Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway- Page 4

[Jesse St. James]

Posted: 8/15/24 at 6:07pm

it sounds like this production isn't happening anymore

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/15/24 at 6:30pm

Another Room/My Son’s a Queer scenario or did Darren Criss drop out?  

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 8/15/24 at 6:35pm

Call_me_jorge said: "Another Room/My Son’s a Queer scenario or did Darren Criss drop out?"

I'd find it hard to believe Criss dropped out when the show was just recently announced for his Elsie Fest. Probably financial woes if this news is true, so yes, it would be another Room / MSAQ scenario.

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 8/15/24 at 7:45pm

Jesse St. James said: "it sounds like this production isn't happening anymore"

Where are people hearing this???

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/15/24 at 8:17pm

Apparently the unpaid vendors 

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 8/15/24 at 8:23pm

If not where the current sourcing is from, there is a TikTok by the Oracle. 

Edit: Criss is on SiriusXM tmrw for this and Elsie Fest 

Updated On: 8/15/24 at 08:23 PM

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 8/15/24 at 11:04pm

I've been hearing whispers from two different connections of a production not making it to opening over failing to secure the needed funds combined with a very poor advance. I just didn't know which one until, seemingly, now. Which is devastating because this and Death Becomes Her were/are my most anticipated fall shows.

Updated On: 8/15/24 at 11:04 PM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 8/15/24 at 11:11pm

So I guess the answer to my initial question on this thread is no, Criss cannot sell a new musical. He will also be on the insufferable Z100 morning show tomorrow, and I'll assume this is where the bad news will become official. 

The Belasco would be a nice fit for The Motive and the Cue or Glengarry Glen Ross.

 

Updated On: 8/15/24 at 11:11 PM

[smidge]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 12:25am

Michael Arden posted on his Instagram story a shot of the marquee with the text “Gods of the theatre, smile on us”

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 1:09am

“ Where are people hearing this???”

everywhere. Here is where the issue comes into play. Support original musicals, sure! But where is the economic support? There is a genuine lack of understanding, actually let’s call it straight up ignorance, of how this industry works. Broadway is a business, and until the TikTok, Reddit and frankly a lot of BWW posters understand that, we’re not going to get far. 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 1:17am

smidge said: "Michael Arden posted on his Instagram story a shot of the marquee with the text “Gods of the theatre, smile on us”"

the show is absolutely in trouble

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 8:04am

He hasn’t been on yet as far as I can tell. 

Updated On: 8/16/24 at 08:04 AM

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 8:48am

theatergoer3 said: "If not where the current sourcing is from, there is a TikTok by the Oracle.

Edit: Criss is on SiriusXM tmrw for this and Elsie Fest"

Do we know what time?

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 9:20am

GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "theatergoer3 said: "If not where the current sourcing is from, there is a TikTok by the Oracle.

Edit: Criss is on SiriusXM tmrw for this and Elsie Fest"

Do we know what time?"

It was supposed to be 7:50 but their Twitter account just deleted the promo post. So I doubt he’s on.

More fuel to the fire. 

Updated On: 8/16/24 at 09:20 AM

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 9:29am

Almost a $18 million cap for a four hander all Asian musical… now to go down in history as a real flop. After Frank’s West End show closing early, I really didn’t want to see this fail. Why was it so expensive? Is it Darren’s salary? I’m just so gutted that it feels like Asian musicals can’t succeed. If you can’t raise the full amount for a Darren Criss led show, then Broadway is really morphing. Maybe they could’ve used a star instead of Helen for Claire? Just coping, don’t mind me. 

Sigh.

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 9:55am

GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "Almost a $18 million cap for a four hander all Asian musical… now to go down in history as a realflop. After Frank’s West End show closingearly, I really didn’t want to see this fail. Why was it so expensive? Is it Darren’s salary? I’m just so gutted that it feels like Asian musicals can’t succeed. If you can’t raise the full amount for a Darren Criss led show, then Broadway is really morphing. Maybe they could’ve used a star instead of Helen for Claire? Just coping, don’t mind me.

Sigh."

Maybe it's comparing apples to oranges, but Dear Evan Hansen opened 9 years ago with an eight-person cast, and its capitalization was half that much. I don't care if Darren Criss is getting paid in private islands, there is absolutely no way a show this size should cost anywhere near that much money.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 9:58am

Last I heard (granted, a week or two ago) they were still looking to secure studio space. Show is supposed to be in previews nine weeks from now. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 10:02am

The most surprising thing is that I would never expect a Jeffrey Richard’s led show to end this way. He’s a rather reputable producer and if he can’t find the investors for one of his shows how could anyone else?? 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 10:03am

And the show isn’t even all that great, either. I saw a videotaped staged workshop with the Atlanta leads a few years ago, and didn’t think it was anything more than “cute.” I can already imagine most of us humming the scenery (and there are some pretty cool effects, from what I’ve been told). 

If it had been fully funded, it would’ve easily closed before Christmas. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 10:17am

The design looked really cool. I don't think Broadway is changing so much as it's just inflation and whatnot. It's always been a gamble. Maybe they should have gone the nonprofit route and done this at Playwrights. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 10:28am

When I, of all people, hear these rumors, it's likely true.    When they delayed the start of previews, I had my suspicions.  (Right?  That was this show, yes?)

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 10:41am

Yep, that was this show. 

[gibsons2]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 10:43am

RippedMan said: "The design looked really cool. I don't think Broadway is changing so much as it's just inflation and whatnot. It's always been a gamble. Maybe they should have gone the nonprofit route and done this at Playwrights."

Off-Broadway house definitely would be more appropriate. Shows like this need a small house/ticket scarcity factor to sell out. 

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 11:34am

Call_me_jorge said: "The most surprising thing is that I would never expect a Jeffrey Richard’s led show to end this way. He’s a rather reputable producer and if he can’t find the investors for one of his shows how could anyone else??"

I’m not. He’s experienced — but stretched thin this season. NA, Our Town, MHE, other stuff in the pipeline… I just don’t think it was smart for him to bring this right now. No one has unlimited money and resources.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/16/24 at 1:29pm

Richards has never lead-produced a successful new musical (American Psycho, Bridges of Madison County, Bonnie & Clyde, and Bloody Bloody A J were all big flops). It looks like his past 8 lead-producing efforts were all financial flops, and I doubt Our Town is gonna light the box office ablaze. He was also behind Pal Joey at Encores, Wholesale at Classic Stage, and now Table 17 at MCC; I doubt those shows will transfer, meaning those investors have no chance of seeing a return. All that plus the current climate for new musicals can lead to a weary investor pool.

Maybe it’s a Joe Biden/Donald Trump situation where an 80ish year-old white producer isn’t the right fit for 2024 Broadway or for this material? There could be an interesting case study about people like Richards, Daryl Roth (upcoming Left on Tenth), Ira Pittelman (recent flop Tommy), Bill Haber (upcoming Boop), Bob Wankel (Shubert Org), and Andre Bishop (LCT), who perhaps have lost touch with Broadway buyers. But then there's people in the 77-85 zone like Barry Weissler, Jack O'Brien, and Lynn Meadow who have largely adapted with the times.