Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 3/4/18- Page 2

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 3/5/18 at 7:20pm

I, too, have heard that SpongeBob has an unannounced "closing" date due to the Palace's upcoming renovations. Unrelated to its grosses. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 3/5/18 at 7:42pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "I, too, have heard thatSpongeBobhas an unannounced "closing" date due to the Palace's upcoming renovations. Unrelated to its grosses."

That is incorrect.  If its grosses were better, the show would move.  We all can list lots of shows that moved over the years; to site one, I seem to recall that Chicago moved from the Rodgers to the Shubert very early in its run because the Rodgers had been booked and Chicago was doing better than anyone expected, i.e., selling out.  Had it not been doing well, it would have closed.

(I said 'seem to recall' because that is what I remember (it was 20 years ago), but it is altogether possible it moved to the Shubert to take advantage of it modestly larger size.

 

[comets]

Posted: 3/5/18 at 8:01pm

What is keeping School of Rock open? 

[Papi2013]

Posted: 3/5/18 at 8:06pm

Jarethan said: "BroadwayConcierge said: "I, too, have heard thatSpongeBobhas an unannounced "closing" date due to the Palace's upcoming renovations. Unrelated to its grosses."

That is incorrect. If its grosses were better, the show would move. We all can list lots of shows that moved over the years; to site one,I seem to recall that Chicago moved from the Rodgers to the Shubert very early in its run because the Rodgers had been booked and Chicago was doing better than anyone expected, i.e., selling out. Had it not been doing well, it would have closed.

(I said 'seem to recall' because that is what I remember (it was 20 years ago), but it is altogether possible it moved to the Shubert to take advantage of it modestly larger size.

"

That can be true for any show.  Doesn’t mean he is incorrect.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/5/18 at 8:20pm

closing and getting kicked out are not necessarily the same thing. 

which I assume was Jarethan's point. Obviously, had Spongbob been the next Hamilton, it would not close just because of some Rube Goldberg renovation plan. (And it might take longer to get underway than it will take to find the next Hamilton. 

[jbird5]

Posted: 3/5/18 at 8:41pm

Jarethan said: "BroadwayConcierge said: "I, too, have heard thatSpongeBobhas an unannounced "closing" date due to the Palace's upcoming renovations. Unrelated to its grosses."

That is incorrect. If its grosses were better, the show would move. We all can list lots of shows that moved over the years; to site one,I seem to recall that Chicago moved from the Rodgers to the Shubert very early in its run because the Rodgers had been booked and Chicago was doing better than anyone expected, i.e., selling out. Had it not been doing well, it would have closed.

(I said 'seem to recall' because that is what I remember (it was 20 years ago), but it is altogether possible it moved to the Shubert to take advantage of it modestly larger size.

"

The Weisslers took the Rodgers knowing it was for only 12 weeks because they had to open by the end of the year or they would lose the rights.  Only after the show was a hit did they get offered the Schubert which was available due to the early closing of its show. The Rodgers was booked for a new ALW musical which flopped.  Barry goes through the whole saga on the Behind the Curtain podcast.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 3/5/18 at 8:51pm

Yes, my apologies that I used the wrong terminology. My point was that SpongeBob has always, behind closed doors, been a limited run because the Palace has planned renovations. Why the show decided to go the "We're an open run!" route, I don't know—but they're not for long (at the Palace, at least).

[After Eight]

Posted: 3/5/18 at 9:38pm

"The Rodgers was booked for a new ALW musical which flopped."

 

It was a Kander and Ebb show, Steel Pier.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 3/5/18 at 9:57pm

Regarding Lobby Hero:

I mentioned in another thread (and IIRC others agreed with me) that the marketing fairly is weak: they are not highlighting the Hollywood names as much as they could, and the design and photos don't catch the eye much. 

[Emmaloucbway]

Posted: 3/5/18 at 10:05pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "Yes, my apologies that I used the wrong terminology. My point was thatSpongeBobhas always, behind closed doors, been a limited run because the Palace has planned renovations. Why the show decided to go the "We're an open run!" route, I don't know—but they're not for long (at the Palace, at least)."

According to the official Spongebob website they are currently selling tickets through early September (the 2nd I think). I wouldn't be surprised if that was the "limited run" closing date that some posters are mentioning. 

[Marianne2]

Posted: 3/5/18 at 11:07pm

I definitely think the weather was a big factor. My power went out on Friday early afternoon and was not restored until almost 5pm today. They originally were estimating Wednesday night. But, it still is a mess here in northwest NJ.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 3/6/18 at 8:53am

After Eight said: "Could be word of mouth is catching up to the hype."

On the contrary, word of mouth seems particularly strong for this show. When I was in NYC last weekend, three different people emphasized how great a show it was when I told them I had tickets. It's limited anecdotal evidence, but I can't remember the last time that's happened to me for any other show.

Of course, two of those people were sitting at my table at Sweeney Todd, so I'm sure you'd brush aside their opinions anyhow.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 3/6/18 at 9:43am

HogansHero said: "The show that seems imperiled is OOTI that does not really have a raison d'être at this point, and does not have the bottomless pit to draw funds from."

 

They’re just hoping that Tony noms/awards will turn things around.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/6/18 at 9:51am

Tony noms are exactly 8 weeks from today. Pining for that turnaround is, at the present clip, going to rack up over a million dollars in additional losses by then.

[markypoo]

Posted: 3/6/18 at 9:57am

And that eight week stretch could also mean a financial bloodbath for the Sponge to absorb.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/6/18 at 11:41am

yes but the sponge has deep pockets and a reason to invest in the losses

[markypoo]

Posted: 3/6/18 at 11:53am

Who would have any PRACTICAL reason to INVEST in LOSSES?
Just the combination of those three key words make no conventional sense whatsoever.
And by the way: as we chat, there's probably some poor devil over at Viacom fretfully fearing for his job; having been the initial, hapless perpetrator of this cockamamie enterprise.

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 3/6/18 at 12:01pm

$39 tickets for Dolly on Broadway Box. I don't see it lasting past Bernadette unless an amazing replacement is made... I suggest Andrea Martin, Christine Baranski or that Barbra girl.

[haterobics]

Posted: 3/6/18 at 12:01pm

markypoo said: "Who would have any PRACTICAL reason to INVEST in LOSSES?"

Someone who wants to ensure there is a perception that they own a strong brand that can be leveraged successfully into different areas moving forward? They may still be trying to sell Spongebob into other areas, so any indicators of  brand indifference must be managed. Or, all of the theme parks that have Spongebob attractions... they need to ensure those licensing fees remain at a certain level, and not give them ammo to try and change the terms, etc.?

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 3/6/18 at 12:01pm

As we have frequently seen in recent years, Shrek being perhaps the best example, known IP musicals with deep-pocket producers will often "invest in losses" because a Broadway run will increase the visibility of the show and boost its long life in licensing.

[newintown]

Posted: 3/6/18 at 12:16pm

"$39 tickets for Dolly on Broadway Box. I don't see it lasting past Bernadette unless an amazing replacement is made... I suggest Andrea Martin, Christine Baranski or that Barbra girl."

Ah, yes, Andrea Martin and Christine Baranski, that duo of international mega-stars who guarantee SRO houses.

At this point, the only names that would help would be Streisand, Oprah, or Gaga (and I'm not entirely sure that any of them would sell the entire house for very long).

[haterobics]

Posted: 3/6/18 at 12:52pm

Stage Door Sally said: "$39 tickets for Dolly on Broadway Box. I don't see it lasting past Bernadette unless an amazing replacement is made... I suggest Andrea Martin, Christine Baranski or that Barbra girl."

Is the discounted price of the rear balcony really the canary in a coal mine for any show?!

[perfectliar]

Posted: 3/6/18 at 1:01pm

comets said: "What is keeping School of Rock open?"

It recouped almost a year ago.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/6/18 at 1:07pm

perfectliar said: "comets said: "What is keeping School of Rock open?"

It recouped almost a year ago."

Just because a show recouped doesn’t mean it can’t not be doing terrible financially. I too am shocked school of rock is still rolling along. Their grosses have never been astounding and I bet it only ever hits its mark during holidays. So I wonder what’s keeping it open. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 3/6/18 at 1:09pm

Call_me_jorge said: "Their grosses have never been astounding and I bet itonly ever hits its mark during holidays."

It cleared $900K the two previous weeks?! How high do you think the mark is?