Are There More New Musicals Coming? — Page 3

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 $$$$...

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.

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.

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."

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.

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

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

Smash cost over $20 million dollars and the physical production was not elaborate and the cast wasn't enormous. They didn't even do an out of town. WHERE is this money going???

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."

There's not a lack of new musicals waiting in the wings. There's a lack of new musicals getting support. And as audiences flock to the 2nd revival of Ragtime to see their favorite theater stars sing the same score from 20 plus years ago, the theater landscape isn't making space for new works to thrive.

Every non profit is looking for millions of enhancement to mount new musicals in and out of New York. Without a starry name it's impossible to even get a show off the ground when it IS good.

I know many writers who are trying, but the climate doesn't have the infrastructure to support them.

Ragtime is not the problem and seems strange to single it out.

if you scroll up you will see Kad decided no new shows have merit to become outsiders or happy endings- hence my comment.. there are a ton of shows that fit that model and need support and a path —not to be summarily dismissed. no need to dismiss the ones trying!

uncageg

said: "I don't think Kad is "Throwing shade". He is just commenting on the lack of shows that are "on deck"/ready to transfer to Broadway this season. Not the overall amount of musicals out there that aren't. (Correct me if I am wrong Kad.)"

From what I've heard, Damn Yankees maybe transferring next season once Circle in The Square opens back up from Just in Time, the team doesn't want to lose the in the round staging. Besides, the revival competition is way to steep this year between Chess, Cats, and Ragtime.

As I said you are throwing shade at all of them by summarily dismissing them as not having buzz. Outsiders had no buzz but it they did great work on it. Happy endings had negative buzz and overcame it. Buena Vista went off broadway because it had no buzz. Have you seen The Heart? Pussycat? Galileo? Mythic? Ben Buttons?- each of them had critical and or popular success.... but you dismiss them. On another chain you were harsher and deemed some of them doomed to fail - have you seen them? Or are you just dismissing them because you don't deem them buzzworthy? At some point it would be great if the quality/potential of a project meant something. Rant over. I usually like your posts so maybe we are just in a loop here.

But to be clear this is what you said and implied....

'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."

That is you dismissing every new show trying to come in.

Kad said: "Ensemble1711444445 said: "if you scroll up you will see Kaddecided no new showshave merit to become outsiders or happy endings- hence my comment.. there are a ton of shows that fit that model and need support and a path —not to be summarily dismissed. no need to dismissthe ones trying!

uncageg

said: "I don't think Kad is "Throwing shade". He is just commenting on the lack of shows that are "on deck"/ready to transfer to Broadway this season. Not the overall amount of musicals out there that aren't. (Correct me if I am wrong Kad.)"

"

That is not what I said or implied.

I am looking at the slate of shows that have been in production regionally and off-Broadway this year- aka the productions that typically are the most likely candidates for a Broadway transfer within the next season or two, productions that have had critical and/or popular success and are primed with buzz. There simply aren't many.

What's been written and what's in development is not what I was talking about- that covers dozens, if not hundreds, of shows in various stages of development, most of which will likely never be produced in a major way at all. And the fact that thoseshows aren't moving forward doesn't negate my argument here, either- it reinforces it: there is an extremely shallow pool of work that is being actively developed , invested in, and produced at the levels that typically feed into Broadway.

"

Updated On: 11/28/25 at 05:16 PM

This isn’t the sole cause of pipeline problems, but enhancement pricetags have reached a breaking point and there is no incentive to invest early for better terms — the producers will always come knocking again for money after the out of town run.

It’s been dismaying over the last few months to see shows open off-bway and regionally but none of them feel like strong Broadway shows. Seat of Our Pants, Mexodus, Wrinkle in Time, Saturday Church, Millions, Purple Rain, Dolly, etc.

I think even one or two more promising-on-paper musicals announced for Broadway would assuage fears, but I don’t know what those shows could be.

Updated On: 11/28/25 at 06:34 PM