Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 7/24/22- Page 2

[suzycat]

Posted: 7/26/22 at 8:44pm

In fairness, one major difference between ASL and the other Tony winners is that ASL is performing during a global pandemic.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 7/26/22 at 9:15pm

 

Updated On: 7/27/22 at 09:15 PM

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 7/26/22 at 9:16pm

MadsonMelo said: "Also, is safe to assume ''Hadestown'' has recouped yet?"

Yup! It recouped about seven months after opening.

Updated On: 7/26/22 at 09:16 PM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/26/22 at 10:00pm

Sometimes a little context and a little proportion are called for. The producers of ASL did not set out to make a killing. They fell in love with a show that they felt deserved a broader audience and a higher profile, both of which it has achieved because of this. The aspiration was a hope it would break even and make a little coin but if you look at the producing consist, these are not people doing this for the money. That said, it is a commercial production and financial assessments are not out of line, particularly in relation to the two shows being mentioned comparatively. I would call it a harder sell. I would also call it better than the other two. Finally, I think the pandemic only takes you so far. There are a number of shows doing great financially. In the same pandemic. 

[Luminaire2]

Posted: 7/26/22 at 10:18pm

I figured Gaten would be a huge draw, looks to be the case. 

[Mr. Wormwood]

Posted: 7/26/22 at 10:54pm

suzycat said: "In fairness, one major difference between ASL and the other Tony winners is that ASL is performing during a global pandemic."

I think that argument would hold more weight if there weren't 14 shows, including shows that premiered in the pandemic, doing better in terms of capacity. I'm not saying A Strange Loop is in imminent danger. I just think it's looking a little soft for having won the Best Musical Tony so recently. I assumed it would do great numbers through the summer and then tail off and have a similar run to A Band's Visit/Fun Home but I think that might be the most optimistic view. We'll see!

[David10086]

Posted: 7/26/22 at 11:29pm

n2nbaby said: "

Nobody is “making a target.” We are discussing the grosses, comparing the numbers to other recent Tony Award winners. It is a thread for grosses where we, ya know, discuss grosses."

 

Boy have you missed some interesting conversations over the past seven months! Forum members don’t just, ya know, discuss grosses. They focus in on one show with the lowest grosses and begin the death watch - each week wondering how the show is staying open, and taking guesses on when it will post a closing notice. 
 

Last week Mr Saturday Night posted its closing notice, so we move on to the next show  and it looks like it’s ASL. 

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 12:05am

David10086 said: "the death watch"

You grievously misapprehend the activity in this (and related) threads. Perhaps you are not interested in the business side of Broadway. Perhaps you are not interested in the stock market. Perhaps you are not interested in horse racing. Perhaps you are not interested in baseball which, after this weekend, will witness the spectacle of the trade deadline. That's fine. But what we are doing here and in all of these cases is analysis, sometimes just for sport, sometimes for more. If it is not interesting to you, take a seat, but do not try to make it into something that it is not and do not ever imply that you somehow love theatre more than those of us who analyze it intently. Because you don't. 

 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 12:19am

It is possible for an individual show's numbers to be influenced by the pandemic, even with many other shows doing well under the same conditions. The demographics could be different, and/or the pandemic could have people prioritizing "good time" shows with/about stars, over prestige favorites that could be more polarizing.

As for the merits of these discussions:

Hogan, of course I agree with your sentiments about the general value of these gross threads, and the value of analysis/discussion. But I don't think it's entirely incorrect to say these threads have a tendency to harp on the same points week after week, particularly where it comes to a specific show that's doing badly. I mean, how many of this spring's gross threads were devoted to discussing Paradise Square, despite the discussion being exactly the same week after week?

I do think we sometimes fixate on a low-grossing show, and keep our eyes peeled for its closing notice.

But I agree with you Hogan, that it would be unfair to characterize that fixation as being in bad faith, or that we're relishing in a show's failure. A "death watch" could very well be one of mourning, or of morbid interest. Not necessarily vultures circling their prey.

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 12:45am

JBroadway said: "It is possible for an individual show's numbers to be influenced by the pandemic, even with many other shows doing well under the same conditions. The demographics could be different, and/or the pandemic could have people prioritizing "good time" shows with/about stars, over prestige favorites that could be more polarizing.****
Hogan, of course I agree with your sentiments about the general value of these gross threads, and the value of analysis/discussion. But I don't think it's entirely incorrect to say these threads have a tendency to harp on the same points week after week, particularly where it comes to a specific show that's doing badly. I mean, how many of this spring's gross threads were devoted to discussing Paradise Square, despite the discussion being exactly the same week after week?"

No question that, in general, the pandemic can affect shows differently. Most obviously, perhaps, shows with an "older" demographic where a good chunk of the audience has not returned to the theatre at all. (I think the folks at MTC will be happy to tell you about this.)

Also no question we sometimes focus on shows at the extreme like Paradise Square where staying open made no sense. There was a lot more going on there than just how absurdly low the grosses were; I think we can all plead guilty to rubbernecking. Beyond that, I think we are just interested in what's going on, can they turn it around, etc. Similarly, Funny Girl was not really about the grosses as much as the train wreck we were witnessing. Another show that comes to mind along these lines was Great Comet. The discussion was indeed about grosses but it was really about incompetent producing, what did they do wrong, etc. 

I think the language that set off this mini discussion was the employment of "target." I don't think people made these shows targets (we have no power here); I think the shows made themselves targets and we started snooping around to see what we could learn. 

 

[bear88]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 3:27am

There’s nothing about A Strange Loop that made me think ‘Broadway smash.’ I don’t think there is anything the producers did wrong here. It’s just not the sort of musical that summer tourists will flock to see when they have lighter and less challenging options. My assumption is that the producers, while hoping to break even, were primarily interested is bringing the show to more people. In that, they have succeeded. I haven’t been to New York City of late, but my daughter saw the musical - and liked it a lot - when she visited last month.

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 6:25am

ASL's sexual frankness also makes it something I wouldn't outright recommend to a good chunk of the people in my life.  In fact, there are very few people I can think of that I would say "you have to go see this!" without some sort of qualification or reservation.  And this comes from someone who thinks it's quite great.  

[inception]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 8:08am

It will be interesting to see what grosses are like in next week's report.

As a tourist in town this week, I can't help noticing how very many other tourists are also in the city right now.  But, what I've noticed most though, is how many are visiting from Europe.  Anecdotally,  most places I've been they seem to even outnumber the amount of people visiting from other parts of the US.  

Shows that can appeal to an audience for whom English is a second language ( or who maybe don't even speak it at all) probably will do well.

For example, I checked MJ for today's matinee, & was surprised to see it is sold out, with only some resale seats available. 

Monay night I went to Phantom, and it seemed a full house.  The lady next to me was French, and there were many Asians.  Despite the threads claiming that "tourist" shows are full of poorly behaved audiences, my experience Monday was that everyone was in rapt attention & waited to applaud at appropriate moments. - unlike Into the Woods on Sunday with an audience of Locals.

Yesterday morning I did an excellent historical walking tour with a company that gets very good reviews.  I was the only out-of-towner.  Everyone else were locals.  This tour probably wouldn't interest Europeans, but would appeal to Americans - so I was surprised that there weren't any out of state folks.

Last night I went to Six, & was seated by some Aussies,  but did note a lot of local accents otherwise.  But then later at a jazz concert at the Blue Note, I was again seated beside a group of Parisiennes.

Are less Americans traveling? Or are they choosing different destinations?  It would be interesting to learn.

[mikem]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 8:24am

In terms of the question about plays towards the end of the summer, over the past 15 years or so, Broadway has become increasingly star-driven in terms of plays, and those stars generally aren't around for all that long.  Harry Potter is rare in being a recent multi-year play.   Aside from Harry Potter, there have been a number of years where there are zero plays or one play running as of Labor Day. 

[David10086]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 8:48am

JBroadway said: "I
As for the merits of these discussions:

Hogan, of course I agree with your sentiments about the general value of these gross threads, and the value of analysis/discussion. But I don't think it's entirely incorrect to say these threads have a tendency to harp on the same points week after week, particularly where it comes to a specific show that's doing badly. I mean, how many of this spring's gross threads were devoted to discussing Paradise Square, despite the discussion being exactly the same week after week?

I do think we sometimes fixate on a low-grossing show, and keep our eyes peeled for its closing notice.

But I agree with you Hogan, that it would be unfair to characterize that fixation as being in bad faith, or that we're relishing in a show's failure. A "death watch" could very well be one of mourning, or of morbid interest. Not necessarily vultures circling their prey.

"

EXACTLY ! These discussions certainly focus on 'the one show' who is spiraling downward at the box office (or never took off at the box office) and the 'death watch' begins. We start taking guesses on when the show will close - whether others want to see it in 'bad faith' or 'business interest' doesn't really matter since the actions are the same. 

 

However, when you say "it would be unfair to characterize that fixation as being in bad faith, or that we're relishing in a show's failure" , I disagree. Have you seen the posts about 'Paradise Square' over the past six or seven months ? Yes, there were members here hoping it would fail for a variety of reasons. 

[David10086]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 8:54am

HogansHero said: "David10086 said: "the death watch"

You grievously misapprehend the activity in this (and related) threads. Perhaps you are not interested in the business side of Broadway. Perhaps you are not interested in the stock market. Perhaps you are not interested in horse racing. Perhaps you are not interested in baseball which, after this weekend, will witness the spectacle of the trade deadline. That's fine. But what we are doing here and in all of these cases is analysis, sometimes just for sport, sometimes for more. If it is not interesting to you, take a seat, but do not try to make it into something that it is not and do not ever imply that you somehow love theatre more than those of us who analyze it intently. Because you don't.

"

To address a few statements you make: 

1, I do not analyze the grosses for investment purposes, or for sport. I fall into the 'sometimes for more' category.

2. I never said it's not interesting to me.

3. I never said I love theater more than anyone else on or off this board. (Me thinks you're projecting in those last two sentences.)

[bowtie7]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 9:02am

Also important to note that there are two distinct tourist groups. While the vast majority are regular tourists, there is a smaller sub-set of theatre specific tourists who make one or more trips each year to New York to see the latest shows (and occasionally revisit old favorites). There are now probably fewer of these theatre tourists in town at this time (due to most of the limited run productions having closed, though (I am sure) those who missed Into the Woods at City Center may be doing everything possible to get to town during the limited run)--this group will pick up again in the fall when new productions open which could be good news for A Strange Loop in the traditionally slower fall months. 

Updated On: 7/27/22 at 09:02 AM

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 10:07am

David10086 said: "To address a few statements you make:

1, I do not analyze the grosses for investment purposes, or for sport. I fall into the 'sometimes for more' category.

2. I never said it's not interesting to me.

3. I never said I love theater more than anyone else on or off this board. (Me thinks you're projecting in those last two sentences.)"

It's fine that you follow grosses for different reasons than some of us, but you are still misapprehending our reasons for our interests in them and making what I would characterize as an erroneous implication from our interests. 

Your responses to JBroadway demonstrate this. First, it is manifestly untrue that each week there is a focus only on the lowest grossing show. Second, it is preposterous to conflate bad faith and business interest. As I more or less asked, do you do this with stock market analysts?) Third, re " We start taking guesses," who is we? People post and yes some of those posts include educated guesses on when a show will close. That's not a death watch. As I pointed out, "we" have no power. Finally, regarding Paradise Square, yes there was a lot of vitriol, but it was not based on the grosses but rather on Garth. There are many, including yours truly, who think he should never have been able to return to Broadway. Aside from everything else, some known at the time and some not, the numbers on this show make staying open defy logic and there is a back story on who got conned to keep it running that we do not yet know. But that show is sui generis and not part of some custom around here. 

[Andres LaFrazia]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 3:20pm

Strange Loop Underperforming? Into The Woods Extends Run Through October

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78rnOhKFwwI&t=1s

[yyys]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 5:04pm

uhhh Phantom is the only one playing on Mondays?

 

inception said: "It will be interesting to see what grosses are like in next week's report.

Monay night I went to Phantom, and it seemed a full house. The lady next to me was French, and there were many Asians. Despite the threads claiming that "tourist" shows are full of poorly behaved audiences, my experience Monday was that everyone was in rapt attention & waited to applaud at appropriate moments. - unlike Into the Woods on Sunday with an audience of Locals.
"

 

Updated On: 7/27/22 at 05:04 PM

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 5:10pm

MadsonMelo said: "I think we all knew ASL wouldn't last more than ''Fun Home'' or ''The Band's Visit'', both of these shows lasted something like one year and five months, that would put ''ASL'' to last, at least, around September 2023, but I'm praying it will be here until the next Tonys, it surely will be difficult. Does the show cost that much to run, tho? A 600k nut for a small house like that doesn't feel right.

Also, is safe to assume ''Hadestown'' has recouped yet?

A question: by August 14, I guess, there will only be 2 plays on Broadway. Is this some kind of record or is a usual thing that I never notice in the august months?"

I’ll be shocked if it is still open in January, unless there is someone paying to keep it afloat.  I have a lot of theatre going friends, none of whom has any interest in seeing it (including me admittedly), despite the reviews.  After reading countless reviews, I just can’t get up any interest.  It did not help that I really disliked the Tony’s number and another song I heard. Narrow appeal IMO.

Updated On: 7/27/22 at 05:10 PM

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 5:14pm

mikem said: "In terms of the question about plays towards the end of the summer, over the past 15 years or so, Broadway has become increasingly star-driven in terms of plays, and those stars generally aren't around for all that long. Harry Potter is rare in being a recent multi-year play. Aside from Harry Potter, there have been a number of years where there are zero plays or one play running as of Labor Day."

I know it won the Tony, but IMO HP is less a play than a spectacle.  The play itself is hopelessly uninteresting, though the packaging is outstanding, very rare for a ‘play.’

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 5:16pm

Jarethan said: "MadsonMelo said: "I think we all knew ASL wouldn't last more than ''Fun Home'' or ''The Band's Visit'', both of these shows lasted something like one year and five months, that would put ''ASL'' to last, at least, around September 2023, but I'm praying it will be here until the next Tonys, it surely will be difficult. Does the show cost that much to run, tho? A 600k nut for a small house like that doesn't feel right.

Also, is safe to assume ''Hadestown'' has recouped yet?

A question: by August 14, I guess, there will only be 2 plays on Broadway. Is this some kind of record or is a usual thing that I never notice in the august months?"

I’ll be shocked if it is still open in January, unless there is someone paying to keep it afloat. I have a lot of theatre going friends, none of whom has any interest in seeing it (including me, admittedly, despite the reviews. After reading countless reviews, I just can’t get up any interest. It did not help that I really disliked the Tony’s number and another song I heard. Narrow appeal IMO."

Given on the talent on the producing side they should just get Jennifer Hudson, etc to do a cover's album or something to help promote. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/27/22 at 5:18pm

yyys said: "uhhh Phantom is the only one playing on Mondays?



inception said: "It will be interesting to see what grosses are like in next week's report.

Monay night I went to Phantom, and it seemed a full house. The lady next to me was French, and there were many Asians. Despite the threads claiming that "tourist" shows are full of poorly behaved audiences, my experience Monday was that everyone was in rapt attention & waited to applaud at appropriate moments. - unlike Into the Woods on Sunday with an audience of Locals.
"

Of course, one can argue strongly that that is brilliant work on the producer’s part…pretty much a guaranteed sellout for a show that opened 34 years ago in one of the largest Broadway theatres.  Those Thursday performances are also very well attended.

 

[quizking101]

Posted: 7/28/22 at 5:23am

RippedMan said:

Given on the talent on the producing side they should just get Jennifer Hudson, etc to do a cover's album or something to help promote."

She would only be able to sing “A Sympathetic Ear”, (MAYBE “Boundaries”, but that’s a stretch)