Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 12/25/22 — Page 3

Broadway stars don't get any bigger than Audra McDonald today yet Ohio State Murders ticket sales are dismal.

Stars can only do so much. At today's ticket prices, the stories need to have wide appeal and uplifting entertainment value. Too many are focused on a very small subset of theatre goers.

Ensemble1671017357 said: "Broadway stars don't get any bigger than Audra McDonald today yet Ohio State Murders ticket sales are dismal.

Stars can only do so much. At today's ticket prices, the stories need to have wide appeal and uplifting entertainment value. Too many are focused on a very small subset of theatre goers."

That, and the word of mouth is dire.

And stars.

Same as it ever was, but yes, exacerbated, changed by covid, in ways no one fully knows yet.

We're still very much in a period of waiting to see how covid changed buying patterns and priorities. We've discussed this before, but Bway is doing pretty great when you compare it to the film industry. If you're not a blockbuster, you're screwed in the theatre; the future of the indie and art house films are being debated with the same bewilderment as many here.

SOME LIKE IT HOT may be the only experienced producing team really struggling out of the gate. And that's a surprise, but we've discussed the title may not have the appeal they assumed (without a star). And both of those things make me think of NEW YORK NEW YORK. I'm nervous for them.

BJR said: "And stars.

Same as it ever was, but yes, exacerbated, changed by covid, in ways no one fully knows yet.

We're still very much in a period of waiting to see how covid changed buying patterns and priorities. We've discussed this before, but Bway is doing pretty great when you compare it to the film industry. If you're not a blockbuster, you're screwed in the theatre; the future of the indie and art house films are being debated with the same bewilderment as many here.

SOME LIKE IT HOT may be the only experienced producing team really struggling out of the gate. And that's a surprise, but we've discussed the title may not have the appeal they assumed (without a star). And both of those things make me think of NEW YORK NEW YORK. I'm nervous for them."

I think you are right on all you say here (although I think you may be overstating the producing pedigree some). It will be interesting to see what's different about NYNY because from the curb it looks very much the same.

BETTY22 said: "I know two big original musicals that have decided to wait until next season. Hopefully by then, things will have improved for new shows."

That's LEMPICKA and HERE LIES LOVE, right?

I definitely think the Winter storm has impacted travel plans combined with the cold weather in NYC this past weekend keeping last minute ticket buyers home. And someone mentioned schools getting out later due to how the holidays fall this year. That's also a great point. Though it is interesting that most of the shows doing really well are musicals that are uplifting and family friendly.

I've seen 3 different new plays in the past month and Ohio State Murders was by far the worst attended. I had bought my ticket early on through Lincoln Center membership and I was still surrounded by empty rows and seats on all sides. My seat was rear orchestra on the aisle so not a bad seat in that theater, Audra's performance is well worth the price of admission but I do hope she goes with a musical next time.

quizking101 said: "Ensemble1671017357 said: "Broadway stars don't get any bigger than Audra McDonald today yet Ohio State Murders ticket sales are dismal.

Stars can only do so much. At today's ticket prices, the stories need to have wide appeal and uplifting entertainment value. Too many are focused on a very small subset of theatre goers."

As has been said before, the key is that Audra MUST be singing to sell tickets. With FRANKIE & JOHNNY and now this, she simply cannot generate big ticket sales on her name alone. (And with the latter, she had a more famous costar; here she is the sole ticketseller.) That's a lot of hubris on the part of her agent and the OSM producer Jeffrey Richards.

Nathan Lane is a similar situation. When Nathan is the sole big name in a show, it doesn't sell. When Nathan has other famous people around him (Andrew Garfield, John Goodman & Slattery, Broderick, etc) the outlook is much rosier. So I guess there's a second example of J. Richards hubris this season, unless Photos from Home really surprises...

Ensemble1671017357 said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Robbie2 said: "They better secure a name or wait until the fall and cast Lea Michele"

The role has been reconceived as a Black woman, and principal casting is no doubt complete with contracts signed."

Don't you mean "Black trans woman"?"

Was this supposed to be some kind of sad joke?

Ensemble1671017357 said: Don't you mean "Black trans woman"?"

Excuse me?

I'm actually surprised the usual suspects haven't started saying "Broadway needs to only produce shows that appeal to white people" in this thread ...

poisonivy2 said: I'm actually surprised the usual suspects haven't started saying "Broadway needs to only produce shows that appeal to white people" in this thread .

All anyone needs to do is look at the Ain't No Mo closing thread. They allll showed themselves and boy is it ugly.

If there are any beings more fragile, delicate and privileged than white men in America, they have yet to be discovered or studied.

Some Like It Hot has such a deathwish that they practically have the undertaker on standby.