LEAP OF FAITH to Close on Broadway Sunday, May 13 — Page 4

Damn I wasn't expecting this to happen so soon. I'll have to try to go see it this weekend. Thankfully plenty of tickets should be available lol

I am mystified as to how people could have looked at the LA reviews as said, "Gee, now THAT'S a show I want to invest my thousands in!" I can't believe that there are people who can throw a few hundred thousand around to invest in these shows. What did they see in a project like this? It's the same way I feel about the people who keep investing in Wildhorn shows. Time after time the musicals get ripped apart by the critics, lose a great deal of money, and (with the exception of Jekyll and Hyde) have extremely short runs. Where's the attraction in investing in those kinds of shows. Sure, most Sondheim shows never recoup, but investors can at least have bragging rights about the critical acclaim and awards they usually pick up.

Sadly it seems to be a big problem in the US that each show needs 4000 producers. Our thoughts go to the actors and crew involved in this production who will be jobless. Let's not forget people rely on this show for food on the table.

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The investors don't need the show to succeed for food on the table -- they are weatlthy folk. Investing is a gamble, no different than play the slots or blackjack in Vegas. Peoople that invest (or gamble) more than they can afford to lose, are fools.

The arts ARE a gamble, for all involved: the dressers, the stagehands andd all the way up to the producerss. It's part of the business.

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Nick, I know you're close-ish with Alan Menken, but he of all people doesn't need to worry about food on the table this season... of course it's always sad when a show closes, but there will be other shows and other employment opportunities for people who were in this or are even out of work now.

The reason Leap of Faith had a gazillion producers will be because no-one had enough faith (pun fully intended) in the show to invest a huge amount. As a consequence, no-one will lose out too heavily with the show's closing.

I agree with the posters who say that the nature of the business is feast or famine and that it goes with the territory etc. etc. BUT when 2 major musicals close (LEAP and NICE WORK) this immediately puts all of the staff at both venues out of work at a point when there are no new shows producing. The ushers, the house crew, the box office and management staff of a dark theatre are without jobs. The actors and musicians will be hard pressed to find other shows right now... it may be the fall if they're lucky. The actors will have missed the boat on regional or Summer Stock work for this year so it's unemployment insurance and/or waiting tables for them. Yes... there are typically shows waiting in the wings for empty theatres but not at this time of year typically.

Personally, I wasn't "decrying" anything... merely pointing out that when people seemingly rejoice about the turnover of a theatre, that there are consequences to that which are not all that rosy.

What about all the people who will be employed in the next show coming into the St. James? Why are you against them getting jobs? These are peoples' dreams, their livelihoods, their professions. And here you are, saying that those people shouldn't get a chance because "LOF" closing means people will lose their jobs. "LOF" not closing means a different group people won't get jobs in the first place.

Why are the artists involved in "LOF" more deserving of jobs than the people in the show that will replace it? Why does Alan Menken get to clog up a theatre that could be showcasing the work of a new up-and-comer, or a new masterpiece from an established hand? Why does Raul Esparza get to steal away the chance of someone else to play a leading role in a Broadway musical?

I get the impression that there are people that think the shows that are running on Broadway right this minute are the only shows that should ever play Broadway, because "it's sad when people lose their jobs". That the Broadway of today should be the Broadway of forever. "Leap of Faith" should stay at the St. James, "Ghost" should stay at the LF, everything should stay where it is because "it's unfortunate for those people to lose their jobs." No new shows, no new work, just "jobs" for a select group of people, regardless of the quality of the piece or the desire of an audience to see it.

I'm torn; on one hand I'm sad to see this punching bag of a show close, but on the other hand I'm happy to see the Cuban Goat humbled. What's next for Mr. E? Jenny Craig spokesman?

Alan Menken tweeted that the obcr was still high on his agenda, uncageg.

So hopefully we will get a recording.

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Speed-the-Plow recouped.

I'm going to be seeing this tomorrow. It's been a week of seeing closing shows for me lol Saw Seminar on Saturday and Magic-Bird this afternoon.