TEN years? Really? Pretty high expectations -- aren't there only 3 currently playing now that have surpassed that? Not too many shows get there.
I have no feelings on the show at all -- but even lots of really successful and "hot" shows run their course in 2 to 3 years.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
5 years is a solid guess for BoM, I'd say. Producers ran for ~6 years, Spamalot for ~4, Avenue Q for ~6 years. Seems like the smash comedies only last about 5-6 years.
I don't think PRISCILLA is going down in flames like everyone says it will, it has at least until January (since, isn't the EVITA revival eyeing the Palace?)
BABY IT'S YOU, WONDERLAND, ARCADIA, and BENGAL TIGER will all hit the skids very soon (By the end of the month).
BORN YESTERDAY may have a chance, and with Nina Arianda's nomination, they may hold out until at least the Awards.
In old news... MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET seems to be the cockroach that just won't die. It'll close when it closes. Even with sh!t weeks, it still holds on (because of it's obscenely low nut).
Check out my eBay page for sales on Playbills!!
www.ebay.com/usr/missvirginiahamm
I think WONDERLAND will close some time mid-summer. BORN YESTERDAY has about a month or so. Same with ARCADIA. MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET will close sometime in July.
I don't know why MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is making some of your lists. I was at last night's performance ( 7 pm on Wed) and it was around 90% capacity in the orchestra. I really liked the show and so did the many grannies who were standing up and dancing to the music they remembered so much. The cast was terrific.
These jukebox musicals seem to survive because of the very low overhead, remember no orchesra = lot less salaries.
M$4 doesn't even have to pay for a full back, the performers are the band.
For Sweeney Todd all the performers were getting paid two salaries. One through equity and one through the musicians union. I don't know if it's the same for Million Dollar Quartet but I would assume it is if they take the place of the band.
In response to the posts about length of run: having a run of 10 years is very uncommon. CW has it that a "good run" is a few years or so. Honestly, a good run is "however long it takes to make back what it costs to mount the show"! Or at least build a name so money can be made on the road.
<< BABY IT'S YOU, WONDERLAND, ARCADIA, and BENGAL TIGER will all hit the skids very soon (By the end of the month).
Not sure about the others that you mentioned, but I would be very surprised if "Wonderland" closed by the end of the month-- The show draws alot of tourists and families, and had a great "Spring Break" week--- I expect the same to happen during Memorial weekend- Their attendance has not been that bad- The show seems to have found an audience despite the brutal reviews.
But all shows get a big bump on holidays -- when they can't get in to the high interest shows, they'll buty tickets for anything because it was in the plans to "see a broadway show".
To question whether or not the performers get paid, I'll throw this in the fire for discussion: Perhaps the difference would be that MDQ was WRITTEN to be performed by the cast as they are playing musicians and Sweeney was not. It was a director's CONCEPT that had the actor's play the music, not the book.
I don't have any information about that, just kind of thinking "out loud" as it were.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
"For Sweeney Todd all the performers were getting paid two salaries. One through equity and one through the musicians union. I don't know if it's the same for Million Dollar Quartet but I would assume it is if they take the place of the band."
No. They figured out which of the two union salaries would be more and that is the one they got. They didn't get both.
Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never
knowing how
And, for the 623rd time, ARCADIA is a limited run until June 19th. Predicting its closing is like predicting that the sun will come up in the morning...
well wonkit, some people think that after May 21st, 2011- the sun will not rise again. It's the apocalypse, the end of days, I think Jesus is visiting us...or something like that.
It's causing panic....
it's like Y2K. And we all know how that went. Updated On: 5/11/11 at 10:31 AM
Finally got around to checking this thread out. I saw a lot of people put "Wonderland", but many put it to lasting the summer. I kinda expected this too, but I guess a shutout at the Tonys was the kiss of death for this show. I'm guessing of the non-limited run shows, "Baby It's You" would be next. I'm not sure after that, but I can see "How To Succeed..." pulling a "Promises, Promises" and closing up shop after Daniel is gone.
"Not sure about the others that you mentioned, but I would be very surprised if "Wonderland" closed by the end of the month"
Oops... Wonderland closing May 15th
For those who thought NEXT TO NORMAL wouldn't have a life outside Broadway, well it's now playing in 4 cities, 9 different countries and has been translated into 6 languages.
I am surprised Baby It's you out lived Wonderland. Now, I didn't see Wonderland, but I did see Baby It's You so I just can't imagine anything worse. I guess the baby boomer ladies are keeping it afloat.
"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert
I think Baby it's you will make it to labor day and probably close. I don't even know anymore with Million Dollar Quartet.
For those who thought NEXT TO NORMAL wouldn't have a life outside Broadway, well it's now playing in 4 cities, 9 different countries and has been translated into 6 languages.
Actually, if you read the grosses for Baby, It's You, while it may have had 81% capacity in terms of people in seats, it actually played to only 49% paid admissions. It's easy to paper and inflate the percent of capacity, but if I read the grosses here correctly, it's misleading.
I think Baby It's You will have some of the name recognition from the Shirelles and that will get it through the summer. From what I've seen it doesn't take that much to run the show.
For those who thought NEXT TO NORMAL wouldn't have a life outside Broadway, well it's now playing in 4 cities, 9 different countries and has been translated into 6 languages.