BBAJ

[MaggieM2]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 11:43am

How is the show doing? Are the tickets selling? I'm hoping to see it in January if it's still there.

[tking001]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 11:54am

I'm taking a theatre class and my professor was telling us how they are already having trouble getting people to back the show, and how they need money already.
So IDK if that means it will close sooner than expect but either way I don't honestly think it'll make it thru January.
One of the reasons is that it's outpricing it's audience. The cheapest discount is around $60 for a 90 minute show that isn't exactly well known, and the Jacobs while not huge isn't exactly a small house.
I think if they give better discounts to get out the word of mouth than maybe they'd have a chance of surviving.

[Kad]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 12:03pm

I don't think anyone ever doubted it would be difficult for the show to succeed on Broadway. However, Universal Pictures just joined as part of the producing team. There is definitely money backing the show, probably enough to sustain it for a little while if they should find that the audience just isn't coming.

As it being opening in January, who can say for sure? I'd watch the grosses in the next few weeks. My gut feeling is that they'll stick it out through the New Year.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 12:27pm

Thanks for that great lesson in producing, Tking.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 6:58pm

I suppose it depends WHEN in January you would be attempting to go. Unless ticket sales pick up soon (and since it got pretty good reviews, NOW is the time). I'm guessing it will close in early January as well.

It's a bway show....it cannot surive on low ticket prices...so the out pricing itself is ridiculous. Selling the whole house at 50/tix is the same as selling 1/2 the house at 100 bucks per ...neither will help them pay their bills fully enough.

The problem with this show (and others like it) is finding an audience, PERIOD. It's not going to be a show you take the family to, you won't take your kids, you wouldn't take grandma. So they are limited. Shows that appeal to such a small audience based are doomed from a long run....and some are doomed to succeed.

I loved the show at the Public, and can't wait to see it at the end of the month....but I never expected this would be a hit. I would go as far to say that it was my favorite new show of last season....but let's face it: it didn't have terrific competition. (My high school kids were hoping to see this in April, but I've been telling them since they suggestted it, that I doubted it would still be around.)

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 6:58pm

Oops, double post.

Updated On: 10/17/10 at 06:58 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 6:58pm

oops...triple post. (darn, impatient clicking fingers!)

Updated On: 10/17/10 at 06:58 PM

[marcblack]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 8:01pm

The information your teacher was referring to is from a NY Post article: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/jackson_seeks_benjamins_Ml4DRNCk6jjBhJg1dmg8OO

The article states that The Public Theater could not make good on their financial commitment, so the other producers had to seek additional partners. It seems this issue has been resolved with the addition of Universal Pictures and Norton Herrick to the producing team.

I'd say it's almost definitive that this show will last through the holiday season. The producers want to maximize their profits, and generally late December is the busiest time for Broadway. Before you jump to any conclusions about BBAJ performing sub par, I'd have a look at Spring Awakening's grosses. At this point in the show's career, Bloody Bloody is performing better than SA did.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 8:53pm

Before they can maximize profits, they have to break even -- that is unlikely to happen before the first of the year.

I'm not saying it CAN'T find an audience, just that I don't think it will.

A big turning point for SA was the Tony awards....I doubt BBAJ can hang on that long.

Truly, only time will tell, and I certainly wish it the best.

[marcblack]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 9:31pm

The next few weeks can be very telling for BBAJ. If you're comparing to the Spring Awakening model, the weeks post opening is when the show started to gain traction. Will see if Bloody Bloody has the same ability. If you remember, the Tonys were months after SA's introduction to the Broadway stage. They were able to hang on until that turning point. You're right - the producers need to first recoup before they can maximize profit. However most producers have money to string a show along until it finds an audience. With Next to Normal - we all heard the rumors of David Stone of inflating grosses. Supposedly he bought large blocks of tickets to make the show appear more popular than it actually was... until the popularity caught on. Bloody Bloody's producer Jeffrey Richards is one of the most prominent backers on Broadway, and I'd imagine he considered all the issues before opening BBAJ. All I'm saying is I think certain people on the board are jumping to premature conclusions without giving the show a chance. If you have a look at the facts relating to other shows that may be similar to BBAJ, the production is following a similar model.
Updated On: 10/17/10 at 09:31 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 10/17/10 at 11:26pm

I wonder what the show's weekly nut is.