How Did 'Something Rotten' Become a Hit? — Page 2

Maybe broadway loves shows that references broadway. The Producers, Urinetown, Spamalot, Book of Mormon, and The Drowsy Chaperone all reference broadway or other shows. Maybe Something Rotten is keying in on the narcissism of the broadway audience or the smugness to get the "in" jokes.

Although, [title of show] and The Last Five Years didn't become hits based on that premise...

Updated On: 8/11/15 at 01:45 PM

For every reason/theory/explanation we can muster, there will be the anti examples that disprove them. The right book/composer/thee/cast at the right time with a whole lot of luck is what does it.

I LIKED SR. My kids, however, loved It- and I KNOW they didn't get all the show or Shakespearean references. My son listens to the recording everyday. (Granted, it's only been a week) For me, I just got a little tired with the whole predictableness of the premise. In fact, I remember thinking near the end of Act I thinking, "Wait, is this without an intermission, because I am so 'done" with this."

Interestingly enough, we saw Hamilton the very same day -- and THAT is the only show my son has ever asked to see again. (and on the way out) My dd was adamant that SR was her favorite of the day. A day or two later she had changed her mind. She admits, for her, it had to sink in a bit more.

""Bridges should have succeeded. The problem was the story. People remembered the movie and it downer of an ending. They opted for happy go lucky fare instead."

Hasn't it been acknowledged by everyone in the world that Bridges' demise was almost single-handedly caused by its terrible early marketing? Why would I want to leave my house in the dead of winter to see a musical being advertised like it was Summer's Eve?"

It wouldn't be BWW without douche-y comments...

As others have mentioned, I think marketing is a large part of it. That marketing team is clever as hell and very strategic. Which is ironic because the show itself is so sloppy and not clever at all.

What do audiences want to see?

There is no single answer to that question, but there always is one, just like there is to the opposite question.

Rotten is, as has been rehearsed in multiple posts above, a well-marketed fun show. Some actors people like, ok music but what sells it is the light but not superficial fun. It is clever.

Bridges is not fun, not important and not exciting. It was poorly marketed. It has music that does not appeal to enough people to sustain a run at anywhere much larger than the basement at 45 Bleecker. And it has actors who are known only to that same crowd. It is not clever.

That's the simple explanation but it doesn't really need much trenchant analysis.

"I guess all the Tony nods were a fluke."

So when they get nods, they deserve them. When they don't, they were snubbed. When the critics like a show you like, they are accurate. When they don't, they have something against it?

Updated On: 8/11/15 at 03:15 PM

i agree with marketing as well. Me and my mom were walking through times square and the first show she asked me about was something rotten. Finding Neverland is the same exact thing too

I really think it has to do with the producing and the marketing after reading all of your comments. I love the big "LOSER" sign in Times Square. It's pretty hilarious, and gets my attention. I found the show a bit of a retread - every song was a "showstopper" with tap and showgirls, which got old. But I'm soooo curious to know what changes would have been made had this had its Seattle premiere.

It wouldn't be BWW without douche-y comments...

Douchebags are hygienic products; I take that as a compliment.

BRIDGES should have emphasized the heat between the illicit lovers and underscored the TV ad with the best of the show's sweeping score. It truly deserved a longer run. As to SOMETHING ROTTEN, I kind of checked my inner-critic at the door and had a great time. I had a fantastic orchestra seat for that intro $15.95 price and made a return visit courtesy of their online lottery. The performers are ingratiating, and I find the largely upbeat score superior to the mostly lugubrious, "important"-sounding scores that drag down so many shows these days, like DOCTOR ZHIVAGO and AMAZING GRACE. SR is a fun show that makes you feel good. And like the old movie asks, "what's so bad about feeling good?".

Updated On: 8/12/15 at 09:32 AM

I think it's absolutely word of mouth and the advertising team. For me personally, it became a confirmed part of my summer trip after seeing the Tony performance, which I thought was much more fun than just about anything else on the Tonys this year

I didn't like "Something Rotten" much, either (of the five shows I saw in May, it was my least favorite), but I do think it occupies the "pure fun" niche nicely. If you already saw "Book of Mormon" and you're looking for something else that has music and lotsa laughs, "Something Rotten" is the one that leaps out at you.

I invested in Something Rotten before I ever heard a single note or word of dialogue. Time will tell if it ends up recouping (I'm hopeful). I don't usually like to talk about my specific broadway investments on this board, but given the question and the curiosity as to how it become a hit so quickly, I thought folks might be interested in an investor's perspective and why I thought it would be a hit.

What sold me on it as an investment was #1 Kevin McCollum's involvement. He has a great track record for a producer and has produced a lot of shows that have been commercial successes. Second, I was drawn in by the fun premise and all the good buzz it was getting here on the forums. It was also not the easiest show to get into as an investor (it was committed quickly), so I think I was, probably irrationally, also attracted to the scarcity of and demand for the investment.

Side note: Although I called it a hit above, I actually feel like it is selling way below its potential and I wish it were doing better. Further, I'm not saying that how I made a decision to invest is a good way to make a decision, so please don't flame me for being open and candid. I'm just giving some insight into my own considerations, right or wrong.

Updated On: 8/13/15 at 12:06 PM