CHICKEN AND BISCUITS at Circle in the Square

I just came across a test page on Telecharge for this comedic play, starring Norm Lewis and Michael Urie, with previews starting on 9/23, and opening on 10/10.

Chicken and Biscuits Tickets | Broadway | Telecharge

Has anyone heard about this?

Updated On: 6/24/21 at 10:10 AM

Just curious, what is a test page (I think the name may explain itself!) but how do you come across it? I went to it and it looked like it was going to let me buy tickets.

And in the spirit of CT2NYC's post, it should be clarified right off the bat that BroadwayWorld's article posted just now is NOT a confirmation. They learned the information from this thread.

JBroadway said: "And in the spirit of CT2NYC's post, it should be clarified right off the bat that BroadwayWorld's article posted just nowis NOTa confirmation. They learned the information from this thread."

Isn't that how Broadway World gets half of their news?

Jordan Catalano said: "Oh my God, I’m sitting in the airport and they’re selling chicken biscuits at the Popeyes in front of me. It has to be a sign."



And I now have "Purpose" from Avenue Q stuck in my head!

Oh, CT2NYC, thank you for answering my question. Kind of thought that but wasn't sure.

What makes any producer think there is going to suddenly be an audience for non-event plays without real stars in them? (These two are not real stars.) It's great that 7 plays by Black writers are going to be on Broadway this season –– and that both the writer and director are new to Broadway in those capacities –– but I have a hard time seeing a road to recoupment for any of these commercial productions. Prove me wrong, but I think there's going to be a bloodbath at the box office. Maybe if any of them get reviews on the level of Curious Incident or August: Osage County, but those are once-a-decade hits.

Sorry for trying to be realistic when everyone else is in fantasy land...

It is a fact that plays dealing with race have previously had a very hard time finding a sustainable Broadway audience when they don't have stars in the cast, and Black ticketbuyers are very hard to convert in mass numbers at sustainable ($100+) prices. That's not saying they don't deserve to be on Broadway and that they shouldn't try –– but if all these investors lose their shirts, that doesn't bode well for subject matter like this in the future.

Prove me wrong. I'd love to see Broadway ticketbuying habits change. But there is nothing that indicates that the Broadway ticketbuying audience has completely flipped during the pandemic. ESPECIALLY for the serious dramas (which this play is not). Who is dying to sit and watch a sad play after these past 18 months??

I don't say this to be provocative or anti-woke, but realism is necessary.

Updated On: 6/24/21 at 03:34 PM

Like I said --- prove me wrong!

But the frequent theatergoers are in two buckets of people: people who buy cheap/discounted tickets under $50 unless it's something they're DYING to see (an unsustainable ticket price), vs older [white] New York theatergoers who are willing to pay more if they hear it's great, but they have more specific tastes. And beyond these 7 plays, there's also off-Broadway and musicals and other live experiences. Tourists have never gone for plays in the modern era, unless those plays have big stars or a brand title.

We are going to see a majority of Broadway shows at the TKTS booth and TDF and papering services within 6 weeks of reopening. I see more as much theatre as anyone here, but I still know I won't be shelling out to see every show. People are overestimating the appetite for full-priced Broadway tickets after the initial reopening bump. (With the exception of Hamilton, Wicked, Lion King, etc)

Updated On: 6/24/21 at 04:03 PM

Playgoers are inherently New Yorkers and tristate folks. Large volumes of tourists don't buy tickets to plays unless they're going to see Brian Cranston or Denzel Washington. Talented people like Michael Urie and Norm Lewis have never been major ticketbuying draws up to this point (and the work they've done has largely attempted - but not succeeded - to appeal to New York theatergeors), and I can't really see that changing now.

We're also talking about producers with no great track record.

As I keep saying, let it prove me wrong, but this is where I stand on most of these shows until I see box office numbers.

Updated On: 6/24/21 at 04:11 PM