Is it just me or has it turned into Survivor: Broadway Edition!

[pat_NYborn]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 8:04am

Wow,dont recall so many shows closing so close together in such a long time.

So Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, Priscilla, Memphis, Anything Goes, Sister Act, The Lysons...

Am still shocked Jesus Christ Superstar bombed...especially with all the buzz coming from Canada...am assuming we wont be getting something from Stratford anytime soon!

Kinda saw Godspell coming

Actually thought Sister Act and Memphis had a longer run than expected so good for them both...Actually enjoyed them both

Hear absolutly nothing about The Lyons. So have no idea if this was limited engagment or closing early. Dont even know if it was any good.

Real shocked about anything goes. Still remember when that was one of the hardest tickets to get.

Any idea why so many shows are closing? Is it getting to costly to take a chance and run through the summer? So at this point whats next? Am wondering if Streetcar names desire will finish its run as planned and if Ghost will go ahead and make it.

[rjm516]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 8:34am

Seriously I was thinking this BEFORE I saw the Memphis notice! This is crazy, all these long runs. Very sad.

[Famebroadway2]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 8:50am

This is nothing! I remember a few years ago (Jan 2009) I think when there were only a handful of musicals and one play running on Broadway by the end of the month. That was a very sad time indeed.

[Tom1071]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 9:01am

"This is nothing! I remember a few years ago (Jan 2009) I think when there were only a handful of musicals and one play running on Broadway by the end of the month. That was a very sad time indeed."

I remember it well. That was when we knew that the economy was seriously effecting Broadway. 9 shows closed on one Sunday. There were many people out of work and in a panic. People with a laundry list of Broadway credits who hadn't attended an open call in years started showing up at open calls for regional theatres because there was no work.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 9:04am

On the one hand, January closings are the norm. I don't remember the last time I saw so many shows close prior to the Labor Day holiday.

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 9:43am

Sad to see so many shows closing, but can't say it's really all that surprising. There's always a rash of shows that die right after the Tony Awards, especially in a year like this when so many new shows have already been announced for next season and are looking for homes.

I'm a little surprised Superstar tanked as quickly as it did--first weekend of previews it was almost impossible to get a ticket, now it's down to 50% capacity or so. Priscilla, Godspell and Sister Act have been in danger for quite some time now, so no real surprise there. The Lyons just seemed to open at the wrong time and got no real buzz whatsoever. Memphis has been struggling for a while now. And I'm sure Roundabout is thrilled with Anything Goes regardless of the earlier closing, because the earlier closing is still almost a full year longer than the original limited engagement was supposed to last (and who knows, maybe they intentionally extended it longer to generate box office--didn't they do the same thing with Assassins and a couple other shows a while back?)

And I'm pretty sure it's official now that Streetcar will be joining them towards the end of this month (they made an announcement maybe a week ago or so).

[castlestreet]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 9:51am

Shows closing in bunches is not all that uncommon, but I'll agree with the previous posts- so many in Summer is. This is the time when a lot of tourists head into the city and will get tickets to just about anything, so many shows can hang on in the summer months, and then post labor day we look at the grosses on Monday, many shows take serious hits and someone posts a comment like "its not summer anymore". So this is indeed strange.

Sister Act and Priscilla held on much longer than anyone expected and Memphis- I don't even know how to explain how long that show ran for other than to say that I know many people who are not "hard core" theater people who have seen the show in NYC or on tour and thought it was one of the best things they ever saw!?! Who knows. I know it is terrible to say, but maybe if more shows had a harder time catching on and running Producers would start re-thinking Premium prices on every single show before it even becomes a big hit. It just bugs me- sorry.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 10:44am

Premium seats have nothing to do with it. Most theaters drop the price if/when they don't sell. Shows that are closing had PLENTY of reg priced seats to sell.

Edited because I'm a terrible typist on my Fire

Updated On: 6/27/12 at 10:44 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 11:09am

Is everything okay?

[mikem]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 11:32am

The shows themselves aren't closing that close together, but all of these announcements coming right after each other is unusual. Post Tonys, there's usually a few announcements, but not this many.

I wonder what Anything Goes's break-even point is. It's only been below $450,000 once.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 11:40am

Thanks for the concern, Namo. Between their auto correct and the keyboard screen my Fire is less then accurate!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 11:43am

I have the some problem with my Fire, too. I found that using a stylus helps.

Posted: 6/27/12 at 11:53am

Big rashes of closings are like forest fires; It looks TERRIBLE but if the fire didn't burn out the old sick trees there would be no way for new trees to grow.

In a few months we'll have a big shiny forest of fresh new trees.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 12:06pm

^^^ Beautifully said, JoeKv99, and true

[Horton]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 12:20pm

But there is a difference between forest fires, and what's going on in Colorado now. True, it's important for shows to close so new shows can cycle in. But this many shows closing at a time when they should be doing prime business is troubling.

[newintown]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 12:29pm

I don't see it that way at all - some of these shows did great business and now their time is up, and they can make way for new hits, as they should.

Who wants more than 1/2 the available theatres occupied by one tenant each for 20 years? Do you really want to keep seeing the same shows over and over again?

Give us more to see.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 12:44pm

This may come as a shock to you, but shows don't run forever.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 12:52pm

Shows don't run forever, but crappy shows are known to make it through summer. Some of them aren't even making it past dinnertime. I understand that it's cyclical, like every two years or so there's a thinning (particularly if the product is insubstantial), but this many shows right in a row? Something's wrong with the model, chief.

Posted: 6/27/12 at 1:20pm

Maybe there are too many good shows? The tourist can only afford to see one or two shows. They want to see Newsies and Book of Mormon and Once and that Big Bang Theory guy's play and maybe even Jessica Fletcher's play.... Guess we'll have to pass on Godspell, Becky.

[Skip2]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 1:27pm

Gee, do you maybe think that this thinning out process has to do with, maybe, that TICKETS ARE SELLING FOR $160 ???????

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 1:55pm

Nope -- LOTS of shows are having no problem selling full price tickets. Might folks be MORE careful about how they are spending their money? Sure....but they are spending it.

How many shows grossed more than a million? How many shows had their theaters at 75% or above?

If the audience WANTS to see your show, they will buy tickets.

All the shows that are closing ALL had easy to get discounts, even with that, folks just didn't want to go.

Most tourists will add ONE b'way show to their visit. Are they going to take a risk with lukewarm reviews and no/few Tony Awards/noms or go with what the buzz tells them is worth their money?

Sure, sometimes great shows still can't find an audience, and sometimes mediocre shows DO find one. But you can't tell audiences they are wrong in what they want to see.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 1:58pm

The answer lies in three little words: Zarkana.

[ChildrenwillListen]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 7:09pm

I'm still trying to figure out how Spiderman has managed to hold out. It makes absolutely no sense.

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 8:14pm

It makes plenty of sense actually. It's big, it's flashy and people of all ages like Spiderman. With the new movie out it will only help them.

[bdn223]

Posted: 6/27/12 at 8:45pm

I agree with Namo..even though Zarkana isn't selling out Radio city even filling it only 50% people than at a sold out crowd at 2 broadway houses.