Breaking News: AFTER MIDNIGHT to Close on Broadway in Late June- Page 4

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 6/16/14 at 10:39am

The advance for July and August must have been really pathetic. Let's assume that the show costs $450K a week to run and the sales for the week ending 7/6 were down to something like 25% of potential gross. I'd imagine even with no "star" they'd still be able to muster that amount through curious tourists at TKTS who couldn't get tickets to Hedwig, Kinky Boots, Mormon, or whatever. So that's roughly $250K in sales, or a 200K loss. I know these numbers are incredibly round. So to make the next eight weeks worth while they'd have to do $25K over the nut to break even on that loss or $475K/wk, which is still less than 50% of the show's potential gross. Either the show's advance projections showed it would not get anywhere near that figure or the show was too far away from recoupment to make the attempt worthwhile. It also seems like they did not have another star contract lined up for the post Labor Day lull (assuming Natalie Cole was only contracted for a 4-5 week run).

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 6/16/14 at 11:37am

"That's irrelevant. It does not shift the onus of responsibility. The party ultimately guilty of shutting this one down was the unions."

What's irrelevant is your opinion cause you've stated you despise unions and it's impossible for you to view this with even a shred of objectivity. Anyone with an ounce of common sense can see there is more to it than that. Even if no "legendary R&B divas" were available that week, they could have certainly found someone with a name just to get them through one week of shows especially during a holiday week with lots of tourists in town. It's only singing 4 songs, some or all of which the person would probably know already; it's not like they're coming in to play Richard III. But the producers wanted to end it, saw their opening and went for it, I'm guessing cause advance sales for Natalie Cole and Gladys Knight probably weren't anywhere near what they were hoping for and wanted to avoid embarrassing those two legends.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/16/14 at 1:44pm

God knows how much the guest star salaries cut into the budget. To me, it seems more likely that the producers relied far too heavily on the guest stars to generate sales rather than the product itself without any big names and a lower budget.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/16/14 at 2:59pm

It seems unlikely to me that paying a week's worth of salaries while not having income during that time should be enough to shutter a show unless there were other issues.

Updated On: 6/17/14 at 02:59 PM

[yfs]

Posted: 6/16/14 at 4:39pm

Saying the 4th of July is a "holiday week" like it's a good thing is naive. It's always been one of the softest weeks of the year -- like the Jewish holiday weeks. I imagine that what happened is that the show was set to lose a real bundle that week, but might have limped along at about break-even for another six or seven weeks after. There was no way it was going to survive into September. So they waited to see if the Tony's gave them a real bump, which didn't happen, then calculated that if they could cut their July 4th losses they might provide employment for seven weeks after, but that if they couldn't find a way to cut the July 4th losses it just didn't make sense. And the unions, which don't like to set these kinds of precedents, said no, even though in the short term it cost their members some weeks of salary. I think it's short-sighted, but that tends to be the way unions are: more interested in protecting the precedent in the long term than protecting a handful of members in the short term. I can see their point, I just don't agree with it in a situation like this.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/16/14 at 4:52pm

The key here is: is ONE week was going to make or break them, no way would they have made it to the end of the summer. And as many have said here: this is only one side of the whole story. I'm with those that suggest this was only one little bump with the whole plan. (ESPECIALLY with JRB's show moving in so quickly.)

[Brick]

Posted: 6/16/14 at 5:01pm

Seems, as usual, the truth is none and all of the above. The numbers hadn't been good for a while, they had some good guest stars lined up, but needed some concessions in order to make it happen. They didn't get them (which, I agree, is dumb), but they hadn't sure enough footing to survive without.

Bummer all around, since it was such a wonderful show.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/16/14 at 5:12pm

And the unions, which don't like to set these kinds of precedents, said no,

If you read the article, some said yes, some said no.

[yfs]

Posted: 6/16/14 at 10:46pm

True enough. My understanding is that actually, only one said no.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 6/17/14 at 3:05am

I wonder if the show's early closing will be featured in Knight Life. I would enjoy that.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 6/19/14 at 12:13am

Was at the show last night and actually ran into a lady who Was the wife of someone who worked backstage. When I told her the union story she informed me that the staff was told that the show was closing because the advance ticket sales were too low and that's why they were closing

[quizking101]

Posted: 6/19/14 at 12:45am

I saw this this afternoon. I think it's one of the best exhibitions of a full orchestra and inventive choreography that will ever grace a Broadway stage. Everyone was on FIRE (including Patti LaBelle, who had a few bumps in her notes). Adriane Lenox was a highlight.

SD: Patti is one of the nicest people I have ever encountered. She didn't have a Sharpie to sign for everyone so I let her keep mine (I have extra) and she said "Oh thank you, baby" and pulled me in for a kiss on the cheek. Nearly died.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 6/19/14 at 5:03am

Awww! That's a sweet story, Quizking!

Must be an incredibly bittersweet time for the cast. The show's probably getting more attention this month than it's had all year due to the well received Tonys performance and LaBellle joining the cast.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/19/14 at 9:12am

Part of me wants to see this again when I'm in the city on Saturday, but I know I should probably see something different (most likely, Bullets Over Broadway) as I don't get up there too often any more.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 6/19/14 at 1:52pm

She was incredibly kind to everyone, taking her time to get everyone. She looked fierce too! When I told her I had been I huge fan since I was 5- she asked how old I was and when I told her she said "my god you're young!" LOL she even signed my shirt I was wearing that had her on it- luckily I had another shirt In My Bag to change into to protect the shirt. She posed for pics with everyone who asked and even gave me a hug and kiss saying "call me Mama Patti" when I called her Miss LaBelle. Soo wonderfully down to earth and friendly- lifelong dream come true!

[darreyl102]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 2:55am

Saw the show tonight ( I had stage doored a night previous because I could not tonight cause I had to run to Hedwig). It makes me really sad that such an incredible show is closing! I understand why, but it's still soo sad that this great a show isn't doing better. Everyone in the cast were truly wonderful and I LOVED the show soo much- even more then Hedwig which I saw after.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 12:00pm

Does Miss Patti stage door every night? If so, I've GOT to get over there.

When I was 10, I brought Patti flowers at a concert at Westbury. I wound up spending the last half hour of her show ON STAGE with her, where she sang "I Believe I Can Fly" TO me. She sent me home with all of the roses in her dressing room. Flash forward about 15 years ... I go back to Westbury, and she brings me up stage and we wind up jamming on "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" together, me on piano, Patti singing.

She is SO gracious and sweet and wonderful. I wasn't sure I'd be able to get back to After Midnight with her in it because money is so tight. But if she's stage dooring, maybe I will be the obnoxious person to pop over with an old Playbill after the show just to see her.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 7:45pm

Aw. I loved reading your stories, iluvtheatertrash and darreyl102! If Mama Patti was a total stuck up diva, I wouldn't love her any less, but these stories make me appreciate her even more. And, once you know her family history, I think these stories of her warm, maternal interactions with her fans make a great deal of sense.

In case you guys missed the news, Mama Patti is passing the hat around to save After Midnight. I can't tell if all the "angel" references are subtle messages to Oprah or not. From ABC News Radio:


Patti LaBelle Seeking Donations to Save Broadway Musical "After Midnight"

Next week will see Patti LaBelle‘s final performance as a special guest in the Broadway musical After Midnight, which is closing early ahead of announced guest runs by Gladys Knight and Natalie Cole. However, LaBelle is fighting to make sure the show continues to run, especially since it pays homage to jazz legend Duke Ellington and the famous Cotton Club nightclub in Harlem in the 1920s.

“I have angels working, people that I hope will come to the play and put some money up to keep it alive,” she tells ABC News Radio. “My whole worry is to all of those wonderful talents, what will they do after this play? When you see this play you think it will be here like a Cats or a Wicked, you know, 10 years or something. This play is so wonderful, so my heart is broken for the cast. Totally. And that Gladys Knight won’t get a chance or Natalie Cole won’t get a chance to experience this wonderful play.”

Patti expressed high hopes that the show will be saved in the final hour. “I’m praying that somebody, a big angel, will come and say, ‘Here’s enough money to keep it going,’” she says. “We have to beg, I’m ready to take buckets after the show when the people are leaving the building and offer a kiss for $5,000 or one of my old shoes or something, just…something to keep it alive and you know the kids, some of them are devastated and that makes me very sad. And I’m praying that something will happen to keep it open.”

Although the musical revue earned seven Tony nominations and won for Best Choreography, LaBelle explained that the show’s closing simply comes down to ticket sales.

“It’s been selling out, you know, since I’ve been there, but from what I understand some of the weeks weren’t so busy and they lost money from the beginning until now and they need more money,” she explains.

The musical opened in October 2013, featuring guest runs from Fantasia, Tony Braxton and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. The final performance is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 29.
SOURCE: http://linkis.com/com/2XOpQ

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 11:37pm

sorry, Patti, but I've never heard of a show in it's final week announcing an extension. Especially since another show has the theater booked for the Fall.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 6/23/14 at 2:26am

Norma, the woman behind all of Patti's famous hairstyles through the years is ususlly at the show and leaves through the stage door too! Patti was nothing if not kind and really took her time. She was extremely kind and warm and down to earth . She spent a very long time on both sides. Never shy about hugging and touching people.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 6/23/14 at 3:02am

Aw. That's great to hear, darreyl102.

ACL2006 - yeah, clearly the show's on its way out, I just appreciated the sentiment behind LaBelle's comments. She seemed to be genuinely saddened that Gladys and Natalie wouldn't get to do the show, concerned that a wider audience wouldn't get to experience it, and concerned about the "kids" in the ensemble.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 6/23/14 at 3:37am

"Patti LaBelle Seeking Donations to Save Broadway Musical "After Midnight" "I’m ready to take buckets after the show when the people are leaving the building and offer a kiss for $5,000 or one of my old shoes or something, just…something to keep it alive"

Is she aware that according to the producers, she doesn't need to beg for money with buckets or sell kisses, she just has to agree to perform one more teeny tiny week so they don't have to close July 4th week and all would be solved. I'm not ragging on Patti, I think she's great and I admire her level of caring. I'm just continuing to question the story we have gotten from the producers. Given how passionate she is in her comments, is there anyone who doesn't think if her staying on one more week was all it would take, that somehow, some way she'd find a way to do that?

[darreyl102]

Posted: 6/23/14 at 5:41am

It isn't just the week- advanced ticket sales were too low. so even if Patti extended for a week, that would not solve the problem.

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/23/14 at 12:37pm

The producers said they planned to close at the end of August, after the other guest stars had their run, and that the week after Patti was the sticking point as they wanted to shut down for a week. I mean, there are clearly holes in their story, but Fisherman Bob is solving the problem they said was the cause of the closing notice.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 6/23/14 at 12:58pm

Yeah, I'm with Bob. While I'm sure a union concession for the July 4th week would have helped the producers somewhat, they were clearly dealing with a tiny advance and THAT was the bigger problem. I wonder if this would have been a different story at they been able to get Patti/Gladys/Natalie on the roster right after Fantasia. We'll never know...