Comet Struggles?!?

[minkman111]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 2:18pm

What does everyone think will happen with Great Comet ticket sales post-Josh?  This upcoming week's sales look dismal....like 50% capacity.   It doesn't seem like Ingrid Michaelson is drawing anybody and, although I like Oak, I don't know who is going to see the show because of him.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 2:49pm

Many on here would like to make you believe otherwise but COMET has never been a commercially-viable show. This much we all know. They were able to hide that truth with the wrangling of Josh Groban but wait until he leaves; the numbers will be unrecognizable and this musical will close far sooner than its fans expect. 

[trpguyy]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 2:57pm

I wouldn't expect it to make it past Labor Day.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 3:06pm

I agree of course that it was never commercially viable, but I wouldn't be so fast to predict a closing date. If past is prologue, the Kagans will keep it open until they are kicked to the curb. And I don't expect that to be before the new year. Instead I expect some meshuga casting for the fall. 

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 3:20pm

I waited to buy a ticket to see Oak instead of Groban but I'm sure there are very few people doing the same thing.  

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 3:21pm

Yes, but...it has been commercially viable for the past eight months. It's a show that's financially dependent on its casting, to be sure, but that fact doesn't make it a commercially improbable show. I too expect "meshuga" casting announcements to come shortly. 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 3:33pm

Josh Groban was the main attraction to get people to see Comet...just watch now with no stars etc. the weekly gross will drop and drop..I predict the Kagan's will try to keep it open till Labor Day if not till the end of the year as nobody needs the Imperial for the fall and renovate it back!

Updated On: 7/9/17 at 03:33 PM

[leighmiserables]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 3:34pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "Yes, but...it has been commercially viable for the past eight months. It's a show that's financially dependent on its casting, to be sure, but that fact doesn't make it a commercially improbable show. I too expect "meshuga" casting announcements to come shortly. "

I'd think they would've announced if someone big was coming in by now though, just for pre-sale purposes and stuff. Maybe they'll wait until the end of the month but I feel like that's cutting it kind of close. 

Updated On: 7/9/17 at 03:34 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 3:41pm

My mom actually saw the performance on the TONYS and said she would like to see that Josh Groban show as she called it this summer but when I told her he left...she said, never mind! That will be the general consensus when people find out he's no longer in the show and already left!

[leighmiserables]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 3:48pm

Robbie2 said: "My mom actually saw the performance on the TONYS and said she would like to see that Josh Groban show as she called it this summer but when I told her he left...she said, never mind! That will be the general consensus when people find out he's no longer in the show and already left!"

That's the general consensus of Josh Groban fans who find out he's no longer in the show. While I'm expecting a huge drop this week as well, I think their Tonys performance was the best advertisement they could possibly have had. I know a lot of people who bought tickets after seeing it, Josh or no Josh. 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 3:54pm

An average of the b.o. numbers tomorrow and those a week or two from now may reveal the prognosis, right? If Michaelson's stunt casting in a supporting role helps, and Oak's final, drlayed entrance. Odd to walk by the Imperial yesterday and see Benton and Michaelson's photos outside and all evidence of Pierre airbrushed out of the video footage. This show needs some serious attn to marketing strategy. It's not a commercial brand in and of itself and casting from here on will be critical.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 3:57pm

What's Michael Buble up?

[rcwr]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 4:11pm

The phrase "meshuga casting" made my day.

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 4:13pm

I saw it last night for the second time. The Mezz was nearly  sold as was the onstage seating- I mean like 2 empty seats in the place. I know that doesn't mean everyone paid full price, but it is selling. I predict some star casting will keep it going and Ingrid is lovely in her role- she also has a musical theatre degree which was news to me, but she's certainly up to the challenge! 

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 4:20pm

Because Oak's announced run with the show was so short, I suspect that one of two things will happen:

A.: There are plans for a big name to come in for the fall, in any role really, but coming in as Pierre would make sense

B.: They will announce a closing for sometime in fall or try to eek it out to December 31 or January 7. 

Oak, as talented as he is, cannot sustain the show. If they wanted to bank on Hamilton's success, they need one of the more recognizable names/faces (not necessarily LMM).

I'm a huge fan of the show, but I'm fully aware that the reason the show has made it this far is because of Grow and his involvement. With him, it was a chance to see him up close doing something new. Without him, it's a kinda weird show that some see as an assault to the senses. It needs a name to survive. It makes what some see as undesirable in the show more tolerable.

 

 

 

[froote]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 4:24pm

^It's funny you should say that because I found the atmosphere in the show I saw post-Groban better than before. With Groban in the show I could feel people around me - likely his fans - not getting it or hating it whereas since then it's an audience full of people who enjoy quirky musical theatre. That's not to say that the show can sustain itself on that type of audience but I think despite dwindling sales, the audience response will be on average more positive.

[froote]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 4:24pm

.

Updated On: 7/9/17 at 04:24 PM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 4:28pm

I have two different sets of friends -- two different couples -- who have nothing in common, though they all go to the theater. They all left at intermission.  One group was pro-Groban, and his participation got them there, the others are long-time musical theater fans, indifferent to Josh, and like challenging stuff. This show "wore them out."  And had been unable to see it off-b'way. These two sets of people -- 3 of the 4 are younger, a different demo than I'm in -- are anecdotal evidence of very little. I get that. But the show isn't for everyone, and love Groban or hate him, he did this piece a great service.  I love the score, like the show, and thought Groban helped give it some event status, as nicely as he folded into the mix.  They can surely find someone who can do that again.  They need that person. Or persons. 

[froote]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 4:41pm

Auggie27 said: "I have two different sets of friends -- two different couples -- who have nothing in common, though they all go to the theater. They all left at intermission.  One group was pro-Groban, and his participation got them there, the others are long-time musical theater fans, indifferent to Josh, and like challenging stuff. This show "wore them out."  And had been unable to see it off-b'way. These two sets of people -- 3 of the 4 are younger, a different demo than I'm in -- are anecdotal evidence of very little. I get that. But the show isn't for everyone, and love Groban or hate him, he did this piece a great service.  I love the score, like the show, and thought Groban helped give it some event status, as nicely as he folded into the mix.  They can surely find someone who can do that again.  They need that person. Or persons."

Oh for sure. For the record, I thought Groban was outstanding in the show, maybe even underrated (I know some people think he shouldn't have been Tony nominated and I personally can't fathom that). And yes of course he brought lots of attention to the show and it's perfectly possible for non-Groban fans to dislike it too. And for Groban fans to like it! My point was more that his fans are mostly middle aged  fans of traditional, classical music, whereas I think Comet appeals to a younger audience than your average musical and the type of music in the show for the most part differs greatly to what is on Groban's albums. I was just surprised at how much more enthusiastic the audience I sat with this week was than they had been 6 weeks or so ago.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 5:40pm

I was at the matinee on Saturday, stage seats (thanks to jish).  Rear mezz: full, orch and stage seating: full. However, front mezz,  the sides were nearly empty, with the center section mostly full.

 

Malloy was great, as was Ingrid (except for her preshow prescence)..but the show was oddly "off". Both acts got off to an incredibly slow and awkward start. 

 

My family will be catching Oak...both kids were dying to see him on the role.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 6:03pm

@leighmiserables re "would've announced," it's the Kagans so do not expect rational producing. 

@rcwr re "meshuga casting,"I learned that from my Irish grandmother so thank her.

@BroadwayConcierge re "commercially viable," actually it has not been. For a show with its impedimenta, they needed a Hello Dolly blowout. To have Groban leave without recouping is a major fail.  

 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 6:13pm

The Kagans ran On The Town at the Lyric for a year, burning cash every step of the way. No reason to think they won't do that here. 

" To have Groban leave without recouping is a major fail. "

Sure, but they put so much money into its development, I think that was never physically possible. Wasn't it 14 million?  

Updated On: 7/9/17 at 06:13 PM

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 6:22pm

I can't imagine this will last very long.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 6:32pm

@neon if Groban had been Midler, it would have recouped so yes it is physically possible. It's just that Groban's fan base was either not deep enough or not willing to pay enough for that to become a reality.

[South Florida]

Posted: 7/9/17 at 6:47pm

I like you Mr. Crane, but you're a little too smug, like the colonel.