Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 1/29/2006- Page 2

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 12:07am

don't count Lestat out just yet. although, i have a feeling even if the show was amazing, the critics would diss it just because its elton john and vampires, ya know? its kinda like, they can't win either way.

[ALWrules]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 1:33am

I think WIW isn't going to recover and get going too strongly. The era of ALW is over, and WIW prooves it.

[jimmirae]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 1:37am

Seems DVD raised Chita 9.4 points. WIW is now in the 50% club I see.
Sorry Margo, I seemed to be repeating you but I read the post after I posted.
I just noted The Producers down in the 50% too - Perhaps the film wasn't a wise move?

Updated On: 1/31/06 at 01:37 AM

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 3:07am

The Producers film completely ruined the show's attendance. I doubt the show will improve unless they start stunt-casting or at least Matthew Broderick accepts to do a stint in the show (Nathan Lane has said he is done with the show, not sure about Broderick). Susan Stroman did what it's almost never done on Broadway, she basically put out a copy of the stage version in the theatres with leads that are far superior to those on Broadway and two bankable movie stars.
I am getting worried about Chicago, it is interesting that with Robin Givens the show is doing worse than it was doing when Ms.D'Amboisse headlined the show. I hope that ljay is right in saying that the show will remain open till its 10th anniversary because I have been waiting for that event with excitement. Hopefully the show is cheap enough to keep it open.
Andrew Lloyd Webber needs to figure out a new way of writing musicals or he needs to quit composing for the theater because Woman in White proved to be a failure, another flop for Mr.Lloyd Webber on the way, will it last till May? I doubt it, if like Margo said the show was $200,000 away from breaking even, the producers should pull the plug.
Very disappointed at the attendance for Barefoot in the Park.

[jimmirae]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 3:19am

It doesn't look very good for a few shows. Thanks for the take on "The Producers". I'll bet they do stunt casting real soon in the 50% range. I also noted (but didn't mention) the long awaited Robin Givens turn as Roxie is not selling seats. Maybe they should bring in Robin Quivers next, LOL!
ALW is indeed not doing well with WIW at all. It seems to high on cost and not enough profits. I did hear that ALW gets money from "Spamalot" though since he was an original investor in the film, Isn't that odd?
I'm curious to see what trend DRS takes in the next few weeks as well.
I hope they fix the problems with "Barefoot in the Park" or that looks bleak too.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 11:26am

Looks like the RENT movie benefited the show, in contrast with "The Producers" ! YAY for RENT !

[RYANWOODS]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 1:00pm

WiW keeps falling every week,with the closure announced in London, I really dont think Broadways far off.

Loving how The Pajama Game is doing - its fab - hope it transfers or something its a great show.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 1:13pm

WIW will be kept open until the Tony nominations and then depending on how well it fares there, until the Tonys themeselves.

[chernjam]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 2:30pm

Margo - where did you get the info that the "break-even" Point for WIW is $700,000? I had heard it was closer to $400-$450,000 a week

Jim

[Princeton78]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 2:32pm

I'm secretly thrilled that "The Producers" is finally loosing steam. It was a rediculous move to direct the movie so close to the stage production as to pull business away from it.

The Lion King people should be biting their nails now. If i'm correct, the Minskoff has more seats than the Amsterdam, so they will really need to work to fill them.

I think initially, Poppins will have no trouble filling all the Amsterdam seats.

Finally, tip of the hat to "Chicago." It may be struggling, but it's been almost 10 years folks. I'm sure it will recover from the damage Ms. Givens seems to be doing. It's all class.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 2:39pm

The Minskoff currently has 1,691 seats. The New Amsterdam has 1,801. So, the Minskoff actually has 110 less seats than the New Amsterdam.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 2:47pm

Ooops..
My bad.
It just seems so cavernous.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 2:49pm

I just hope Disney does some serious decoration to the Minskoff it is depressing to walk into a show there at the moment. Even just throwing some stuffed Mickeys around would be an improvement.

Updated On: 1/31/06 at 02:49 PM

[OasisBroadway]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 2:50pm

"Even jsut throwing some stuffed Mickeys around would be an improvement."

LOL!

[kyguy78]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 2:56pm

I talked with a friend of mine who was lucky enough to see Broderick & Lane in NYC with "The Producers" and he told me that basically if you saw the movie then you saw the stage show. I agree that the film has killed the attendance because they stuck so close to the stage show. I think Rent's film helped attendance because it was so different than the stage show and omitted a lot of the "meat" with some of the songs they omitted from the film. I know my wife is adament about the fact she wants to see Rent when we go to NYC because she wants to see the differences.

[AlmostFamous]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 3:40pm

WIW break even is about $400,000 - 500,000. I asked one of the stage managers at the theater..so its actuall doing okay!
Updated On: 1/31/06 at 03:40 PM

[chernjam]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 3:47pm

I think you mean between 400,000 and 500,000

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 3:48pm

While I am suprised the new Weissler double stunt casting isn't doing too hot.

Givens and O'Hurley are hardly doing any damage to the show. The fans are loving them, and I'm sure they are adding a new spark to the show.

Probally the only real time a performer almost damaged the show was with Melanie Griffith.. (and I don't mean damaging financially.)

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 3:51pm

Do you work for Chicago?

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 5:21pm

Yep. I just happen to!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 6:41pm

I think Chicago will do fine, Its low running cost I'm sure, not including salaries.

[QMAN03]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 7:32pm

So at this rate, how much longer will Sweeny stay open?

[Hank]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 7:38pm

I wish Chicago all the best.
It's one of my all time favorites too!
I just saw those numbers, and got scared, well I'd like very much to see it hit 10 years, and more.
The Drowsy Chaperone, however, is the most eagerly awaited new musical I can ever remember, and I hope it's not at the expence of Chicago.
But hey, a musical about a guy that's obsessed with 1920's, or 30th's, for that matter, musicals (I can identify with that) and starring our favorite flapper, the one and only Sutton Foster, sorry, but I just can't wait!

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 7:38pm

I don't doubt the new Chicago cast is giving it new life, especially because finally the Weisslers got new people to work on the show. But I'm worried about the attendance. This is my favorite running show, and I'd hate for a show with actual themes and social commentary to leave Broadway. Sweeney won't last 10 years so Chicago needs to stay.

[ALWrules]

Posted: 1/31/06 at 10:22pm

The reason I am almost sure that WIW will close pretty quickly in NY is because of the history of ALWs' musicals. They almost always do better in London than in Broadway. JCS flopped in NY, Sunset ran a year less, and Aspects ran two years less. So, if you look at the history of his shows, a show running only 19 months in london probably means the show will run at most about 9 months in Ny.