Am I the only one who doesn't think Title of Show will work on Broadway?

[winston89]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 12:00am

Before the bashing begins and before I get critical. Let me tell you where I stand. I have seen Title of show more then once at the Vineyard. I love it. I think it is great and VERY original. However, I don't think that this is right for Broadway.

I think that when it all comes down to it you have to look at the size of the musical and see if it is worth spending 100 dollars for a ticket.

I know that there are people who are going to start naming all the off broadway shows that transfered and were a success. Shows like, Grey Gardens, spelling bee, Avenue Q and now In The Heights are shows that were downsized versions of what could be big budget Broadway musicals. Of course they couldn't be because of where they were playing and budget reasons. But, They could use the room to expand and they did. And they were worth the price. I could see myself paying 100 bucks for a laugh and to see people getting onstage making a fool out of themselves trying to spell words they clearly don't know. I can see myself paying 100 dollars for an adult version of Sesame Street that does a funny and accurate job of looking at life after college. And the list goes on.

But, Title of show is just a few people and a piano. It has a cute intimate spark that works out well. Just because something is a hit off Broadway doesn't mean that it has to be rushed uptown in a big hurry.

I personally compare Title of Show to the Fantasticks. The Fantasticks is a great little musical that needs very very little to be done right and will loose its spark if played in a large scale theatre. It would loose its spark if it moved to Broadway because it is a small scale show and a good small scale show.

I personally feel that Title of show is also a small scale show and a good one. And it is one that will loose its spark if it does come to Broadway.

I know it ran at the vineyard with a few extensions to its limited engagement. But, that doesn't mean that it should rush uptown.

I find it sad that commercial off Broadway is dying out with commercial off Broadway theatres closing. But, there has to be an artistic alternative for something other then jumping the gun and going to Broadway.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 12:01am

(yawn)

That made me sleepy.

[postergirl]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 12:04am

Not as sleepy as TOS

[truman]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 12:06am

I love [tos], but it's not going to work.

[mygfdontliveincanada]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 12:13am

I agree with you completely. While Avenue Q and Spring Awakening have been able to transfer from Off-Broadway to Broadway, both shows quickly figured out how to market themselves. While most shows go for the family crowd or the classic, blue-haired theater goers, Ave Q and SA went for the teen market--albeit in very different ways--and profited from it.

TOS really only works as an inside joke for people who have been involved in theater. And lets be honest. Those people will come, and yes, TOS will be 9 people's favorite thing, but I don't think that people outside the theater realm will enjoy it. Is your average New York tourist going to get the joke of "Ain't you seen the national tour of 1776?" I don't think so.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 12:14am

Winston, you are definitely not the only one who thinks that.

Many of the major producers on Broadway have said that it would be a very risky and probably unsuccessful transfer.

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 12:26am

I love [tos] but I do have doubts. I agree that it's not necessary to rush everything to Broadway.

Also, your arguments lose weight when the word "lose" is spelled incorrectly. Think about it. Commit it to memory.

[mygfdontliveincanada]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 12:36am

Someone saw Spelling Bee, didn't they

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 12:47am

Well you know, I do try to keep myself informed. And literate.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 12:54am

My question is why don't they just keep playing off-Broadway. If they were selling so well there, why mess with the status quo? They can be like Forbidden Broadway or the Fantasticks....the little show that is the New York constant if they play their cards right.

Either way I wish them the best of luck and hope they prove all those with doubts wrong.

Akiva

[winston89]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 1:03am

Link,

They played at the Vineyard Theatre. The same theatre that Q started out in off Broadway. It is a theatre that only does limited engagements. However, it was selling well enough that the extended it for as long as they could have.


And, there are many commercial off Broadway theatres that are closing and being turned into other things because the commercial off Broadway market isn't what it used to be.


Broadwaybaby,

Its a message board. Not an essay for a class. Read my signature. I clearly put it there for a reason. Read it, think about it, commit it to memory.

[UCan'tScareMeITeachD]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 10:44am

Ok, maybe I'm missing something, but would someone please send me a personal e-mail and tell me what the "Title of Show" is. Obviously it can't be printed, but not living in NYC I have no clue! Thank you in advance.

[Pippin]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 10:49am

this may help.
title of show link

[Pippin]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 10:49am

info @ IOBDB

[UCan'tScareMeITeachD]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 10:53am

Thanks all, that would help if I didn't have a stupid filter on my work (school/teacher) computer that doesn't let me look at anything. I'm lucky to get the bww website. Thanks again

[BroadwayAbridged]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 11:27am

I love TOS, but I'm really hoping it gets Circle in the Square. Most if not all other theaters on Broadway, it will lose that intimacy it had at NYMF/Ars Nova/Vinyard...

[BlueWindSadness]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 11:32am

I totally agree...it sure needs to be in a smaller setting or it will lose the good atmostphere created at the Vineyard....Dont get me wrong,I really hope it does well on Broadway, but they really need to find their niche in the market and commit to promoting it...or it really wont work, and thats sad!

[joniray]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 12:18pm

UCan'tScareMeITeachD, it's actually called [title of show] because it's about two guys (and their two friends) writing and putting on a show that they don't have a title for. The script and songs come out of the actual conversations they have in trying to write and put on the show. It's kind of the musical theatre equivilent of reality television. It's a funny and moving look at the creative process.

[Liverpool]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 12:30pm

i'd actually call it the Musical Theatre equivalent of Studio 60 or 30 Rock.

[winston89]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 12:55pm

Which is why it won't work.

It is pretty much an "in" joke for musical theatre fans.

Very much something that the tourist market won't get. Which is one of the reasons why I don't think this will work on Broadway.

[InfiniteTheaterFrenzy]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 1:15pm

"It is pretty much an "in" joke for musical theatre fans."

Critics and audience members said the same thing about A Chorus Line in 1975 before it transferred from Off- Broadway to Broadway.

Every musical that has ever been a revolutionary hit on Broadway has come as a big surprise to many, many nay- sayers.

Remember "No Gags, No Gals, No Chance". And that weird- ass musical with no chance became... Oklahoma.

All of the columnists and journalists thought the two big hits of the 1995- 1996 season would be the fun musical comedy romps, Big and Busker Alley. Uh... hello, Rent. And Bring in da Noise.

Sometimes you just have to believe in something because it's excellent. No matter if the piece seems unconventional or like an underdog, or what.

Sometimes you just have to believe. And I believe in [title of show] with all my heart.

If you've seen the show and don't like it, fine. You're entitled to your opinion. If you have doubts about the Broadway run, of course you're entitled to express them. But if you're a [title of show] fan who wants to see four chairs and a keyboard make it to the big time, who thinks that heartfelt, original material has a place on Broadway, I think you should put away your doubts and just believe.

I BELIEVE IN [TOS]!!!!!!!!!

Updated On: 1/30/08 at 01:15 PM

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 2:07pm

UCan'tScareMeITeachD, it's actually called [title of show] because it's about two guys (and their two friends) writing and putting on a show that they don't have a title for. The script and songs come out of the actual conversations they have in trying to write and put on the show. It's kind of the musical theatre equivilent of reality television. It's a funny and moving look at the creative process.

Sounds kind of like the film "Adaptation." I'm looking forward to this. I missed it while it was playing Off-Broadway.

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 2:18pm

As long as it gets some serious upgrades and avoids the big Barns of a Theatre it has a chance. Yet I too agree that most of their content will not impress those who don't follow the Theatre gossip on a regular basis. Plus, when you depend on that type of material for your entertainment, there will always be someone you are offending. It is a lot easier with make believe than mocking real people. Taking it to a bigger audience will put it under a larger microscope. It's funny but it depends too much on currant events. They will be old a month later. To make real money, it has to be material people will want to see over and over again.

I wish them luck but it seems like a better sitcom to me?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 2:22pm

To be clear, they said they'll be playing on Broadway.

They never said that they'll be playing in a Broadway theater.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 1/30/08 at 2:25pm

LOL good point, but why the rush to open before the Tony deadline then?

Although someone on ATC just posted they're getting the Hayes. Who knows.