BROADWAY HITS AND FLOPS 2009-2010

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 5/25/10 at 2:52pm

The 2009/10 season wrapped up with week 52 on Sunday May 23. Variety did not publish their annual tally of the “hits” and “flops” for the 2008/09 season, and I have no idea whether they will publish one this year.

THE HITS
The following was pieced together based on the pres releases sent out when shows announced having recouped. This season four shows paid off their capitalization:
HAMLET
RACE
A STEADY RAIN
A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE

THE NON-HITS (since the word FLOP seems to bother so many people)
Shows that have closed without such an announcement are presumed to have been fiscal fiascos. (Subsequent income could alter these designations.)
ALL ABOUT ME
BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS
(BROADWAY BOUND never opened)
BURN THE FLOOR
ENRON
FINIAN’S RAINBOW
LOOPED
THE MIRACLE WORKER
OLEANNA
RAGTIME


NOT YET DETERMINED
The status of the following productions – which are still running – has not been declared, although two of these productions will close in the coming weeks and seem unlikely to recoup.
THE ADDAMS FAMILY
AMERICAN IDIOT
A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
COME FLY AWAY
FELA!
FENCES
LEND ME A TENOR (closing August 15)
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (closing June 20)
MEMPHIS
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
NEXT FALL
PROMISES PROMISES
RED


NON-COMMERCIAL
The following were non-commercial, not-for-profit or scheduled limited engagements:
AFTER MISS JULIE (Roundabout Theater)
BYE BYE BIRDIE (Roundabout Theater)
COLLECTED STORIES (Manhattan Theater Club)
EVERYDAY RAPTURE (Roundabout Theater)
IN THE NEXT ROOM (Lincoln Center Theater)
PRESENT LAUGHTER (Roundabout Theater)
THE ROYAL FAMILY (Manhattan Theater Club)
SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM (Roundabout Theater)
TIME STANDS STILL (Manhattan Theater Club)
WHITE CHRISTMAS (Limited engagement)
WISHFUL DRINKING (Roundabout Theater)

HOLDOVER SHOWS
These shows – which are still playing- announced they had recouped this season:
BILLY ELLIOT
HAIR
NEXT TO NORMAL
WEST SIDE STORY
This production closed and recouped:
BLITHE SPIRIT
These commercial productions closed without announcing they had recouped, and are therefore deemed flops:
EXIT THE KING
GUYS AND DOLLS
IRENA’S VOW
THE LITTLE MERMAID
9 to 5
THE NORMAN CONQUESTS
REASONS TO BE PRETTY
SHREK

Updated On: 5/25/10 at 02:52 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/25/10 at 2:54pm

Wasn't Vibrator considered non-commercial?

[TBD2]

Posted: 5/25/10 at 3:02pm

I understand the term "hit" and realize it's profit not sales figures that determine. Yet, "The Little Mermaid" sold over $82,000,000 with average ticket prices over $80 and ran for a long time (sorry, didn't look it up).

I find it VERY difficult to believe that it didn't recoup, announcement or no.

Ed

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/25/10 at 3:08pm

I find it VERY difficult to believe that it didn't recoup, announcement or no.

Haha, now that's comedy.

And yes, Vibrator Play was LCT, so it was not for profit.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 5/25/10 at 3:09pm

Ljay, you are correct. VIBRATOR PLAY was Lincoln Center Theatre, and is listed as non-commercial, and should not have been on the FLOPS list. I will change that.

Thanks!

Updated On: 5/25/10 at 03:09 PM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 5/25/10 at 3:24pm

Yes, even though it ran more than a year LITTLE MERMAID did not recoup. It had a reported weekly nut of between $750K & $800K, and if you look at the grosses they are many weeks it was well below that figure.

The show cost too much to mount and too much to run.

Makes me even more skeptical that SPIDERMAN has any hope of paying off.

[wendilin622]

Posted: 5/25/10 at 8:03pm

What does not-for profit mean? I mean, I get the literal definition but a further explanation would be wonderful!! TIA!

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 5/25/10 at 10:22pm

The thing that surprises me most about this list is that all of the hits are straight-plays, even though musicals generally do better business. What seemed to help those shows was their star power, although I don't think that Race had any big-name stars in it. Could A Little Night Music recoup by its closing? For a while, it was grossing over $1,000,000 per week, so it was clearly able to pay off at least some of its investment.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 5/25/10 at 10:28pm

You may also want to note that BEHANDING and RED are scheduled to close on June 6 and June 27, respectively.

[lull89]

Posted: 5/25/10 at 10:34pm

And FENCES on July 11th.

[jo]

Posted: 5/25/10 at 10:39pm

I wonder how many of the other HITS will show a or close to a return "on" investment of 65% over a three-month run, as A STEADY RAIN did. And this despite the rumored take-home pay of $ 1 million each for its two stars.


http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=a7tBjzJXYkB4


Updated On: 5/25/10 at 10:39 PM

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 5/25/10 at 11:01pm

Should Rock of Ages be on the "not yet determined" list?

[julesboogie]

Posted: 5/26/10 at 12:02am

Yeah Spider man would have to sell out for like 5 years to recoup . Im hoping they can do it... but im not holding my breath.

[massofmen]

Posted: 5/26/10 at 12:05am

i think ROA is a hit. No it hasn't announced recoupment yet. But it just opened a show in Toronto and is not auditioning for a tour. 3 productions with more on the way. If thats not a hit i don't know what is.

and does Hair count as a hit even though it will close labor day?

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 5/26/10 at 12:53am

Yes, HAIR is a hit. It recouped last summer not long aftereh Tony awards. I know the grosses has declined lately but I haven't heard anything about it closing as yet.

As for ROCK OF AGES, even though it has been running more than a year they haven't announce it has recouped as yet. The Toronto production is separately capitalized but has been selling out nightly since previews began (and the Royal Alex holds 1,497 whereas the Atkinson hold 997.) The show has never sold out in New York, generally hovering around 80%. It's covering costs but not making a lot of money. Could be a while before it pays off.

[massofmen]

Posted: 5/26/10 at 8:41am

hovering around 80%? check your numbers. only for the past 2-3 months was it below 90%. all through the winter it was 90 or above as was last summer and into the fall.
facts are fun.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 4:08pm

The 80% figure came from the year-to-date average on https://www.broadwayworld.com/grossesshow.cfm?show=ROCK%20OF%20AGES

It was actually 82% for the period ending May 23, down from 91% average for 2009.

Still, the numbers are healthy and the sands are flowing in the right direction.

[massofmen]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 4:26pm

their year to date average last year was 91%. though grosses don't matter its the money they are pulling in.

And every one knows basing percentages from jan-may isn't the best consideration of a shows potential seeing as feb-mid may are the worst months of the year. Let's wait until labor day and see how ROA is doing.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 4:47pm

I'm not too worried about it -I am sure it will be around.

I agree with you that HAIR's days may be numbered but still no official word of a closing.

I did see that NEXT FALL which was selling tickets thru late August has cut back and is now only selling to July 4. Not a good sign there.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 4:51pm

And apparently, Night Music may be getting a reprieve. Or not. That's what I heard from somebody important. Who may or may not have been Bernadette Peters.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 5:04pm

I can't wait to hear her sing Liaisons! Who do you think will be her Desiree?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 5:18pm

A friend of mine saw Kate Gosselin attend a performance, so the writing's on the wall.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 5:25pm

SHE WOULD BE AMAZING

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/27/10 at 5:38pm

Hi-ho, the glamorous life!