An Oversaturated Spring? Data and opinions...- Page 2

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 1/25/24 at 6:01pm

Here lies love probably wishes they opened in the spring. And these theatres are always full in the spring. The complaint of there being too many shows on Broadway, they could have said the same thing 10 years ago.  If there were only 15 shows on Broadway, that doesn’t mean they will sell because there’s less competition. 

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 1/25/24 at 10:03pm

I do think the spring is overstuffed and some of the new shows will surely fail quickly. However, I don't believe any sort of wholesale change is needed. It's the ebb and flow of the business. There were other March and Aprils that were very stuffed (1997 and 2017 spring to mind). And other years, like last season, where many of the biggest players opened earlier in the season.

Will some producers regret opening when they do? Probably. Do some producers regret opening at a different time of year? I'm sure. Will a couple producers have a lot of success and not worry about what else didn't work? Probably.

There's too many variables (when shows are ready, theater availability, etc) to actually dictate a more evenly spread out season. Some years will naturally have that more than others.

I'm prematurely rolling my eyes at the inevitable "Broadway is dead" articles and posts when a few spring shows inevitably fail.

Updated On: 1/25/24 at 10:03 PM

[Wick3]

Posted: 1/25/24 at 11:28pm

I recall during the pandemic people were worried that Broadway will only be full of the long-running shows like Wicked, Lion King, Aladdin, Book of Mormon, Hamilton, Wicked, Phantom, Chicago, etc. and that half the theaters would sit empty.

Now, people are complaining there are too many new shows?!?!!? I seriously don't remember the last time this many theaters were occupied at the same time. I say kudos to Broadway! 

As a local New Yorker, I plan to watch all of them either through lottery or rush first and if I loved it, I'll pay to sit in the seat I want to see it in.

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/26/24 at 8:58am

Not sure anyone's complaining about too many shows. Just the time frame in which they are all opening. 

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 1/26/24 at 11:45am

It's interesting that many on this board were questioning Sunset Boulevard not opening in the Spring to 'cash in' on all the buzz...but now it's looking like waiting for the fall may have been the smarter move after all.

[Phillyguy]

Posted: 1/27/24 at 3:47pm

FANtomFollies said: "It's interesting that many on this board were questioning Sunset Boulevard not opening in the Spring to 'cash in' on all the buzz...but now it's looking like waiting for the fall may have been the smarter move after all."

Having seen the Sunset Blvd in Dec, I don’t think it needs the Spring Tony momentum to survive. Perhaps they would rather cash in on the holiday dollars. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/27/24 at 3:59pm

Broadway Flash said: "Here lies love probably wishes they opened in the spring"

HLL is a show that I think could have had a different outcome if it opened in March or April.

I'm going to assume there are 1 or 2 more spring openings to be announced. I don't know what those titles are, but when there's space available, shows and money come out of the woodwork.

Updated On: 1/27/24 at 03:59 PM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 1/27/24 at 7:58pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Keep in mind also that licensing is pennies on the dollar for investors. It starts as 60/40 split for the authors & producers, then with time becomes more in the author's favor, until after about 18 years the producer gets nothing and the author gets all. (In most cases.) That can work out well for the authors, but it's a sloooow process if something like Be More Chillor Dance in Ohioproducers expect to see any profit."

In addition, a lot of shows that become very popular through licensing seem to not be getting the first class productions that would bring in the large royalty payments. You’re not seeing LORT theatres including The Prom or Heathers in their seasons. Their popularity is being fueled by school, college, and community theatre productions which pay significantly less in royalties than the Goodman or La Jolla or other top-tier regional companies would be paying.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 1/27/24 at 9:22pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I'm going to assume there are 1 or 2 more spring openings to be announced. I don't know what those titles are, but when there's space available, shows and money come out of the woodwork."

Didn't POTUS announce it was coming to Broadway in March? Sidney Brustein too (although that wasn't quite as crazy because it was a snap transfer, not a show materializing out of thin air). Either way, it's not over til it's over! 

[UWS10023]

Posted: 1/29/24 at 5:55am

Wick3 said: "If you’re looking for a theater front of house job there might be openings."

Not necessarily. Front of the house people tend to be true to their houses even if there is a long gap between shows. There are a lot of employees right now riding on unemployment or scrambling to find anything until their houses reopen.

 

[Wick3]

Posted: 1/29/24 at 2:07pm

Normally my friends who are substitute ushers can always pickup shifts in December or Apr/May when a good number of theaters are occupied.

This time, however, literally all the available theaters are occupied. 38 out of 41 theaters! Majestic is under renovation; Palace is being built and I think Belasco is the only free theater since How to Dance in Ohio is closing?

In addition to ushers, there are merch/security/bar/accessible vendors who may be hiring too.

Updated On: 1/29/24 at 02:07 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 1/29/24 at 2:22pm

jkcohen626 said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I'm going to assume there are 1 or 2 more spring openings to be announced. I don't know what those titles are, but when there's space available, shows and money come out of the woodwork."

Didn't POTUS announce it was coming to Broadway in March? Sidney Brustein too (although that wasn't quite as crazy because it was a snap transfer, not a show materializing out of thin air). Either way, it's not over til it's over!"

LADY DAY and the Deaf West SPRING AWAKENING revival were also quick "coming to Broadway" announcements. Though after the failure of BRUSTEIN last year (a transfer that should have been a hit under other circumstances), hopefully people won't be taking a chance on that short level of notice going forward.

Updated On: 1/29/24 at 02:22 PM

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 2/21/24 at 6:32am

I didn't know if this deserved its own thread but NYT also has an article on the crowded spring season today:

What to Know About This Crazily Crowded Broadway Spring Season

Why are 18 shows opening in March and April, and which one is for you? Our theater reporter has answers.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/21/theater/broadway-musicals-plays-spring-season.html

It mentions the TimeOut article as well.

Updated On: 2/21/24 at 06:32 AM

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 2/21/24 at 6:59am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I don't know if you're missing any, but these are always my go-to resources:

Broadway League Opening Night Calendar

Off-Broadway League Opening Night Calendar

Broadway Now & Next"

Playbill Vault is also a good source. It took them forever to get this season up, but it's there now.

[Wick3]

Posted: 2/21/24 at 2:22pm

Does anyone remember the last time 18+ shows opened on Broadway in a span of one month (April)?

I'm happy for Broadway but the realist part of me also thinks there will be plenty of discounts.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/21/24 at 2:37pm

Wick3 said: "Does anyone remember the last time 18+ shows opened on Broadway in a span of one month (April)?"

13 Broadway shows are opening in the month of April, not 18+.

As far as past Aprils go... 2013 had 15; 2014 had 12; 2017 and 2015 each had 14.

If we just take the 2024 part of the 23-24 season into consideration, 20 shows are (currently) opening between January 1 and May 1. That's less than 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2022, and the same as 2015.

All this information is easily accessible on IBDB and via the Broadway League calendar.

By nature of a lot of shows closing the first week of January and spring show rehearsals beginning in early January without having to take a break for Xmas/New Year, late February-early March is about the earliest a Spring show could begin previews; add 4-6 weeks of previews to that and your opening is going to be in late March or April. On top of that there are also artist availability windows, strategy, and other matters to take into consideration.

I don't understand why people are acting as though this has never happened before.

It happens nearly every year.

Updated On: 2/21/24 at 02:37 PM

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 2/21/24 at 2:51pm

Shows opening on Friday and Saturday, as well as doubling up on opening nights doesn't happen every year, though. As has already been mentioned, it's just those last 9 days of the Tony eligibility period that make it seem overstuffed.