How is Bronx Tale doing so well?

[coreman009]

Posted: 8/16/17 at 11:55am

This is a season that had creative shows like Bandstand and Groundhog Day that couldn't succeed. I get how shows with mediocre reviews such as Anastasia and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory succeed, they were huge movies and have a built in audience. But how is The Bronx Tale a hit?? The movie isn't too well known, there are no stars in it, the reviews were mediocre, and I haven't heard ANY word of mouth. Who is seeing this??

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 8/16/17 at 11:58am

The bridge-and-tunnel crowd that lost Jersey Boys is now going to this. Believe me, we're all as surprised as you are!

[michaelhale]

Posted: 8/16/17 at 12:00pm

I have no idea- maybe advertising? There's a LOT of big ads for it around the city, notably in Port Authority it seems like wall to wall Bronx Tale advertisements. Maybe that sort of recognition is dragging non-theater people in? As well having a NYC name. This is a shot in the dark guess, I cannot imagine choosing to go to that show over Comet or Bandstand or Groundhog Day, but none of those had such persistent large public advertising from what I have seen, living in the city.

[TheThreadMaster]

Posted: 8/16/17 at 12:17pm

I mean the movie was pretty good. "Oh, A Bronx Tale! I remember that movie. Hun wanna go see this?"

If I had to make a scenario of just about every audience member. 

And 4.5 stars on yelp helps a lot too.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 8/16/17 at 12:18pm

I think the movie is more well-known than you think. Palminteri and De Niro are beloved actors and both are closely associated with that particular project.

I have actually heard a lot of good word-of-mouth about the show, particularly from the general non-theatergoer. I suspect its "musical theatre-ness" is harmless enough to draw in crowds who may not want to be "assaulted" by the "stagey" qualities of a show like Great Comet or even Bandstand.

Ticket prices for A Bronx Tale are also fairly reasonable compared to many other shows at the moment. The bottom line is that this show is "flying under the radar," continually bringing in people without causing much of a stir. It's the very definition of a dark horse.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/16/17 at 12:44pm

It's probably also the show that encounters the least resistance from insecure straight dads and uncles when a family's choosing a show to go to.

(I wonder what'll happen to this show when JB opens at New World Stages.)

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 8/16/17 at 12:56pm

I'll echo the comments about the bridge and tunnel crowd (between this and Springsteen, 48th Street will be heaven for them). De Niro, Palminteri, Menken and Zaks all shilled the hell out of it too.

And I know this isn't a popular opinion on this board, but maybe it's doing so well because it's actually a good show. The score isn't Evan Hansen-level by any means, but it's Menken's best work in years. Cordero, Blake, Thornton, DeBose et al are all really good. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it.

[herewegoabc]

Posted: 8/16/17 at 6:34pm

I saw it early in its run, and I enjoyed it well enough. I haven't had any desire to return, but I didn't hate it by any means. I also recommended it to a non-theatre going friend because I figured her husband might grumble less about it than most other options.

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 8/16/17 at 9:46pm

Was talking to one of my friends about this tonight and he put it perfectly: "Moms go see War Paint while dads go see Bronx Tale. That's why they're both staying open."

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/16/17 at 11:33pm

My least favorite show of the season. And a lack of Tony noms kind of backs up that it's not outstanding.

But people watch what they want to watch, at least people are employed.

[BroadwayMan5]

Posted: 8/16/17 at 11:37pm

It's definitely marketed better than Groundhog Day or Bandstand and I think it's tapped into the Jersey Boys crowd. I also think it's one of those shows that wives might be able to drag their husbands to. This is not me saying it's good, it's just managed to tapped into a casual adult crowd whereas the casual family crowd can see things like Anastasia and Charlie. I feel like Groundhog could have been that show too but for whatever reason, it wasn't able to.

[haterobics]

Posted: 8/16/17 at 11:38pm

People buy tickets to see it.

[10086Sundays]

Posted: 8/16/17 at 11:59pm

Last time I was at GHD, the couple behind me were only there because A Bronx Tale was sold out. (Wed matinee, early Aug). They enjoyed GHD though, the woman was in tears at the end. The good kind. 

I think as everyone has said, it's finding its audience through quiet means and just chugging along.  One of those showbiz things you can't predict.

Updated On: 8/17/17 at 11:59 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/17/17 at 1:29am

I saw it and really wanted to like it but it's awful. But they have that great "Jersey Boy meets West Side Story" quote. I heard people at intermission like "It IS just like Wss and Jersey Boys!" So it has something going for it. Just wish it had been better in all aspects. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 8/17/17 at 9:09am

I ride the NJTransit train into the city and they have posters at nearly every stop. They know the donut to which they speak.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/17/17 at 9:14am

haterobics said: "I ride the NJTransit train into the city and they have posters at nearly every stop. They know the donut to which they speak.

 

"

They also advertise heavily in the NJ media markets -- TV and radio. They know who their audience is. It's the Jersey Boys crowd. They see one, maybe two Broadway shows a year. They pay full price. They're not appealing to the Sondheim crowd.