Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23 — Page 2

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.

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.

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!

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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?