Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 9/10/23 — Page 2

Barring some reverse of fortune HLL looks to be dead.

I also wouldn't be surprised to see Kimberly announce a January closing ahead of time to juice the final months of sales

Purlie is a bummer because the show is actually really great but barring a total rethinking of the marketing it is going to be a struggle even with rave reviews

Jordan Catalano said: "I've screamed for the longest time that shows that are suffering have NOTHING to lose from switching up their matinees. Tourists have a limited amount of shows they can go to and giving another option means, folks in town for theater will go to see a show they might not have otherwise, if it's their only option."

Have you ever considered that actors also need time during the day to audition? Take classes? Do workshops. The list goes on. Those matinees won't even be a possibility if they don't have time to do those shows during the week. Why are Saturday and Sunday (and potentially Friday?) matinees so awful? They're better for the actors which in turn is usually better for audiences.

hearthemsing22 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "I've screamed for the longest time that shows that are suffering have NOTHING to lose from switching up their matinees. Tourists have a limited amount of shows they can go to and giving another option means, folks in town for theater will go to see a show they might not have otherwise, if it's their only option."

Have you ever considered that actors also need time during the day to audition? Take classes? Do workshops. The list goes on. Those matinees won't even be a possibility if they don't have time to do those shows during the week. Why are Saturday and Sunday (and potentially Friday?) matinees so awful? They're better for the actors which in turn is usually better for audiences."

When they are doing a show, that is their JOB. It’s their job to do the schedule they are given. That’s like saying I can tell my bosses what days I want to work because I want to go to this other job interview or workshop or something.

Have you ever considered that actors also need time during the day to audition? Take classes? Do workshops. The list goes on. Those matinees won't even be a possibility if they don't have time to do those shows during the week. Why are Saturday and Sunday (and potentially Friday?) matinees so awful? They're better for the actors which in turn is usually better for audiences."

Jesus Christ. They are in the entertainment industry and show up when their schedule tells them to. I wish more shows would do this considering how well Thursday matinees worked for Moulin Rouge pre pandemic. They have nothing to lose. Good on A Beautiful Noise. Then again, you thought a Funny Girl cast recording would never happen because, and I quote "That would be so mean to do to Beanie!" so maybe learn a bit about this industry before posting.

Updated On: 9/12/23 at 05:39 PM

hearthemsing22 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "I've screamed for the longest time that shows that are suffering have NOTHING to lose from switching up their matinees. Tourists have a limited amount of shows they can go to and giving another option means, folks in town for theater will go to see a show they might not have otherwise, if it's their only option."

Have you ever considered that actors also need time during the day to audition? Take classes? Do workshops. The list goes on. Those matinees won't even be a possibility if they don't have time to do those shows during the week. Why are Saturday and Sunday (and potentially Friday?) matinees so awful? They're better for the actors which in turn is usually better for audiences."

That is such a silly response for reasons mostly already discussed. It's not like a show is springing this on people week by week. Actors in a show with an unusual performance schedule have plenty of time to schedule their classes, auditions, etc.

I'm all for the grosses improving for A Beautiful Noise because I would love to see more non-traditional performance schedules

SLIH would probably benefit but they'd probably also just benefit from having their matinee on a Tuesday or a Thursday. Hell, even do it on Friday.

I have a hard time imagining the actors who would choose an extra day of odds and ends over the chance to save their show and relatively stable (for the theatre world) job.

The Thursday matinee at ABN is going over well with the actors. They've been raving about having 3 nights off a week now(per their IGs).

hearthemsing22 said: "Shark is Broken...unless it's a limited run, that has to be the next to close. I mean...ooooofff"

It is a limited run - it's supposed to close the week before thanksgiving but I cannot imagine it lasting that long with those numbers. I know Spamalot is waiting to see if they can bring Alex Brightman back on board.

lapinitsa said: "ACL2006 said: "Can't remember what summer it was when Phantom, Chicago and Mamma Mia! all switched to having Thursday matinees. Only Phantom kept them after the summer. I think it all depends on the show and needed an older audience to sell these Thursday matinees to. HARMONY will have these once it opens. What other shows would benefit with a 4th matinee? Some Like It Hot? Hadestown?"

I also think the preference for matinees is another post-pandemic phenomenon much the same way restaurants are reporting that 6PM rather than 8PM is the new dinner reservation time of choice.

I agree with your observation, but I'd like to point out that while this shift may have been exacerbated by the pandemic, the desire for matinees over most evening performances isn't new. I just finished rereading The Season and was once again struck by the section on performance schedules. Granted, he goes in to much more detail in his book about reasons and solutions, but the takeaway back in the late 1960's was this: "The five most requested times in order were: Saturday matinee, Friday matinee, Sunday matinee, Wednesday matinee, and Saturday night." While most of these desired slots have been added (although Sunday performances these days seem to split the difference between a 2 and 7/8 start), the general desire for matinees over evenings still seems to persist from way before the pandemic's effects were felt.

Why doesn’t here lies love operate as a nightclub after shows. There’s an adult club across the street, I imagine with the right type of vibe it could attract some of that clientele?


this could fund their run forever

Mr. Wormwood said: "hearthemsing22 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "I've screamed for the longest time that shows that are suffering have NOTHING to lose from switching up their matinees. Tourists have a limited amount of shows they can go to and giving another option means, folks in town for theater will go to see a show they might not have otherwise, if it's their only option."

Have you ever considered that actors also need time during the day to audition? Take classes? Do workshops. The list goes on. Those matinees won't even be a possibility if they don't have time to do those shows during the week. Why are Saturday and Sunday (and potentially Friday?) matinees so awful? They're better for the actors which in turn is usually better for audiences."

That is such a silly response for reasons mostly already discussed. It's not like a show is springing this on people week by week. Actors in a show with an unusual performance schedule have plenty of time to schedule their classes, auditions, etc.

I'm all for the grosses improving for A Beautiful Noise because I would love to see more non-traditional performance schedules"

My response is just as valid as any other on this thread. But thanks. Apparently only certain people are allowed to have certain views, and heaven forbid I disagree. It's not audience first, performers second. It's what the production decides. With the work I do, we got rid of matinees, and it has not had a negative effect-quite the opposite, actually. We are doing very well, and very good business. So no, we do not need weekday matinees. And there is no need to invalidate my opinion, because I never do that to you. Thanks!