Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/1/23- Page 3

[bear88]

Posted: 10/4/23 at 9:39pm

I’m glad I saw Here Lies Love, especially for $35 rush tickets, as it was a unique, well-directed and performed musical that I was never going to see anywhere else. But I don’t know why anyone thought it would be a financial success. There were a million reasons why it wasn’t going to work as the Broadway smash hit that it needed to be based on its costs.

The relative struggles of Back to the Future, which I admittedly have no interest in seeing despite enjoying the movies, are a concern. Having every new show fail is, uh, bad. What are the post-pandemic successes, aside from starry revivals (musical and play) and Leopoldstadt? And maybe Parade? & Juliet, I guess. It’s not a long list.

And no, the success of MJ doesn’t surprise me. At least you know the music and can anticipate good choreography. On our last trip, the people we met had seen the show and highly recommended it. (They are not regular theatergoers.) It’s a safe bet even if it’s not great theater. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 10/4/23 at 10:45pm

ACL2006 said: "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?"

Decades ago, two shows drastically revamped the theatre, Candide (a big hit) and Dude, a post-Hair musical by Ragni and Rado.  I remember reading that their budget included the cost of restoring the theatre, and that it needed to be put in escrow, so the money didn't disappear (sorta like what happens when producers run shows for months after the shows have proven to be money losers).  I would assume the same thing is true here.  I have mentionned that I have zero interest in seeing the actual show, but I have to admit that i would love to see what the whole thing look like.  I didn't see Dude, but Candide surpassed any expectation re how much they could revamp the theares.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/4/23 at 11:28pm

Yes, as far as anyone knows. It's pretty standard that theater must be returned in the same condition they received it. I believe the funds for that are usually held in escrow. ( I could be wrong)

Updated On: 10/4/23 at 11:28 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/5/23 at 12:35am

And I would imagine they had a good deal on rent because the Broadway tends to sit for awhile. And it’s reduced it’s seating to 1000. I wonder why they chose to open in the summer but if something like Gent’s Guide can limp along and win the Tony and be a success, who knows!