Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 2/11/24- Page 2

[kingjames2]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 3:51pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "lopside said: "How much does Wine and Roses cost to run? Can't be less than 500k?"

I don't think ANY current musical costs less than 600 nowadays (though someone please chime in with specificsfrom the past 6 monthsif that's not true)."

Ironically, I believe Ohio's running costs were between 500 and 600. There are a few between 600 and 650, though not many. Wine and Roses also had an extremely low (comparatively)  capitalization which is a point in their favor.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 3:53pm

DAYS OF WINE & ROSES never felt like a commercial Broadway show to me. It's the perfect show for MTC or LCT or Roundabout or 2nd Stage. But Kevin McCollum has hubris and he willed this show to Broadway. At this point I'll be surprised if it reaches its limited run end-date, and I doubt we'll see an extension unless things improve majorly.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 4:08pm

barcelona20 said: "Ticket prices are just out of control.I don't blame people for not going."

Price sensitivity is not the only issue. There are some shows where you could advertise "all seats $30" and they STILL wouldn't sell out every night. There's a lot of product out there and people need to be convinced that X show is worth their time.

[BdwyFan]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 4:14pm

BETTY22 said: "This is awful. I worry for the new musicals....none have big advances - including Alicia Keys.

Water for Elephants and Stuff are looking to raise extra money to get them to opening night. I wouldn't be surprised if one or maybe more new musicals scheduled do notopen at all.

It's rough out there.........."

Agree  very probable some new musicals will fold right away. Sad. Too many shows at one time. 

 

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 4:17pm

For all the chatter about the quality of replacement casting, it can obviously lead to a box office bump. Hadestown, Sweeney Todd and Moulin Rouge are three of the only shows to go up this week and all three have new and buzzy (in name at least) replacements. Long running shows should keep trying to get some stunt casting in these winter months. I'm sure many are and of course Chicago has done it for years.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 4:18pm

I heard & Juliet is around 400k a week to run

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 4:20pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "barcelona20 said: "Ticket prices are just out of control.I don't blame people for not going."

Yes, combined with a general lack of interest. Even if prices were much more affordable, I still don’t think enough people would come. Our entertainment habits have changed permanently.



"

Ah I've missed Mr. Doom and Gloom. I remember when you said live theatre was never going to happen again. So I'll take your thoughts with a grain of salt.

The reality is that this is just an unusual spring. So many titles but no major well known titles or anything that's getting insanely good buzz that Broadway can't wait for it to open. I'll continue to predict that reviews and Tony noms are going to matter more than they usually do this year.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 4:21pm

Broadway Flash said: "I heard & Juliet is around 400k a week to run"

I think you heard wrong.

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 4:23pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Jarethan said: "The thing that absolutely shocks me is Sweeney's gross...up over $400K. Weren't SF and AT only in one performance last week?? Can anyone understand that one?"

They began performances Friday night, so –– I think –– 4 performances."

I also wouldn’t be shocked if Locke’s first week contributed. He’s not a huge name, but those Heartstopper fans are intense, so I’m sure there was at least a boost there.

[BdwyFan]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 4:41pm

bwayphreak234 said: "Broadway Flash said: "I heard & Juliet is around 400k a week to run"

I think you heard wrong."

With theater rent percentage and min royalties is most likely somewhere in the 900’s. 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 4:49pm

I think we are inflating these running costs.  I would love to see an interview with a producer talking about how much things cost. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 4:50pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Jarethan said: "The thing that absolutely shocks me is Sweeney's gross...up over $400K. Weren't SF and AT only in one performance last week?? Can anyone understand that one?"

They began performances Friday night, so –– I think –– 4 performances."

Thanks, I thought it was Saturday night, which would have meant two performances, not one...vs. the actual 4 performances.  

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 5:11pm

Broadway Flash said: "I heard & Juliet is around 400k a week to run"

If it was produced 20 years ago, sure.

[uncageg]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 5:18pm

Regarding Sweeney, maybe Joe Locke is pulling people in.

[MezzA101]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 5:25pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "barcelona20 said: "Ticket prices are just out of control.I don't blame people for not going."

Price sensitivity is not the only issue. There are some shows where you could advertise "all seats $30" and they STILL wouldn't sell out every night. There's a lot of product out there and people need to be convinced that X show is worth their time."

amBroadway | Broadway’s overloaded spring season offers promise and peril | amNewYork

https://www.amny.com/entertainment/broadway/broadway-overloaded-spring-season/

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 5:33pm

of course, now we wonder if Sweeney Todd will look to replace Tveit & Foster and extend through the summer?

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 5:43pm

Whats The Weekly nut for Wicked?

[Kad]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 6:07pm

The current Production contract salary minimum is going to be over $2.6k weekly this year- and a good percentage of performers in a big musical like & Juliet will be making over minimum, whether because of bumps because they’re understudies, swings, fight captains, have featured moments, or more. And if the performer is a name or has won or been nominated for awards, they can negotiate substantially higher. But even without those common salary increases, producers also have to make an 8% contribution to the performers’ pension and make a contribution to the Equity League pooled trust that pays for AEA insurance. I’m not sure what that current rate is- it was close to $700/wk pre pandemic so it’s likely close or even well over $800 now. So a very conservative estimate of the cost per performer per week for a production is around $4000 but likely higher, maybe much higher depending on circumstances. So if a show has 20 performers, you’re looking at almost $100k in costs a week based on this most conservative of estimates and assuming everybody is getting minimum. And that’s just performers! There are dozens and dozens of people offstage and in offices that make the show run, and the production has to pay salary and benefits to them. There are royalties and residuals. There’s PR and marketing and advertising. And of course there’s rent and any associated expenses. 

Updated On: 2/13/24 at 06:07 PM

[Bobster159]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 7:10pm

Boroff has been publishing the running costs of all sorts of shows over here: http://broadwayjournal.com/

Saying no musical costs less than $600K to run at this point seems pretty much right. &Juliet hasn't been published, but it must be at a minimum north of $800K based on the size of theater and show. Someone did publish Ohio at one point; I think it was $600K fixed running, which, if so, means its gross breakeven was about $700K (with theater % and ticket fees).

Updated On: 2/13/24 at 07:10 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 7:56pm

Bobster159 said: "Boroff has been publishing the running costs of all sorts of shows over here:http://broadwayjournal.com/

Saying no musicalcosts less than $600K to run at this point seems pretty much right. &Juliet hasn't been published, but itmust be at a minimum north of $800K based on the size of theater and show. Someone did publish Ohio at one point; I think it was $600K fixed running, which, if so, means its gross breakeven was about $700K (with theater % and ticket fees)."

I like Phil Boroff and what he is doing but it is good to remember that his numbers are coming off the offering papers so by the time a production opens, there can be variances in both directions and on both sides of the ledger. It might make a difference; it might not.

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 8:18pm

Mr. Wormwood said: "So many titles but no major well known titles or anything that's getting insanely good buzz that Broadway can't wait for it to open."

Suffs and Lempicka? Sure… but I’d argue that Back to the Future (technically this season), The Great Gatsby, The Notebook, The Outsiders and The Wiz are some of the most major, well-known and recognizable property titles that could come to Broadway. I’d even throw Cabaret and Spamalot in there, as smaller albeit recognizable titles.  

Updated On: 2/13/24 at 08:18 PM

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 8:43pm

Kad said: "The current Production contract salary minimum is going to be over $2.6k weekly this year- and a good percentage of performers in a big musical like & Juliet will be making over minimum, whether because of bumpsbecause they’re understudies, swings, fight captains, have featured moments, or more. And if the performer is a name or has won or been nominated for awards, they can negotiate substantially higher. But even without those common salary increases, producers also have to make an 8% contribution to the performers’ pension and make a contribution to the Equity League pooled trust that pays for AEA insurance. I’m not sure what that current rate is- it was close to $700/wk pre pandemic so it’s likely close or even well over $800 now. So a very conservative estimate of the cost per performer per week for a production is around $4000 but likely higher, maybe much higher depending on circumstances. So if a show has 20 performers, you’re looking at almost $100k in costs a week based on this most conservative of estimates and assuming everybody is getting minimum. And that’s just performers! There are dozens and dozens of people offstage and in offices that make the show run, and the production has to pay salary and benefits to them. There are royalties and residuals. There’s PR and marketing and advertising. And of course there’s rent and any associated expenses."

So well said Kad. And i wouldn't suggest cutting any of these costs per se, everyone deserves to be paid. But the well-intentioned efforts here make producing a show so wildly expensive that we see less risk, and more "sure thing" celebrity backed stuff. Reminds me of Obama's astute observations about well meaning circular firing squads.

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 8:50pm

uncageg said: "Regarding Sweeney, maybe Joe Locke is pulling people in."

The recent interview with Joe and those 2[awful] women gave some light to the process from Isle of Man to Broadway. I loved his comment 'my people contacted Sweeney's people'--way to go Joe, talk the talk..

Joe was like a startled fawn in headlights but interviews are all about the questions and not many of the questions allowed for any meat in his response and he did have trouble articulating.

He's 20 and will learn and I will certainly be following the progress of this young man.

I am sure that Sweeney will benefit from his presence.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 2/13/24 at 9:59pm

SweetLips22 said: " I loved his comment 'my people contacted Sweeney's people'"

Actually he said the opposite: "the Sweeney team got in touch with my team." It's around 4 minutes into the interview.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 2/14/24 at 1:45am

uncageg said: "Regarding Sweeney, maybe Joe Locke is pulling people in."

I think there are enough people only in it for Joe Locke + some diehards interested in supporting the understudies' last performances (I went for Nicholas and Jeanna) + 4 performances of Sutton and Aaron.