Do preview comments help move the needle?

[pacificnorthwest]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 12:56pm

Was just reading the “Smash” previews thread where, despite a measure of positivity, the critique is mostly critical.

It made me wonder to what extent producers/directors take message board discussions to heart and make meaningful changes. Obviously, shows adapt during the preview run. But I’m specifically curious about changes that any of you attribute to the influence of Broadway World and other theater communities online.

As for Smash, I'm hoping the production team is paying attention. I'd planned to see it but am on the fence now.

 

Updated On: 3/13/25 at 12:56 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 12:59pm

Well, considering the long history of productions not making meaningful changes despite reactions here and elsewhere, I think it's safe to say the answer to the subject question is generally no.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 1:01pm

It’s unlikely Smash will open with an entirely new book than they started previews with, which is what it sounds like it needs.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 1:11pm

Not at all, your average theater-goer isn't coming here to read them. The marketing for Smash is confusing which a tourist (and the people who buy the most tickets) won't have any time for honestly.

 

[ChiDoc]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 1:30pm

Kad said: "Well, considering the long history of productions not making meaningful changes despite reactions here and elsewhere, I think it's safe to say the answer to the subject question is generally no."

I know I certainly romanticize the old image of late night meetings and rehearsals with a ghostlight resulting in massive changes that save a show, but that era is gone.  Once shows go in front of audiences, songs might change and specific lines might be adjusted, but wholescale book changes don't seem to happen.  Alas.

[James885]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 2:18pm

No snark intended, but if I were either a producer or a creative of a show in previews on Broadway I probably wouldn't be making major changes to my show based off the opinion of people on message boards. I know industry people do sometimes read these boards, but I can't imagine that it would be a completely smart thing to use responses on either this board or reddit / ATC as a serious way of determining how to implement changes in a show. 

I could be way off base, and I know producers sometimes use focus groups as well. I would also imagine that most creatives and producers have trusted folks that they turn to for feedback, and of course they are watching the show each night to see the audience's reactions and whatnot. 

Of course the big issue is that major structural changes to a show generally don't (can't?) happen in previews anymore due to the many technical constraints. It seems like workshops / labs or between productions is when those type of global changes to a show happen.

[binau]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 4:55pm

Gregg Barnes, who did the costumes for the Bernadette Follies (2011) said publicly that he read every comment online about the DC Tryout. If you recall there was A LOT of criticism of Bernadette's sexy red dress being very unlike the character. Which was allegedly at the request of Bernadette herself. 

Then the first preview of Follies happened and the dress had changed (along with a few other things in the revival) and everything seemed to click into place. 

Some quotes albeit from 20+ years ago in the Nytimes:

https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/05/theater/theater-are-the-toughest-crowds-on-broadway-online.html

''Every person in every Broadway show goes onto the chat rooms,'' says the ''Hairspray'' star Marissa Jaret Winokur, who ignored her fellow Tony winner Sutton Foster's advice to avoid them. ''Everyone's scared to admit it.''

"Do posts influence shows' creative teams? If so, no one involved in a production would ever admit it. ''They have said things with which we agree and think that we are working on,'' said Richard Frankel, one of the producers of ''Little Shop of Horrors,'' ''Hairspray'' and ''The Producers.'' ''But do we change things because they said them? No.''"

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 6:54pm

The sad part is some of the suggestions made on these boards should have been listened to. The real issue is producers don’t have the balls anymore to change things, everything these days is just yes men or woman saying this is fabulous. Throwing good money after bad, than wondering why it flopped. 

[Zeppie2022]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 7:09pm

OK, let's pretend the producers take comments made here to heart and decided to make changes. What could reasonably be changed in less than a month (show officially opens April 10th) that could make a difference. I can't imagine it is easy to implement a bunch of changes at this late date.

[mrshowbiz90210]

Posted: 3/13/25 at 7:43pm

We know for a fact that producers and publicists are monitoring the boards for buzz from this specific niche. As to them actually affecting change, doubtful.