Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 11/20/22- Page 3

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 12:47pm

re: Take Me Out, it's near impossible to catch lightning twice. The initial production had an enormous amount of press, leading into great reviews, leading into Tony nominations, leading into the leaked footage (which wasn't morally right but nevertheless generated interest). Couple this with the smallest house on Broadway and it was easy to sell the thing out at high prices. I think if they wanted to do a commercial return engagement it should have happened almost immediately. The public moves on rather quickly to newer shinier things, and the buzz has moved on to newer shows now. (And Im sure there are people choosing to wait for the screen adaptation and using their theater budget on other shows).

 

re: Here Lies Love. There are 100% concrete plans to bring it in. Quite surprisingly, it may not feature Ruthie. She chose Sweeney instead. Whether the HLL team tries to wait a season in an attempt to sign her or proceeds with a different actress, we shall see. And we shall see very soon.

[bdn223]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 4:19pm

MayAudraBlessYou2 said: "re: Take Me Out, it's near impossible to catch lightning twice. The initial production had an enormous amount of press, leading into great reviews, leading into Tony nominations, leading into the leaked footage (which wasn't morally right but nevertheless generated interest). Couple this with the smallest house on Broadway and it was easy to sell the thing out at high prices. I think if they wanted to do a commercial return engagement it should have happened almost immediately. The public moves on rather quickly to newer shinier things, and the buzz has moved on to newer shows now. (And Im sure there are people choosing to wait for the screen adaptation and using their theater budget on other shows).



re: Here Lies Love. There are 100% concrete plans to bring it in. Quite surprisingly, it may not feature Ruthie. She chose Sweeney instead. Whether the HLL team tries to wait a season in an attempt to sign her or proceeds with a different actress, we shall see. And we shall see very soon."

I have to assume HLL team is waiting to see if Kimberly Akimbo can last through January, as a competitive Tony race benefits neither show financially. But also its not like any productions are clamoring for the Broadway anyway so the Shubert Organization will and can likely hold the theater for the production.  

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 11/23/22 at 4:43pm

I think Take Me Out could've gotten more interest if the prices weren't so dang high. Last night Telecharge had the mezzanine almost completely unsold, and yet even with the discount you had to pay a pretty penny. 

[inception]

Posted: 11/24/22 at 11:43pm

I noticed on the Playbill site a pop up ad for Take Me Out now says "only until February 5."

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/24/22 at 11:54pm

inception said: "I noticed on the Playbill site a pop up ad for Take Me Out now says "only until February 5.""

It has always been a limited engagement, and advertising as such can be a good sales strategy.

[barcelona20]

Posted: 11/25/22 at 11:23am

Seems like every show is on TKTS today.. That can't be good for a holiday weekend.

[quizking101]

Posted: 11/25/22 at 12:21pm

barcelona20 said: "Seems like every show is on TKTS today.. That can't be good for a holiday weekend."

I mean, Friday matinees are either usually a fantastic or a horrible performance time depending on the show. Many people are out shopping today, so I can't see many people going to a show in the afternoon unless they are vacationing. The odd performance times are also sometimes ripe for discounts.

[barcelona20]

Posted: 11/25/22 at 12:39pm

It’s evening performances as well, including some for tomorrow.

[Lot666]

Posted: 11/25/22 at 1:05pm

MemorableUserName said: "Jesse Williams was out almost all (or all), of last week, plus Jesse Tyler Ferguson missed three shows, so that probably contributed to last week's significantly lower numbers."

We attended the 11/19/22 matinee and although Jesse Tyler Ferguson was on, Jesse Williams was out. We got the distinct impression that Blake Russell hadn't amassed sufficient experience in the role. There were several dialog flubs and he fell completely flat in the more intense scenes during the last 30 minutes of the show. We definitely felt that we'd paid too much.

Updated On: 11/25/22 at 01:05 PM

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 11/25/22 at 2:23pm

Lot666 said: "
We attended the 11/19/22 matinee and although Jesse Tyler Ferguson was on, Jesse Williams was out. We got the distinct impression that Blake Russell hadn't amassed sufficient experience in the role. There were several dialog flubs and he fell completely flat in the more intense scenes during the last 30 minutes of the show. We definitely felt that we'd paid too much."

Ouch. At that point Russell had been on for a week (since Friday the 11th) so you wouldn't expect him to be so rough. That's too bad.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 11/25/22 at 2:46pm

barcelona20 said: "Seems like every show is on TKTS today.. That can't be good for a holiday weekend."

 

In the past, most all shows sold-out on Broadway during the Thanskgiving holiday weekend and charged top prices. It will be interesting to see the grosses onTuesday and see how bad-good shows fared this year?

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 11/25/22 at 11:47pm

I have been working at one musical on and off this week and the audience capacity has been about 55-75% for every performance

[blaxx]

Posted: 11/26/22 at 12:44am

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "I have been working at one musical on and off this week and the audience capacity has been about 55-75% for every performance"

You are anonymous, love, it's ok to name the show.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 11/26/22 at 11:34am

blaxx said: "BoringBoredBoard40 said: "I have been working at one musical on and off this week and the audience capacity has been about 55-75% for every performance"

You are anonymous, love, it's ok to name the show."

Actually, with the "on and off" included, it would probably allow the production to zero in on identity and, even though this info will essentially be public knowledge on Tuesday, producers and GMs do not take kindly to direct or indirect employees telling tales out of school. That said, I have doubts anyone in such a position could provide so accurate a percentage. 

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 11/27/22 at 2:35am

HogansHero said: "blaxx said: "BoringBoredBoard40 said: "I have been working at one musical on and off this week and the audience capacity has been about 55-75% for every performance"

You are anonymous, love, it's ok to name the show."

Actually, with the "on and off" included, it would probably allow the production to zero in on identity and, even though this info will essentially be public knowledge on Tuesday, producers and GMs do not take kindly to direct or indirect employees telling tales out of school. That said, I have doubts anyone in such a position could provide so accurate a percentage."

I will say that having worked as the operations manager for one of the merchandise companies, our sales staff would get the house count from house management to include in the nightly sales report at most theatres (at the time the Hudson was an exception, as they would just email house reports to me directly). So it’s very possible for someone who’s not very high up and is only there “off and on” to have that info. 

[Mark_E]

Posted: 11/27/22 at 10:34am

Could the World Cup be partly responsible for lower attendance? Not sure how much it's followed in the US, but certainly in the UK the bars are full of people watching the games. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/27/22 at 11:02am

Mark_E said: "Could the World Cup be partly responsible for lower attendance? Not sure how much it's followed in the US, but certainly in the UK the bars are full of people watching the games."

I highly doubt that.

I think next week we'll see the shows that have been doing well for a while will see an increase; the struggling shows will stay the same (with possibly a minor increase/decrease). Anecdotally from people in the biz, Thanksgiving weekend was particularly tough for newer shows this year. If people are limiting what they spend, they'll go for the tried and true or what they know to be GREAT and worth their money.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 11/27/22 at 11:38am

AEA AGMA SM said: "I will say that having worked as the operations manager for one of the merchandise companies, our sales staff would get the house count from house management to include in the nightly sales report at most theatres (at the time the Hudson was an exception, as they would just email house reports to me directly). So it’s very possible for someone who’s not very high up and is only there “off and on” to have that info."

I def had not thought about (or even known) that (nor was I thinking merch staff; I was thinking usher lol). I can still see that as telling tales out of school but you would know better if staff is expected to not gossip. 

[newyorker1410]

Posted: 11/27/22 at 11:46am

The World Cup is done by 4pm here.  Shouldn't effect box office.  City is filled with tourists this week, I'm expecting some uptick across the board.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/27/22 at 11:46am

Robbie2 said: "barcelona20 said: "Seems like every show is on TKTS today.. That can't be good for a holiday weekend."



In the past, most all shows sold-out on Broadway during the Thanskgiving holiday weekend and charged top prices. It will be interesting to see the grosses onTuesday and see how bad-good shows fared this year?"

I was shocked that almost every show excluding the big shows(Hamilton, Six, Lion King, Wicked, Music Man) were easily available at TKTS, most for 50% off. For those that are/were in the city this weekend, was it crowded?

Updated On: 11/27/22 at 11:46 AM

[newyorker1410]

Posted: 11/27/22 at 12:04pm

Yes, tons of tourists here for the parade and shopping.  Bars and restaurants were crowded.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 11/27/22 at 12:12pm

quizking101 said: "barcelona20 said: "Seems like every show is on TKTS today.. That can't be good for a holiday weekend."

I mean, Friday matinees are either usually a fantastic or a horrible performance time depending on the show. Many people are out shopping today, so I can't see many people going to a show in the afternoon unless they are vacationing. The odd performance times are also sometimes ripe for discounts."

Not sure I buy the ‘out shopping’ argument.  Pre-Covid, Thanksgiving grosses were spectacular, especially for musicals.  I am really surprised to see HP, MR, BOM, &Juliet, even SLIH and KA on sale for a matinee performance.  I think this a really bad omen for the winter, which really makes me sad.