Fences Recoupment - A Record?

[macbeth]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 10:27am

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/FENCES_Breaks_Box_Office_Record_At_Cort_Theatre_20100607

has a show ever recouped in just 8 weeks before?

[WOSQ]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 11:41am

Tribute starring Jack Lemmon paid back the investors opening night after being over-capitalized and making huge grosses on its out of town try-out.

Same Time, Next Year (same producer, Morty Gottlieb) paid off in about 3 weeks under the same circumstances.

Morty Gottlieb was also notoriously cheap. He rode a bike everywhere (before it was fashionable) so he wouldn't have to pay subway fare which was 30-50 cents in his heyday.

Way back in the 60s, The Boys in the Band paid off in about 10 days.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 11:52am

History Boys recouped in six weeks. I think Hamlet with Jude Law did as well.

[Brick]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 12:06pm

Regardless, it's still a great feat, as was HAMLET.

[averagebwaynut]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 10:04pm

I think the record belongs to "You're Welcome America" last season, which recouped in four weeks.

I would need to check with some investor friends of mine, but I'm nearly certain that "History Boys" did not recoup nearly that quickly.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 6/7/10 at 11:14pm

Playbill.com: The History Boys Recoups Investment on Broadway in Six-and-a-Half Weeks

[averagebwaynut]

Posted: 6/8/10 at 12:03am

Thanks for the link Smaxie...I guess I was remembering incorrectly.

Scary that only 4 years ago, one could mount a 17-character play, with an almost all-British company (i.e. additional transportation and housing costs) for less than $2M. Yes, they saved on the physical production (which I believe came from England or the Far East tour) but still...these days, you blink and the budget is closer to $3M. Yikes!