MAYBE HAPPY ENDING Reviews- Page 8

[SisterGeorge]

Posted: 11/20/24 at 7:05pm

I had planned to get Today’s matinee on TKTS, but ended up buying a reasonably priced fourth row center pair a couple of days ago when center orch seats started disappearing. Loved it and everyone in it. So sweet, earnest, and sentimental in the best possible way. Plus a great score! Downstairs seemed pretty full, but no clue how much was papered or paid.

[justherehanging]

Posted: 11/20/24 at 9:58pm

Thanks

just struggling, I purchased some shows in advance, but this particular one I’m just on the fence about paying full price to be in the orchestra or waiting to the day of and hoping

I’m saying the same thing about Sunset Boulevard I can get a house seat for $300 from someone or I risk and see what I can get from TKTS

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 11/20/24 at 10:17pm

justherehanging said: "Thanks

just struggling, I purchased some shows in advance, but this particular one I’m just on the fence about paying full price to be in the orchestra or waiting to the day of and hoping

I’m saying the same thing about Sunset Boulevard I can get a house seat for $300 from someone or I risk and see what I can get from TKTS"

I will say, I have been paying attention to the ticket sales on this one in the last week. Most center orchestra is selling out in advance. What seems to left day of and going to TKTS is mostly rear sides in the orchestra, back center and sides in the mezz, and balcony. I ALSO noticed that when they are selling a good advance they raise the price of what is left day of. Like there was a day that all the way up until the day before, balcony was going to $74. Day of, what was left went up to $94. An interesting tactic to make. Raise the price day off so whatever goes to TKTS still has a 50% but they are raising up that average ticket price little by little.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 11/20/24 at 11:39pm

Dkinny23 said: "I forget where I saw it (possibly reddit), but I think they actually do a have a slot to perform on one of the talk shows for tomorrow (Thursday 11/21). Don't quote me though, I can't even find where I saw that information"

Nicole Scherzinger is on The Kelly Clarkson show tomorrow, Thursday 21 promoting Sunset Blvd. Shen too. Segments were shot over 10 days ago.  

Paul Mescal is on Friday 22. Our Town Parsons, Deutch and Sykes were last Tuesday 12.  Megan Hilty and Julianna Margulies two weeks ago, Friday 8, for Death Becomes Her & Left on Tenth.

Updated On: 11/21/24 at 11:39 PM

[binau]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 8:03am

Yesterday at the show Darren Criss during the Broadway cares speeches was saying thanks for coming to take a chance on a brand new musical etc. it had this uncanny feeling of mirroring the impending mortality the characters themselves face. I hope come tony time they can give this show ‘best book’ as a kind of recognition of the entire production but especially the book. I could have imagined an alternate world where this opened in April and took home best musical, book and actor. Opening at this time of year was a death sentence. 

[Anshel2]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 8:18am

binau said: "Yesterday at the show Darren Criss during the Broadway cares speeches was saying thanks for coming to take a chance on a brand new musical etc. it had this uncanny feeling of mirroring the impending mortality the characters themselves face. I hope come tony time they can give this show ‘best book’ as a kind of recognition of the entire production but especially the book. I could have imagined an alternate world where this opened in April and took home best musical, book and actor. Opening at this time of year was a death sentence."

Were they selling posters?

[Ravanne_1]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 8:26am

Dkinny23 said: "Agreed that ticket sales aren’t picking up as much as they need. I will say, I have been tracking it daily and as show time approaches, it becomes either sold out or quite close to sold out almost every time. The exception being today’s matinee, but I would imagine weekdaymatinees are the least sold performances for almost any showsince a lot of people work or are in school. Also, and this is anecdotal, but I keep seeing so many reports and comments from people on Reddit saying that they’ve purchased tickets for next month or Jan, Feb, and March. Have even seen people trying to reserve 30+ tickets for various groups but also in the future. Obviously that’s all great, they need all the advance sales they can get, but it makes the current week look awfully unsold. Critic reviews are great,word of mouth is relatively strong (at least in the Reddit bubble), and they’re doing what they can to improve their marketing. It’s a little baffling how and why it’s not picking up a little quicker. Fingers are crossed that it continues on!"

I just checked tonight's 7pm show and there are 342 seats available (about 1/3 of total available seats). Friday night has 353 seats available. Both of Saturday's performances don't look any better. I'm sure that at least some of these will sell day of, but then the question becomes how many are sold at a discount (which will drop the average ticket price).I'm looking forward to Christmas week, when the city is full of tourists and many will buy their tickets in advance to see the shows that they really want to. It's not good.

And BTW - what is the logic of marking seats as having an obstructed view and selling them for the same price as seats with clear view lines? 

I don't think people buying tickets for February are going to help at this point because if the theater isn't selling out in November and December, the odds are that it won't make it to February. The show is losing money with every performance. You can't keep a show afloat when you're only filling the center orchestra section and I honestly don't know what they can do at this stage to turn things around. I don't think that they have the money for any kind of big advertising push right now, and it's probably getting late to get the leads onto the morning shows. New shows are going to be opening in the coming weeks (Gypsy is potentially going to be a monster) and it seems like MHE is getting lost in the crush. As I said, this is going to be a week by week wait to see if things improve enough that the investors (or the theater) don't just pull the plug. One semi-good week isn't going to be enough to save the show.

[binau]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 8:55am

Anshel2 said: "binau said: "Yesterday at the show Darren Criss during the Broadway cares speeches was saying thanks for coming to take a chance on a brand new musical etc. it had this uncanny feeling of mirroring the impending mortality the characters themselves face. I hope come tony time they can give this show ‘best book’ as a kind of recognition of the entire production but especially the book. I could have imagined an alternate world where this opened in April and took home best musical, book and actor. Opening at this time of year was a death sentence."

Were they selling posters?"

yes

 

[Dkinny23]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 9:05am

Ravanne_1 said: "Dkinny23 said: "Agreed that ticket sales aren’t picking up as much as they need. I will say, I have been tracking it daily and as show time approaches, it becomes either sold out or quite close to sold out almost every time. The exception being today’s matinee, but I would imagine weekdaymatinees are the least sold performances for almost any showsince a lot of people work or are in school. Also, and this is anecdotal, but I keep seeing so many reports and comments from people on Reddit saying that they’ve purchased tickets for next month or Jan, Feb, and March. Have even seen people trying to reserve 30+ tickets for various groups but also in the future. Obviously that’s all great, they need all the advance sales they can get, but it makes the current week look awfully unsold. Critic reviews are great,word of mouth is relatively strong (at least in the Reddit bubble), and they’re doing what they can to improve their marketing. It’s a little baffling how and why it’s not picking up a little quicker. Fingers are crossed that it continues on!"

I just checked tonight's 7pm show and there are 342 seats available (about 1/3 of total available seats). Friday night has 353 seats available. Both of Saturday's performances don't look any better. I'm sure that at least some of these will sell day of, but then the question becomes how many are sold at a discount (which will drop the average ticket price).I'm looking forward to Christmas week, when the city is full of tourists and many will buy their tickets in advance to see the shows that they really want to. It's not good.

And BTW - what is the logic of marking seats as having an obstructed view and selling them for the same price as seats with clear view lines?

I don't think people buying tickets for February are going to help at this point because if the theater isn't selling out in November and December, the odds are that it won't make it to February. The show is losing money with every performance. You can't keep a show afloat when you're only filling the center orchestra section and I honestly don't know what they can do at this stage to turn things around. I don't think that they have the money for any kind of big advertisingpush right now, and it's probably getting late to get the leads onto the morning shows. New shows are going to be opening in the coming weeks (Gypsy is potentially going to be a monster) and it seems like MHE is getting lost in the crush. As I said, this is going to be a week by week wait to see if things improve enough that the investors (or the theater) don't just pull the plug. One semi-good week isn't going to be enough to save the show."

Completely agree. This week is looking to be much worse than last week. Yesterday was particularly bad. They had 120 unsold seats right before taking down the performance from ticketmaster 15 minutes prior to the evening show start time. I truly wish this opened in April. It's completely getting lost in the mix, which is such a shame because it's truly a wonderful musical that basically almost anyone would / should like. It has a lot of appeal both esthetically and content-wise. I'm trying my hardest to get anyone I know to see this, but most people I know only do rush and never pay full prices for anything. As nice as rush is, it doesn't help the show all that much financially. With Thanksgiving coming up too I can't see a world where next week is any better. Obviously still keeping hope but really disheartening. I have tickets to see it again with my whole family on 12/22 and the thought of potential closing earlier than that is literally keeping me up at night. 

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 9:36am

I seem to chat every day with a different friend/acquaintance who say they loved the show and are telling everyone they know or already plan to see it again. I don’t remember the last time a response to an original musical has been so enthusiastic… and then not translating into sales. It’s so bizarre. 

I have tickets to see it again next month. Hoping to take my family to see it sometime in December; I know they will love it.

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 10:48am

The show appeals to some and not others.  For those who like it, they do.  I have spoken to others, some Tony voters, who felt very little & found the egregious set/light design and costs overshadowing story. 

Shows like Sunset & Death Becomes Her are bigger names and strong, stronger than MHE in many ways.  MHE also had little hype coming from Atlanta before covid.  Very different from small new musicals like Fun Home, Kimberly Akimbo etc. having New York runs with major interest into Broadway.

This show is mishandled.  The director, producers/director & set designer (also producers) and creative team overshot and overspent foolishly.  The scenic delays for monetary unnecessaries caused additional rent costs etc.  It's the same show from Asia just in English mishandled for a Broadway production. Basically a revival.

It was cute enough but we feel bad for the writers.

Updated On: 11/21/24 at 10:48 AM

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 11:16am

A few years ago, I got to see footage from a videotaped reading with the Atlanta leads, and I thought it was still effective enough without all the fancy set moments - a testament to the strong writing and material on display. And I think that's saying something.

As for the state of new musicals, I just don't think they are a selling point on Broadway anymore unless there is a big-name celebrity in the cast - it doesn't matter how great the reviews are.

 

 

[Ball of Buttah]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 12:36pm

I was hoping they'd be the little show that could á la Shucked. Did they open too early? Maybe a Spring opening would've helped limp them to the Tony's. 

[Kad]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 12:50pm

Am I wrong in thinking that, unlike Shucked, MHE did not do a big push of very affordable tickets in previews? Although Shucked ultimately flopped, it was able to build a good amount of buzz early on because it was filling its houses.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 12:52pm

Ball of Buttah said: "I was hoping they'd be the little show that could á laShucked.."

That is definitely the closest industry comp, but on paper, you're asking ticket buyers:

 

- Come to a super silly, upbeat, fun show about CORN!

- Come see 2 robots fall in love.

 

I think in November 2024, the gap between those two asks for general audience members is so much wider than we think. The b-roll they released yesterday wasn't stellar, and none of the songs online sound very memorable. 

They really need an A+ list celebrity to go to the show and post about it. They need to make it an event, and unfortunately just sharing reviews will not do that.

[RUkiddingme]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 1:19pm

VotePeron said: "

They really need an A+ list celebrity to go to the show and post about it. They need to make it an event, and unfortunately just sharing reviews will not do that."

They needed an A+ list celebrity to star in the show and sell tickets.

 

[witchoftheeast2]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 1:37pm

Kad said: "Am I wrong in thinking that, unlike Shucked, MHE did not do a big push of very affordable tickets in previews? Although Shucked ultimately flopped, it was able to build a good amount of buzz early on because it was filling its houses."

Didn't they have a ton of dates on the Telecharge lottery website before they even opened??

[RubyLee]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 1:56pm

Are there still discount codes out there? Looking to buy tickets for next week during Thanksgiving. It's not up on TDF anymore. Thanks!

[yyys]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 2:19pm

EDIT:  discount code: SEYMOUR  (yes, for Maybe Happy Ending)

RubyLee said: "Are there still discount codes out there? Looking to buy tickets for next week during Thanksgiving. It's not up on TDF anymore. Thanks!"

 

Updated On: 11/21/24 at 02:19 PM

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 2:21pm

witchoftheeast2 said: "Kad said: "Am I wrong in thinking that, unlike Shucked, MHE did not do a big push of very affordable tickets in previews? Although Shucked ultimately flopped, it was able to build a good amount of buzz early on because it was filling its houses."

Didn't they have a ton of dates on the Telecharge lottery website before they even opened??"

They basically did an early $29 lottery for all preview performances, but I think that's still slightly different from preview pricing because you'd have to win the lottery to benefit rather than anyone wanting to buy a ticket.

The other thing about Shucked was they really created a media buzz of being "the corn musical" where people had no clue what it was about but they did really smart marketing and leaned into puns and current events and creating that air of fun around the show, whereas MHE's marketing seems less specific (from what I've seen).

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 2:29pm

Shucked started in the spring, March 8th, 2023.  

MHE opened fall, before winter, October 16th.  Most fall shows don't make it to the spring.  

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 2:30pm

Kad said: "Am I wrong in thinking that, unlike Shucked, MHE did not do a big push of very affordable tickets in previews? Although Shucked ultimately flopped, it was able to build a good amount of buzz early on because it was filling its houses."

They sold a ton of $29 tix via lottery for previews, and some of them were in very good orchestra seats. It was also discounted on TDF and in all the usual places.

Shucked also did a better job at filling the house in previews. By week 5, Shucked had never been less than 95% full. By contrast, MHE’s attendance has been 78-89%.

But like has been said before, the prospects of this show would be entirely different if it opened in April with a runway to the Tonys.

Updated On: 11/21/24 at 02:30 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 3:05pm

I think a lottery is less effective than simply offering a lot of cheap tickets generally. Even if it’s an easy lottery to win, it still creates a sense of uncertainty. 
 

But yes, opening this time of year was not ever going to do them favors. 

[Hopelesslydevoted24]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 7:00pm

I agree.  I entered (and lost) every date the lottery offered and wasn't enticed enough to continue to pursue solely based on the marketing.  In contrast, I saw Shucked first day of preview simply by walking up to the box office mid-day and picking up rush tickets.

[Dkinny23]

Posted: 11/21/24 at 7:06pm

Hopelesslydevoted24 said: "I agree. I entered (and lost) every date the lottery offered and wasn't enticed enough to continue to pursue solely based on the marketing. In contrast, I saw Shucked first day of preview simply by walking up to the box office mid-day and picking up rush tickets."

That’s really shame you gave up, you’re missing out on an absolutely incredible show. I agree the marking is meh, but I would have thought word of mouth and the 100% rave reviews from critics would have changed your mind. Hope you end up reconsidering before it’s too late