bdn223 said: "VintageSnarker said: "I wonder how much Cursed Child was hurt by Harry Potter/The Wizarding World taking a hit as a brand after the Fantastic Beasts sequel. I can't imagine it has to do with the replacement cast since the original cast were pretty unknown."
If I had to place my finger on it,Curse Childwas hurt the mostly by the prolonged delay between the releasing of ticket blocks. The show sold 85% of tickets for the first year of its Broadwayrun in 24 hrs. Remember tickets initially went on sale October 2017, for tickets February 2018-February 2019. Then the second block of tickets weren't released until September of 2019, for tickets February 2019-June 2019. The most recent release of tickets was in May for tickets July 2019-March 2020. Many had bought tickets over between 6-18 months before seeing the production, giving the show the idea of being an event you had to plan to see. The issue is that as the space between release of ticket blocks and actual performance date has shrunk, the idea of that planning 6 months out hasn't. The show is a full day, or 2 day commitment, which means you have to plan for it, its not the type of show you would decided to see a week or two out. Add to that they show has waited way too long to between releasingnew ticket blocks, causing demand for tickets to die down so there is not longer that initial rush for tickets like there was for the initial release. The show should of released the 2nd block of tickets the day after the Tony Awards were it won 6 awards like every other big winner at the Tonys has done. The producers are clearly treating the production more like a tourist attractionrather then a piece of theater. The even when the production touted its Tony wins in its marketing, there were no tickets available for the general public to buy.The show has lost its SRO status, which is hard to regain once lost. The only productionthat have been able to do that is The Lion King. Many forget that the production was hit hard by the 2008 recession, to the point where the show was actually offering discountsfor weeks that weren't part of large scale discounts like Kids Night on Broadway and Broadway 2for1 Week (I know this isn't surprising for most shows, but it was as if Hamiltonhad all of a sudden gone on discount at the time). Its grosses had fallen to an average of 80% potential and 90% capacity through its 15th Anniversary in 2012, where as if by Disney Magic the show was able to regain momentum and regain its SRO status, and has been playing to capacity since. Their re-brand is clearly an attempt to try recreate Disney's wall to wall marketing blitz forThe Lion King's15th Anniversary, and could help. Only time will tell though."
I think the real reason is likely related to the need to see and pay for two performances. I have not purchased tickets yet, and one of the reasons (besides not being obsessed with HP AND needing to use 2 slots in my 2-3 times per year NYC visits) is because I have not been able to find good seats that would not but me back almost $800 for my wife and I to see it. I can afford to pay, but I don't have enough interest to be willing to spend that much.
Since HP is a show that is certainly hoping to get a lot of family business, two performances becomes an issue for a lot of those families.
I know everyone is talking about better prices, but I don't really see it, although the ticket prices are clearly not as bad as they were a year ago. They are still not chea, unless you are willing to sit in the second balcony of that barn. I will probably wait until I see discounts offered.
