Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 1/13/19 — Page 2

I was thinking that, unless they succeed in some good stunt casting (and Dan Stevens is not going to sell tickets, although he may be good in the role),I am just thinking that it will have run its course. I have never had the impression that it was the hit that South Pacific started out as, and by September I think it would have run about the same time as TKAI.

These things may just too well known (hit movies, regional productions over 60 years, touring companies, summer stock, high school and college productions (my high school did South Pacific 50 years ago) to ever enjoy the type of long runs that we have become used to (see different subject: Why Did Memphis only run Three Years). I can actually only think of four revivals that had serious long runs: Chicago, (which received rapturous reviews, didn't have the over-exposed issue before opening, and would probably called it a day in its fourth year, had it not been for the boost it got from the wildly successful movie); Grease (nostalgia); 42nd St. (which, of course, ran 3 1/2 years, but lost money); and Guys and Dolls. Even with G&D, it was a monster hit when it opened because of the similarly rapturous reviews, but really lost steam pretty quickly in its second year and didn't make it to three full years. That last one in particular told me that revivals as a rule are just not going to run that long.

One more: if I go back almost 50 years, there was No No Nanette, which ran less than 1,000 performances, but that was an amazing run in those days. Also, most audience members knew nothing about that show other than its title, because there was no movie (or if there was, it never lasted the public eye); there were no college productions; etc. So,I don't think it really counts; if was more of a one-off phenomenon.

So, minus successful stunt casting, I say September, unless LCT has no concrete plans yet, in which case maybe next Christmas.

Estimated weekly run cost for PROM: 680K

Updated On: 1/15/19 at 11:10 AM

Jarethan said: "IThe longer it runs, the more people are going to waste hard-earned money on junk. This is the type of show where families will buy tickets to introduce their kids to Broadway. The kids will lovecertain parts', i.e., the more the puppet does, the better, and will be bored stiff and restless the rest of the time. The sooner it closes, the less money ticket PURCHASERS waste.

On a similar note, Isaw The Prom over Christmasand I enjoyed it mildly; but I wouldn't recommend into anyone I know, because IMO it feels too Summer Stock (e.g., that tinny orchestra , those cheesy costumes, those mediocre songs) to be paying $179. I am not even sure that it is worth what they charge at TKTS. I don't want to see people unemployed (the cast and book were the only reason to see the show), but it just isn't worth Broadway prices to me. I would be okay paying $60 to see it at the Cape Playhouse, but not at Broadway prices. (Maybe a move to an off-Broadway venue at some point???)"

This is 100% opinion, though... I loved The Prom, as did most people I know, as did many critics, and I've been heartily and happily recommending it.

And man do I wish that everyone would stop ripping on King Kong. What they achieved in terms of puppetry and set design is pioneering. If a family goes to see the show, and a kid loves it, which might send them to YouTube where they'll discover more Broadway... then great! That's not "wasting hard-earned money on junk." Frankly, I enjoyed the spectacle of the show - I'd never seen anything like that before, and I was impressed. I hope it inspires a new age of innovative design for theatre.

Personally I despised To Kill a Mockingbird, but that doesn't mean that I think other people are wasting their money, or that it's wasting prime theatre real estate, or that I'm hoping it closes.

All of these shows have merits, and different strokes for different folks.

I'd enjoy seeing the giant Kong puppet in any exhibit, but after 5 minutes I'd want to keep walking.