Dana H closing November 13, Is This a Room November 14- Page 2

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 1:20pm

I feel like regardless of a star, Mockingbird will still have a good deal of momentum from the name.  I think they were still doing fairly strong sales pre-Covid and there still seems to be a good amount of interest now.  

Also, has anyone done rush for Is This a Room? Trying to decide whether it would be better to get tickets via rush or TDF.

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 1:27pm

Aladdin is a very popular show with foreign tourists, so while it might a couple of lean months, they are probably banking on a busy winter holiday as the boarders reopen, and student groups in the spring.

These shows in rep was a risky venture right out the gate, but even in a non pandemic year two small plays with no large names running at the Lyceum would have been a tough sell. While sad, it’s not that shocking of a turn of events. 

Updated On: 10/25/21 at 01:27 PM

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 1:28pm

Sad, but not surprising. I’m just glad these shows got to have another life, and received the increased visibility of being on Broadway. I probably wouldn’t be glad if I was an investor, but as a fan of these shows (especially “Is This a Room,”) I’m glad this transfer happened.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 1:30pm

Jordan Levinson said: "Lunalaaaaaaaa said: "leefowler said: "I predict a winter with just a handful of shows running. Broadway opened too soon."

Do we know how Aladdin has been doing?"

Like the Lyceum plays, it has appeared on TDF every performance since it reopened. Though I can't remember if that was the case forAladdinbefore the shutdown..."

 

Aladdin on TDF for every performance?  I don't believe it has ever been on TDF.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 1:31pm

I think this would have been a struggle to produce pre-pandemic. They're super artsy and aren't the normal Broadway fare. I'm sad I won't get a chance to see them. 

And re: Aladdin - it was never up on TDF pre-pandemic. I'm guessing it relies heavily on Families and Tourists, both of which, don't seem to be flocking to the theater at the moment. 

[gibsons2]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 1:40pm

Yeah, Aladdin has definitely never been on TDF. It's also a really difficult ticket lottery to win. Given they have droves of unsold seats, I would expect some discount code floating around by now. I liked that Jujamcyn offers a discount code to those who lost the lottery to their less popular shows (American Utopia, Pass Over). 

I was planning to see both Lyceum plays in December but have to catch them during the week matinees. 

[Hamilfan2]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 1:45pm

Very sad to see both of these shows close early. I had missed them during their Off-Broadway runs so was excited to see them on Broadway. Dierdre O’Connell is getting a lot of the hype for her performance in Dana H (and rightfully show) but I have to say Emily Davis is a revelation in Is This A Room. She gave what most be the best performance I have ever seen on a Broadway stage and I wish more people had the chance to see her performance. Hoping the Tony’s don’t forget about her by the time nominations come around, especially in such a strong/crowded season for plays.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 1:45pm

As some of us have been saying for a year, the reopening of Broadway cannot sustain the supply of shows (26 as of today) because the overall demand is not anywhere near there. I had suggested early on that the first wave of shows should be less than 10, followed by a like number in the second wave. Instead we are getting economically indefensible shows (like these two which are at the top of the list) and others that will get lost in the shuffle. We will get back to the 10 or so in all likelihood but we will have blown a ton of money in the meantime. Some shows have been artificially supported by SVOG money but that well is gonna run dry as the producers take the money and run. This is all well and good, but it's leaving a bad taste in investor mouths; the next time Matt Ross hits up with investors, many will not return his phone calls.

[JoeyEvans1206]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 1:49pm

A shame! Kudos to the producers for taking a chance and delivering two terrific, unique, and absolutely engaging plays on Broadway. I loved This is a Room at The Vineyard and I was disappointed I missed the original off-Broadway run of Dana H. but was thrilled to be given the opportunity to see it at the Lyceum. Risky commercial theater but so worth it for those of us who had a chance to see them!

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 1:59pm

Damiensta said: "Not surprising. Not many will pay tix price for 60 min; no matter how good show is."

It's not the running time. If Six was 60 mins it will still sell. It's the show itself.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 2:03pm

I'd argue it's a combo of all of that. Short running time, no big names, the subject matter, plus she's just sitting and lip syncing, etc. I'm sure it turns a lot of people off. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 2:04pm

HogansHero said: "it's leaving a bad taste in investor mouths; the next time Matt Ross hits up with investors, many will not return his phone calls."

I thought your opinion when this production announced was that Matt Ross understands the market better than anyone else right now? In hindsight, that's obviously not the case after 3 fiascos in a row (one of which had more positive press than any Bway play could dream of).

[Lunalaaaaaaaa]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 2:08pm

Very surprised that this has happened to Aladdin. I would've expected this to happen to Lion King. Aladdin seems more like an interesting draw.

Updated On: 10/25/21 at 02:08 PM

[unclevictor]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 2:46pm

And so it begins! Caroline… Tick tock tick tock

[Lunalaaaaaaaa]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 2:48pm

unclevictor said: "And so it begins! Caroline… Tick tock tick tock"

Not surprised by this either.  I see a lot of rush/discounted tickets for CAROLINE. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 2:53pm

I don't see Caroline, or Change lasting past New Year's. I also don't see Disney closing Aladdin immediately, but possibly by the Spring if they have something planned to come in by next Fall.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 2:59pm

ACL2006 said: "I don't see Caroline, or Change lasting past New Year's. I also don't see Disney closing Aladdin immediately, but possibly by the Spring if they have something planned to come in by next Fall."

COC has until January 9 as of right now.

We shall see what happens as the weeks go by.

[Lunalaaaaaaaa]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 3:04pm

Sad to hear if CAROLINE does. I'd expect THOUGHTS to close faster though. I also thought it would've been lasting into the Spring. (Not only have January dates)

Unless Aladdin on Broadway does a bit more stunt casting besides Jonathan Freeman? To bring the families and tourists crowd.

[Hamilfan2]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 3:18pm

Caroline is a Roundabout production, so I doubt it will close early. Much like other non-profits and subscription houses it’s pretty rare they close early, thanks to the built in revenue from subscribers and donors.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 3:32pm

Lunalaaaaaaaa said: "I'm sad to hear this! I thought it was doing better than I thought. People said they had orchestra seats for CHICKEN, the theatre is amazing, etc. THOUGHTS, on the other hand, I've heard very little ticket sales about (besides their promotional efforts). Oh and Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra Jonas are working on CHICKEN as execs?"

EVERY seat is an orchestra seat at Circle in the Square.

"Working on" is generous –– the Jonases have co-producer credits above the title. They are not making any decisions, and it doesn't seem as though they've promoted it at all.

You're the one who seems to be drinking up the "promotional efforts" of the financial fiasco that is CHICKEN & BISCUITS.

Your Twitterverse is tiny and likely is not representative of the larger ticketbuying population as a whole (the population willing to spend $75-$150+ on new Broadway plays, which is necessary over multiple weeks if a show has any hope of recouping). A small corner of Twitter has been trying to portray CHICKEN as a victim because it's a "Black play" that was disliked by white critics, when in actuality it's a show that never had a chance of financial success even outside of a pandemic (and virtually no new Broadway comedies from novice playwrights have received love letters from critics in recent years).

Updated On: 10/25/21 at 03:32 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 3:36pm

Hamilfan2 said: "Caroline is a Roundabout production, so I doubt it will close early. Much like other non-profits and subscription houses it’s pretty rare they close early, thanks to the built in revenue from subscribers and donors."

This.

What was the last Roundabout production to close early before the end of its already-limited engagement? In the past decade even if sales are bad, they seem to carry out the run.

[Wick3]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 3:36pm

How's LEHMAN trilogy doing? I enjoyed watching it and hope it lasts until Jan 2nd. 

 

I feel bad for Dana H and Is This a Room. I remember a few years ago when INDECENT announced an earlier than planned closing date, it suddenly sold tickets and then decided to extend a few more weeks. Hopefully the same will happen for Dana H/Is This a Room.

[gibsons2]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 3:49pm

I'm wondering if American Utopia will last until February. It's been on TDF since the last week and it looks like balcony seats aren't for sale anymore. Many seats are unsold. It was nearly impossible to get a ticket for this show during its original Broadway run. I'm wondering if border reopening in early November will make much of a difference.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 3:52pm

LEHMAN has been selling extremely well, all things considered. That play is catnip for the traditional NYC theatergoers and bridge-and-tunnel crowd. Stellar reviews will help, too.

Going by Ticketmaster, there's a lot of mezz & side orch inventory starting in mid November. BUT the key thing is they're selling prime orchestra seats, which can't be said for most other plays. They've been selling a limited number of seats via TKTS, too, but that's still $80-$100 a pop. Might not recoup, but I suspect it will finish its limited run.

Curious about its running cost, though:

 

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What's the deal with the people who come on stage in the last minute of the play? How much are they getting paid? The boys in THE INHERITANCE got 50% of an Equity minimum salary per week, per special agreement with AEA. If the production isn paying them each a full salary for one minute of stage time for a tableaux, they're the luckiest actors in NYC. Some are probably the standbys, but there are women in there too.

 

Updated On: 10/25/21 at 03:52 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/25/21 at 4:10pm

gibsons2 said: "I'm wondering if American Utopia will last until February."

March 6, not February! 

HBO MAX is a factor, too. I liked it in my living room and have no need to pay for it on Bway now.

I remember someone on here saying they have plans to extend UTOPIA through May or June which seems crazy unless sales really pick up.

Updated On: 10/25/21 at 04:10 PM