Casualties Post Tony Awards

[Spotlight61]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 10:18am

Not being based in the US, I am curious as to what shows will fall by the wayside after the Tony awards are announced on Sunday?

Each year, it would seem some shows hope for a Tony uplift, firstly getting a nomination and then, winning improves the box office life (for a while), however, when losing out, they announce their imminent closure.

Will the same happen this year and, if so, what shows may take a final bow in the coming weeks?

I should add and emphasise, I take no comfort in any show closing, I fully respect the fact that such decisions are business related decisions and in no way reflect upon the creative talents and abilities of the production staff but the Tony buzz does seem to offer some shows a stay of execution.

Thank you, in advance, for your contributions.

 

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 10:29am

The Visit - It was terminal before it went in

ISHBY - No nominations & the spot will not help

OTT - It was limping prior to tomorrow night. Unless it wins, it will be gone shortly

Gigi - On TDF for almost every performance.

 

Updated On: 6/6/15 at 10:29 AM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 10:34am

I can't see anyone expecting surprise turnarounds from Tony exposure, win or lose.  Everyone in the industry knows which shows are in trouble at this point, all of the above certainly.^  There's always a modicum of debate about what Tony broadcast does to shows that aren't nominated or are but aren't selling.  You can look at everything from "Ghost" to (fill in the blank) that made it onto the broadcast but couldn't reverse audience disinterest.

 

"The number of people who will not go to a show they do not want to see is unlimited."  Oscar Hammerstein  

[Kad]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 11:07am

I would expect notices from Gigi, The Visit, and It Shoulda Been You in the coming weeks.

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 12:01pm

It seems the writing is already on the wall this season.

There could be a slight possibility of Gigi's performance reigniting interest from families and teenyboppers. They will surely lose their sole nomination (and featured actress does nothing for sales anyway), and any benefit of the Tony performance will only push them to September. 

The Visit has seen Chita slip into third place in the actress race, and the only Tony hope the show has now is Lighting Design...which it will likely lose. I expect a closing notice in the days after the Tonys.

It Shoulda Been You has seen their numbers drop drastically in recent weeks. I thought the bridge and tunnel crowd would still keep this open trough the summer despite its shutout, but even a Tony appearance wont save it now. 

On the Town is all but certain to go home empty handed, but I have heard the producers are interested in keeping it open until September

[aj88]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 12:58pm

Sadly, I do think The Visit will be closing up shop fast...in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they post the closing notice on Monday for it to close on Sunday the 14th....if not, I can't see them keeping it open beyond June with as little as they are bringing in. 

I really can't see It Shoulda Been You lasting much longer, and I agree that I can't see Lisa Howard's appearance helping even if she is such a wonderful performer. I am happy she is getting the exposure at least, because she performs that song well even if it isn't exactly a great song. At best, I could see it last through the summer and closing very early fall.

Gigi is in the same boat, too.

I have heard the same rumors about On the Town, especially with the tour coming up. I highly doubt they will pull off the win and even if they do, I can't see it making that much more of a push in the right direction. I predict it will close to coincide with the national tour.

 

[RaiseYouUp]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 1:58pm

Is OTT really doing that poorly? Because I remember checking ticketmaster to get tickets and seeing that there were a ton of unsold seats. But when I actually got to the theatre, every seat was sold. It was very confusing.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 2:02pm

The theater a/k/a airplane hanger is immense. The seats were filled by using every discount and papering house they can.

It might have had a great chance at success in a smaller house and smaller (but still bigger than most) broadway orchestra

[Spotlight61]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 2:13pm

Many thanks everyone for your contribution so far.

Very interesting comments and certainly there appears to be a general consensus as to which shows are struggling and post Tony's will announce closure.

However, I now ask you to use those informed brains to recall and enlighten me as to whether any shows that were struggling having garnered a Tony nomination and won, turned the corner and having had turned into a Broadway success?

I don't have any answers and ask as nothing more than a Tony weekend bit of fun.

Sadly, in the UK we are not afforded live coverage of the awards but The Tony Awards show is just that, a wonderful celebration and advertisement of the business of show.

Updated On: 6/6/15 at 02:13 PM

[aj88]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 2:36pm

I would say Gentleman's Guide was limping along. It was selling good some of the time but primarily was only selling moderately well and not really making much of a profit but as soon as it started getting the awards nominations, the attendance soared and led to its recoupment. Had it not been for the awards attention, I remember reading there was talk they would close up shop right after the Tony awards...although it was never doing as poorly as The Visit.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 2:52pm

I think even Honeymoon was doing better than The Visit.

[Actriz2]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 7:46pm

Avenue Q is the go-to example of a struggling show that soared after winning big at the Tonys.

Thoroughly Modern Millie also saw a brief but significant uptick after the Tonys, but it was never really struggling. 

[theatredk]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 8:00pm

The producers should have learnt from the 1999 revival of On The Town that was at the Gershwin while not at big as the Lyric still a big house if it had been put in a more intimate theatre it would have had a better chance.

[mattporter17]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 8:04pm

"Thoroughly Modern Millie also saw a brief but significant uptick after the Tonys, but it was never really struggling. "

 Sutton's win + performance are both pretty iconic for that Year so that makes sense. That performance though.

Updated On: 6/6/15 at 08:04 PM

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 8:31pm

I've heard the September rumors re: OTT but I've also heard late June-early July departure. We shall see. 

[Hannahbelle]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 8:40pm

Spring Awakening did much better after the Tony's.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 9:35pm

Memphis & Gentleman's would have closed shortly after the Tony's had it not been for their wins. I think On The Town will stay open for the summer and close on Labor Day weekend.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 6/6/15 at 9:44pm

"Avenue Q is the go-to example of a struggling show that soared after winning big at the Tonys.
Thoroughly Modern Millie also saw a brief but significant uptick after the Tonys, but it was never really struggling. "

Check the grosses.  Avenue Q had a tough couple of weeks the summer it opened, but within a few weeks it was regularly pulling in a gross potential of 70% or higher.  The Tony Award helped boost it to sell-out status pretty regularly, but it was hardly struggling before that.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/7/15 at 11:39am

If Hand To God gets shut out, look for it to appear more regularly on TDF than it has up to now.

Doubt it will close anytime soon. Just an opinion here guys. No idea if right or wrong.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 6/7/15 at 4:09pm

"The theater a/k/a airplane hanger is immense. The seats were filled by using every discount and papering house they can."

And yet they can't just let me win the lottery. 

Yeah, there's nothing I really disagree with here. 

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/7/15 at 4:15pm

We won the lottery on it.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/7/15 at 4:40pm

I'd imagine Hand to God will be fine for a while- it's consistently built its grosses every week on the basis of nominations and reviews/buzz, plus I can't imagine it's an expensive production. I'm sure winning an award or two would be helpful, but it seems to be doing just fine anyway.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/7/15 at 5:02pm

That is probably what will give it a longer life - the running costs are low

Ditto for ISHBY . Even so, its numbers are so bad it cannot hold on much longer. It will probably hold out after the Tonys to see if the exposure helps. I wonder if Harris may be throwing some money at it to keep it running since Burtka is in it.

They are fighting for it . It must cost them a chunk of change for the Tony number & the spate of ads running all over. They probably intend to tour it so the longer they run on Broadway the better it looks on its resume. It is an inexpensive show so a tour would be a good idea. They might also do a cast album if a tour might be in their plans.

Updated On: 6/7/15 at 05:02 PM

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 6/7/15 at 5:28pm

It Shoulda Been You, The Visit, Gigi & On The Town have consistently been on TDF and their grosses haven't been good. I think they will all be gone shortly.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/7/15 at 5:30pm

Of the 3 you mention, I believe the first one to go will be The visit flowed by ISHBY & than OTT.