Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 7/29/18- Page 2

[haterobics]

Posted: 7/30/18 at 4:26pm

willrolandsframes said: "Literally just two to three years ago, only about 10 shows were hitting the million mark. Thus, this caused a higher turnover in shows, allowing theatregoers more opportunities to see new productions. "

I don't think more shows are selling more tickets, they are just shifting money from the secondary market onto the primary market through premium tickets and such.

There still seems to be a pretty healthy turnover, either way. The hits just make a lot more, and the flops die even faster.

[Jonwo]

Posted: 7/30/18 at 4:41pm

SomethingPeculiar said: 

*If* MOULIN is indeed going to the Hirschfeld in the 2019-2020 season, I wonder if the Roth family will choose to bleed a little money to keep KINKY going through it's 6th anniversary inApril? (Though if they did that, then they might as well keep it going through the summer –– and if it runs through the end of next summer, it would outrunHairspray)

If KINKYcloses thisJanuary, that could be a year without a tenant in the theatre, unless there's a play or limited engagement that could go to the Hirschfeld. (This is all based on the un-confirmedMoulinrumor)"

I wouldn't be surprised if they decide to refurbish the Hirschfeld, once Kinky closes so that Moulin Rouge or another show can have the theatre at a later date. 

 

 

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 7/30/18 at 4:41pm

willrolandsframes said: "Literally just two to three years ago, only about 10 shows were hitting the million mark. Thus, this caused a higher turnover in shows, allowing theatregoers more opportunities to see new productions. However, if all of these open-ended shows are continuing to succeed financially, then how are we going to get a wider variety of new shows? It feels like normally by this time of year, we tend to at least have a grasp of what our spring season might look like. But right now, all of these questionable transfer shows (Moulin Rouge, Hadestown, Beetlejuice, etc.) can't come if they don't have a theatre. And right now, none of the 19 shows that are open-ended are anywhere near closing, and really only 3-5 of the open-ended shows that are under the million mark have any remote chance of closing by the end of the year.

My point is that I'm concerned about the lack of new productions coming to Broadway, and I feel like the only way to increase this number is to increase the turnover among current shows, which cannot really happen if 19 of 32 shows are grossing 7 figures.

But, again, perhaps this is a non-issue. I'm just a fan of seeing more fresh and new content on the Great White Way, and I don't know when we're really going to see a year filled with that again."

So you're rooting for wildly successful shows to fail just so something new can come in? If you ran a company and had a great employee who had been there 5 years, would you fire him or her just to bring in a new employee who may or may not work out? "But that's a business, this is the ARTS." No, it's show business and as the famous saying goes, without the business, there is no show. We've had some original, well thought of works the past few years that didn't run as long as people would have hoped... Bandstand, Indecent, Sweat, A Doll's House, to name 4. Do you have ticket stubs from all of them? Some of them? Any of them? If you went to see all of them or even most of them, great! But if you didn't, then you're not supporting new original works and if a strong advocate for them isn't, why should producers take a risk and bring more of them to Broadway?

As JBroadway mentioned, there are plenty of great new works getting loads of exposure off-Broadway. The best, most commercially viable of them transfer but the rest are still being seen, able to attract an audience who have the chance to see a great new work. You have access to them, are able to enjoy them in a more intimate setting at a more attractive price point and there remains plenty of motivation for the very best playwrights to continue to create new works."But they're not On Broadway." So what?

Updated On: 7/30/18 at 04:41 PM

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 7/30/18 at 4:42pm

haterobics said: "willrolandsframes said: "Literally just two to three years ago, only about 10 shows were hitting the million mark. Thus, this caused a higher turnover in shows, allowing theatregoers more opportunities to see new productions. "

I don't think more shows are selling more tickets, they are just shifting money from the secondary market onto the primary market through premium tickets and such.

There still seems to be a prettyhealthy turnover, either way. The hits just make a lot more, and the flops die even faster."

And in addition, two of the shows that did $1million, School of Rock and Spongebob have already announced closing dates  (Jan 20 and Sept 16 respectively.)

 

[FranklinDickson2018]

Posted: 7/30/18 at 5:10pm

Is Carousel still turning a profit with the grosses it has been having?  I would think it is an expensive show to run with a larger cast and also a large dance corps. 

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/30/18 at 5:13pm

roadmixer said: "dramamama611 said:


Theaters have contracts with shows, so why would they even consider kicking them out? It would be foolish of them to do so. (And illegal, which is why you sometimes hear about a buy-out.)

Mama... typically contracts between theatre owners and productions include something known in the biz as a "stop clause" which stipulates that if a show isn't making enough money for X amount of time, the theatre can nullify the deal. This has happened and is typical in a situation where a theatre owner can book a new (presumably more successful show) if they kick the current tenant to the curb.



"

Yes, I'm fully aware of that -- however, the poster to whom I was responding, questioned why theaters didn't end relationships with currently SUCCESSFULLY running shows, not about under performing ones.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/30/18 at 5:20pm

I think the Hirschfeld is the wrong theater for Moulin. 

[BroadwayMan5]

Posted: 7/30/18 at 6:43pm

willrolandsframes said: "Question:

I'm not much of an economist so someone who's good at analyzing profit, please answer this. Is it a bit of a problem that 19 of the 32 shows currently on Broadway are grossing over $1,000,000? In fact, really only 6 or 7 shows are in what you might describe as a "negative financial situation". How is this not a problem? We've already seen how the average theatregoer is more willing to spend money on a commercialized product like Mean Girls instead of something original. With that in mind, and also considering how Broadway continues to net more profit year after year, what needs to change? At this rate, no wonder we're going to have barely any new shows next season. If I'm the owner of a theatre, why would I take a chance by evicting my well-established, money-making show in favor of something that may or may not succeed?

What needs to change to make original shows more commercially viable to producers and theatre owners? Are the facts I listed above non-issues?"

Of those 19 shows though, 5 (Dolly, School of Rock, Spongebob, Springsteen, Boys in the Band) have announced closings and it's still too early to tell if that will continue for Pretty Woman. 

When you add in shows that could be gone by January ranging from definite to possible (Bronx Tale, TPTGW, GTBBT, Head Over Heels, Carousel, OOTI, Kinky Boots, Summer, Beautiful, Waitress), as well as some currently open theatres like the Marquis, it seems to me like there is or will be plenty of real estate for shows that want to come in. Additionally, I think the success of shows like Hamilton, The Band's Visit, Come From Away, and Dear Evan Hansen will make theatre owners more likely to pull the trigger on new material even though there will always be Mean Girls and Frozen type shows on Broadway too.

Not an economist, but just my observations

Updated On: 7/30/18 at 06:43 PM

[Elegance101]

Posted: 7/30/18 at 6:51pm

RippedMan said: "I think the Hirschfeld is the wrong theater for Moulin."

Agreed. I'm personally hoping the 2019-2020 rumor is true, so they can have the Shubert after Mockingbird. Think of how perfect that theater would be!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/30/18 at 7:00pm

I bet Davenport closes Gettin (g) the Band Back Together after Opening Night so he can write a book about it closing after 1 official performance.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 7/30/18 at 7:03pm

The Hirschfeld is totally the wrong theatre for Moulin Rouge. They use the crap out of the proscenium in their design, and at the Hirschfeld, you miss the entire top half of the stage if you're in the back half of the orchestra.

Winter Garden, please!

[Whateverjsays]

Posted: 7/30/18 at 7:30pm

ACL2006 said: "RE: KINKY BOOTS, even if a big name is coming in for the Fall, they would still need a name for the winter. They could bring this name in and still close in mid-January. I still hope that when it is about to close, that Porter and Sands return for the final weeks."

Who is the rumored ‘big name’ for Charlie? 

[Huss417]

Posted: 7/30/18 at 8:18pm

Elegance101 said: "RippedMan said: "I think the Hirschfeld is the wrong theater for Moulin."

Agreed. I'm personally hoping the 2019-2020 rumor is true, so they can have the Shubert after Mockingbird. Think of how perfect that theater would be!"

Maybe its just me but I think the Shubert is in need of a refurbishment. Would be nice to see that happen soon.

 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 7/30/18 at 9:12pm

willrolandsframes said: "Literally just two to three years ago, only about 10 shows were hitting the million mark. Thus, this caused a higher turnover in shows, allowing theatregoers more opportunities to see new productions. However, if all of these open-ended shows are continuing to succeed financially, then how are we going to get a wider variety of new shows?

My point is that I'm concerned about the lack of new productions coming to Broadway, and I feel like the only way to increase this number is to increase the turnover among current shows, which cannot really happen if 19 of 32 shows are grossing 7 figures.

But, again, perhaps this is a non-issue. I'm just a fan of seeing more fresh and new content on the Great White Way, and I don't know when we're really going to see a year filled with that again."

This is a really weird perspective. The goal should not be high turnover. If you want more shows to come to Broadway, you should want shows to be financially successful for their producers. Otherwise, what's the incentive in throwing away millions of dollars?

I also continue to be baffled at the idea that Moulin Rouge would want to go into the Hirschfeld.

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 7/30/18 at 9:49pm

Whateverjsays said: "ACL2006 said: "RE: KINKY BOOTS, even if a big name is coming in for the Fall, they would still need a name for the winter. They could bring this name in and still close in mid-January. I still hope that when it is about to close, that Porter and Sands return for the final weeks."

Who is the rumored ?big name’ for Charlie?"

Also, keep in mind that “big names” also require “big paychecks” so the producers have to consider if the show will make enough with the “big name” to not only pay the additional salary cost, but also make a profit beyond that. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/30/18 at 9:57pm

I agree, I think Winter Garden is the best theater for Moulin Rouge. It has great sitelines for the boxes/proscenium area, and it would work well in that space. And it's just down the road from the Broadway, which has King Kong by the same producers. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 7/30/18 at 10:38pm

RippedMan said: "And it's just down the road from the Broadway, which has King Kong by the same producers."

Is that really a big concern, how far the producers would have to walk from one show to the other?

[msmp]

Posted: 7/31/18 at 2:29am

Huss417 said: "Elegance101 said: "RippedMan said: "I think the Hirschfeld is the wrong theater for Moulin."

Agreed. I'm personally hoping the 2019-2020 rumor is true, so they can have the Shubert after Mockingbird. Think of how perfect that theater would be!"

Maybe its just me but I think the Shubert is in need of a refurbishment. Would be nice to see that happen soon."

Agreed on the Shubert needing some sprucing up, but there's no reason they couldn't do that and open Moulin Rouge in the spring of 2020 or late fall of 2019, depending how quickly they can do the renovation.

I just don't see the Hirschfeld working for this show. It needs to have fantastic sightlines everywhere in the theatre for the set design to have the proper impact.

[South Florida]

Posted: 7/31/18 at 7:03am

Glad I got to see Carousel recently, what great performances.

[Wick3]

Posted: 7/31/18 at 9:14am

@South Florida, I loved Carousel too (never saw the movie nor any concert production before.) I hope to see it again at least one more time. 

I saw Gettin the Band Back together thanks to the $16.95 mistake price and for that price and seat (row E center orch) I had a great time. That was probably the best deal I had gotten on Bway since winning the Hamilton lottery two years ago. I don't know how many tickets they sold at the $16.95 price by mistake but that's one of the reasons why its average ticket price paid is roughly $40.