How Long Do You Think [title of show] will Last- Page 2

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 4:09pm

Wow...it is still open! kidding...

If the numbers don't pickup - which I doubt they will...even on a low budget it is doomed.

OK - How about Stunt Casting!
To start I nominate: Rosie O'Donnell and Tom Cruise.

Rosie because she usually likes to stick her nose in everything and Tom...well...he's a "friend of Rosie" - and of course...let's see if Oprah can add some funding as an extra producer! (Because Tom likes her couch to jump on.)

Maybe we could leave 2 of the originals in the show, they could write a song about 50 percent and the ghost of Dorothy Loudon could sing it!

[winston89]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 4:32pm

Ed, I agree with what you said down to the last word.

I do think that if Glory Days didn't come along that this show should have taken Circle in the square or The Booth. I think that if it were to have taken the booth, then it would be like what you said about Xanadu in your post. A show that is in a theatre that is smack in the middle of the theatre district, a show that people might buy tickets to due to not being able to find tickets for anything else.

[logan0215]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 4:54pm

Circle in the Square probably would have been ideal...

Spelling Bee didn't have much of an intriguing name either but I think became a good "2nd choice" or "back-up" show as a result of being right next to Wicked, which aided its long run.

[winston89]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 4:57pm

Also, back when Spelling Bee did have a lotto, their lotto started right as Wicked ended. So everyone that lost the Wicked lotto went over and did the lotto for spelling Bee.

[GIZMO2]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 4:57pm

I think the real question is this:

Given his obsession with musicals that performed less than 50 times on Broadway, would Jeff prefer his musical to be ranked among them, or on the opposite extreme, prefer his musical to win a Tony?

And when is their 50th performance (since opening night) btw? Is it before or after Labor Day?

Maybe one of you guys could ask Jeff about this at Borders on Thursday afternoon.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 4:59pm

I owe the cast a box of Rice Krispie Treats.

[GIZMO2]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 5:14pm

Oh, and about the stunt casting Rosie remark:

Don't underestimate star power.

Just look at Xanadu, the little musical on wheels that could. The moment it lost Cheyenne's dance belt to Damn Yankees, it took only one word to keep that little show on the charts: WHOOPI.

Problem is, Jeff and Hunter basically created characters that could never be performed by anyone but themselves. If some big names did take over, it would make the already cryptic dialogue even more indecipherable (e.g., the scenes where they talk about Sutton Foster replacing Heidi).

[twoladies]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 5:43pm

"I think the real question is this:

Given his obsession with musicals that performed less than 50 times on Broadway, would Jeff prefer his musical to be ranked among them, or on the opposite extreme, prefer his musical to win a Tony?"

This is what I've been thinking also. But then, Hunter wrote the book, and I would think he would want it to win a Tony. So maybe they're pulling two different directions?

[fanadu1996]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 6:02pm

it may be a great show, but tourist have NO interest in seeing that show. its like being an outsider on an inside joke. and they NEED to appeal to the tourist if you are going to survive, sad to say.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 7:11pm

"Didn't DRS play for a year after Lithgow left?"

It was about eight months. Lithgow left in January and the show closed in September.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 7:37pm

it may be a great show, but tourist have NO interest in seeing that show. its like being an outsider on an inside joke.

Gotta agree with that one. Especially when the mega-fans of the show seem to think they have to laugh earlier, louder and longer than anyone. I have heard more than one person make the comment that it seemed like the audience was "filled with family and close friends of the performers". Reports from various nights. That really doesn't make your everyday person want to see it. It almost made this local very much into theatre person not want to. I did, and thought the show was ok...nothing spectacular, and definitely not worthy of all the loud and hysterical laughter coming from a few select locations.

[Patash]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 8:23pm

From all I hear, mere mortals who simply like, but aren't obsessed with, Broadway shows, have no chance to see it. They cant' even hear it over the shrieks and screams of the cult.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 8:24pm

There were several lines that I missed no matter how hard I listened because people were laughing so loud and long. And the 4 on stage didn't bother to wait for it to die down, which only adds to the feeling of exclusivity among the followers/lovers and the rest of the commoners.

Updated On: 7/29/08 at 08:24 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 9:06pm

This is really sad to talk about.

Especially about this show in particular.

I just wish they would've taken the CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE. It would've been a perfect venue for this show, it would've probably been more financially and commercially lucrative in a smaller venue, especially one right next door to the biggest hit Broadway's probably ever seen.

And now with COLORED GIRLS up in the air, apparently, I'm hoping maybe they'll move to the CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE, but I know they won't. They should've snatched it up right after SPELLING BEE closed.

I hope this show finds its audience. It's not perfect in any respect, but it's fun and entertaining (and original) and deserves to make a profit.
Updated On: 7/29/08 at 09:06 PM

[Ivan2]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 9:20pm

I too, wish they would have been able to take advantage of Circle in the Square. The show is creative and would pair perfectly with the creative space. It's not as big, meaning less money to rent. I think the show sounds great, as I've never seen it, but I would think I would feel like a lot of it is lost in such a big space. It too, wish that they'll pack up and move to Circle in the Square just to take advantage of it's ability to bring more out of the show than traditional theatres can. And the location right next to Wicked could be good too, especially with all of those lotto losers :-P

[GIZMO2]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 11:06pm

Can't say that I agree with the idea that [tos] would be perfect at Circle in the Square. Yes, on one hand it would give them better exposure to tourists/theater goers from a geographic perspective, given that its next to Wicked. But the venue itself, with its thrust stage, is not conducive to [tos]'s box-like set that (Spoiler Alert!!!) flies away in the end.

I suppose they could do with Circle in the Square what they did with Winter Gardens after Cats left and Mamma Mia moved in: Create more of a proscenium. But that would mean filling the space with more seats, which is not what a show like [tos] needs. They can't fill their seats right now as it is.

[GIZMO2]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 11:10pm

Oh, and by the way, "cults" at Broadway shows are nothing new, so you can't blame [tos] for that. Blame RENT. That's when it really started, I think, with the Rent-heads.

You can blame the performers for not pausing a bit after lines, though. Somehow I think Jeff, Hunter, Susan and Heidi just get so caught up in their 15 minutes of fame they forget the real reason why they're on stage.

[GIZMO2]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 11:23pm

I TOTALLY APOLOGIZE for posting SO MUCH, but I really have to move up in the hierarchy of this message board. I hate being a "Swing" when so many people here are "Broadway Legend."

[!!!!]

And [tos] is really the only interesting thing to talk about in theater these days.

So please forgive me.

Oh, and some of you may have picked up on the fact that my feelings toward [tos] have changed/evolved over the past few days. I no longer hate it as much as I used to.

With their reported earnings, picking on [tos] these days doesn't feel like before, when we were going up against the "class clown." Now it feels more like we're picking on the fat kid in the back of room -- you know, the one with greasy hair and pimples and the one whose parents can't afford to buy him new clothes on the first day of school?

No, I can't attack a kid like that.

I'd much rather pick on the class clown; that obnoxious, in-your-face freak deserves to be bullied and ultimately squashed.

[tos], however, does not.
Updated On: 7/29/08 at 11:23 PM

[glitterandjazzhands]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 11:42pm

I think [title of show] might be able to survive if every keeps telling 9 people! While it is a hot topic on Broadway right now, I know my parents would never come with me to see it. I personally love the show and plan to see it again in November (if it lasts that long which I hope it does!) but I plan to see it with theatre friends. What I was worried about when its Broadway opening was announced was its appeal to tourists. This whole thing is very on-the-edge-of-your-seat. :/

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 11:44pm

Maybe I'm alone here, but I feel like most people really don't care how many posts you have. In fact, I feel like triple posting instead of just editing into one is a great way to annoy a lot of people, and won't help to up your status around here. Again, maybe that's just me.

[winston89]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 11:44pm

I remember watching one (only one I watched actually) episode of The Title Of Show Show on thier website. They talked about how The Booth was one theatre that they wanted. I could have seen it doing well at The Booth and can sort of do what Xanadu did/does. And, that is that being right in the middle of things could help out with ticket sales. The Helen Hayes is a perfect location for Xanadu because it is right in the theatre district. If a tourist is walking around trying to get tickets for something they can easilly stop by the Helen Hayes and get a ticket for Xanadu because it is right in the middle of things.

Had they used the boot not only would it have been a good size theatre for the show, it would also be right in the middle of things as well. Unfortunatly, it is at The Lycuem, a theatre that you can't really see just by walking around. It is sort of tucked in the back out of eye sight. And I find that if I didn't know that it was there and where it was I might think that the theatre wasn't there at all.

I think that with the show being what it is and the numbers being what they are. The Lyceum was the ultimit bad choice for theatres for this show.

And, as for comparing the cult following of Title Of Show to something like the Rent Heads. I feel that that difference is like night and day. Rent, although it had/has a cult following, it also had a story that anyone could see and understand. Title of Show just has the cult following and a show that no one would get if they weren't a constent theatre goer and knew a lot about Broadway. A catagory most tourists don't fit in unfortunatly.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 3:47am

I think [title of show] might be able to survive if every keeps telling 9 people!

Ah, but you want them only telling GOOD things to 9 people. Couple of problems...

1) The people who don't love it or who feel isolated because of the obsessive behavior (Yes, I realize this didn't start with them, but I've never actually EXPERIENCED it...other than the pre-pubescent "I was only a fetus when Rent started" girl screaming bloody murder in my ears when Adam and Anthony came back, and she thankfully lost her voice midway through Act 1.) are going to tell FAR more than 9 people. It's a simple fact business have known for years. For every 1 person that someone who's happy tells, there are 10 that someone who's unhappy tells. So a lot more people are going to hear from people who don't like it or felt like they were the only non-family members of the performers in the audience.

And 2) Just because you tell someone and they go will not make them rabid fans. Lord knows if that was the case I'd be totally hooked because of my roommate and pseudo-roommate who love it. But I'm not. I don't hate it. I'm just very, very neutral on it. The one song I actually did really like kept getting interrupted with silly dialogue, which totally annoyed me. Just let a song play through. But I digress. Point being, just telling them won't make them a) see it or b) love it too.

Updated On: 7/30/08 at 03:47 AM

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 7:54am

Although I unfortunately think it's going to have a lifespan closer to "Passing Strange" than "Xanadu," both of those shows struggled for most of their runs. Weeks under 50%, even 40%,for "Passing" especially weren't uncommon, as were weeks under $200,000 and that show seemed almost as culty as some portray TOS as being. As I said last week, the low ticket price average could be a result of the $47.50 discount and TKTS...I know I took advantage of that.

I'm hoping word of mouth spreads, advertising improves and it gets a decent run. In interviews, it seems like the cast is less concerned with a long run that having achieved their dream of making it to Broadway. Hunter's face at curtain call reflects that.

I personally loved the show. It's not perfect and the "donuts for dinner" line died at the performance I saw, but I really identified with what was going on onstage. Cliched as it sounds, I found pieces of a lot of people, including myself, in the cast and their story...plus I laughed harder than I have in a long time and was on the verge of tears at least three times.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 8:45am

In combination with this past weeks Grosses (being SO low)...this is what TDF listed as available tickets with them as of the morning of July 30th:

Available Dates
Sundays: August 3rd 3:00PM, August 3rd 7:30PM, August 10th 3:00PM, August 10th 7:30PM, August 17th 3:00PM, August 17th 7:30PM
Mondays: August 4th 8:00PM, August 11th 8:00PM
Tuesdays: August 5th 8:00PM, August 12th 8:00PM
Thursdays: July 31st 8:00PM, August 7th 8:00PM, August 14th 8:00PM
Fridays: August 1st 8:00PM, August 8th 8:00PM, August 15th 8:00PM
Saturdays: August 2nd 3:00PM, August 2nd 8:00PM, August 9th 3:00PM, August 9th 8:00PM, August 16th 3:00PM, August 16th 8:00PM

That really does not lead me to believe that the hope that it would pick up after opening worked.

[fvalle24]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 12:55pm

The show has many dynamics to it. I find it somewhat annoying that people refer to it as too insidery, or that it’s aimed at theatre folk. All the rap it's getting as being too insidery, makes people ONLY see that part of the show. It has a universal message of perseverance, ambition and friendship. Maybe it doesn’t resonate as loud as the theatre trivia but it’s there, you have to be open minded when watching the show; that maybe the reason why it doesn’t attract tourist. Tourists take it at face value instead of truly connecting with the show.