If Oprah's Name Wasn't Attached... — Page 2

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#26

Oprah helps, but the show stands on its own

Posted: 1/15/06 at 4:08pm

"I think that the majority of people are going to see this show becuase it's THE COLOR PURPLE. A movie (and a novel) that's very close to the heart of many Americans."

Couldn't the same be said for Little Women?

I want to write music. I want to sit down right now at my piano and write a song that people will listen to and remember and do the same thing every morning...for the rest of my life. - Jonathan Larson. Tick, Tick...BOOM!

#27

Oprah helps, but the show stands on its own

Posted: 1/15/06 at 4:11pm

Yes, but Little Woman is much more of a chamber piece. The Color Purple has a brasier, more modern sound to its score, which also attracts people.

#28

Oprah helps, but the show stands on its own

Posted: 1/15/06 at 4:21pm

A majority of Broadway audiences use theatre as a social experience. And what better show to brag to your friends about than the new Oprah show.

#29

Oprah helps, but the show stands on its own

Posted: 1/15/06 at 4:40pm

That too.
Remember, even in the late 70s and 80s, theatre was a regular thing for adults. "What did you do last weekend?" "Oh we went to see a play."
Now, people feel they must take their children (which I don't mind) and they must go to the biggest hit or the one with the biggest name behind it. "What did you do over April break with your kids George?" "OOOOH, WE went to see the NEW OPRAH SHOW!"
People brag about theatre more and make it a big deal, but really back in the day, not even too long ago, it was almost a bi-montly thing for New Yorkers.

#30

Oprah helps, but the show stands on its own

Posted: 1/15/06 at 7:12pm

Well,

1) Little Women had a terrible marketing plan that significantly reduced its potential run. Color Purple has done a fantastic job so far of marketing and selling the show to the masses (Oprah, of course, has helped a lot).

2) Color Purple's reviews were actually mostly mixed-to-positive if you go back and look at them. Some were even more than that and just flat out positive (only a couple were completely negative).

3) Outside the world of message boards, the word-of-mouth on Color Purple has clearly been quite enthusiastic among the crowds of non-regular theatre-goers. People obviously have been strongly talking this show up to their friends because, let's be clear, no amount of promotion from Oprah could alone have turned this show into the now soldout hit that it is, if people coming back from seeing it weren't enjoying so much that they were telling their friends and family to see it.

"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

#31

Oprah helps, but the show stands on its own

Posted: 1/15/06 at 7:17pm

i dont think it would be a flop with out oprah..it is based off a popular book and movie. i'm sure oprah's name is helping out alot but i doubt it would be a flop.

#32

Oprah helps, but the show stands on its own

Posted: 1/15/06 at 10:25pm

"This is really interesting that Oprah backing The Color Purple is found as a positive while ALW is found as a negative for his work with Woman in White???"

1. People like Oprah, from all over the country.
2. The Color Purple is a glorious show.
3. People are sick of Andrew Lloyd Webber.
4. The Woman in White is the same garbage he's been whipping out for years and no one's interested.

"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)

Updated On: 1/15/06 at 10:25 PM

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