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

[Ensemble1671017357]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 8:30am

Look at the shows that did well and those that did not. Tourists are interested in entertainment they can relate to. 

[Ensemble1671017357]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 8:39am

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]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 8:57am

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"?

[Mark_E]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 8:59am

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.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 9:03am

With a title that includes “Ohio” and “Murders”, is anyone surprised that that audiences aren’t sleeping outside of the Jones to get tickets, even with Audra involved?

[BJR]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 9:03am

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.

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 9:48am

Jordan Catalano said: "These shows are also taking way too long to release discount codes. You build word of mouth during previews and it seems like most producers forgot that? Looking at the seats for some upcoming musicals starting in March - it’s bad. And no discount codes. I just don’t get it."

Completely. It used to be that all preview performances were heavily discounted to get people in the seats and spread the word, not to mention the fact the show is still finding its legs at that point. I’m impressed with the producers of “Shucked”. They have 2 weeks of previews on TDF. No matter how good a show is, without word of mouth its an uphill battle. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 9:52am

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]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 9:53am

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

Some Like It Hot is going to cost a fortune to keep running until the Tony awards. I fear even if it wins Best Musical, it cannot survive.

I guess the big problem is the movie is better 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 10:02am

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?

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 10:06am

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."

There will always be niche shows that cater to theatre goers, but the marketing for this show is poor and most of the good word of mouth is about Audra and not the play. Also, and I’ve said this before, there is a perception that spending $100+ on a 75 minute play is lacking bang for the buck. With people going to the theatre less now that winter is here and the Tridemic (COVID - Flu - RSV) is raging, people may want their decreased amount of theatre trips to be worth the excursion 

[RWPrincess]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 10:14am

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. 

[sondheimfan2]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 10:24am

Not surprised by SLIH numbers. Saw it. Didn’t like it. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 11:01am

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...

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 12:06pm

I'm not sure I'd call it hubris but more just that he has a certain taste that is not shared by all that many people. We are talking about someone who repeatedly produced Mamet long after his sell-by date. I just don't find anything about this show (as opposed to Audra) that is enticing and I'd preliminarily say the same about Pictures, though I'll go in ready to we wowed, as you will.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 12:18pm

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?

[pethian]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 12:43pm

I suspect that this upcoming week will be as good as this past week was bad. I also suspect this is the new normal for the two Christmas weeks. One is weak, one is strong.

[LuPita2]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 12:46pm

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

Excuse me? 

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 12:47pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "unless Photos from Home really surprises..."

My favorite thing about this show is that no one seems to be able to remember what it's called. I've seen Pictures From There, Photos From Home, and other combos. Not a great situation for a show that needs stellar word-of-mouth to be in.

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 1:08pm

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 ...

[JasonC3]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 1:12pm

I'm a management consultant and my firm has spent the past two years talking extensively with executives about engaging in more due diligence around the assumptions which once brought them success in order to determine if they still are relevant and valid in today's turbulent conditions.

I know nothing about what producing a Broadway show entails other than what I read online and in print media.  But every time I read about a show struggling, particularly one like SLIH, I find myself thinking that some producers may be relying on an outdated set of assumptions. For some, that often can be a hard thing to (1) realize and (2) accept.

Updated On: 12/28/22 at 01:12 PM

[LuPita2]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 1:17pm

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.

[Voter]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 1:25pm

sondheimfan2 said: "Not surprised by SLIH numbers. Saw it. Didn’t like it."

For the life of me, I'll never find out why they didn't perform "Let's Be Bad" on any media appearances. That was a nail in the metaphorical coffin im(p)o

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 2:58pm

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

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 12/28/22 at 3:06pm

LuPita2 said: "If there are any beings more fragile, delicate and privileged than white men in America, they have yet to be discovered or studied."

I dunno. Anyone who screams “Our show is closing and it’s anybody’s fault but ours” is pretty fragile, delicate, and privileged.

Updated On: 12/28/22 at 03:06 PM