Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 5/15/22- Page 3

[WestEndGal]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 8:05am

Music Man’s figures are insane. Hugh Jackman is so bankable it’s crazy! Happy to see Funny Girl doing so well also, however long it lasts. 

It definitely feels like Come From Away and Dear Even Hansen have maybe only got another season or too left in them, although they’ve made their money and more so now so I guess could keep going indefinitely like Chicago! 

[BJR]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 8:06am

JasonC3 said: "One of the things that has impressed me about Lupone's performance (and quite frankly, surprised me a bit) is how she is such an active and committed ensemble member whenever she is on stage, making her presence felt far beyond her big number. This was true in London as well."

Agreed. It impressed me years ago in the Sweeney revival, too. Patti is a fantastic ensemble member. She knows how to give focus when needed, when to support, and when it's necessary to completely pull focus. It's pretty masterful and shows her Juillard/Acting Company training.

I'd also add just how in-the-moment she stays, and how fresh the performance feels each time.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 9:05am

What's baffling to me is that with the the talent they have in the show, POTUS is doing very little press appearances?

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 9:22am

ucjrdude902 said: "What's baffling to me is that with the the talent they have in the show, POTUS is doing very little press appearances?"

There was a major piece with the entire cast on CBS Sunday Morning just last week. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 9:41am

Auggie27 said: "Agreed, FG looks like a certifiable hit. Any word can be inserted in front of “proof,” and applies."

Too soon to assume that.   The real questions are: (1) how big was its advance? and (2) how frontloaded is it?  Would be interesting to know how many new tickets each show sold.  it may be filling up on its early advance or it may be selling a lot of new tickets.  Have to admit that i would be surprused if the latter.

I have to admit that, based on those reviews, I expect this to lose majo steam as soon as its advance runs out.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 9:47am

OhHiii said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "JSquared2 said: "There are already 3 LuPone replacements lined up -- each with box office clout -- for short engagements (should the show still be running)."

You love to hear it. Would you like to provide any hints??? And do any of the ladies' namesrhyme with Sistine Paranski? Because she's been my dream Joanne for a while."

Christine has indeed at leas

t been discussed. Along with Sara Bareilles as a potential Bobbie. And I. Would. Pass. Away."

Will Baranski really sell any tickets?  She would undoubtedly be excellent in the role, but I have never seen her as a ticket seller.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 9:47am

OhHiii said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "JSquared2 said: "There are already 3 LuPone replacements lined up -- each with box office clout -- for short engagements (should the show still be running)."

You love to hear it. Would you like to provide any hints??? And do any of the ladies' namesrhyme with Sistine Paranski? Because she's been my dream Joanne for a while."

Christine has indeed at leas

t been discussed. Along with Sara Bareilles as a potential Bobbie. And I. Would. Pass. Away."

Will Baranski really sell any tickets?  She would undoubtedly be excellent in the role, but I have never seen her as a ticket seller.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 9:47am

OhHiii said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "JSquared2 said: "There are already 3 LuPone replacements lined up -- each with box office clout -- for short engagements (should the show still be running)."

You love to hear it. Would you like to provide any hints??? And do any of the ladies' namesrhyme with Sistine Paranski? Because she's been my dream Joanne for a while."

Christine has indeed at leas

t been discussed. Along with Sara Bareilles as a potential Bobbie. And I. Would. Pass. Away."

Will Baranski really sell any tickets?  She would undoubtedly be excellent in the role, but I have never seen her as a ticket seller.

Updated On: 5/18/22 at 09:47 AM

[JasonC3]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 9:53am

My Magic 8 Ball is broken so I can't ask it about ticket sales, but I think Baranski in this role would move some tickets, particularly for Sondheim fans who may already have seen it.  She has a strong reputation for both stage and TV, so arguably she is a name people recognize.

Updated On: 5/18/22 at 09:53 AM

[OhHiii]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 10:05am

Just dawned on me....can Jean Smart sing? Beacuse...forget Baranski.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 12:58pm

As written, Joanne isn’t a hard role to sing. Of course, Patti spices it up here and there, but pretty much anyone who can carry a tune can sing Joanne. There’s a lot of possibilities. The harder part is that the role will have to be reshaped for a new actress. As it is now, Joanne in this revival is completely based on Patti. Patti is Joanne, and Joanne is Patti. It would be interesting to see how they’d alter the role for a different actress. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 2:33pm

OhHiii said: "Just dawned on me....can Jean Smart sing? Beacuse...forget Baranski."

She’s been super busy lately with Hacks among other things and probably will be filming the next season around when LuPone likely leaves.

But if this comes to be…TAKE MY MONEY!!!

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 4:43pm

JasonC3 said: "RippedMan said: "Oh that's exciting! I mean, it's a great role for a woman of a certain age. Not much stage time, but you get a kick ass song."

One of the things that has impressed me about Lupone's performance (and quite frankly, surprised me a bit) is how she is such an active and committed ensemble member whenever she is on stage, making her presence felt far beyond her big number. This was true in London as well."

100% agree. She is not phoning it in at all. 

[Papi2013]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 6:02pm

Baranski is a TV name and would sell tickets.  Jean Smart is based in the West Coast and has young children in school.  I doubt she would be interested in uprooting them. 

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 6:06pm

Papi2013 said: "Baranski is a TV name and would sell tickets. Jean Smart is based in the West Coast and has young children in school. I doubt she would be interested in uprooting them."

Jean Smart either was in talks or had expressed interest in originating Miss Hannigan with the last broadway revival of Annie.  She talks about it in one of those tv academy interviews.  She would have been heaven.  

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 6:27pm

Bette's Turban said: "Papi2013 said: "Baranski is a TV name and would sell tickets. Jean Smart is based in the West Coast and has young children in school. I doubt she would be interested in uprooting them."

Jean Smart either was in talks or had expressed interest in originating Miss Hannigan with the last broadway revival of Annie. She talks about it in one of those tv academy interviews. She would have been heaven."

One thing to note is that that was before her husband died. It's a lot easier to leave a kid at home for an extended job when your other half is still there to take care of them. 

[Ke3]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 9:14pm

carolinaguy said: "ucjrdude902 said: "What's baffling to me is that with the the talent they have in the show, POTUS is doing very little press appearances?"

There was a major piece with the entire cast on CBS Sunday Morning just last week."

They also had Vanessa and Rachel on Today. Frankly, they're the most famous of the whole cast so that makes sense to me from a promo angle.

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 9:57pm

Jarethan said: "OhHiii said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "JSquared2 said: "There are already 3 LuPone replacements lined up -- each with box office clout -- for short engagements (should the show still be running)."

You love to hear it. Would you like to provide any hints??? And do any of the ladies' namesrhyme with Sistine Paranski? Because she's been my dream Joanne for a while."

Christine has indeed at leas

t been discussed. Along with Sara Bareilles as a potential Bobbie. And I. Would. Pass. Away."

Will Baranski really sell any tickets? She would undoubtedly be excellent in the role, but I have never seen her as a ticket seller."

More tickets than LuPone

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 11:05pm

Auggie27 said: "Agreed, FG looks like a certifiable hit. Any word can be inserted in front of “proof,” and applies."

By this measure, Frozen was also a “certifiable hit” and we all know how that ended.  

 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 11:31pm

GreasedLightning said: "By this measure, Frozen was also a “certifiable hit” and we all know how that ended."

I agree with your sentiment, but Frozen was a strange example to pick to make your point. By normal metrics, Frozen's grosses were pretty great throughout most of its run. It's very likely that it recouped its capitalization, and then some.  Which, in standard industry terms, would indeed label it a "certified hit."

From what I understand, the only reason it was cast in a financially disappointing light was that Disney seems to use a different model for whether their shows are raking in ENOUGH profit to be deemed worth keeping open, and Frozen saw a comparative decline in demand. But the production was in a financial situation that most shows would dearly envy.

In any case, your overall point stands: Funny Girl may be doing well now, but it will have to keep it up for a good while if they want to recoup, and I agree it's unlikely.

 

Updated On: 5/18/22 at 11:31 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 11:51pm

Additionally, Disney is sui generis among commercial producers. A good chunk of its costs are in-house, and a good chunk of those are spread over the entire operation. Also, while they obviously budget shows, there is no "recouping" in the typical sense. They have no investors to repay, etc.

What everyone is curious about re FG is, in addition to what the (remaining) advance, what is the wrap this week, last week, next week. That is what will tell the tale.

Updated On: 5/18/22 at 11:51 PM

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 5/18/22 at 11:58pm

One point of note, regarding this week's grosses: It's worth pointing out that Mr. Saturday Night cancelled two performances the previous week, due to Billy Crystal having the flu. So the addition of two performances this week accounts, at least a little bit, for their increase.

Absolutely love the gigantic increase for A Strange Loop. Hope it continues, and after it wins Best Musical next month, I hope it becomes a cancellation line ticket for a couple months, like Fun Home was. :)

[OhHiii]

Posted: 5/19/22 at 10:36am

JBroadway said: "GreasedLightning said: "By this measure, Frozen was also a “certifiable hit” and we all know how that ended."

I agree with your sentiment, but Frozen was a strange example to pick to make your point. By normal metrics, Frozen's grosses were pretty great throughout most of its run. It's very likely that it recouped its capitalization, and then some. Which, in standard industry terms, would indeed label it a "certified hit."

From what I understand, the only reason it was cast in a financially disappointing light was that Disney seems to use a different model for whether their shows are raking in ENOUGH profit to be deemed worth keeping open, and Frozen saw a comparative decline in demand. But the production was in a financial situation that most shows would dearly envy.

In any case, your overall point stands: Funny Girl may be doing well now, but it will have to keep it up for a good while if they want to recoup, and I agree it's unlikely.

"

The thing that was hidden in Frozen's grosses was INSANE secondary market tickets that caused advance sales to tank because following the poor reviews, you could get a prime orchestra or mezzanine seat for a fraction of what they were bought for. Once the scalpers caught wind of this, they stopped buying altogether. The same was the case for The Band's Visit. Secondary market sellers bought up TONS of seats when the show was announced and opened to those rapturous reviews. And because The Band's Visit was what it was, WOM was massively polarizing, thus the secondary market TANKED. There were often full rows empty from unsold secondary market seats. The point being, a few years post-Hamilton saw a real issue with this and it most definitely hindered some shows' ability to keep their wraps high and their pricing integrity because it was constantly undermined by cheaper, better seats on StubHub and the like.

While yes, Frozen's initial grosses were high, the show was capitalized somewhere between $25 and $30million, and lets not forget they paid to have the St. James expanded to fit the show. So, no, it's not likely it recouped its investment in the time that it ran. Not even close. That said, they're likely printing money on the road, which will help mitigate any losses attributed to Broadway specifically, and they may now be out of the red.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/19/22 at 11:04am

@OhHiii Again, Disney does not "capitalize" a show and thus it does not "recoup" (or not). When you rest your post on infirm foundations, it obviously discredits even that which might be accurate. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/19/22 at 11:17am

blaxx said: "Jarethan said: "OhHiii said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "JSquared2 said: "There are already 3 LuPone replacements lined up -- each with box office clout -- for short engagements (should the show still be running)."

You love to hear it. Would you like to provide any hints??? And do any of the ladies' namesrhyme with Sistine Paranski? Because she's been my dream Joanne for a while."

Christine has indeed at leas

t been discussed. Along with Sara Bareilles as a potential Bobbie. And I. Would. Pass. Away."

Will Baranski really sell any tickets? She would undoubtedly be excellent in the role, but I have never seen her as a ticket seller."

More tickets than LuPone"

 

Wasn't Baranski above the title for Boeing Boeing back in 2008?  They certainly thought she'd sell tickets as her role was most definitely only a supporting role.