Are There More New Musicals Coming? - Page 3

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 11/19/25 at 5:21pm

witchoftheeast2 said: "Theatrefan2 said: "As it seems to be selling well, could Mamma Mia transfer to another theatre for open ended run if they're struggling to fill other houses?

I know its got the tour, but there must be a spare set somewhere to limit costs."

There's no shortage of shows that want to come in this season or next, and also houses that they could go into, including the Winter Garden.What would be the point of keeping it in NY?"

Considering that Mamma Mia! is selling remarkably well, I think the big point of keeping it in NY would be $$$$...

 

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 11/28/25 at 10:40am

I was wondering, which houses are available for this next spring for musicals?

Majestic, St. James and Winter Garden?

Maybe the Marquis if Stranger Things closes right after the holidays?

Some shows have to close indeed

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/28/25 at 10:50am

Just five new musicals in one season has to be a record. If it stands as so. I still think one or two surprise shows pop up and swoop in because of this.

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 11/28/25 at 10:56am

Winter Garden is a Scott Rudin play. 

Other shows closing depends on which billionaires want to stop running at a loss...Gatsby, Moulin, Juliet, Stranger, or HK. But there is very little time for a new musical to do the work it needs to do to open in spring. They booked backwards this year. Play need very little time to come in while musicals take a much longer lead time. 

No once saw the collapse of the big shows that landed early commitments coming - Queen, Prince, Dolly Parton, and even Lost Boys is struggling to raise its money after over a year of having a theater locked. Leaving big houses open but also being held for Prince and Dolly to get their creative fixed. 

MadsonMelo said: "I was wondering, which houses are available for this next spring for musicals?

Majestic, St. James and Winter Garden?

Maybe the Marquis if Stranger Things closes right after the holidays?

Some shows have to close indeed

"

 

Updated On: 11/28/25 at 10:56 AM

[kdogg36]

Posted: 11/28/25 at 11:04am

ACL2006 said: "Just five new musicals in one season has to be a record. If it stands as so. I still think one or two surprise shows pop up and swoop in because of this."

It's not a record - only two new musicals (and three revivals) opened in the 1994-95 season - but it's certainly a let-down after the past two very busy seasons.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/28/25 at 11:15am

The lack of new musicals on Broadway is one thing, but the lack of obviously Broadway-bound new musicals off-Broadway or regionally is worse. None of the shows kicking around is even an on-paper decent bet, the out of town tryouts are either uninspiring or have faceplanted, there isn’t even a prestige piece waiting in the wings. 

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 11/28/25 at 11:21am

Based on that logic we wouldn't have Happy Endings, Outsiders or Buena Vista -- and probably not Just in Time.  The smaller shows that have solid creative seem to be what the audience is responding to not the big budget spectacles whose creative isn't ready but is deemed too big to fail. 

Kad said: "The lack of new musicals on Broadway is one thing, but the lack of obviously Broadway-bound new musicals off-Broadway or regionally is worse. None of the shows kicking around is even an on-paper decent bet, the out of town tryouts are either uninspiring or have faceplanted, there isn’t even a prestige piece waiting in the wings."

 

[InTheBathroom1]

Posted: 11/28/25 at 11:28am

Agree with Kad.  Also, for the last decade or so, all of the best musicals were coming from Off-Broadway (Hamilton, Fun Home, DEH, The Band’s Visit, A Strange Loop, Kimberly Akimbo), but with the non-profits struggling since the pandemic, they’re really looking for musicals that already have investors attached who are willing to pour money into these projects/nonprofits.  It’s too expensive otherwise.  These organic Off-Broadway hits feel like a thing of the past.  These types of shows also typically had lower budgets and operating costs than the big spectacles currently making their way through the pipeline.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/28/25 at 11:31am

By what logic? there simply aren’t many shows right now like MHE, BVSC, or Outsiders- all of which demonstrated success and appeal elsewhere- on deck for a transfer in the near future. 

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 11/28/25 at 11:38am

Who says they aren't out there? Tons of shows with a ton of potential that are being overlooked for the bloated 30 million dollar shows. I see most everything and get pitched to invest in almost everything and am mystified at how the shows get picked. Smash and Boop are perfect examples as are Dolly and Prince. The shows are out there unsupported by the big three. Juliet was passed on by all of them- only the roundabout was willing to give it a shot. It is the only Musical to recoup since the pandemic. Curious do you see all these developmental productions that you are throwing shade at?

 

Kad said: "By what logic? there simply aren’t many shows right now like MHE, BVSC, or Outsiders- all of which demonstrated success and appeal elsewhere- on deck for a transfer in the near future."

 

Updated On: 11/28/25 at 11:38 AM

[musicthatmakesmedance]

Posted: 11/28/25 at 11:47am

Costs are out of control. Dolly capitalized at $32M (!!!), Purple Rain at $29.5M. Insane numbers. Even Wanted is at $20.5M!

Updated On: 11/28/25 at 11:47 AM

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 11/28/25 at 12:00pm

ACL2006 said: "Just five new musicals in one season has to be a record. If it stands as so. I still think one or two surprise shows pop up and swoop in because of this."

 

It would be a record for this century, during the 2000s the least amout of new musicals that we had was 7 in 5 different seasons, 4 of them consecutively:

 

2017-18:

The Band's Visit

Escape to Margaritaville

Frozen

Mean Girls

Prince of Broadway

SpongeBob SquarePants

Summer: The Donna Summer Musical

 

2003-04:

Avenue Q

Bombay Dreams

The Boy from Oz

Caroline, or Change

Never Gonna Dance

Taboo

Wicked

 

2002-03:

Amour

Dance of the Vampires

Hairspray

The Look of Love

Movin' Out

Urban Cowboy

A Year with Frog and Toad

 

2001-02:

By Jeeves

Mamma Mia!

One Mo' Time

Sweet Smell of Success

Thoroughly Modern Millie

Thou Shalt Not

Urinetown

 

2000-01:

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Blast!

A Class Act

The Full Monty

Jane Eyre

The Producers

Seussical