Is Broadway Doomed? — Page 2

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#26

Is Broadway Doomed?

Posted: 3/13/13 at 5:46pm

"Production costs have gone up so much that shows that used to be produced on Broadway don't have a chance."

To be fair, some increased production costs are due to the perceived demand for "special effects" and expensive, fancy automated sets. Many shows have proven these things are not necessary, but they bloat a budget real quick. Legally Blonde's automated set and lifts cost a fortune and many did not feel they were necessary, but Jerry Mitchell was apparently insistent on it. As long as producers and directors remain convinced that they need gimmicks, props, and effects to sell a show, production costs will remain high.

Obviously since this technology is new, these costs weren't a factor in the "Golden Age".

"Get mad, then get over it." - Colin Powell

Updated On: 3/13/13 at 05:46 PM

#27

Is Broadway Doomed?

Posted: 3/13/13 at 6:15pm

Production costs have gone up so much that shows that used to be produced on Broadway don't have a chance.

Which shows? The hypothetical ones based on nostalgic notions or the shows that, you know, do get produced on Broadway every season? But thanks for the laugh.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#28

Is Broadway Doomed?

Posted: 3/13/13 at 6:19pm

...you can probably say the same thing about newpapers, magazines, radio and network tv....

Absolutely!

#29

Is Broadway Doomed?

Posted: 3/13/13 at 6:24pm

The question is, why do want Broadway to be doomed?

#30

Is Broadway Doomed?

Posted: 3/13/13 at 6:26pm

yankeefan1, the one and only jukebox musical I ever found entirely successful was AIN'T MISBEHAVIN', and that was because Maltby used Waller's music to tell the story of the black experience in the early and mid-20th century. (I take that back: SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM worked brilliantly because the small scale allowed us to fully appreciate lyrics and music that were sometimes overshadowed by more elaborate productions.)

But now that TV commercials have as much or more impact than reviews, a commercial with a soundtrack of familiar hits will tend to be more appealing that one which only features snippets of music the paying public has never heard before. This, I think, explains the success of jukebox musicals.

#31

Is Broadway Doomed?

Posted: 3/13/13 at 6:37pm

GavestonPS - I agree with you and understand completely but it still ticks me off. In some ways, I find it very "lazy" and it shows a lack of creativity in most cases. The other thing I would like to mention that every year there is usually several good original plays (drama)but unfortunately they don't gather the big audience or attention that musicals get from the general public.

#32

Is Broadway Doomed?

Posted: 3/13/13 at 6:56pm

I wonder what people felt about one of the article's more provocative points that the Broadway discount industry is not only parasitic but is also now such a force that it's shaping production.

Updated On: 3/14/13 at 06:56 PM

#33

Is Broadway Doomed?

Posted: 3/13/13 at 7:02pm

They felt it was articulate!

Updated On: 3/13/13 at 07:02 PM

#34

Is Broadway Doomed?

Posted: 3/13/13 at 7:58pm

yankeefan, when the top ticket for a Broadway musical was $12.50 (even in mid-70s dollars), I thought nothing of paying to see any new musical or play, whether or not I knew anything about it.

Even allowing for inflation, at $150 per ticket, I just can't afford to be so cavalier. And, frankly, rather than paying that price for a straight play, I'd usually just as soon wait for the movie.

#35

Is Broadway Doomed?

Posted: 3/13/13 at 8:18pm

"Which shows? The hypothetical ones based on nostalgic notions or the shows that, you know, do get produced on Broadway every season?."

Not hypothetical, I think if Lanford Wilson or August Wilson were writing for the first time now, their plays would not be produced on Broadway. Likewise, plays like "Children of a Lesser God", if that were a new play, that show would not be produced on Broadway with the cast it had. Nowadays shows have to last more than three years to get a profit. It used to be 6 months was a good run. For really good shows that used to be on Broadway , you have to go off broadway to see.

My apologies for the "Thanks for Laugh" comment I made. After rereading it, it was rather snarky.

#36

Is Broadway Doomed?

Posted: 3/14/13 at 11:04am

3 years to recoup? Did I miss the parts where ONCE, NEWSIES, ONE MAN TWO GUV'NORS, BOOK OF MORMON, GLENGARRY, THE HEIRESS, THE BEST MAN, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, HAIR, THE MOUNTAINTOP, THE MOTHERF**KER WITH THE HAT... recouped in less than 3 years?

Granted, many shows that years ago would have been hits haven't recouped or are taking longer to due to higher production costs, but a sweeping generalization is as wrong today as it was years ago.

Words don't deserve that kind of malarkey. They're innocent, neutral, precise, standing for this, describing that, meaning the other, so if you look after them you can build bridges across incomprehension and chaos. But when they get their corners knocked off, they're no good anymore…I don't think writers are sacred, but words are. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.

#37

Is Broadway Doomed?

Posted: 3/14/13 at 11:38am

I think if Lanford Wilson or August Wilson were writing for the first time now, their plays would not be produced on Broadway. Likewise, plays like "Children of a Lesser God", if that were a new play, that show would not be produced on Broadway with the cast it had.

I don't see why not. We have new plays being produced every season. Sometimes without major stars. Lanford Wilson and August Wilson didn't just get produced on Broadway out of nowhere. It was years before either of them had a play produced on Broadway. Lanford had a disastrous Broadway debut and was not produced again on Broadway for another decade. Children of a Lesser God was previously produced at New Mexico State University and the Mark Taper Forum before it went to Broadway. Not unlike how plays arrive on Broadway today. August: Osage County was the first Broadway outing for Tracy Letts and did not contain any major stars, following a successful run at Steppenwolf. Clybourne Park had a similar journey with Bruce Norris making his debut as a Broadway playwright, though the show had previous success in the West End.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

Updated On: 3/14/13 at 11:38 AM

#38

Is Broadway Doomed?

Posted: 3/14/13 at 1:12pm

GavestonPS - Understand your points regarding price. Going with my wife and daughters to "Matilda" and "Newsies" in May and paying $600 for each show is mind boggling. My daughters are 24 and 22 so they are paying us pack for their tickets but it was still amazing to see that amount of money being charged to my credit card for two nights entertainment.

As for plays, I have not seen that many in recent years because there is usually a bunch of musicals we all want to see a bunch. I will say that I am so glad that I got to see plays like "Doubt","War Horse" and the "Normal Heart". Seeing the amazing live performance of Cherry Jones in "Doubt" could not be matched IMO in a movie.

#39

Is Broadway Doomed?

Posted: 3/14/13 at 3:32pm

Good point. I didn't mean to dismiss all straight plays. I had a subscription to the Mark Taper for years. But while I'm sure the performances were wonderful, I wouldn't drive several hours and pay $300 to see a glorified TV movie like OTHER DESERT CITIES.

On the other hand, M. BUTTERFLY brought as much imagination to the stage as any musical. Ditto CLOUD 9 and TOP GIRLS.

I guess what I'm saying is that if I'm going to pay today's prices, I want to see a unique use of the medium.

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