It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

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It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/5/08 at 9:49pm

Jan/Feb & March of 2009 will be brutal.

Those shows surviving may envy those that announced closings in 2008. Hopefully, this will wring out the excesses & enable more of the masses to see a show when the dust settles - whenever that might be.

I doubt that Broadway will be like it is now. Marginal shows will never be produced & other shows will have a tougher time getting backeers.

Poster Emeritus

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/5/08 at 10:03pm

I honestly think that all this will pass and great shows will resurface in time.
it's the reflection of what's going on in the US and the world
Broadway will survive

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/5/08 at 10:06pm

I agree with Raul. We are just going to have to ride this one out. It is extremely unfortunate that alot of great shows will be closing in January, but Broadway will get through it. No one ever guaranteed that it would always be an easy road for shows.

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/5/08 at 10:11pm

Obama says we must be positive.
Yes we will go thru some rough times.
But we Must look forward to the shows coming in
with a new Hope.
Go Off Broadway.
THE FABULOUS INVALID will Survive!

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/5/08 at 10:12pm

Does anyone else think this may have a reverse effect for those shows remaining open? I think the shows that are staying open will see larger crowds, because theater-goers will have fewer options. Maybe i'm just being optimistic:)?

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/5/08 at 10:16pm

I thought this thread was going to be about roxy getting denied entrance to another restaurant.

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/5/08 at 10:18pm

well no you aren't being optimistic because that will happen! lol
just think... if a lot of shows close, then you have less of a selection to choose from so people will all go to the shows that are open... kinda like what happened with the strike. the shows that WERE open saw TONS of business since no one could see anything else

and I also hope that this means we will get better quality musicals
because its risky to produce a musical right now, so hopefully it will make producers, writers and everyone think twice and put forth twice as much effort

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/5/08 at 10:26pm

I just hope that things are looking better by the time "Rebecca" makes her way over. I'd hate for that to be delayed or canceled for financial reasons.

-- SDG

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/5/08 at 10:51pm

And I think that it's going to be more like it was right after 9/11. More mind-less fun fluff like "Mamma Mia" and less shows like "The Visit".

"A coherent existance after so many years of muddle" - Desiree' Armfelt, A Little Night Music "Life keeps happening everyday, Say Yes" - 70, Girls, 70 "Life is what you do while you're waiting to die" - Zorba

#10

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/5/08 at 11:03pm

"and I also hope that this means we will get better quality musicals
because its risky to produce a musical right now, so hopefully it will make producers, writers and everyone think twice and put forth twice as much effort"

Unfortunately it's just as likely that risk-averse producers will stick to brand name entertainment concepts like "The Flintstones" and "The Addams Family", which along with Shrek will just increase the sense that Broadway is mostly a big corporate theme park. (Of course these could both be brilliant shows - I hope they are.)

If things really get bleak watch for the sort of union busting rhetoric we're now hearing with regards to America's already-dead auto industry.

"I have got to have some professional music!" - Big Edie

#11

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/5/08 at 11:05pm

I completely agree with BrianIdol.

#12

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/5/08 at 11:16pm

ok, Legally Blonde was ok, it wasn't high art or anything, but it was fun
but Shrek.. I listened to it and the music gave me a headache and I just wish they would NOT do spiderman... like NO NO NO!
and same with flintstones

but the one movie i wish they would do as a musical would be Walk to Remember... I would rather see that than Shrek and Spiderman

#13

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/5/08 at 11:35pm

I can remember at some point in the mid 80's before Phantom or Les Miz came to Broadway that things were so bad at some point that there were only 11 shows on broadway because everything closed in june after the tony's. Broadway bounced back then and it will now.

#14

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/6/08 at 12:05am

It will bounce back once the economy bounces back, the problem is a lot of people can't afford to go to the theatre like they could before. Once things pickup, it will be like this period never happened.

#15

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/6/08 at 12:11am

"Fanny And Freddy: The F*CKS That Held Broadway Hostage The Musical"

Herbie: "Honey, Don't you know there's a depression?"
Rose: "Of Course I know, I Watch Fox News"
-(modified)Gypsy
Broadway Schedule
December 5th- Hamilton, On Your Feet
December 19th- Noises Off, Edith Piaf Concert at Town Hall

#16

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/6/08 at 12:58am

just putting this out there that it will probably be 3-5 years till the economy bounces back....

...everyone was doing the mambo and drinking golden cadillacs...

#17

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/6/08 at 4:07am

Maybe the ticket prices will go down?

#18

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/6/08 at 7:15am

What are you smoking?

Poster Emeritus

#19

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/6/08 at 7:18am

The Shubert organization would rather house Paris Hilton in MAME than lower ticket prices by five cents.

Formerly SirNotAppearing - Joined 3/08

#20

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/6/08 at 7:28am

You hit the nail on the head.

Poster Emeritus

Updated On: 12/6/08 at 07:28 AM

#21

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/6/08 at 7:58am

Ticket prices have always and forever will be inflexible downward.

Geez, January 4 is going to be a sh*tty day. I just hope they manage to put some shows in there. I think we're looking at a lot of VANITIES-style cancellations. Especially with shows like THE STORY OF MY LIFE, REASONS TO BE PRETTY, and DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS.

#22

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/6/08 at 8:28am

From what I can see and what is lined up to come in, we are going to turn more to plays than musicals and hopefully, fingers crossed, Off-Broadway will make a come back! There are good shows in smaller scale.

As far as producing, yes, people will have to get wiser on their choices of shows and with empty houses, I'm sure the big 3 will start producing their own work opposed to just being landlords.

But yeah, The Flintstones (Nathan Lane definitely as Fred?!) and other crap scheduled, I hope this does slap these people in the head and TRY to put on quality as people can't throw away $200+ plus for a pair of tickets.

I once heard someone describe her (Ruthie Henshall) singing as sounding as though she's trying to swallow a whole meatball slightly larger than her windpipe. (The same person compared Michael Ball's singing to sounding as though he's sitting on a washing machine on spin cycle and Colm Wilkinson's to a man with a paralyzed lip trying to eat cottage cheese.) --- Schmerg_The_Impaler

#23

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/6/08 at 10:11am

"I just hope that things are looking better by the time "Rebecca" makes her way over. I'd hate for that to be delayed or canceled for financial reasons."

I know, right?

Butters, go buy World of Warcraft, install it on your computer, and join the online sensation before we all murder you. --Cartman: South Park ATTENTION FANS: I will be played by James Barbour in the upcoming musical, "BroadwayWorld: The Musical."

#24

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/6/08 at 11:45am

I think Broadway could possibly go back to the time that LI mentioned. I hope I am wrong, but I won't be surprised if we start hearing the word postponement a lot regarding the incoming shows. There are so many predictions out there but it seems that we won't even start to see an upswing in the economy until next fall. I posted the link in a few other threads, but I watched the edition of Theater Talk with Emmanuel Azenberg and James Freyberg and they discussed the affect the economy will have on theater. It doesn't look pretty. And it is starting to affect off-Broadway.

Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder

#25

re: It Is Going To Be Really Ugly

Posted: 12/6/08 at 12:10pm

To me, the first shocking closing of a musical was GREASE because it had been doing well (I don't followed straight plays easily). I'm not sure if this string of closings is a sign of the times or the natural course of events. 13 and TALE OF TWO CITIES never had strong reviews/word of mouth, and the others all had successful runs.

We're in a stage of panic now, which could yet be reversed. I guess only time will tell.
Broadway Mouth: Now I'm a Believer

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