Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 10/6/24- Page 2

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 4:46pm

CAB has a lot of self-inflicted problems and I wonder if they're regretting the preshow stuff & some of what they did to renovate the space. I wonder if it even gets to the point where they'd consider scrapping that stuff to trim the running costs?

For SUNSET, Scherzinger seems to have a level of goodwill among women & gays in their 30s-40s even if she's not quite as famous as some of her contemporaries. This being a camp event that overlaps as a piece of prestige entertainment doesn't guarantee it sells out, but it doesn't hurt and may help its accessibility.

Updated On: 10/8/24 at 04:46 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 4:51pm

ACL2006 said: "How much longer can HADESTOWN hold on grossing $700-$600k? They still come close to filling the theater with their somewhat low average ticket prices."

I wouldn't think it could continue on much longer at those levels, and the well of "stunt" casting might be drying up.

That being said, I've been consistently surprised by this show's resiliency so who knows!

In theory I'm sure they'd love to stick it out through next summer because they'll crack 2,000 performances in August, while ATG would love to have another playhouse open.

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 4:54pm

Is Cabaret actually making money off of the food/beverage offerings?  I wonder if that would be something they decide to discontinue down the line if it becomes too much overhead to handle.  The same goes for the preshow, but I feel like they've invested too much in that being part of the show for them to cut.  Then again, I guess it depends how much in the red they are.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 5:11pm

chrishuyen said: "Is Cabaret actually making money off of the food/beverage offerings? I wonder if that would be something they decide to discontinue down the line if it becomes too much overhead to handle. The same goes for the preshow, but I feel like they've invested too much in that being part of the show for them to cut. Then again, I guess it depends how much in the red they are."

At minimum, I'm sure it's been budgeted out, and maybe even surveys were done to gauge how much the audience values those things. They'd get some negative press & social buzz for scrapping the preshow.

They kinda go hand in hand though.

The preshow is part of what's encouraging people to get there 75 mins early for the "dining experience" (and to pay $80 to $105 for a heavy snack & a bottle of bubbly). Cut the preshow and there's less incentive for people to arrive early. They wouldn't incur the preshow performer costs, but probably only reduces the workday for bar & house staff by 30-45 mins. Which might be a negligible savings.

[CreatureKitchen]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 5:13pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "SUNSET is tricky to predict. Even assuming it gets rapturous reviews over here as it did in London..."

Sunset certainly got good reviews, but I wouldn't call them "rapturous", at least not on the level of Cabaret WE reviews. Variety called it "emotionally empty" and The Gaurdian praised Nicole but gave it 3/5 stars.

Very hard to predict, but I can see this being another Cabaret situation. NY critics have been historically unkind to ALW productions. Add the fact that Broadway has been seeing radical minimalist reimaginings of musicals for over a decade (John Doyle, Daniel Fish, etc.) and NY critics might not find this to be as new and edgy and radical as UK critics did. It also doesn't have the surprise factor it did on the West End: everyone knows about the blood, the live video, the aesthetics. NY critics already know what they're in for, and the spectacle of it might have less of an impact on their opinions.

 

[lopside]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 5:28pm

NY critics were also very taken in by the spectacle of both Tommy and Water for Elephants (that had some truly baffling reviews) this year, neither of which seemed to have appealed to audiences.

[CreatureKitchen]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 5:41pm

That's a very fair point and, like I said, I think this could go either way.

What stood out to me is that both the Sunset reviews I mentioned used the term "emotionally empty" and brought up that it was difficult to empathize with the characters. Now that all the show's surprises and gimmicks are out in the open, I just wonder if those flaws are going to come into sharper focus for NY critics. 

[Kad]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 5:42pm

Cabaret's lackluster critical reviews were presaged by generally lackluster word of mouth. Sunset doesn't seem to have that problem, so far.

But NY critics (and audiences) sometimes bristle at transfers with hubris- and Sunset certainly is coming in hot. But I would be surprised if it gets mixed-negative reviews.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 6:14pm

Being that Jesse Green is the only critic who somewhat matters, and he hates the written material, nobody should be tooooo cocky going into opening night.

But if he feels Lloyd's production and Scherzinger's performance have enhanced the material and turned it into something resembling a good musical, that would make it all the more triumphant. He liked DOLL'S HOUSE but that seems to be the only Lloyd production he's reviewed at the Times.

Updated On: 10/8/24 at 06:14 PM

[Feidlimid]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 6:47pm

There is a mountain of baggage that Cabaret brings with it that Sunset does not. The race on Twitterweb where everyone believing themselves to be the most expert on Cabaret (the one with the capital c) tries to police everything, down to the audience gasping or wearing expressive clothes is simply not something that Sunset will ever inspire. 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 7:05pm

When people think of "Sunset Boulevard", a good number of them will remember the style and staging of productions in the 90's and the 2017 revival. I would also love to see the current Australian production with Sarah Brightman. Although the current Sunset revival has received raves (in Britain) for it's incredible interpretation, I do think that there are quite a few Sunset fans who are put off by the bare bones / austere approach that is currently being showcased.....like me. I wonder how the show will fare with the critics.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 7:13pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "but ouch,Suffs.I believe they’ll post their closing notice before Back to the Future does."

I would love to know on what planet that makes sense. It's great to make a reasoned guess, but that's just whack. What did you have in mind when you wrote that?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 7:21pm

HogansHero said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "but ouch,Suffs.I believe they’ll post their closing notice beforeBack to the Futuredoes."

I would love to know on what planet that makes sense. It's great to make a reasoned guess, but that's just whack. What did you have in mind when you wrote that?"

Future seems to be holding on for some reason (Angel investors keeping it alive? Tourist appeal?). It might be close but I still think Suffs blinks first. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 7:47pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "When people think of "Sunset Boulevard", a good number of them will remember the style and staging of productions in the 90's and the 2017 revival. I would also love to see the current Australian production with Sarah Brightman. Although the current Sunset revival has received raves (in Britain) for it's incredible interpretation, I do think that there are quite a few Sunset fans who are put off by the bare bones / austere approach that is currently being showcased.....like me. I wonder how the show will fare with the critics."
 

Being that the show has never been a major success and doesn't have a massive fanbase to begin with, your argument doesn't hold much weight. Besides, if a "bare bones" production detracted ticketbuyers in a major way, your beloved CHICAGO would have closed upon opening. One could also call the 2017 revival of SUNSET "bare bones / austere."

If a work is strong enough, it can withstand and benefit from various types of interpretations.

There is a certain breed of pearl-clutching musical originalist who longs for old shows to be revived but hates most deviations from the original production (I'm not necessarily saying you're one of these people - I don't know you!). Most are boomers or older, they tend to populate Facebook groups about the theatre, they're largely male (not always), and their arguments tend to feel one or two degrees away from MAGA. Those people should never be catered to. Not every show is for every person.

Updated On: 10/8/24 at 07:47 PM

[kdogg36]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 9:14pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: " do think that there are quite a few Sunset fans who are put off by the bare bones / austere approach that is currently being showcased.....like me."

I take your point, but to be fair I know of a few old-school Sunset fans who are very excited by this new interpretation. That it includes me, and it also includes an old Internet friend of mine who was absolutely obsessed about the original production and has posted on this site in eager anticipation of this new version.

 

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 9:33pm

Given how much ''Back to the Future'' had as a weekly nut, I can't imagine it gave back much to the investors even if its on Broadway over a year. It was 1-1.1M for running, and most weeks the show did 1.2-1.3M? I believe they will close on a big loss.

''Cabaret'' numbers are horrible, if Redmayne's salary didn't impact the weekly nut, then the 24M (?) production will be a big fat flop because if the first replacement is not working, then the others will likely not too.

And the comparison between ''Cabaret'' and ''Sunset'' is not the same. The initial WOM between the 2 productions are night and day, and ''Cabaret'' is a beloved property, something ''Sunset'' was not. Nicole's perfomance is the cherry on the top of the cake. I believe between WOM and the likely great reviews, It can at least recoup, it did cost 14M?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 9:54pm

I think Cabaret was expecting to be an awards darling and therefore become a must see. Instead it didn’t win big and the Tony performance probably did them a disservice and the word of mouth has been bad. 

[CreatureKitchen]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 10:03pm

I think comparing Sunset to Chicago is apples and oranges. Chicago has always been associated with its choreography, not its opulent set. It's also much cheaper to run and in a significantly smaller theatre that no one else wants. And a lot of people think the production's dated and overdue to close, anyways.

Also, not being snarky but genuinely asking: was the word of mouth between Sunset and Cabaret that different? Before it opened, I remember it getting absolutely glowing wom both her and on Reddit. I spend more time on Reddit, so I may have missed some discourse here, but most of the wom was that it was mindblowing and the hot show of the season. I didn't start to see naysayers really come out of the woodwork in force until the reviews came out.

Updated On: 10/8/24 at 10:03 PM

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 10:14pm

''Cabaret'' was not universally well received from day one.

[CreatureKitchen]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 10:27pm

Haha maybe I wasn't running in the right circles, then. I just remember everyone saying how fresh and daring it was, and that it was going to be neck and neck between Merrily and Cabaret for revival and Eddie and Jonathan for best actor.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 10:38pm

Perhaps I’m wrong, but I find looking at Average ticket price to be a more reliable indicator on if a show is in trouble or not. Generally, any show with an average ticket price under 100 dollars seem to be in trouble.

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 10/8/24 at 11:06pm

CreatureKitchen said: "I think comparing Sunset to Chicago is apples and oranges. Chicago has always been associated with its choreography, not its opulent set. It's also much cheaper to run and in a significantly smaller theatre that no one else wants. And a lot of people think the production's dated and overdue to close, anyways.

Also, not being snarky but genuinely asking: was the word of mouthbetween Sunset and Cabaret that different? Before it opened, I remember it getting absolutely glowing wom both her and on Reddit. I spend more time on Reddit, so I may have missed some discourse here, but most of the wom was that it was mindblowing and the hot show of the season. I didn't start to see naysayers really come out of the woodwork in force until the reviews came out."

 

If you mostly spend time on Reddit, then you would have had a more positive impression. The posters there loved it, and any negative comments (and there were some) were firmly downvoted. It had its fans here...but the reception was far more mixed, with plenty of negative responses, which matched the ultimate critics' responses.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/9/24 at 12:39am

Call_me_jorge said: "Perhaps I’m wrong, but I find looking at Average ticket price to be a more reliable indicator on if a show is in trouble or not. Generally, any show with an average ticket price under 100 dollars seem to be in trouble."

My quick and dirty metrics are the average ticket price (roughly in line with yours) and the percentage of gross (a number that used to be simple but that now requires a lot more technical analysis to come up with). I then contextualize these numbers by referencing the percentage of capacity (since that number is meaningless without the other two). Capacity %, incidentally, is generally more reliable the lower it is. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 10/9/24 at 11:43pm

I am amazed that Gatsby grossed $100K more than Cabaret last week.  I really did think that Adam Lambert would do better; makes me wonder what the gross would have been with people who are relatively unknown.

I also find it surprising that Hamilton -- which had the highest ticket price last week -- played to a smaller percentage of capacity that either The Lion King or Wicked, both of which were in larger theatres.

Finally, I wonder if Oh! Mary! is going to continue to extend for only short periods, presumably a marketing strategy to keep demand high in the short-term.  It is a strategy that I cannot remember any show employing in the past for a show that I assume is really an open-ended engagement, despite the short-term extensions.

 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 10/10/24 at 6:57am

Think people on here were vastly overestimating Adam Lambert’s popularity/relevance. It’s nonexistent. He’s been the frontman for Queen for the past decade and done very little else.