Lack of variety in show's schedules.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 8:32am

In general, it's a little annoying now how few shows sway away from the typical performance schedule. Only three shows are doing Monday evenings and nobody does Thursday matinees anymore. The three Monday shows(Phantom, Chicago & Six) are typically sold-out and there's not that many Off-broadway options, either. Hopefully come the Spring with the addition of new shows we'll see some variety. Just a little Monday rant here.

 

https://www.playbill.com/article/weekly-schedule-of-current-broadway-shows

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 8:36am

Goodness gracious. People will always find something to kvetch about. Then what exactly do you suggest they do that's fair and makes sense to both people working in the industry and audience members???

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 8:57am

ACL2006 said: "In general, it's a little annoying now how few shows sway away from the typical performance schedule. Only three shows are doing Monday evenings and nobody does Thursday matinees anymore. The three Monday shows(Phantom, Chicago & Six) are typically sold-out and there's not that many Off-broadway options, either. Hopefully come the Spring with the addition of new shows we'll see some variety. Just a little Monday rant here".

As someone who rarely gets to New York, and tries to squeeze as many shows in as possible, Monday nights and Sunday nights have always been the hardest spots to find something, and I've always thought an alternative schedule would help with business. 

 

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 9:04am

hearthemsing22 said: "Goodness gracious. People will always find something to kvetch about. Then what exactly do you suggest they do that's fair and makes sense to both people working in the industry and audience members???"


This seems fairly obvious but one thing some shows could implement would be a different schedule. Still doing 8 shows a week but having Tuesdays off instead of Mondays. 

Monday: 7 or 8pm

Tuesday: DARK (instead of Monday) 

Wednesday: 7 or 8pm

Thursday: 2pm and 8pm (add the matinee here instead of Wednesday)

Friday: 8pm

Saturday: 2pm and 8pm  (or, drop the Sat matinee and add it on Sunday instead)

Sunday: 3pm (the usual) or a 7pm curtain instead (or, add the Sat matinee here, making it a 2 show Sunday instead of a two show Saturday)

Updated On: 1/23/23 at 09:04 AM

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 9:06am

Hairspray0901 said: "hearthemsing22 said: "Goodness gracious. People will always find something to kvetch about. Then what exactly do you suggest they do that's fair and makes sense to both people working in the industry and audience members???"


This seems fairly obvious butone thing some shows could implement would be a different schedule. Still doing 8 shows a week but having Tuesdays off instead of Mondays.

Monday: 7 or 8pm

Tuesday: DARK (instead of Monday)

Wednesday: 7 or 8pm

Thursday: 2pm and 8pm (add the matinee here instead of Wednesday)

Friday: 8pm

Saturday: 2pm and 8pm

Sunday: 3pm (the usual) or maybe a 7pm curtain instead"

And did the needs of the production, the performers, the crew, the theater staff ever come into your mind here or is it all about you and when it's convenient for you?

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 9:08am

hearthemsing22 said: "Hairspray0901 said: "hearthemsing22 said: "Goodness gracious. People will always find something to kvetch about. Then what exactly do you suggest they do that's fair and makes sense to both people working in the industry and audience members???"


This seems fairly obvious butone thing some shows could implement would be a different schedule. Still doing 8 shows a week but having Tuesdays off instead of Mondays.

Monday: 7 or 8pm

Tuesday: DARK (instead of Monday)

Wednesday: 7 or 8pm

Thursday: 2pm and 8pm (add the matinee here instead of Wednesday)

Friday: 8pm

Saturday: 2pm and 8pm

Sunday: 3pm (the usual) or maybe a 7pm curtain instead"

And did the needs of the production, the performers, the crew, the theater staff ever come into your mind here or is it all about you and when it's convenient for you?"

 

I actually just edited my OP to reflect the Saturday and Sunday matinees (see above), but - either way - the actors, production, staff, etc still have 8 shows with one day a week off and two matinee days. Going with my edited post, you still have the same exact schedule but it would shift everything by one day. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 9:09am

Per AEA rules, performers and crew would still get a day off. It would just be nice to have more options on Mondays now. Chicago has a good schedule of Mon/Tue/Thur/Fri evenings and then two show Saturdays and Sundays.

It's always been rare for a Broadway show to have a Thursday matinee instead of one on Wednesday.

[n2nbaby]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 9:12am

hearthemsing22 said: "Hairspray0901 said: "hearthemsing22 said: "Goodness gracious. People will always find something to kvetch about. Then what exactly do you suggest they do that's fair and makes sense to both people working in the industry and audience members???"


This seems fairly obvious butone thing some shows could implement would be a different schedule. Still doing 8 shows a week but having Tuesdays off instead of Mondays.

Monday: 7 or 8pm

Tuesday: DARK (instead of Monday)

Wednesday: 7 or 8pm

Thursday: 2pm and 8pm (add the matinee here instead of Wednesday)

Friday: 8pm

Saturday: 2pm and 8pm

Sunday: 3pm (the usual) or maybe a 7pm curtain instead"

And did the needs of the production, the performers, the crew, the theater staff ever come into your mind here or is it all about you and when it's convenient for you?"

 

LOL who the hell pissed in your Cheerios? The OP is saying there should be more options in performance schedules (something that has been talked to in length here before), not making them work every single day. God, some people will get pissy about anything here. Be gone, you have no power here!

 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 9:20am

n2nbaby said: "hearthemsing22 said: "Hairspray0901 said: "hearthemsing22 said: "Goodness gracious. People will always find something to kvetch about. Then what exactly do you suggest they do that's fair and makes sense to both people working in the industry and audience members???"


This seems fairly obvious butone thing some shows could implement would be a different schedule. Still doing 8 shows a week but having Tuesdays off instead of Mondays.

Monday: 7 or 8pm

Tuesday: DARK (instead of Monday)

Wednesday: 7 or 8pm

Thursday: 2pm and 8pm (add the matinee here instead of Wednesday)

Friday: 8pm

Saturday: 2pm and 8pm

Sunday: 3pm (the usual) or maybe a 7pm curtain instead"

And did the needs of the production, the performers, the crew, the theater staff ever come into your mind here or is it all about you and when it's convenient for you?"



LOL who the hell pissed in your Cheerios? The OP is saying there should be more options in performance schedules (something that has been talked to in length here before), not making them work every single day. God, some people will get pissy about anything here. Be gone, you have no power here!

"

LMAO wow you're funny. "Be gone you have no power here" HAHAHA ridiculous. Shut up. Clearly the OP only cares about their needs. 
 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 9:23am

Just goes to show how much people have no regard for performers. If they want to change the schedule, they will. I believe they changed the performance schedule for Six a while ago. But it doesn't happen overnight, and certainly not because someone on a BWW discussion board wants it to happen. Sorry sweetie. Guess you have to put up with the current schedule since it's not all about you, as much as you'd like to believe it is. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 9:24am

LMAO wow you're funny. "Be gone you have no power here" HAHAHA ridiculous. Shut up. Clearly the OP only cares about their needs.
"

Not at all. Just noting the lack of variety in performance schedules currently. Didn't realize you're whole purpose in this thread was to attack everyone.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 9:30am

ACL2006 said: "

LMAO wow you're funny. "Be gone you have no power here" HAHAHA ridiculous. Shut up. Clearly the OP only cares about their needs.
"

Not at all. Just noting the lack of variety in performance schedules currently. Didn't realize you're whole purpose in this thread was to attack everyone."

 

Not doing that at all. Just questioning now...Why does the lack of variety matter? Broadway is doing just fine right now. Granted we could be in the January/winter months slump (right? that happens around now?) but what exactly would a schedule change do? Matinees were most likely removed because there were less people attending them. There is no guarantee that if they were brought back, more people would attend. Work, school, etc. No way. 

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 9:31am

hearthemsing22 said: "Just goes to show how much people have no regard for performers. If they want to change the schedule, they will. I believe they changed the performance schedule for Six a while ago. But it doesn't happen overnight, and certainly not because someone on a BWW discussion board wants it to happen. Sorry sweetie. Guess you have to put up with the current schedule since it's not all about you, as much as you'd like to believe it is."

I’m not sure why you think the people who responded here (myself included) have no regard for the performers?? In 2012/2013/2014? I forget the year exactly - they had a huge press event with Mamma Mia, Phantom, and another show - I forget which, promoting that they were all switching to a Thursday matinee. This gave theatregoers more variety (to the point of the OP), and gave the actors, crew, etc. a Thursday matinee instead of a Wednesday matinee. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 9:35am

Hairspray0901 said: "hearthemsing22 said: "Just goes to show how much people have no regard for performers. If they want to change the schedule, they will. I believe they changed the performance schedule for Six a while ago. But it doesn't happen overnight, and certainly not because someone on a BWW discussion board wants it to happen. Sorry sweetie. Guess you have to put up with the current schedule since it's not all about you, as much as you'd like to believe it is."

I’m not sure why you think the people who responded here (myself included) have no regard for the performers?? In 2012/2013/2014? I forget the year exactly - they had a huge press event with Mamma Mia, Phantom, and another show - I forget which, promoting that they were all switching to a Thursday matinee. This gave theatregoers more variety (to the point of the OP), and gave the actors, crew, etc. a Thursday matinee instead of a Wednesday matinee."

Okay. Then OP, how does this benefit performers? What would this change do for them?

They already have a day off. 

Updated On: 1/23/23 at 09:35 AM

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 9:41am

I can’t speak for the OP but it would give them the chance to see other shows since they have the night off. I’ve seen a lot of actors post on social media how excited they were to have a chance to see XYZ show because they, or the show they were seeing, happened to have a different schedule that week. Also - you’re changing the entire conversation here just for the sake of starting arguments. 

Updated On: 1/23/23 at 09:41 AM

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 9:48am

I'm really confused by your argument, @herethemsing - if its a net positive for audiences, and net-neutral for employees, what's the problem?

Unless you're saying that it's NOT neutral for the employees, but you have yet to explain what the detriment would be for them. They still have the same number of performances, and the same number of two-show days, and the same number of days off. If there's something else I'm missing here, I'm happy to hear it.

I've also heard some actors say they're glad to have an unusual day off, so they can (if they so choose) see their friends' shows that are playing a normal schedule.

Updated On: 1/23/23 at 09:48 AM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 9:56am

For a struggling show, a change to offer Monday evenings could help. Like I mentioned earlier, the three available shows are typically sold-out. So having more options on Mondays could help certain shows like Some Like It Hot or a show like A Beautiful Noise could swap out Wednesdays and do a Monday evening and Thursday matinee instead.

[heathkliff]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 9:56am

Agreed that it seems a net positive for audiences and neutral for performers. The only lost time I could envision is that the standard schedule gives most performers a Sunday evening off and all day on Monday, whereas some alternative schedules could make that harder to achieve. For the community as a whole, it feels the positives outweigh the negatives. Personally, I relish the opportunity to check out a Thursday matinee or Sunday evening show. I’m trying to decide on a Sunday evening show for my upcoming trip at this very moment. There’s few choices that appeal to me, but I’m still excited to cross off a blind spot show or see something I wouldn’t have otherwise chosen to see nonetheless. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 10:00am

Some performers don't care for the 5 show/weekend. Usually results in more callouts. Those shows that have that schedule are geared towards a younger audience (Lion King, Wicked, Aladdin, Six, etc.).

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 10:10am

Yikes this thread both horrifies me and warms my heart at the same time. To have someone just pick fights and start arguments where there is none was awful, but to have so many fellow BWW peeps stand up and politely but firmly rebuke them...that was great. 

And yeah Broadway should definitely have a variety in schedule and I think it would be a net positive for everyone involved. I think the biggest money makers are the ones that have to make the first move though. People are going to see the matinee of Hamilton, Lion King, Wicked, etc whether its on Tues/Wed/Thurs or Fri. A show like Kimberly Akimbo probably would suffer from moving their matinee because nobody would even think to check for an off-day matinee. I think a lot of out of town theater goers go on binges and will fill every slot if possible. This is why I avoid taking Broadway trips on Monday-Tuesday because it is two days in a row of no possible matinees. 

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 10:11am

heathkliff said: "The only lost time I could envision is that the standard schedule gives most performers a Sunday evening off and all day on Monday, whereas some alternative schedules could make that harder to achieve."

Thank you for bringing this up! As is, most have off Sunday night, all day Monday, and most of the day Tuesday (if they have a 3pm Sunday and a 7pm Tuesday). Switching to the proposed schedule I had earlier made would eliminate their Sunday evening free time, only leaving performers, crew, etc. with all day Monday, and most of the day Tuesday to have off so I can see how this would be negative. 

Updated On: 1/23/23 at 10:11 AM

[JBroadway]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 10:19am

Hairspray0901 said: "heathkliff said: "The only lost time I could envision is that the standard schedule gives most performers a Sunday evening off and all day on Monday, whereas some alternative schedules could make that harder to achieve."

Thank you for bringing this up! As is, most have off Sunday night, all day Monday, and most of the day Tuesday (if they have a 3pm Sunday and a 7pm Tuesday). Switching to the proposed schedule I had earlier made would eliminate their Sunday evening free time, only leaving performers, crew, etc. with all day Monday, and most of the day Tuesday to have off so I can see how this would be negative."

 

Ah, I hear you. Thanks for responding with those counter-arguments.

[JanMaxwellsBag]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 10:33am

JBroadway said: "I'm really confused by your argument, @herethemsing - if its a net positive for audiences, and net-neutral for employees, what's the problem?

Unless you're saying that it's NOT neutral for the employees, but you have yet to explain what the detriment would be for them. They still have the same number of performances, and the same number of two-show days, and the same number of days off. If there's something else I'm missing here, I'm happy to hear it.

I've also heard some actors say they're glad to have an unusual day off, so they can (if they so choose) see their friends' shows that are playing a normal schedule."

They love calling everybody selfish for literally any request, want or discussion. Any thread that mentions special circumstances, understudies, and what have you, they are immediately there to let you know that people are too demanding and that social media has ruined everything. It’s not like the OP is pestering the actors in the show. Again, we are anons on a message board. It’s the lowest stakes possible. 

ETA: And there have been several thoughtful responses as to why changing the traditional schedule might not work, all without accusing others of being selfish or hating performers/crew members. 

Updated On: 1/23/23 at 10:33 AM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 10:35am

heathkliff said: "The only lost time I could envision is that the standard schedule gives most performers a Sunday evening off and all day on Monday, whereas some alternative schedules could make that harder to achieve."

Excellent point. This schedule essentially gives cast and crew a proper weekend of sorts.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/23/23 at 10:56am

Personally, I would love more variety - but there are issues.  Shows with a 7pm start get more late comers that have erroneously thought all shows start at 8pm.   Off matinees were a failed attempt a few years ago.  Traditions runs strong in the theater world. Might EVENTUALLY audiences accept differences? Sure (I believe that the West End has a much stronger variety of performance times), but producers can't worry about what might happen a year or two from now, they have to worry about now.   I DO think it's in the actor's best interest to have larger hunks of time off (Sun late eve thru curtain on Tuesday.) instead of the same amount of time spread out.