Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23- Page 2
Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
#25Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/3/23 at 5:44pm
In pre covid times I would suggest a show as small as six should not be concerned at all with $700,000 or much lower but it’s clear the operating costs on Broadway have massively increased over the past few years so I have absolutely no idea now.
#26Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/3/23 at 7:39pm
OhHiii said: "End of year closings are becoming much clearer. Kimberly, Shucked, Hadestown, Here Lies Love are all but sure things to be left behind in 2023. A Beautiful Noise remains an oddball, but I think we can all agree that Ken Davenport isn't closing that show while it grosses what it's started taking in this Fall."
Obviously I think HLL will close soon and I still tend to think Kimberly will end in January. The other two though I'm less convinced and I'm also not 100% convinced on Kimberly. I think "all but sure" is a stretch
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#27Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/3/23 at 9:31pm
Some Like It Hot turned a profit like 5 weeks during its whole run so I don’t see why it’s any different for Here Lies Love. I’m sure they knew they were taking a risk.
#28Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/3/23 at 10:17pm
Producers really need to slow down and start using their brains when deciding what to put up. They need to start thinking about producing a show and factoring in lower ticket prices from day one. People are broke. Tourism is down. Families can’t afford four or more tickets to shows like Back To The Future. People won’t take a chance on a show that isn’t a guaranteed good time because it’s too expensive. People can’t afford to just expose themselves to something for the heck of it. Even TKTS tickets aren’t a bargain. Manny are still over $100.
Im not sure what the fix is, but Broadway needs to rethink its business model to be more appealing to consumers in a struggling economy.
Jarethan
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
#29Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/3/23 at 10:25pm
Bettyboy72 said: "Producers really need to slow down and start using their brains when deciding what to put up. They need to start thinking about producing a show and factoring in lower ticket prices from day one. People are broke. Tourism is down. Families can’t afford four or more tickets to shows like Back To The Future. People won’t take a chance on a show that isn’t a guaranteed good time because it’s too expensive. People can’t afford to just expose themselves to something for the heck of it. Even TKTS tickets aren’t a bargain. Manny are still over $100.
Im not sure what the fix is, but Broadway needs to rethink its business model to be more appealing to consumers in a struggling economy."
Very well put!
#30Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/3/23 at 10:28pm
Lower prices against rising costs (wages, rent, advertising, etc) eliminates a producer’s profit margin, and so unless one has some deep and generous pockets, it doesn’t seem feasible that would occur.
Granted, building lower priced tickets into a business model from the outset is a good idea to get butts in seats - look how it worked out for SHUCKED when we all thought it was going to be D.O.A. I LOATHE when producers charge high prices from the beginning and then only marginally drop them when the going gets rough, but end up having turned off most potential theatre goers. (The initial $199 Rear Mezz for MR. SATURDAY NIGHT remains an unforgivable sin.)
#31Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/3/23 at 11:27pm
Yes expenses are high but producers need to think critically how to keep costs down in order to possibly lower ticket prices and market a show effectively. Or would they rather lose their entire investment?
I think there is a lot of magical thinking going on and huge assumptions being made about what the general public can and will spend their money on.
Here Lies Love seems like a prime example. Was it just a bunch of yes men stroking each other’s egos that it was a smart idea to gut a theatre in this economy for a niche musical that holds limited appeal and is hard to market.
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#32Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/4/23 at 12:51am
I think David Bryne and the popularity of his shows probably helped that. And why they didn’t strike while the iron was hot years ago… not sure.. I would have thought it would be doing better simply for how unique it is.
OMG U Guyz
Stand-by Joined: 9/18/17
#33Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/4/23 at 2:31am
RippedMan said: "I think David Bryne and the popularity of his shows probably helped that. And why they didn’t strike while the iron was hot years ago… not sure.. I would have thought it would be doing better simply for how unique it is."
I don’t know why they didn’t go into circle which lends itself to a club type setting and would’ve solved the musican minimum issue. They’d be selling out if the current numbers held up. I do think they missed their window and should’ve moved in 2014.
#34Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/4/23 at 8:44am
I’ve harped on this before, but a lot of marketing for Broadway has been bad as of late for these newer shows. Vague and generic, limited in scope, stuck in the past, lacking imagination or vision. The ads for HLL, for instance, are just the title on a disco ball. It tells you nothing- certainly not the immersive aspect, the whole reason why the production exists and what sets it apart from everything else.
hearthemsing22
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/20
#35Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/4/23 at 10:52am
If people weren't willing to shell out big bucks for tickets, Broadway would have been closing up many shows. There will always be people who have that extra money to spend. There will also always be discounts on websites, lotteries, rush-just because a family of four couldn't do rush since it's 2 tickets, doesn't mean others won't be able to. And that's why the model hasn't changed yet. I'm not saying it's perfect by any means, but life is expensive. There are certain things that should potentially be considered a right to some people, but are actually a luxury and not something that can always be affordable. That's just the hard truth of life. There will be things that are expensive yet people are willing to pay because of the experience-just look at the money spent on the Taylor Swift Era's Tour.
BETTY22
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/29/13
#36Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/4/23 at 1:11pm
HHL are currently looking for more funding to stay open.
They are fighting to save this show.
#37Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/4/23 at 1:19pm
Kad said: "I’ve harped on this before, but a lot of marketing for Broadway has been bad as of late for these newer shows. Vague and generic, limited in scope, stuck in the past, lacking imagination or vision. The ads for HLL, for instance, are just the title on a disco ball. It tells you nothing- certainly not the immersive aspect, the whole reason why the production exists and what sets it apart from everything else.
Absolutely this. The generic patina over all the marketing does not foster any sense of appeal. I actually think HLL was one of the better ones, a low bar to clear.
I was an early critic of PURLIE VICTORIOUS’ horrible design and they didn’t even bother to do much to improve it. They were on their third marquee before the show even opened and it still doesn’t give any idea of what to expect until you walk by and see the signage on the theatre.
Sidebar: I always hear the subtitle of “A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch” and it, for some reason, reminds me of the subtitle of Springtime for Hitler - “A Gay Romp With Adolf and Eva at Berchtesgaden”
hearthemsing22
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/20
#38Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/4/23 at 1:25pm
I wonder what show we could say has the best marketing but the lowest grosses.. Hmmm.
#39Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/4/23 at 1:31pm
hearthemsing22 said: "I wonder what show we could say has the best marketing but the lowest grosses.. Hmmm."
I’d say Shucked (obviously) followed by SIX.
#40Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/4/23 at 1:42pm
BETTY22 said: "HHL are currently looking for more funding to stay open.
They are fighting to save this show."
Wow, seriously?
You would think the 400 producers would have come up with a plan months ago to save this show.
They have made one mis-step after another
#41Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/4/23 at 2:00pm
HLL is experiencing the exact problems that a lot of people on this board predicted it would when this transfer was merely a rumor. The producers have no one but themselves to blame at this point.
#42Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/4/23 at 2:20pm
hearthemsing22 said: "If people weren't willing to shell out big bucks for tickets, Broadway would have been closing up many shows. There will always be people who have that extra money to spend. There will also always be discounts on websites, lotteries, rush-just because a family of four couldn't do rush since it's 2 tickets, doesn't mean others won't be able to. And that's why the model hasn't changed yet. I'm not saying it's perfect by any means, but life is expensive. There are certain things that should potentially be considered a right to some people, but are actually a luxury and not something that can always be affordable. That's just the hard truth of life. There will be things that are expensive yet people are willing to pay because of the experience-just look at the money spent on the Taylor Swift Era's Tour."
I agree there are people out there who have money to spend. I've noticed though that if an A-list star is in a Broadway show, people will pay $$$. Look at Music Man (Hugh Jackman), Funny Girl (Lea Michele), and now Merrily (Daniel Radcliffe.) Yes there will always be exceptions but for the most part, having a big name celeb helps a show in terms of ticket sales. In terms of marketing, you just market the celeb and people will buy tickets.
It's very rare for a new show itself to be the star. Hamilton did that back in 2015-2016 but I don't think another show has done that since.
If Here Lies Love can get Olivia Rodrigo, even if it's to only sing 1-2 songs as young Imelda for 1 month, I can see a new demographic buying tickets.
hearthemsing22
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/20
#43Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/4/23 at 2:34pm
Wick3 said: "hearthemsing22 said: "If people weren't willing to shell out big bucks for tickets, Broadway would have been closing up many shows. There will always be people who have that extra money to spend. There will also always be discounts on websites, lotteries, rush-just because a family of four couldn't do rush since it's 2 tickets, doesn't mean others won't be able to. And that's why the model hasn't changed yet. I'm not saying it's perfect by any means, but life is expensive. There are certain things that should potentially be considered a right to some people, but are actually a luxury and not something that can always be affordable. That's just the hard truth of life. There will be things that are expensive yet people are willing to pay because of the experience-just look at the money spent on the Taylor Swift Era's Tour."
I agree there are people out there who have money to spend. I've noticed though that if an A-list star is in a Broadway show, people will pay $$$. Look at Music Man (Hugh Jackman), Funny Girl (Lea Michele), and now Merrily (Daniel Radcliffe.) Yes there will always be exceptions but for the most part, having a big name celeb helps a show in terms of ticket sales. In terms of marketing, you just market the celeb and people will buy tickets.
It's very rare for a new show itself to be the star. Hamilton did that back in 2015-2016 but I don't think another show has done that since.
If Here Lies Love can get Olivia Rodrigo, even if it's to only sing 1-2 songs as young Imelda for 1 month, I can see a new demographic buying tickets."
They'd kvetch about the ticket prices, but I agree with you.
Jarethan
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/10/11
#44Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/4/23 at 3:21pm
RippedMan said: "I think David Bryne and the popularity of his shows probably helped that. And why they didn’t strike while the iron was hot years ago… not sure.. I would have thought it would be doing better simply for how unique it is."
A big difference: the Byrne show played a limited engagement, mostly in a small theatre. So, hit or not, it didn’t have to sell lots of tickets for a long duration of time. I assume that it had much lower operating costs. Byrne is not for everyone and the subject matter is unappealing to a lot of people. Those plus the lack of momentum to to the time lapse made me think this was a bad investment Tom the getgo. Hell, it got a lot of good reviews and couldn’t attract an audience from the beginning, despite all the publicity about the design and staging.
#45Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/4/23 at 4:00pm
I kinda feel like HLL deflated when everyone found out that the music wasn't live (esp with them fighting with the union), but that might just be me.
berniesb!tch
Stand-by Joined: 5/23/21
#46Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/4/23 at 5:26pm
Charley Kringas Inc said: "I kinda feel like HLL deflated when everyone found out that the music wasn't live (esp with them fighting with the union), but that might just be me."
I'm sure it didn't help but I feel as though not enough people were really tuned into outside the Theatre community for it to make a big differenece. I think their biggest hurtles is the standing (which I love) and the subject matter as well as the marketing which has been mentioned above.
#47Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/4/23 at 7:21pm
Charley Kringas Inc said: "I kinda feel like HLL deflated when everyone found out that the music wasn't live (esp with them fighting with the union), but that might just be me."
It’s not just you. The producers pissed off a lot of people for trying it.
PipingHotPiccolo
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/13/22
#48Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/4/23 at 7:34pm
OMG U Guyz said: "RippedMan said: "I think David Bryne and the popularity of his shows probably helped that. And why they didn’t strike while the iron was hot years ago… not sure.. I would have thought it would be doing better simply for how unique it is."
I don’t know why they didn’t go into circle which lends itself to a club type setting and would’ve solved the musican minimum issue. They’d be selling out if the current numbers held up. I do think they missed their window and should’ve moved in 2014."
I wonder if HLL got a deal at the Broadway, which is a barn that often sits empty.
#49Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23
Posted: 10/4/23 at 7:54pm
PipingHotPiccolo said: "OMG U Guyz said: "RippedMan said: "I think David Bryne and the popularity of his shows probably helped that. And why they didn’t strike while the iron was hot years ago… not sure.. I would have thought it would be doing better simply for how unique it is."
I don’t know why they didn’t go into circle which lends itself to a club type setting and would’ve solved the musican minimum issue. They’d be selling out if the current numbers held up. I do think they missed their window and should’ve moved in 2014."
I wonder if HLL got a deal at the Broadway, which is a barn that often sits empty."
is HLL responsible for turning the Broadway back into the original seating landscape?
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