MAYBE HAPPY ENDING Reviews — Page 3

chrishuyen said: "it's a VERY minor uptick in grosses this week, but considering it was press week which probably resulted in more comps then usual, I'll take it. Also furiously hoping that this magically catches on, though realistically despite these reviews they'd need a huge shift in marketing to get people interested."

We also have to remember that every week that they're taking in less than operating costs just adds to the debt that the show is carrying. It all compounds over time and this is a show that now needs to play to full houses and sell tickets at face value for them to start climbing out of the hole. And they will need many weeks of this. The fact that their opening was delayed twice certainly doesn't help and they've been trying to play catch up ever since.

I agree that marketing is an issue because this show doesn't have the elements that would normally draw an audience to it. There are no major names (sorry but DC doesn't really qualify) and it's not a familiar IP. It's a small show where all the "wow" moments seem to be technologically driven. There are no big dance numbers. They need to take these great reviews and really spend some money on a big advertisement push to pull people into the theater. They have to figure out who their core audience will be and aim their advertising push at it.

And I still think that it was a monumental mistake not to start this show off smaller off-Broadway so that it would have a chance to build an audience. I think that it would have done much better to have had a successful off-Broadway run where it could prove their there was an audience and get theater fans interested in the concept before transferring in time for awards season. Broadway is a business in the end and there is only so long a show can lose money before they shut it down, regardless of what the critics might say.

corninthesky said: "How do advance sales look?"

Lots of seats available for Saturday (both shows) and Sunday this week. I also looked forward to the Saturday shows on Dec. 21 (right in the middle of the holiday season) and it looks like barely 1/4th of the theater is sold at this stage. The website is using the critic blurbs but we have to see if it's going to reflect in sales.

BETTY22 said: "These RAVE reviews did not result in a huge box office the next day.

So upsetting. I don't know what else they need to do to survive - maybe, add as few Alicia Keys songs..ouch"

The lack of interest is completely on the producing and marketing teams. They pushed the robot narrative on socials and it was confusingly not enticing. The show has fantastic qualities, but they didn't capture it in the ads. A new musical landing on Broadway needs a runway of buzz and fans before it arrives. This one doesn't have that. 

I was looking at similar seats in the front row and was scared off a bit by the photos on A View from My Seat. It seems like the stage is high, and the show has projections that make it seem like you'll be looking up even more. This is B 1, so the equivalent of the seat across the aisle from you, but on the opposite side. In early January dates, the first two center orchestra rows and the first row on the sides are all at that $100 price point. I have to think that's why. 

To be fair, when I was trying to tell my friend about it and she heard it was "robots falling in love", she was imagining the type of android often seen in scifi movies, and not necessarily a human-looking domestic servant type of robot, and had a lot more interest once I clarified that.  I think maybe appealing to families with older kids (like preteens/teens) could help, or just fans of Pixar/Studio Ghibli, since those seem to be the closest in comparison for me, and what I've been using to describe the tone of the show.

WSJ is positive

‘Maybe Happy Ending’ Review: A Robotic Romance of Real Feeling

Darren Criss and Helen J Shen star in a perceptive and moving Broadway musical about two retired ‘Helperbots’ who gradually grow closer.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/maybe-happy-ending-review-a-robotic-romance-of-real-feeling-3df63689?mod=theater_news_article_pos2

Theatre_Mom said: "Saw this last night and what a gem of a musical. Such a sweet story with really solid acting and music.

I hope it was a good sign that the mezz was full because this show deserves a good run.

If i may ask how was the view from the Mezz?...i have 2nd row center Mezz. on the right isle...and i cannot wait to see this musical after reading all the reviews
"

 

TarHeelAlan said: "For anyone interested, TDF just added a bunch of dates through Feb 8, with good availability. $90 + 1,000 show points for "Select Orchestra" seats. This includes Wed matinees and Sat evenings, but not Fri evenings or weekend matinees."

Do you mean Audience Rewards? Looks like it's not on TDF anymore.

It's of course silly to read into anything, but I'll do it anyways...wonder if Feb 8 is deliberate. aka, "must vacate by then for an April show." It's currently on sale through May 25th.

Updated On: 11/15/24 at 02:31 PM

CoffeeBreak said: "It could also very possible it not make it to February. They will refund your tickets."

Yes, obviously that is a distinct possibility.

BETTY22 said: "I am optimistic that audiences will find this little gem of a show."

That optimism feels out of line with what you reported the other day about the poor box office performance after reviews came out?

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "TarHeelAlan said: "For anyone interested, TDF just added a bunch of dates through Feb 8, with good availability. $90 + 1,000 show points for "Select Orchestra" seats. This includes Wed matinees and Sat evenings, but not Fri evenings or weekend matinees."

Do you mean Audience Rewards? Looks like it's not on TDF anymore.

It's of course silly to read into anything, but I'll do it anyways...wonder if Feb 8 is deliberate. aka, "must vacate by then for an Aprilshow."It's currently on sale through May 25th."

Yes, you're right it was Audience Rewards, sorry. I fixed it in my original post.