FRANKIE AND JOHNNY closes July 28th

[WayTooBroadway]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 6:36pm

https://www.broadway.com/buzz/196017/frankie-and-johnny-starring-audra-mcdonald-michael-shannon-to-end-broadway-run-early/

[TonightsMarquee]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 6:44pm

Hope more folks catch this show before closing.

[LuPita2]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 6:46pm

Expected but unfortunate.  

[ddenoff2]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 7:02pm

IMHO it’s a sexy, beautiful production of Terrence’s magnificent play. GO! (not a shill. not one of my productions. i just loved it)

[rg7759]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 7:04pm

What's most troubling is this is the 4th fairly star studded limited run straight play this year that couldn't stumble past an already short run to the finish line. Makes you wonder how long this can go on

[Marianne2]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 7:07pm

I have tickets for next Tuesday, so I am safe with seeing it.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 7:10pm

Such a damn shame. One of the best things playing right now.

[behindthescenes2]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 10:06pm

Some people can run their course even tony winners and that goes for plays as well.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 10:26pm

I really hoped that with all the plays that closed prematurely or scheduled by early July, the show would benefit from being the one of the few plays running over the summer. Too bad. 

[rg7759]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 10:37pm

Please don't bite my head off I really have nothing against this show. I have something against greed, and I don't think it was accidentally 'bad timing'. I think it was an instance of greedy producers defying logic to open the show before the tonys.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 10:54pm

rg7759 said: "I think it was an instance of greedy producers defying logic to open the show before the tonys."

I don't fault the producers for trying something different and opening a show in May. And it's certainly not the only show to have done a summer opening: Boys in the Band, Act Of God (twice), 1984, Hamilton, Harvey, Master Class, Hairspray, etc.

The schedule was also based on timing. There weren't any open play houses before the Tonys. The two leading actors (who have been signed on for about a year and a half) might have been busy before the Tony cutoff.

[Brooks0214]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 10:57pm

I have some in August too. How will we get our money back for already purchasing the tickets? Never had a show close when I had tickets for it.

Updated On: 7/8/19 at 10:57 PM

[Danielle49]

Posted: 7/9/19 at 12:01am

Brooks0214 said: "I have some in August too. How will we get our money back for already purchasing the tickets? Never had a showclose when I had tickets for it."

If you bought them from Telecharge, you’ll get an email offering an exchange and saying your money will be automatically refunded. If you bought them at the box office, just go straight there with the tickets and they’ll refund them. Any other ticket outlet, you’ll have to contact them about their policy. Regardless, you’ll get a refund.

[AADA81]

Posted: 7/9/19 at 12:29am

I understand the thoughts about the poor timing of this show's revival, but I'm really at a loss for why it did so poorly.  The 2002 revival was superb and played for 7-8 months, the play itself has merit, McDonald and Shannon are very respected actors and the production got very decent reviews.  That there was such an audience in 2002 and no audience in 2019 is surprising.

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 7/9/19 at 1:17am

what a sad waste of time money and energy, a total bust. 

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 7/9/19 at 1:28am

rg7759 said: "Please don't bite my head off I really have nothing against this show. I have something against greed, and I don't think it was accidentally 'bad timing'. I think it was an instance of greedy producers defying logic to open the show before the tonys."

Not sure I get your logic. How were "greedy producers" expecting to get any advantage by opening the show before the Tonys when the show is not in any way, shape or form part of the Tony nominations and was not mentioned on the broadcast. How exactly would that benefit these "greedy producers"? If you're going to be a slave to the Tonys, you open it before the cutoff deadline for consideration, no?

As far as the play itself, it wasn't my favorite of the plays I saw this spring but it was a decent revival with great performances by two of our finest actors. I didn't think it would be the next Mockingbird but I am completely befuddled by the utter and complete lack of interest in the show by audiences. 25% of target revenue week after week and 40% of the seats filled is horrific. I would have thought fans of the two actors alone would have ensured stronger interest and better attendance.

[AADA81]

Posted: 7/9/19 at 1:37am

UncleCharlie said: 

As far as the play itself, it wasn't my favorite of the plays I saw this spring but it was a decent revival with great performances by two of our finest actors. I didn't think it would be the next Mockingbird but I am completely befuddled by the utter and complete lack of interest in the show by audiences. 25% of target revenue week after week and 40% of the seats filled is horrific. I would have thought fans of the two actors alone would have ensured stronger interest and better attendance."

My sentiments exactly.  A little worse business than the 2002 revival I would have accepted with some surprise, but this lack of interest from the theater public is not what I expected.  And, as I said, I think it's a fine play.

[The Other One]

Posted: 7/9/19 at 7:00am

I love Audra and Michael, but I just didn't have any interest in seeing a third production of this play.  I felt the same way about "Burn This," which has at least played out its scheduled run.

Most revivals of 80's plays in recent years (Six Degrees of Separation, The Heidi Chronicles, M. Butterfly, even going back 15 years for Night, Mother) have not fared too well with Broadway audiences.  (August Wilson's Fences and Joe Turner's Come and Gone are exceptions, but his Ma Rainey's Black Bottom was not).  Perhaps whatever ground they broke has been sufficiently broken?

[rg7759]

Posted: 7/9/19 at 7:23am

Greedy in that they felt they had to open the show the instant a theater became available, instead of waiting 3 weeks and not be stealing anyone s thunder, and having a more open playing field and less press about other shows. Seeing the delay as lost income rather than the possible benefits of waiting

[JSquared2]

Posted: 7/9/19 at 8:27am

rg7759 said: "Greedy in that they felt they had to open the show the instant a theater became available, instead of waiting 3 weeks and not be stealing anyone s thunder, and having a more open playing field and less press about other shows. Seeing the delay as lost income rather than the possible benefits of waiting"

 

Well that’s one of the dumbest things I’ve ever read on this board. 

[rg7759]

Posted: 7/9/19 at 8:39am

JSquared2 said: "rg7759 said: "Greedy in that they felt they had to open the show the instant a theater became available, instead of waiting 3 weeks and not be stealing anyone s thunder, and having a more open playing field and less press about other shows. Seeing the delay as lost income rather than the possible benefits of waiting"



Well that’s one of the dumbest things I’ve ever read on this board."

If you're not going to contribute to the discussion then I believe your comment can be deleted

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 7/9/19 at 10:08am

rg7759 said: "Please don't bite my head off I really have nothing against this show. I have something against greed, and I don't think it was accidentally 'bad timing'. I think it was an instance of greedy producers defying logic to open the show before the tonys."

The initial intention was to open right before Tony cutoff. But no appropriately sized theaters became available in time. And both stars had tight windows in which they could do a Broadway run (Audra has The Good Fight, Shannon has a slate of films lined up). So, I don't read an element of greed here. McNally wanted these stars and this was simply the time when these two stars were available. 

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 7/9/19 at 10:16am

That all being said, I do think the timing ended up hurting them. The 2019 Tony nominees/winners engulfed all the buzz and advertising during their opening period. I was surprised that producers didnt get Audra and Michael to present together at the Tonys and mention the show given that they both were there. Ultimately, I think the show needed much more of a advertising blitz to compete with the Tony season. 

[52889j]

Posted: 7/9/19 at 11:08am

Seeing these two actors in these roles was an immense privilege.

I do wonder if this could've been a smash at The New Group/NYTW/The Public/Signature/Second Stage, etc. built buzz, and then transferred for a limited run in the more conventional fall season and done okay. 

Updated On: 7/9/19 at 11:08 AM

[haterobics]

Posted: 7/9/19 at 11:13am

52889j said: "I do wonder if this could've been a smash at The New Group/NYTW/The Public/Signature/Second Stage, etc. built buzz, and then transferred for a limited run in the more conventional fall season and done okay."

To be fair, most people's speculation tends to chart a better path than reality on here...