Does Broadway need a mousetrap in order to kill its own mousetrap wannabees?

[SweMozArt]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 4:44pm

My thought was that perhaps there should be a roof (i hereby name it mousetrap) for the maximum number of performances that a show is allowed to run on Broadway. A strong argument for this is that otherwise the current longruns will compete for the long running crown into eternety (almost) and fewer new shows as well as revivals will see the light of day. The roof could be high, let's say 10000 performances (25 years).

There are of course arguments against a roof. First and foremost a democratic one. The effect of a roof might also be the opposite of that planned if many producers would see the roof as the ultimate stamp of approval. It is also nice with records that can be beaten. One could also argue that there is a natural roof (people's interest) which will hit the long runs sooner or later. However the current long run champ in the West End (the mousetrap)is still going strong after over 50 years and on Broadway Phantom is nearing 20 years.

Should the big mouse (Disney) and the small mouse (ALW) have reason to fear!
Updated On: 9/24/06 at 04:44 PM

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 4:45pm

Let's cross that bridge when we get under it.

[SweMozArt]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 5:12pm

Ok let's put the debate on ice for 25 years (and give Broadway's mice a long respite for their fears)!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 5:13pm

Aside from the obvious legal issues with trying to put a cap on such things, why on earth would a theatre owner evict a tenant that's still paying its bills? I personally don't care for Phantom, but given that it's still turning a healthy profit most weeks, why on earth would the Shuberts want them to leave the Majestic? And why would the show's investors want to lose such a substantial income stream after all these years? When the audiences finally dry up one of these days and the show starts to lose money, then it will close. Not before. In the mean time, perhaps someone can build a new theatre or two in the Broadway district. But, even without that, while there is something of a theatre crunch these days, it's fairly rare that new show can't find some house to accomodate them. It may have to wait a few months for the current occupant to close and it may not get the exact theater that it wants, but it almost always can find something suitable.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 5:22pm

I say, just build more theatres!

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 5:22pm

I say, just build more theatres!

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 5:34pm

congratulations SweMozArt, you are now the recipient of the "Worst Idea EVER" award.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 6:03pm

The Hellinger needs to be brought back into the fold without delay

[SweMozArt]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 6:11pm

I want to thank you all for the heartwarming response, especially the price. I guess it takes an ace on this messageboard to award it. Let the tourists decide and may the current longruns run for ever!

Updated On: 9/24/06 at 06:11 PM

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 6:20pm

you know, there's a lot of theatre in NY that isn't broadway. see, we have this nifty thing called off broadway, and also OFF off broadway, which is mostly down town. if you hate broadway so ****ing much, GO DOWN TOWN

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 6:23pm

Ask a silly question...

[SweMozArt]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 6:37pm

Ask any question and the silly people will be quickest to respond.

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 9/24/06 at 11:18pm

Isn't the Mark Hellinger supposed to come back eventually?

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 2:43am

I don't get why people are so bitchy over his post. His original post wasn't bitchy at all. Put the claws away. While I think it is an interesting idea, I think it would take away the competition and competition is a healthy thing.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 11:04am

Brilliant idea! I think we should apply it across the board-- Once a movie does $100M, you can't see it any more. If a TV show is really popular, it goes on hiatus forever and no DVD is ever released-- only really crummy shows get saved.
And don't forget music- Mozart is WAY WAY too popular! Mozart festivals all become John Zorn Festivals. Mozart Operas are replaces with Atonal screech-fests.

Hmmm lemme see...where is that SARCASM font?
Updated On: 9/25/06 at 11:04 AM

[Jon]

Posted: 9/25/06 at 12:22pm

Joe - you missed the point. There are a limited number of Broadway theatres available. The success of one movie doesn't prevent another one from opening.

I do remember a story where the British Playwrights Guild tried to get all the regional theatre companies in England (except the Royal Shakespeare Company)to declare a five year moratorium on presenting plays by Shakespeare, since there was so much Shakespeare getting done, the new, living playwrights weren't getting opportunities to be produced. The moratorium was not sucessfull. Updated On: 9/25/06 at 12:22 PM