Can '13' Be The Surprise Hit?

Can they afford to buy $111 tickets?

Don't under estimate the buying power of pre-teens and teens. How many kids do you think could have afforded those Hannah Montana tickets? I think it's a great thing. I'm sure parents would much rather get their kids tickets to see a Broadway musical over a pop concert. 13 might not be a show that adults will enjoy but every show has its own following. I think 13 will be a HUGE success amongst pre-teens and teens. And from the clips I've seen from Bryant park and Broadway on Broadway it DEFINITELY looks like something my kids would LOVE, and they are already starting to buzz about it. I'm curious to see how much pressure they put on me to take them.
Link to the 13 performance from Broadway on Broadway

Sure, it can be a surprise hit! Just put an "s" in front of the "hit."

I doubt it. And I'm not just saying that because I loathed the show. It just doesn't seem like typical Broadway fare for the tween crowd. Would they rather see kids their age sing about...being their age or see a show like Lion King or Wicked or Shrek where they can relate to charcters they are already acquainted with? I say the latter. Plus the latter offers spectacle and a show they can brag about seeing because its what tourists consider the "quintisential Broadway experience" a term I wouldn't necesarily apply to any of the three titles I mentioned.

Nonetheless, don't count on Thirteen being a phenomenon or a hit. The winter months will be brutal for it plus its opening at the beginning of the school year.

I think it definitely can be. Besides the fact that I absolutely loved the show, I think it'll be something like "Xanadu" that surprised us all.

Personally, I would much rather see "13" again over seeing "The Lion King" or "Shrek" and also, teenagers aren't really drawn too those kind of shows anymore, with shows like Legally Blonde, Spring Awakening and now 13 to choose from.

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You can't say WICKED is a kid's show though. It isn't the kids keeping it alive. That is why while shows like LITTLE MERMAID, MARY POPPINS, GREASE, and the other ridiculous kid traps on Broadway right now are making little money now that the kiddies are back to school, WICKED keeps going strong.
WICKED is a show that appeals to people of all ages and every gender. It really is the equivalent of a film blockbuster. It just is a phenomenon. The 13 year-old annoying tweens are only a small demographic of the WICKED audience, they are just the most vocal one.
13 will not be a hit. You say they have discounted tickets and that's precisely why it won't survive. With all the discounts, a no name cast, and almost no buzz, how will they meet their weekly quota?

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Defyinggravity, Morgan Freeman, Peter Gallagher, and Frances McDormand couldn't bring people to see THE COUNTRY GIRL.
Do you really think that Henry Hodges and Graham Phillips (no idea who they are, never heard their names before) are names that would sell? I'm not saying you need a name to sell a show (look at the successful runs of THE 39 STEPS and AUGUST:OC) but you need plenty of other factors that 13 just doesn't seem to have. We'll see once the reviews and the grosses come out.

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ray, you are right. But, the fact that it is a whole teenage cast and band will bring and has already brought a lot of attention to the show.

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Updated On: 9/15/08 at 04:30 PM

triple post

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Updated On: 9/15/08 at 04:30 PM

How can you compare 13 to XANADU? Xanadu was a bad movie that turned into a great Broadway show. 13 is just bad.

The logic of the original post seems to be "could this show be a hit because there were a lot of teens at the stage door at the dress rehearsal?"

The *free* dress rehearsal *exclusively* for teens and their chaperones.

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<< I don't know, but I was definitely impressed with their piece yesterday. Made me want to go and see it. >>

Totally agree, and looking forward to seeing it Friday night. The girl that sang the lead (or, at least, the majority of the vocals) had a great set of pipes !!