Broadway Star Joined: 3/26/24
Are you one of the producers?
perfectliar said: "Why is everyone here suddenly so concerned with producers "wasting money" or "throwing money away" on new works? Broadway is a losing business, for the most part. Producers know this. Why do you all care? I swear, every time a new show is announced, every one on this board acts like they managethese people's financial portfolios."
perfectliar said: "Why is everyone here suddenly so concerned with producers "wasting money" or "throwing money away" on new works? Broadway is a losing business, for the most part. Producers know this. Why do you all care? I swear, every time a new show is announced, every one on this board acts like they managethese people's financial portfolios."
This is not new behavior on this board, but it’s a simple reality of Broadway financials right now.
I don’t care about the lead producers’ finances. I also don’t like when a show opens and closes in quick succession: it’s bad for Broadway as an industry when show after show fails. Those beliefs can coexist.
From a ticket-buyer perspective, may it encourage people to buy early performances, seek out discounts, and manage expectations.
Broadway Star Joined: 5/8/19
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perfectliar said: "Why is everyone here suddenly so concerned with producers "wasting money" or "throwing money away" on new works? Broadway is a losing business, for the most part. Producers know this. Why do you all care? I swear, every time a new show is announced, every one on this board acts like they managethese people's financial portfolios."
It’s a discussion board. We discuss.
Has anyone suggested that maybe Tru with Jesse Tyler Ferguson is coming here for a limited run? Because that's what the pieces add up to for me.
This seems like a very very bad idea. The size of the theater alone should have been a nonstarter, even if closing off the balcony. Happy to be proven wrong though.
perfectliar said: "Why is everyone here suddenly so concerned with producers "wasting money" or "throwing money away" on new works? Broadway is a losing business, for the most part. Producers know this. Why do you all care? I swear, every time a new show is announced, every one on this board acts like they managethese people's financial portfolios."
I can see both sides of the argument. On the one hand, who cares if billionaires lose money on shows that I love, like Scottsboro Boys or Days of Wine and Roses?
On the other hand... won't we get more shows like these if investors make money on them?
Swing Joined: 11/7/25
Like others, I saw it at the Berkeley Rep and am skeptical about its Broadway prospects. But they had time to fix things and the show was not terrible. It was just disappointing. Jeremy Kushner, in particular, is especially good - and his relationship with Raul Esparza’s Galileo was the highlight of the musical - and I hope they beef that up. Joy Woods’ role is a thankless one, or at least it was in its Berkeley incarnation.
I am planning a New York City trip now and am struck by the dearth of new musicals. I may not see one during a week-long trip! So I am not complaining that a new musical is coming.
Chorus Member Joined: 6/16/04
I'm a major Raul fan. I first saw this up at Vassar during their summer workshops way back in 2019. (With Raul and Solea Pfeiffer as the daughter) At that time, it was bare bones, more of a concert, but I really enjoyed it and felt like it had tons of potential... I was excited and hoped it had a future.
I then saw it in Berkeley in 2024 and found myself disappointed in how it came together... even though, as others have pointed out, some of the songs are super catchy and enjoyable.
I take no pleasure at all in saying I don't think this will last very long, especially in a house as large as the Shubert. But, I'll happily be giving it another shot (or two) -- always terrific to have Raul on stage in NY!
Joined: 12/2/25
I agree perfectliar, but also, these shows end up profitable with licensing and/or tours. My friend put money into Tootsie, made his money all back and then some from the tour.
Broadway Star Joined: 3/26/24
Your friend made their tour money back.
Merkin2 said: "I agree perfectliar, but also, these shows end up profitable with licensing and/or tours.My friend put money into Tootsie, made his money all back and then some from the tour."
Broadway Star Joined: 8/11/05
Ensemble1711444445 said: "Your friend made their tour money back."
Yeah, there's no way the Tootsie Broadway capitalization was recouped. That is mathematically impossible. The tour? Sure.
I saw it twice in Berkeley. Yes, Raul was great as always, as was Jeremy Kushnier, but the book definitely needed quite a bit of work. And, as bear882 said, the Joy Woods characters is terribly written. They took an interesting historical character and turned her into a petulant, reckless teenager who just wanted to chase after her boyfriend. Still, I'm very tempted to go to NY to see this, not only for Raul, but also to see if they managed to fix the worst parts of it.
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