Box Office Draw

[keen on kean]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 11:59am

This is a spinoff of another discussion, but I am so intrigued.

Is there any performer who is a genuine Broadway "box office draw" with the general public, beyond devoted and knowledgeable theater-goers? Do we discount stunt casting?

Even more intriguing - has there ever been one? I keep thinking Ethel Merman and Mary Martin, maybe John Raitt and Alfred Drake?

Any nominations?

[Weez]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 12:03pm

Hugh Jackman, surely. 'The Boy From Oz' drew crowds and crowds night after night and it has been described as being less a musical and more The Hugh Jackman Show. If he doesn't count, I don't know who does. :3

(Or are we discounting him because the general public think of him as a movie star, even though he's been in theatre just as much?)

Updated On: 6/17/07 at 12:03 PM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 1:59pm

I think Jackman was such a draw because of the rave reviews he received. If it was just Hugh Jackman in anything (a la Julia Roberts) and he had received just so-so reviews, the show wouldn't have been such a hit. Roberts can be in anything, get any reviews, and sell out the wazoo.

[misschung]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 2:42pm

lol Kean, I thought this topic sounded familiar.

What about Broderick and Lane?

Posted: 6/17/07 at 2:49pm

Merman was reknown for making whatever show she was in sell.

[mikem]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 3:34pm

I think Nathan Lane post-Producers qualifies. Both The Odd Couple, and Butley received lukewarm reviews but were financially successful because of his involvement (and Matthew Broderick's).

[myManCape]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 3:45pm

Are we talking a box office draw that will sell some tickets? Or a Box Office draw that will sell out every single performance they are in? If the latter, I cant think of many examples, Usher did not sell out his Chicago run, Boy From Oz was not completely sold out even with Hugh. Spacey was unable to sell out Moon and Moore’s Violet Hour closed early with a very modest profit.
The best examples of recent seasons has to be Julia Roberts who sold out the entire run long before previews started, and Lane/Broderick sold out the original Odd Couple run before tickets even went on sale to the public. But then again, neither Odd Couple extension sold out.
The Tamyra/Anthony/Adam situation will be interesting to watch at Rent, but as far as every single seat sold every night, I seriously doubt it will happen.

[Born To Reign]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 4:01pm

I think a "draw" in a long-run means a spike in ticket sales. I wouldn't expect even Usher to start selling Chicago out, but I'm sure he gave them a nice increase! To me, that would make him a draw.

As for new shows: would the public have bought tickets without _______'s involvement? If no, they're a draw. If yes, they're not.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 4:41pm

I think Born to Reign has the right idea. An appreciable increase in sales.

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 4:45pm

Exactly, Born.
Examples: Fantasia in Color Purple has done wonders for the box office.
I think my avatar in her show is the main selling point.
I also think that it could be argued that a combination of Orfeh, Leslie Kritzer and Laura Bell Bundy are the draws for their show, Legally Blonde-I actually wonder whether Orfeh is the main draw for that show, as she seems to have gotten the most buzz.
Joey Lawrence in Chicago is another current example.
Could Lea Salonga be one for Les Mis? (don't know much about tix sales lately for this one)

[Heybeenfood]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 5:10pm

bwaygal1, I do not think that any of the Legally Blonde ladies are considered "box office draws." Legally Blonde sells based upon the source material. Not many people are attending the show simply to see Orfeh.
Updated On: 6/17/07 at 05:10 PM

[bwaygal1]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 5:15pm

fair enough-I was a little less sure although I got the feeling maybe Orfeh was a draw.

[Born To Reign]

Posted: 6/17/07 at 5:23pm

If anything, she's similar to the argument about Raul. Only in the theatre world which, unfortunately, doesn't count for much.