'Hair' Recoups- Page 2

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 11:44am

But only minimally.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 2:39pm

A big congratulations to the best show on Broadway!

WOW! I haven't read the article yet....but does this break some kind of record??? I remember when Spring Awakening re-couped in 9 months they made a big deal about it....THIS is what FOUR months?

Well, let's not forget that every single cast member -- from the leads to the understudies -- is being paid Equity minimum, the reason why Jonathan Groff (who is probably kicking himself now) chose not to sign on to the Broadway production, and Eden Espinosa and a few others did not accept offers to be in the Broadway production.

This is probably the main reason why the producers were able to recoup so quickly.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 2:48pm

I certainly hope everyone (or at least the principals) got a raise.
I agree with WannaBe that Groff must be kicking himself for not participating in the transfer, but I'm glad he didn't, as it's great that we got the fantastic Gavin Creel as Claude.
So glad that they recouped. I remember at one point it looked like the show would never see the light of day on Broadway. So nice to see that now the best show on Broadway is officially a hit

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 3:03pm

Economical producing plus minimal scenic elemts and/or special effects help. Truth is a show that comes in for under $6 million, has a net profit over over $1 million a month should indeed pay off this fast. (In the 30s/40s shows paid off in 6 weeks)

More worrisome is SPIDERMAN with a $45 million budget. That show will have to sell out at least 4 years just to break even. How many shows have sold out an 1800 seat theatre for that long?

It reminds me of the $27 million production of LORD OF THE RINGS that opened in Toronto few years ago, and closed six months later without recovering much if any of that capitalization.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 3:07pm

"I agree with WannaBe that Groff must be kicking himself for not participating in the transfer, but I'm glad he didn't, as it's great that we got the fantastic Gavin Creel as Claude."

Has Groff expressed interest in being involved in this show as Claude at some point in time? It seems like this show will be around a while, and I doubt Creel will be involved forever. I wish I got to see Groff's take on the role.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 3:10pm

The word was that Groff wanted to "do other projects" so I doubt he'd return.

[singtopher]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 3:30pm

I was unaware of the salary tidbit. Was that publicized anywhere? Are the understudies getting the increments per equity's website?

Updated On: 8/7/09 at 03:30 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 3:34pm

It was Riedel-spewed. No one knows if it's totally true. I'm sure that's why Gavin's contract was so short....so in case it was successful, he could get a raise without waiting a year.

[bwaybri2]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 3:52pm

So help me understand the producers bit - how much do they stand to make off of this - and I assume it is all based on the percent they caughed up to begin with? -

[TreyKenyon]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 3:56pm

^

From here on out, any money grossed over the weekly operating costs (which no one knows for sure, though HAIR probably has a relatively low nut) is profit for the producers. The amount of money just depends on how long HAIR can continue to make above its nut. How its divided is anyone's guess, though percentages makes logical sense.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 4:25pm

singtopher:

From the NY Post (Riedel) 12/17/08:

JUST a few weeks ago, Oskar Eustis, who runs The Public Theater, was telling the Times about a "new deal" he's struck with commercial producers to bring "Hair" to Broadway in the spring.

"We have structured a deal where not a dime of The Public's money is at risk," he boasted.

Oh, happy day.

Unfortunately, The Public's not alone in keeping its dimes out of "Hair." Many investors are shunning the revival, even though it received good reviews last summer in Central Park.

Yesterday, producer Elizabeth I. McCann admitted it's been difficult raising money for the show, although she vowed to "capitalize 'Hair' in the end."

The cost of bringing the show to Broadway is $6.5 million, and some reports put the shortfall at $3 million. But several people who've been asked to invest say the gap is closer to $4 million.

Insiders say that while "Hair" may have looked good on a starry summer night in Central Park (where the tickets were free), a $6.5 million Broadway revival is going to struggle to turn a profit.

As one person puts it, "Can you charge $125 for touchy-feely?"

If "Hair" does come together, it will arrive minus one of its biggest assets: Jonathan Groff, who was a touching Claude in Central Park.

Sources say Groff, who won a Tony two years ago for "Spring Awakening," turned down the gig because the money wasn't very good.

"They went to him and said, 'In the spirit of "Hair" and the '60s, we want everyone to work for scale,' " one person says.

I wonder, if in the spirit of "Hair" and the '60s, they'll charge 1968 ticket prices.

At $12.50 a seat as opposed to $125, even I might pay for "Tooby ooby walla/Nooby abba nabba."

https://www.nypost.com/seven/12172008/entertainment/theater/unfriendly_words_over_pal_144603.htm

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardid=1&boardname=bway&thread=986691

[ActingIsLovee]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 4:34pm

Congrats to the cast and crew! This production deserves a long, healthy life.

[singtopher]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 4:36pm

Thanks. WannaBe. (Although Groff didn't win a Tony, but that's neither here no there)

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 4:39pm

'Groff, who won a tony two years ago'
I would have been slightly less annoyed if Groff had won over Raul (as opposed to DHP winning over Raul).

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 4:56pm

^Well, I'm not sure I could back that up either.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 4:58pm

Only 'slightly' less annoyed.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 5:02pm

I would have definitely been MORE annoyed had Groff won.

[boyfromoz2]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 5:10pm

"More worrisome is SPIDERMAN with a $45 million budget. That show will have to sell out at least 4 years just to break even. How many shows have sold out an 1800 seat theatre for that long?"

Only two - Wicked and The Lion King. There is seemingly no way that Spider-Man will recoup.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 5:12pm

^ And Phantom of the Opera.

[boyfromoz2]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 5:31pm

"That show (Spider-Man) will have to sell out at least 4 years just to break even."

Huh? Say the show has a weekly nut of $1 million or so, and sells 100% of the Hilton, then that gives the producers about $500,000 profit per week. If it sells out , then it would pay off the initial investment after about 90 weeks - just under two years, or a run of 720 performances.

Sorry about the threadjack btw :)

[BroadwayBound062]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 5:54pm

Congrats!

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 6:07pm

Huh? Say the show has a weekly nut of $1 million or so, and sells 100% of the Hilton, then that gives the producers about $500,000 profit per week. If it sells out , then it would pay off the initial investment after about 90 weeks - just under two years, or a run of 720 performances.

It doesn't quite work that way. There's tons of factors you're leaving out.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 6:29pm

Good for them! This is the most well-deserved financial success Broadway has seen in a while.

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 6:42pm

This is GREAT! I hope this means that a healthy multi-year tour is being planned. Let me explain, I know a tour is in the works, I just don't want to have to drive to Cleveland or Chicago etc. to see it. With it being a hit I hope every city will want this in their 10'-11' season and beyond. I think producers in more conservative areas might have been uneasy with Hair, now I hope they see money.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/7/09 at 7:32pm

I'm sure no one gets raises until their contracts are up.

A tour can only hit so many cities in a year...so don't hold your breath too much. From my understanding, usually a two year tour is planned with the first year being the "A" cities, Philly, Chicago, Boston, Providence (gads others) and then the 2nd year they hit the "B" cities. Of course, I have no idea where you live...so you might be in the first year.