If Open ended shows have to run for a long time to recoup...

[GlenCoco]

Posted: 9/21/21 at 2:16pm

Wouldn't logic dictate that limited run shows never make their money back?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/21/21 at 2:19pm

Nope. Limited runs like Boys in the Band recouped. 

[joevitus]

Posted: 9/21/21 at 2:23pm

GlenCoco said: "Wouldn't logic dictate that limited run shows never make their money back?"

Depends on the show, I imagine. A lavish musical? Yup. A small-scale drama or comedy? Not necessarily. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 9/21/21 at 2:45pm

I admit I’m always a little bit surprised that any limited run manages to recoup, because it’s so expensive to put up any Broadway show in general. But it does happen, otherwise no one would do limited runs with a commercial model.

Like Joevitus said, it really depends on the show. Part of the reason we see plays get limited runs more than musicals is that, in general, small-cast plays are cheaper to put up (because the sets and costumes are usually smaller and simpler) and the overall cost of labor is much lower – because the cast will be smaller, the crew will be smaller, and the creative team will be smaller too (no choreographers, orchestrators, copyists, music directors, fewer writers, etc.) and for that matter you also don’t have to pay an orchestra, which is a huge expense for big musicals. Not to mention, plays will usually be in smaller houses, which have lower rents.

So all this is to say that if you have a lower capitalization, and lower running costs, it’s much easier to recoup on a limited run. Especially when you have bankable stars.

Putting up a musical with a limited run is a really bold move, and I’m surprised any producers even attempt it. But even that works out for some. The “Sunday” revival with Gyllenhaal recouped, and I’m sure there are many other examples throughout Broadway history.

[nealb1]

Posted: 9/21/21 at 2:50pm

In 2014, "It's Only A Play" recouped 2 months after it opened.  

Updated On: 9/21/21 at 02:50 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/21/21 at 2:52pm

As Joe said, it's all about the financials. It would be nearly impossible for a commercially-produced show capitalized at more than ~5 mil to recoup in a limited run. A smaller play (budgeted at $1.5-4m) is different, and they are banking on the demand being high for 15 weeks or 20 weeks or however long (usually the demand is due to a star).

If a musical can recoup in such a short time, it usually means the demand is there to run longer (unless it's only due to a star). Every show is different:

Hedwig recouped $5m in 15 weeks

Dear Evan Hansen recouped $9.5m in 9 months

Come From Away recouped $12m in 8 months

Hamilton recouped $12.5m in 8 months

Denzen's Raisin in the Sun recouped $4.25m in 14 weeks

Memphis recouped $12m in just under 3 years, breaking even in the last week of its run

[HogansHero]

Posted: 9/21/21 at 3:24pm

The answer is as always there are no rules. It's worth noting also that the premise of the question is flawed unless you define "a long time" as over, say, 8 months. A show that can sell 100% of its tickets with a fairly high mix of premium is not likely to take forever to recoup.

[soulmistin]

Posted: 9/21/21 at 4:37pm

Didn't Hadestown also recoup in a short amount of time? I can't recall the numbers

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/21/21 at 5:06pm

soulmistin said: "Didn't Hadestown also recoup in a short amount of time? I can't recall the numbers"

If you google "[show title] recoup" Google will usually tell you.

But yes, Hadestown recouped 11.5m in about 8 months.

https://deadline.com/2019/11/hadestown-recoup-investment-broadway-1202782727/