Posted: 8/15/23 at 4:58pm
I've defended Kimberly's numbers all summer but this wasn't a good week for it and I do think it's fair to question how much longer it has. I still think it'll make it to the end of the year but I was feeling better about it when it was in the $650-700k range than I do about it this week. Hopefully it'll bounce back up next week. It deserves to have a nice run!
Posted: 8/15/23 at 5:09pm
Mr. Wormwood said: "I've defended Kimberly's numbers all summer but this wasn't a good week for it and I do think it's fair to question how much longer it has. I still think it'll make it to the end of the year but I was feeling better about it when it was in the $650-700k range than I do about it this week. Hopefully it'll bounce back up next week. It deserves to have a nice run!"
I was going to ask if maybe Victoria Clark was out for vacation? Could that be the reason?
Posted: 8/15/23 at 5:16pm
Pulling for "Kimberly Akimbo" its a great show. Also for "Shucked" and "Some Like it Hot". We need more fun shows of quality and diversity on Broadwsy.
Posted: 8/15/23 at 5:16pm
MadsonMelo said: "I have to say that ''Here Lies Love'' numbers are really good. Is this word of mouth?
I think ''Once Upon One More Time'' and ''A Beautiful Noise'' are likely posting closing notices very soon. By Labor Day, probably."
A BEAUTIFUL NOISE is banking on getting a boost in sales come the Fall. Their current discount code isn't valid on their four matinees starting in September (Wed/Thur/Sat/Sun).
Posted: 8/15/23 at 7:28pm
ACL2006 said: "MadsonMelo said: "I have to say that ''Here Lies Love'' numbers are really good. Is this word of mouth?
I think ''Once Upon One More Time'' and ''A Beautiful Noise'' are likely posting closing notices very soon. By Labor Day, probably."
A BEAUTIFUL NOISE is banking on getting a boost in sales come the Fall. Their current discount code isn't valid on their four matinees starting in September (Wed/Thur/Sat/Sun)."
Youre probably right. If they lose the bet, and a new more promising work interests the Shubert Organization then I think you'll see them announce closing.
Posted: 8/15/23 at 7:47pm
I was inundated with ads featuring ABN about a week and a half ago, likely targeting me as I'm part of the demographic that would be really interested in this show (older Caucasian), although I have no interest at all. One of the ads mentioned that the producers would offer free Uber transportation with the purchase of tickets. I didn't care to learn the details, but it would be interesting to know if the marketing strategy has an effect on ticket sales.
Posted: 8/15/23 at 8:03pm
Dom P said: "Mr. Wormwood said: "I've defended Kimberly's numbers all summer but this wasn't a good week for it and I do think it's fair to question how much longer it has. I still think it'll make it to the end of the year but I was feeling better about it when it was in the $650-700k range than I do about it this week. Hopefully it'll bounce back up next week. It deserves to have a nice run!"
I was going to ask if maybe Victoria Clark was out for vacation? Could that be the reason?"
Clark is on vacation this week; Colleen Fitzpatrick is on for all 8 shows
Posted: 8/15/23 at 8:12pm
Valerie Wright is also back as a Kimberly standby.
Posted: 8/15/23 at 9:18pm
Oh, well that would make sense then.
It's going to be really sad if the only new musical to turn a profit is "Back to the Future."
Posted: 8/15/23 at 10:48pm
Fordham2015 said: "Dom P said: "Mr. Wormwood said: "I've defended Kimberly's numbers all summer but this wasn't a good week for it and I do think it's fair to question how much longer it has. I still think it'll make it to the end of the year but I was feeling better about it when it was in the $650-700k range than I do about it this week. Hopefully it'll bounce back up next week. It deserves to have a nice run!"
I was going to ask if maybe Victoria Clark was out for vacation? Could that be the reason?"
Clark is on vacation this week; Colleen Fitzpatrick is on for all 8 shows"
Thank you.
Posted: 8/16/23 at 1:51am
Mr. Wormwood said: "I've defended Kimberly's numbers all summer but this wasn't a good week for it and I do think it's fair to question how much longer it has. I still think it'll make it to the end of the year but I was feeling better about it when it was in the $650-700k range than I do about it this week. Hopefully it'll bounce back up next week. It deserves to have a nice run!"
I think it's understood they'll close in January. It's really too bad but unless they get either a Broadway vet or name to replace Victoria it's run its course despite the best musical win. The covid shutdown really changed the calculus.
Posted: 8/16/23 at 2:22am
I wonder how Bernadette might have done in the role - she is as big as theatre name as they come and personifies girl in an older woman's body better than anyone else. But she is in 'Old Friends' in London so replacement isn't an option, and I can't think of any suitable Broadway name that would really shift the dial in terms of sales.
Posted: 8/16/23 at 5:58pm
If she has some time to kill during the SAG-AFTRA strike, Meryl Streep would kill the role of Kimberly. But I doubt she'd be interested in something she wouldn't be Tony-eligible for.
Posted: 8/16/23 at 6:02pm
Shed be pretty amazing, indeed.
Posted: 8/16/23 at 11:20pm
mshalo18 said: "If she has some time to kill during the SAG-AFTRA strike, Meryl Streep would kill the role of Kimberly. But I doubt she'd be interested in something she wouldn't be Tony-eligible for."
I doubt she’d care. Could be a rehearsal for a movie that would only get made with someone like her in the role.
I don’t think she cares about Broadway. She had a couple of triumphs in Central Park that could easily moved to Broadway and given her a shot at the Tony. They never happened. I also doubt she cares about an EGOT. With all the awards, who cares?
Posted: 8/17/23 at 8:12am
I don't know whether or not she cares about Broadway (realistically none of us really do), but it might be true that at this stage of her career appearing on stage might be more appealing. We're certainly seeing a bit more of her on TV than in the past.
Posted: 8/17/23 at 8:17am
Streep had teased returning to the stage for years but never has so I think she really just isn’t interested. If she wanted to do a show all she has to do is pick up the phone and tickets would be on sale the next day.
Posted: 8/17/23 at 9:16am
Merry Streep is a great idea for Kimberly. But I agree that it's a pipe dream.
Posted: 8/17/23 at 9:24am
No way that Meryl Would be a replacement. But, give me the movie starring her! She'd be amazing!
Posted: 8/17/23 at 9:40am
jkcohen626 said: "No way that Meryl Would be a replacement. But, give me the movie starring her! She'd be amazing!"
Depending on who directs the film,she would be amazing.
Posted: 8/17/23 at 4:09pm
Jordan Catalano said: "Streep had teased returning to the stage for years but never has so I think she really just isn’t interested. If she wanted to do a show all she has to do is pick up the phone and tickets would be on sale the next day."
Exactly. For years she said she didn't want to commit to a Broadway schedule until her children were grown. Well, seeing as the youngest, Louisa, is now in her early 30s and Meryl has still not been convinced to do a Broadway show I would highly advise anyone (except maybe my enemies) not to hold their breath waiting for it to happen.
Posted: 8/17/23 at 4:26pm
I have no expectations of ever seeing Streep on Broadway. Same with Julie Andrews.
Off-Broadway? Maaaaaybe... (MS, not JA)
Mike Nichols and Scott Rudin might have got Streep back on stage, but obviously that time has passed.
Updated On: 8/17/23 at 04:26 PM
Posted: 8/17/23 at 4:47pm
binau said: "I wonder how Bernadette might have done in the role - she is as big as theatre name as they come and personifies girl in an older woman's body better than anyone else. But she is in 'Old Friends' in London so replacement isn't an option, and I can't think of any suitable Broadway name that would really shift the dial in terms of sales."
She had to have been the #1 pick when they were casting. I doubt she'd replace Victoria anyway. I love her but she's not Bette Midler. And if Meryl is in the conversation it would be for the film not stage.
Posted: 8/17/23 at 5:13pm
People keep citing the Booth’s small capacity as the reason for its low grosses, but I don’t think that’s the case.
First off, it’s not hitting 100% capacity each week. Meaning that, even with its small number of seats, the supply is still higher than the demand. No prospective ticket-buyer is getting shut out; 5,037 wanted to see Kimberly Akimbo last week, and that’s how many people saw it. Theoretically, it would still be 5,037 people if the show were in the Gershwin. If anything, the intimacy might be a selling point that the Gershwin wouldn’t have.
Secondly, if you look at something like Hadestown as a point of comparison; another Best Musical winner that was in a small house, and kind of off-beat (not the sort of show that tourists would automatically flock to without a Best Musical win and strong word of mouth). After their Tony win, Hadestown was making 2-3 times the money than Kimberly is making, in a house that’s only about 200 seats larger.
Posted: 8/17/23 at 5:15pm
Streep is clearly at a place in her career where she’d rather do things for her own joy- particularly projects with longtime friends and collaborators. And why not, she has nothing left to prove. She would be a dream cast for Kimberly, for sure.
Bernadette is also a rather inspired idea, turning her longtime babydoll image on its head. But sadly her replacing Clark seems very unlikely.
