Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 8/13/17- Page 3

[Jarethan]

Posted: 8/14/17 at 9:26pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "What was the year that  Chicago recouped?   I have no idea.

 

Chicago returned its original investment in about 20 weeks as I recall.  IF not 20, then it was 26.  Very fast: modest investment, low break-even, great grosses.

 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 8/14/17 at 10:24pm

Dolly has likely recouped and if not it will soon-as in by Labor day. Bear in mind that no one is obliged to "report" recoupment ever, and certainly not on a timely basis. The great unknown is how much Bette is hitting the proceeds before they get to the investors. 

[Itonlytakesajourney]

Posted: 8/14/17 at 10:45pm

Not surprised that Kinky Boots dropped, it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone here. Urie is obviously a major draw, have you seen his fans? They're rabid. I think Stark and Billy will bring it back up, but the show really is showing it's wear and tear. Wasn't it rumored to close in January? 

[Dallas Theatre Fan]

Posted: 8/14/17 at 10:55pm

I surprised GHD hasn't been stop clauses yet. Looking at the grosses, the suspect they were the black was the week of July 9th.  I've always thought the August Wilson was a desirable theater but, I guess no show wants it right now.

 

 

 

 

[Kitsune]

Posted: 8/14/17 at 11:01pm

clb10162 said: "springwillcome said: "Well, obviously I'm biased. But everyone I've spoken to had extremely positive WOM, which is why I saw this show in the first place. Most (of course not all) press I've seen is positive. I gone 4 times with friends as well as convinced 5 other friends to go on their own, and every single one loved it with one person only liking it. Obviously that's not a majority or representation of the general population, but I can see where one would feel there's positive WOM and its nothing to be rude over. I've also spoken to the people around me after the show as well and they always had an amazing time. Again not insisting that this is how everyone feels, just adding to the discussion that all the WOM I've encountered is positive as well so it isn't hard to see where they got that idea from :) 

Haven't several people posted on this board that they've seen the show 10-11 times?  I've seen it 7 times so far and each time the comments I've overheard--both at intermission and after the show--have been overwhelmingly positive.  That may not translate into ticket sales but it certainly doesn't fit the "WOM is generally negative" theory.

Just my opinion (obviously), but I think the real problem has been the PR campaign.  The most common remarks I hear from people are variations on "I didn't expect it to be this good," which in my book means the publicity machine isn't doing its job.
 

 

"

I'm a *huge* fan of GHD.  The Word of Mouth I've heard from my personal circles has been positive, but I've also gotten a lot of "I didn't expect it to be that good!"  For whatever reason, "based on the hit movie" isn't helping here.

I think someone else commented about the cast album and how it didn't pique their interest.  I love the songs, but IMO they work best in the context of the show and it's been hard to come up with 5-minute material to use on talk shows, etc.  (Personally, I'm an outlier in that I actually got into GHD through the cast album.  But the original movie is one of my all time favorites, so I guess I was always predisposed to like the musical )

[HogansHero]

Posted: 8/14/17 at 11:59pm

Dallas Theatre Fan said: "I surprised GHD hasn't been stop clauses yet. Looking at the grosses, the suspect they were the black was the week of July 9th.  I've always thought the August Wilson was a desirable theater but, I guess no show wants it right now."

stop clauses are almost never invoked (shows leave on a suggestion from the landlord "voluntarily" because people who make things difficult can forget about every getting a theatre again. It is also not clear GHD is under the stop clause. And as you more or less guess, landlords are happy to let shows run until they need the theatre, and no one needs a theatre in August. 

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 12:31am

Still confused why people are talking about KINKY BOOTS like it's on it's last legs. It still make 800K. 

[Skimbleshanks2]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 8:58am

Call_me_jorge said: "So that Bill Murray stunt helped Groundhog Day?

 

"

The thirst is kind of crazy... It's now on billboards near the theater... Are they trying to make it until the holidays???

[VotePeron]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 9:08am

Skimbleshanks2 said: "Call_me_jorge said: "So that Bill Murray stunt helped Groundhog Day?

 

"

The thirst is kind of crazy... It's now on billboards near the theater... Are they trying to make it until the holidays???

 

"

Ah, yes. The "thirst" of producers trying to do their job and keep a great show open and lots of people employed. 

 

Wishing Groundhog Day had waited a season. It would've put up a fight against Bands Visit, and even if it didn't win, would've gotten much more attention (and maybe Andy Karl his Tony)

[Lot666]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 9:26am

IdinaBellFoster said: "TheSassySam said: "What are the current shows on Broadway that have announced they're recouped? "

BEAUTIFUL

CHICAGO

DEAR EVAN HANSEN

HAMILTON

KINKY BOOTS

SCHOOL OF ROCK

THE BOOK OF MORMON

THE LION KING

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

WAITRESS

WICKED

Not officially announced (because Disney), but it's assumed ALADDIN has recouped."

Has Come From Away still not recouped? That's so surprising, considering how well it sells, the ticket prices, and the seemingly low operating costs.

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 9:36am

Itonlytakesajourney said: "Not surprised that Kinky Boots dropped, it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone here. Urie is obviously a major draw, have you seen his fans? They're rabid. I think Stark and Billy will bring it back up, but the show really is showing it's wear and tear. Wasn't it rumored to close in January? 

 

I thought so too, but when Daryl Roth announced Stark and Billy were coming back she also said tickets were now on sale through August 2018- so maybe she has something else up her sleeve. Given that she saved Indecent and has kept Kinky Boots rolling for over four years, I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

 

[bdn223]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 11:19am

Does anyone know how much Ms Midler is making per week, I wouldn't be surprised if Hello Dolly has a similar problem Great Comet had with Groban....a high nut+a star with a 6 figure weekly salary who also gets a cut of the box office. In other words, I wouldn't be surprised if Ms Midler paycheck was reading $350k (150k in salary and $200k in box office share) each week. Thus raising the weekly nut of Hello Dolly to over a million a week, giving it a theoretical higher nut then Spiderman. Although with 2,500 more seats a week then Comet and ability actually sell tickets at $750, a pop the show is still likely making $750k a week. Considering the production likely cost $15-$20 million to produce, it should likely recoup very soon. If its on the the lower end by mid September, and on the higher end by the end of October.

 

 

[haterobics]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 11:23am

bdn223 said: "I wouldn't be surprised if Hello Dolly has a similar problem Great Comet had with Groban....a high nut+a star with a 6 figure weekly salary who also gets a cut of the box office."

I believe Dolly has the advantage of competent producers, and not paying off the debts of two previous productions.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 12:15pm

That estimate re Dolly is higher than I suspect but not that much. And as noted when you get over a million a week to the bottom line, giving up half to royalties still leaves you with a goodly chunk of change to flow to the investors. 

[Rainah]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 12:34pm

Lot666 said: "Has Come From Away still not recouped? That's so surprising, considering how well it sells, the ticket prices, and the seemingly low operating costs."

 

Pretty sure there was an article saying they were expected to recoup in september

[Lot666]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 12:58pm

Rainah said: "Lot666 said: "Has Come From Away still not recouped? That's so surprising, considering how well it sells, the ticket prices, and the seemingly low operating costs." 

Pretty sure there was an article saying they were expected to recoup in september"

About time! 

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 1:05pm

If by "article," you mean my posts then yes. I have stated multiple times they're expected to recoup by later this month or at some point next month.  Their weekly running costs are very, very low for a musical. 

[David10086]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 1:41pm

I'm still curious how WAR PAINT can still keep going and paying two star salaries (and I'm sure LuPone and Ebersole are getting a hefty paycheck). With such poor ticket sales, it's really hard to fathom. 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 10:04pm

Miles2Go2 said: "Is anyone else surprised that Brandon Urie created such a box office boon for Kinky Boots? [...]  This isn't Bono or Adam Levine. 

I'm certain that box office will explode with the Porter/Sands combo, but will decline after."

Can you imagine if they could have gotten Adam Levine as Anatole in Great Comet? It probably wouldn't have been good but it would have moved tickets.

I'm surprised people think bringing the original cast back will be a big boon to Kinky Boots. John Lloyd Young returning to Jersey Boys. Lesli Margherita returning to Matilda. Does the return of original cast members make that much of a difference to the box office?

[Itonlytakesajourney]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 10:20pm

VintageSnarker said: "Miles2Go2 said: "Is anyone else surprised that Brandon Urie created such a box office boon for Kinky Boots? [...]  This isn't Bono or Adam Levine. 

I'm certain that box office will explode with the Porter/Sands combo, but will decline after."

Can you imagine if they could have gotten Adam Levine as Anatole in Great Comet? It probably wouldn't have been good but it would have moved tickets.

I'm surprised people think bringing the original cast back will be a big boon to Kinky Boots. John Lloyd Young returning to Jersey Boys. Lesli Margherita returning to Matilda. Does the return of original cast members make that much of a difference to the box office?

 

Kinky Boots has an active fanbase though. Jersey Boys and Matilda are both fairly popular, but have you see any teen girl obsessing over them? I haven't. Stark and Billy might not bring the box office up very much, but I'm sure they'll at least have a good run. And since they're being marketed as "come see the original stars of Kinky Boots!" and not just one person returning to the show, I think people would be more inclined to check them out.