CHITTY...BANG at 67.7% sold??- Page 2

[RYANWOODS]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 6:33pm

Dont forget Rent's sales have been dipping that could come off next year or even Chicago.

I think strongly that once Tarzan opens Beauty will be pulled an i think Mary Poppins will fit it lovely at The Lunt-Fontanne.

[umgeoboy]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 6:34pm

Rumors are that Mary Poppins is scheduled to go into the Palace, but that also depends on All Shook Up's success.

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 6:53pm

That's been the sad news for me for these past weeks. This show is going to hold up, but not for too long...

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 7:25pm

Bit of a shock . Maybe the thought of paying full price for a kiddie show scared many families away. If this, once thought to be a lock for a long running hit closes prematurely, I wonder if it will have any effect on Mary Poppins coming over ?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 7:26pm

I don't just say this because I'm a fan, but I think Chitty's going to be just fine. In a time when people *want* big and flashy, if a big, friendly show like this can't make it, what can?

Come on Chitty, you can do it!

Updated On: 5/17/05 at 07:26 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 7:42pm

Yeah, well now that the Virginia is open, and I'm sure Sweet Charity won't last longer than Christina's contract, so we'll see. I'm sure there will be plenty of theaters open for the new shows coming in.

[John4763]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 8:00pm

Not that I know much about this topic, but it seems to me that a show like Chitty really needs the exposure that new musicals get from either 1) being in the Thanksgiving Day Parade (which Chitty wasn't) or 2) doing a musical number on the Tonys (which Chitty won't).

So how can it possibly continue much longer?

[Hank]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 8:03pm

Just accross the street, The Lion King is still packing them in @ 100%. Seems like they still have a lock on the "family" set. Also, Beauty And The Beast is still a draw after all these years. Looks like Chitty has a tough nut to crack, but I wish them all well.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 8:06pm

Chitty didn't perform at Macy's parade, which I assume was because they weren't very far along in the process yet. If they'd even begun rehearsals yet, they were probably only early ones. They did have cast members riding in the car, though, as part of the parade.

I don't think just because it's not performing at the Tonys means that it can't last much longer, because I think it's a show whose target audience is not really, and stretches farther beyond the people who are watching the Tonys. Lots of people grew up loving the film, whether that was when it originally came out, or kids of younger generations. It's big and lavish, and word of mouth is going to get parents to bring kids to it as their very first show. I think that's a really closed-minded way to look at it - judging just from those two things.

The show JUST opened, and we're already "how much longer can it possibly continue?"-ing? God, everything's turned into a challenge for what a show can do. Such a "dare me" attitude isn't one of people who should be supportive of the theatre.

Updated On: 5/17/05 at 08:06 PM

Posted: 5/17/05 at 8:07pm

But wait ...Their total attendance is almost 10,000 for the week , much greater than other shows!
Updated On: 5/17/05 at 08:07 PM

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 8:08pm

I also went to Chitty on a Thursday night, and sat in wheelchair seating, which is the back row of the Dress Circle, or mezzanine(why do they call it dress circle)? Anyway, I thought those seats were fantastic, perfect for getting a great view of the show as well as the car was perfectly on level. I can't speak for the orchestra, but of the mezz basically the first 3 center rows were filled and maybe a couple people in the front row on the left and that was it. There were also quite a few people who came in at 8, not knowing the show was at 7. Grrr.

So yeah, if you're thinking of rushing, I would definitely think that you'd have a great chance at good seats on these weeknights before school ends.

Posted: 5/17/05 at 8:11pm

Why is total attendance not factored in?

[theatreguy]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 8:45pm

"But wait ...Their total attendance is almost 10,000 for the week, much greater than other shows!"

That's because they're in one of the largest houses on Broadway. 67.7% at the Hilton is much greater than 67.7% at the Golden. And the actual attendance doesn't matter as much as how much money they make. If 1,000 people see it one night and they all play 1/2 price, then the next night only 500 people see it but they all pay full price, then the gross would be the same both nights even though the attendance was much less the second night.

Posted: 5/17/05 at 8:50pm

Regadless 70% of 1700 seat = 90? % 0f 700 seat house

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 5/17/05 at 9:07pm

But that's why they talk in percentages; it has to do with how many seats they sell in comparison with the capacity of the house. If we went purely by numbers, the show-to-show comparisons would mean nothing, because smaller houses that were filling could look like they're selling less than big houses who aren't. Costs for bigger houses are probably higher, too - so it will balance out if we look at percentages, if that makes sense.