HELLO, DOLLY! Sets August 25 Closing Date; Bette Midler to Return July 17 — Page 4

DL has been right about a whole bunch of stuff before it became official news.

Is it my imagination, or is this the "Producers" syndrome all over again?

You have a great Tony Award winning revival with a blinding star turn (I saw it last spring in a $248 orchestra seat). Star leaves and a (IMHO) just as big a star replaces (Peters). Box office kinda tanks (yeah $1M per week is not a tank, but look at the average ticket price of $97) and tickets are consistently on TKTS board.

When did Bernadette Peters become a secondary player? If she opened this show, she would have been the toast of the town (and Donna Murphy for that matter as well).

I think the Bette hype overshadowed the whole production. Now, this show is not my cup of tea, but as an event, it was an experience. I love me some Bette (one of the premier live performers of my time), I just don't get the downturn after Bette left.

blaxx said: "qolbinau said: "I wonder if they announced Bette’s return too soon."



Totally, what a way to kill ticket sales until then."

I’m sure the show may take a bit of a hit at the box office before Bette returns, but maybe not as much as feared. Most NYC tourists don’t necessarily book their vacations around one show. We here on BWW are truly the exception. (I’m going to NYC in June - even though later this year would be preferable - simply because I want to catch Angels in America and Three Tall Women before they close) If people were already planning to vacation (including likely unrefundable airplane tix and hotel reservations) in NYC pre-Bette’s return and get tix to see Hello, Dolly!, they likely don’t have the luxury of rebooking their trip without paying significant cancellation and rebooking fees. It’s either see Dolly with Bernadette while they’re there or not at all. Maybe they’ll choose “not at all”, but I suspect most who were inclined to see it, still will. Same for those standing in line at TKTS (I know that this isn’t ideal as the tix are greatly discounted, but I’m guessing that currently the show is selling a significant number of tickets this way and will continue to do so until Bette returns). I guess we’ll see what those Monday box office reports tell us. Personally I’ve seen it once with Bette and once with Bernadette and loved it both times. I feel no need to rank them. They both had different takes on Dolly and were phenomenal in the role. I’m grateful for that. I would only likely see it a third time (cover your ears, Dollypop) with a new Dolly (was really hoping for Audra!). I missed Donna too and would be tempted to see it if she returned. But as that isn’t guaranteed and I won’t likely be returning again this summer after June, that isn’t to be. I also think that the current Hello, Dolly! With Bernadette will benefit from the fact that this has been such a lackluster season for new musical productions and revivals. As I only get to NYC usually once a year (this year will be an exception with 2 or 3 trips), I usually forgo revisiting my favorite shows (Hamilton, DEH, The Band’s Visit, Wicked, etc.) in lieu of seeing new productions and revivals. Because of the lack of new quality shows, I’m gonna likely be seeing more plays (Angels, Three Tall Women, maybe Boys in the Band, perhaps Skintight off-Broadway) in June than musicals (definitely MFL and OOTI; maybe Spongebob and Carousel). This is a first for me. And we know tourists prefer musicals most of the time so hopefully Dolly will be just fine. I mean other than the musical stalwarts (Ham, Wicked, The Lion King, Book of Mormon, etc.), it’s main completion from the last season is MFL, Carousel, Frozen, and The Band’s Visit. Otherwise. its a sponge, a flying cheeseburger, and a sanitized Donna Summer.

Updated On: 4/20/18 at 02:27 PM

Bwayfan292 said: "Do we think the Hello dolly closing is to help Carousels Grosses boost once Hello dolly closes?"

No.

So much for all that talk, especially from a few known Bernadette Peters lovers here that the show didn't take a hit when she came aboard.

At the end of the day, this industry comes down to dollars and cents.

Jarethan said: "He may be rich and successful, but Scott Rudin is clearly David Merrick. I find it unfathomable that the show is closing after those reviews and such a short run. I do believe that this show became too much about Bette Midler, and that hurt the show's long-term opportunity. I wonder what the Weissler's would have done to give a third life to this show.

People have said that it is too old-fashioned to attract a broader audience, absent a mega-star. I guess that must be true. There is no other explanation. I am really surprised that Rudin could not get someone else to follow Peters. Such a shame."

I think finding another “someone” to follow Peters is trickier than it sounds. That “someone” has to having above average acting chops, at least a decent singing voice, up to the demands of 7 or 8 shows a week, and enough star power to attract tourists. That’s a lot. Anything less leads to either a lackluster performance by a star Ill-fitted to the role that tarnishes this revival’s reputation or fizzles with a qualified non-star and closes with its last weeks’ of poor box office performance. I was shocked too, but in retrospect this makes sense.

10086sunset said: "So much for all that talk, especially from a few known Bernadette Peters lovers here that the show didn't take a hit when she came aboard.

At the end of the day, this industry comes down to dollars and cents.

"

Well given I am one of the few 'known Bernadette Peters' lovers here I assume this complete misrepresentation of the ideas discussed here is directed to me.

First, as far as I'm aware Bernadette's run is not being cut short. She is scheduled to continue all performances as originally sold. This is not a situation where the show is tanking and they are trying to get Bette to return as quickly as possible to save it (such as bringing Mandy in) - they are simply making a strategic decision for how the show can continue without Bernadette. Don't make it sound like this is a reactionary decision to a tanking show. It's not. Bernadette has proved she is still one of the few Broadway stars that actually can sell tickets.

Second, not one single person claimed the shows grosses didn't reduce once Bernadette came on board. The objective evidence is publicly available. However, we did claim that the show is doing fine with Bernadette given it has almost consistently grossed $1 million per week since she started performances. Assuming the show recouped with Bette, the show is probably in a financially healthy state.

Updated On: 4/20/18 at 03:05 PM

Did I read correctly that the show just recently recouped? That surprises me. I would have thought it would have recouped with the box office, record breaking numbers Bette brought in, while she was still in it.

Stage Door Sally said: "Did I read correctly that the show just recently recouped? That surprises me.I would have thought it would have recouped with the box office, record breaking numbers Bette brought in, while she was still in it."



I would take a look at where you read that. No dig at another BWW member intended. But when someone lists data lounge as their source....

qolbinau said: "10086sunset said: "So much for all that talk, especially from a few known Bernadette Peters lovers here that the show didn't take a hit when she came aboard.

At the end of the day, this industry comes down to dollars and cents.

"

Well given I am one of the few 'known Bernadette Peters' lovers here I assume this complete misrepresentation of the ideas discussed here is directed to me.

First, as far as I'm aware Bernadette's run is not being cut short. She is scheduled to continue all performances as originally sold. This is not a situation where the show is tanking and they are trying to get Bette to return as quickly as possible to save it (such as bringing Mandy in) - they are simply making a strategic decision for how the show can continue without Bernadette. Don't make it sound like this is a reactionary decision to a tanking show. It's not. Bernadette has proved she is still one of the few Broadway stars that actually can sell tickets.

Second, not one single person claimed the shows grosses didn't reduce once Bernadette came on board. The objective evidence is publicly available. However, we did claim that the show is doing fine with Bernadette given it has almost consistently grossed $1 million per week since she started performances. Assuming the show recouped with Bette, the show is probably in a financially healthy state.


As far as Bernadette proving she's still one of the Broadway stars who can sell tickets, I'm not sure at the moment if its the title and reviews of the show selling tickets or Miss Peters' involvement.

I never said the show was tanking.

Regarding the show doing fine with Bernadette, perhaps that's simply a matter of opinion. Based on the recent announcement, I feel like the parties involved felt the show wasn't doing well enough to sustain going forward with Miss Peters or another name not as big as Bette.


"

Luscious said: "Almost certain that the show will be filmed.Bringing back Bette is a no-brainer, but the fact that DHP and Creel are also returning to the production bodes well for it being filmed. Hopefully, for a commercial release, but a theatrical release at the very least."

Quite a coup for Charlie Stemp, he gets to join the original cast now, too.