Posted: 5/14/24 at 7:26pm
ElephantLoveMedley said: "Cabaretin the $2 million club is quite impressive."
Not hard to do with their terrorist ticket prices.
Posted: 5/14/24 at 7:46pm
bigbelterbaby said: "The day of closing for some of the shows in relation to Tony Award wins seems like money on the table a little, even if they’ve been running along time. Merrilly is poised to win several Tony’s and then close a few weeks later, most likely Appropriate will win Best Revival and Best Actress and close a few weeks later, Stereophonic is set to close in August, Illinoise is limited. I guess at least the final weeks should be fun and full houses."
Never know. I’d imagine Stereophonics becomes open ended. And Illinoise moves to a smaller theater.
Posted: 5/14/24 at 8:41pm
It seems like Book of Mormon is starting to slip. I hope they do a new round of marketing. Scott Rudin??
Posted: 5/14/24 at 9:07pm
bigbelterbaby said: "The day of closing for some of the shows in relation to Tony Award wins seems like money on the table a little, even if they’ve been running along time. Merrilly is poised to win several Tony’s and then close a few weeks later, most likely Appropriate will win Best Revival and Best Actress and close a few weeks later, Stereophonic is set to close in August, Illinoise is limited. I guess at least the final weeks should be fun and full houses."
It would definitely be interesting if all four top production award winners were set to close when they win, which seems plausible (Illinoise being the wild card).
Posted: 5/14/24 at 9:10pm
Matt Rogers said: "Not hard to do with their terrorist ticket prices."
Can you name one person who's been forced against their will to buy a ticket to this show? There are no consequences whatsoever to saying "no" to their ticket prices - I know this from experience. This isn't typically how terrorists operate.
Updated On: 5/14/24 at 09:10 PM
Posted: 5/14/24 at 9:34pm
Broadway Flash said: "It seems like Book of Mormon is starting to slip. I hope they do a new round of marketing. Scott Rudin??"
Mormon hasn't done any stunt casting in their 12 years. It's probably coming soon to keep them going a few more years.
Posted: 5/14/24 at 10:07pm
kdogg36 said: "Matt Rogers said: "Not hard to do with their terrorist ticket prices."
Can you name one person who's been forced against their will to buy a ticket to this show? There are no consequences whatsoever to saying "no" to their ticket prices - I know this from experience. This isn't typically how terrorists operate."
I mean, surely there are consequences to saying “yes” to their ticket prices if the effort to make Broadway more affordable gets set back by offering mediocre art at these prices…
Posted: 5/15/24 at 8:32am
Illinoise is doing okay, but I expected it to turn into a surprise hit. It's one show that has an actual niche generational appeal: the source album arrived in the early aughts and - to compare it to boomer cultural markers - had the impact of, say, Simon and Garfunkle on some. The matinee I attended was full of 30-40 year olds. A rarity. The music is so reverentially preserved in the performance, the ravishing arrangements, that it recreates the feelings stirred by the album before the dancing begins. And then that exquisite dancing and the storytelling commence, and the St. James becomes a genuinely special place on Broadway this season. Hoping they do "Chicago" on the Tonys, which best sells the music and narrative. It's just an achingly beautiful theater piece.
Posted: 5/15/24 at 10:40am
I’m confused as to what more you want? It’s selling like 90% capacity in that massive theater. And it’s making money. What more could you want? If it were playing the Jacobs it would be selling out everyday. It’s playing the same theater as Frozen and Spamalot. And it’s holding its own. And it had zero previews and zero hype. And the word of mouth has all been stellar.
Posted: 5/15/24 at 11:40am
For only having had SIX performances, not bad at all for ILLINOISE! Keep spreading the word to make it a HIT!!!
Posted: 5/15/24 at 11:43am
Also regarding "​had the impact of, say, Simon and Garfunkle on some"​​​​​​
To have the impact of Simon & Garfunkle he would have had to have the sales of Simon & Garfunkle. Sufjan Stevens may have his fans, but he is not a big artist in terms of sales. He is a sliver of a niche artist.
Posted: 5/15/24 at 2:51pm
I take your point and agree with you 100% about Sufjan Stevens not being the equivalent of Paul and Art. Not in the same commercial league, even considering the FM world of the 60s. I will leave my post intact because my error may inspire interesting corrections. Coltrane? Even Leonard Cohen? Niche artists not known for radio play. Someone here will identify a suitable parallel.
Updated On: 5/15/24 at 02:51 PM
Posted: 5/15/24 at 4:35pm
My Dad grew up in the 60's & JJ Cale is one of his faves. But Eric Clapton had huge success with covers of two of his songs. Still most people don't know JJ Cale.
Posted: 5/15/24 at 4:42pm
Matt Rogers said: "ElephantLoveMedley said: "Cabaretin the $2 million club is quite impressive."
Not hard to do with their terrorist ticket prices."
This take is so tired. You understand supply and demand? Apparently not. If people weren’t willing to pay those prices, they would not be charging them. Use your brain. It’s objectively impressive that a revival of a how that was on Broadway not 10 years ago pulling in these numbers. And Eddie Redmayne is still no Hugh Jackman, so it’s clear that the overall experience of the show is also selling across to buyers.
Posted: 5/15/24 at 5:31pm
Auggie27 said: "to compare it to boomer cultural markers - had the impact of, say, Simon and Garfunkle on some."
Not to put words in your mouth, Auggie, but I thought the 'impact' you were referring to was that of an emotional or artistic impact rather than commercial success. Having seen the show just last night, I completely understand your drawing that connection. I actually hadn't heard the album before walking into the St. James last night and my husband (who adores the album) was adamant that I not listen to it until after we saw Illinoise. I'm not sure I will ever be able to divorce the music from the staging and I think I'm fine with that. In terms of score, staging and storytelling, this is a work of absolute beauty. Even my quibbles (I wish the choreography had more release to it) don't mar what an extraordinary experience last night was.
Posted: 5/21/24 at 7:09pm
Aren’t the grosses usually out by now? Wonder why the delay
Posted: 5/21/24 at 7:21pm
Yup, theyre usually out by 3-4....and sometimes earlier!
Posted: 5/21/24 at 7:21pm
bigbelterbaby said: "Aren’t the grosses usually out by now? Wonder why the delay"
The Broadway League doesn't have it posted yet, so I'd assume it'll be out tomorrow.
Posted: 5/21/24 at 8:03pm
but I'm waiting to hear when everyone predicts Hadestown will close!
Posted: 5/21/24 at 8:21pm
Is someone trying to hide their terrible numbers?
Posted: 5/21/24 at 8:24pm
BorisTomashevsky said: "Is someone trying to hide their terrible numbers?"
Whose, all of Broadway?
Posted: 5/21/24 at 9:08pm
bigbelterbaby said: "Aren’t the grosses usually out by now? Wonder why the delay"
Did the league celebrate Memorial Day a week early?
Posted: 5/21/24 at 9:11pm
It’s Spring Road Conference Week —that’s why they’re delayed. It’s their busiest week of the year.
Posted: 5/21/24 at 10:26pm
Seems like the perfect week to call in a favor and beg that one’s terrible grosses not be a talking point for the very road presenters you’re trying to sell to.
Posted: 5/21/24 at 11:05pm
JSquared2 said: "It’s Spring Road Conference Week —that’s why they’re delayed. It’s their busiest week of the year."
I see,That's right..... it's Tuesday forgot grosses day ok until tomorrow np
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