that cast energy was not strong. It is possible that they need a few days to ramp up after being shut down for an extended time, but the bigger issue is that there is simply no buzz on the street and that this will not be a tourist pick. At to the woes, that any new reviews such as VOX below are not favorable. Given the weekly nut, there is simply no way to turn this around. If you had bad reviews and the audience loved it and word of mouth was huge - perhaps. But this is now a perfect storm of inertia, lack of capital and quicksand. 

https://www.vox.com/culture/23020581/suffs-paradise-square-review-post-hamilton-historical-musicals

https://www.otdowntown.com/news/what-happened-to-garth-drabinsky-s-comeback-HJ2029977

 

 

 

                             

"Garth has made a nice living". No truer words, as the show experiences zero gravity grosses weekly, I would venture to guess that he is the only one , maybe Ledonne , who has taken exorbitant weekly salaries aside from his luxury hotel suite. Yes, so let's have a cast album so he can take additional producer fees. Alvin Bragg do you have your ticket yet?                

itsjustmejonhotmailcom said: "Anyone else find it odd that they didn't announce a record label or distributor? That's usually in the press release for a cast recording."

Mr. Drabinsky, with some exceptions, self distributes and produces to control the rights. For Showboat, he would pair the CD with bbq sauce and southern recipe cookbook.         

I think that @ErmengardeStopSniveling has been so well informed and articulate on this thread. Regardless of JK's stellar performance ( I have seen her twice , thanks to cast comps), i would venture to guess that this show will never be remounted or produced again. Unlike Ragtime that had a better score and book, this show is not universally appealing or accessible.               

I hope the cast and engineers will wear  masks. This show can't afford another Covid shut down.    

It is so bizarre that they would invest in cast album over marketing dollars to save the show. This is all one producer's ego. shame .