Posted: 4/21/16 at 12:08pm
There's not a logo on this planet that could make a show this odd set the box office on fire. That's why Josh Groban's name is above the title- he's the biggest draw here, the logo isn't.
Posted: 4/21/16 at 12:13pm
QueenAlice said: "I know and it hasn't exactly lit the box office on fire in any of its earlier incarnations...."
All of its previous runs have been limited engagements, though- with apparently enough demand for two off-Broadway engagements in New York.
Posted: 4/21/16 at 12:36pm
^Well, yes, there's that -- although people here like to blame those things at times for a shows failure.
I can't wait to be able to get tickets to see this. (again)
Posted: 4/21/16 at 12:45pm
Kad -- Don't get me wrong - I love this show and am happy to see that it has found its way to Broadway, but truly, the reason this is happening is the persistence of its lead producer, Howard Kagan who is not only passionate about the production but very wealthy. He kept ON THE TOWN running almost a year with his own cash even though ticket sales didn't warrant it.
Similarly, I'm not sure there was really enough ticket demand to warrant the second Off Broadway tent production, but Kagan is to be commended to keeping the show out there. ART is a subscriber house, so I'm not sure we can point to that production's success as meaning much. But getting Groban to sign on for Broadway was a real coup.
This is my suggestion for a poster. A huge image of Gosh Groan's face and on his jacket, that Tsarist Russian coat of arms logo. Solves both problems. Tada!
The other person to be commended is Benton's agent. I've never heard of her and she has equal (and top) billing over Josh Groban.
Updated On: 4/21/16 at 12:45 PM
Posted: 4/21/16 at 12:56pm
Yes, they are a subcriber house....but that alone does not sell out their shows, and certainly NOT with the fervor that this sold out with.
Posted: 4/21/16 at 1:07pm
Dramamamma-- I'm sure the show at ART sold out because it had fabulous word of mouth (because it is fabulous) but in terms of the marketing conversation -- I mean that ART is a subscription house with their own marketing team; my point is that the marketing (logo) in NYC in its two runs I think was only marginally successful. The show had great word of mouth, but it was never a hot ticket in either of its off Broadway tent productions and I think thatwas partly because the marketing campaign didn't really sell what the experience was. That crest logo just didn't do it.
Groban is obviously going to be their main push here, but I still think they need to come up with a marketing campaign that makes the show more enticing than that poster they just put out. I mean if you had no idea what the show was, what would you think it was from that?
Posted: 4/21/16 at 1:15pm
I got my tickets very early, without knowing much about the show, and there were plenty of seats available. I tried three weeks later to get some additional tickets as a gift and found availability to be extremely limited. For whatever reason, whether it was word of mouth from New York or something else, this show sold out very quickly compared to some other shows at A.R.T. (When I bought tickets early in the run for Waitress and Finding Neverland, I had no problem getting good seats just a few days in advance)
I thought the show was one of the most enjoyable experiences I've ever had at A.R.T., and I was very glad my wife talked me into going. However, I agree that it may be a hard sell on its own merits at first, so hopefully Groban's name will give it some breathing room while it builds up positive momentum and word of mouth. I'm really pulling for this to be a hit.
Posted: 4/21/16 at 9:50pm
Is Denee Benton above the title? http://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/first-look-groban-benton-the-great-comet-poster_76801.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=21apr2016
Posted: 4/21/16 at 9:53pm
In that poster, it would appear so, since her name is literally above the title, next to the words "JOSH GROBAN"
Updated On: 4/22/16 at 09:53 PM
Posted: 4/21/16 at 9:56pm
I'm kind of confused on who can be above the title. I thought the person who is above the title is like the most famous this sells the most tickets. As much as I love her, Denee doesn't strike me as someone who can sell tickets.
Posted: 4/21/16 at 10:00pm
Too bad they didn't consult you before they designed the poster!
Posted: 4/21/16 at 10:12pm
Anyone can be above the title if the producers want them to be. Denee Benton isn't a name, but she's playing the biggest role in the show and the name of her character is the first word of the title. It makes sense for her to be above the title.
Posted: 4/21/16 at 10:15pm
wonderfulwizard11 said: "Anyone can be above the title if the producers want them to be. Denee Benton isn't a name, but she's playing the biggest role in the show and the name of her character is the first word of the title. It makes sense for her to be above the title. "
Exactly. And sometimes you see the flip-side, where someone famous is in a show but not above the title, like Marlee Matlin in Spring Awakening.
Posted: 4/21/16 at 10:42pm
Anyone can be above the title: that's a producer's call -- but I frankly think its silly for anyone to be over the title for this show which is just about the definition of 'ensemble musical.' It would be like having Phillipa Soo and Lin Manuel Miranda over the title for HAMILTON. I wonder if they will be beefing up Groban's role because off Broadway at least, it was almost a supporting part.
Posted: 4/21/16 at 11:13pm
QueenAlice said: "I wonder if they will be beefing up Groban's role because off Broadway at least, it was almost a supporting part."
They already did. Malloy wrote an extra song for Pierre in act 1 called "Dust and Ashes." It was in the show at A.R.T, and it was a pretty meaty number. I think it was something like 7 minutes long.
Posted: 4/24/16 at 12:10am
Weird that they chose to exclude 'and' on the poster, it just says Natasha Pierre the Great Comet of 1812. Maybe they are opting for just The Great Comet of 1812. Groban and Benton's costumes look awesome though!
Posted: 4/24/16 at 12:13am
I think Groban's involvement will def. make this feel less "ensemble" like.
Posted: 4/24/16 at 12:20am
I just hope he manages to act the part well, and I really wanna hear the new 'Dust and Ashes' song! Anyone got *ahem* a recording for it?
Posted: 4/24/16 at 1:52am
I actually wonder if we'll get a new recording when it comes to broadway. The original recording is so amazing but I would love to add this new cast to my collection.
Posted: 4/24/16 at 2:10am
I certainly hope there's a new recording! It seems a bit pointless, considering a decent amount of the cast is the same, but I don't think they'd pass on the opportunity to make a new recording with Mr Groban. By the way, how popular is Josh Groban? Is he really that much of a draw? (Forgive my ignorance, I've just never met someone who's a fan to be honest).
Posted: 4/24/16 at 3:15am
He just had a major tour
Posted: 4/24/16 at 3:27am
PerfidiousRaoul said: "I certainly hope there's a new recording! It seems a bit pointless, considering a decent amount of the cast is the same, but I don't think they'd pass on the opportunity to make a new recording with Mr Groban. By the way, how popular is Josh Groban? Is he really that much of a draw? (Forgive my ignorance, I've just never met someone who's a fan to be honest)."
He's huge. I think most of his fans are middle-aged women (people who coincidentally love Broadway shows).
Updated On: 4/24/16 at 03:27 AM
Posted: 4/24/16 at 3:39am
He's a huge draw, yes. Grammy nominated, as well. Good title for marketing.
Posted: 4/24/16 at 3:51am
He may not be a radio star in the way say Beyonce is but he's definitely extremely popular especially as gypsy says with certain key demographics.
Posted: 4/24/16 at 4:34am
He also has 863,277 followers on Twitter if that's a measure of popularity 
He is currently in the middle of a sold out tour of Australia for his 'Stages' album and has been talking about his upcoming Broadway debut. He did a Q&A session for his record company this week and had this to say about the Great Comet...
https://twitter.com/WarnerMusicAU/status/721935469898928129
