Miss Saigon: Jan 14/18 Closing

[BdwayLife]

Posted: 8/28/17 at 5:38pm

Miss Saigon is scheduled to close on Broadway, Jan. 14/18.

I have tickets for a mid Nov. performance.

With some recent early closures, I'm feeling a bit nervous.

Do you think it will last until then? My trip was scheduled specifically to see it! 

Thanks!

[nealb1]

Posted: 8/28/17 at 5:50pm

BdwayLife, "Miss Saigon" was never an open ended run.  It was always scheduled to be just about a year, and then the show will tour the US.  You'll be fine.  

I saw the show in April and loved it!  So moving.  It was quite the trip down memory lane as that's where it first opened in 1991, and I saw it twice in May of that year.  I'll be seeing it on that final Friday night, as I have tickets to see the last 2  Bette Midler performances of "Hello, Dolly."  

Updated On: 8/30/17 at 05:50 PM

[BdwayLife]

Posted: 8/28/17 at 5:59pm

Thanks nealb1, for the reassurance. I knew it was always scheduled to close in January.  

Others?

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 8/28/17 at 6:00pm

I wouldn't sweat it one bit. I'd be genuinely surprised if they cut their limited run short. 

[Pauly3]

Posted: 8/28/17 at 7:42pm

Why would the fact this run was never considered open ended reduce the chance of closing before the scheduled end date?  The gross percentage of potential gross is already at 42%, and that's with more than 2000 fewer potential seats sold per week than what was potentially available earlier in the run.

Sorry OP.  I'm just providing what appears (to me) to be cause for realistic concern.

[BdwayLife]

Posted: 8/28/17 at 8:30pm

Pauly3 said: "Why would the fact this run was never considered open ended reduce the chance of closing before the scheduled end date?  The gross percentage of potential gross is already at 42%, and that's with more than 2000 fewer potential seats sold per week than what was potentially available earlier in the run.

Sorry OP.  I'm just providing what appears (to me) to be cause for realistic concern.

 

"Thanks Pauly3, I agree with you completely.  I read the grosses tonight, before posting. I have noticed that TKTS has 40-50% off tickets daily, and multiple future dates on Telecharge has indicated wide ticket availability. I've already had to have to Ticketmaster issue a refund for my Groundhog Day ticket!   I live in Canada, and wasn't able to swing a trip down to NYC until this fall!   

 

[zainmax]

Posted: 8/28/17 at 8:54pm

I doubt that Cameron would pull the plug on it early. If he was hopeful of its success, then he would have made it an open-ended run from the beginning, because none of the tour dates were ever announced. I think that he made it a limited engagement to save face from closing in Jan.

Also, I imagine that he can afford to continue running it at a loss, and then make back some money on tour.

[BdwayLife]

Posted: 8/28/17 at 9:01pm

zainmax said: "I doubt that Cameron would pull the plug on it early. If he was hopeful of its success, then he would have made it an open-ended run from the beginning, because none of the tour dates were ever announced. I think that he made it a limited engagement to save face from closing in Jan.

Also, I imagine that he can afford to continue running it at a loss, and then make back some money on tour.

 

"Thanks Zainmax. Interesting that you say that because I too wondered how much optics would play into the decision-making process.

 

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 8/28/17 at 9:33pm

Not trying to be negative but just realistic. Limited run shows close early all the time if the numbers continue to deteriorate. Miss Saigon has been weak all summer and this past week they barely filled half their seats and barely broke 40+% of their gross potential. Are the optics of throwing in the towel early any worse than the optics of 4+ more months of playing to 50% empty seats? Anyone who tells you with great certainty no way it will close early... you should think about how much you paid for their opinion and that's the value you should place on it. Having said that, it's not productive to spend the next 3 months stressing and fretting about it. It's out of your control. If you haven't already bought your plane ticket, I'd hold off. If you have, there will still be plenty of good shows to see even if Miss Saigon has closed assuming you still want to make the trip.

[BdwayLife]

Posted: 8/28/17 at 9:45pm

Thanks UncleCharlie. Train tickets and hotel already paid for.  I am supposed to see the show on my actual birthday.  I grew up listening to the original recording--it is my favorite show.  I'll try not to worry bc, as you say, it's out of my hands!  Watching CNN as I type this and I recognize that there are much bigger problems in our world. Thanks again, everyone, for your perspectives.

[bribennett2]

Posted: 8/28/17 at 10:02pm

Your assurance that 2000 fewer seats are being made available raised my hopes that I might get decent TDF seats that are not in the rear balcony as stated in the offering. Any thoughts or info you might wish to share?

[chernjam]

Posted: 8/28/17 at 10:15pm

As much as everyone thinks that Cameron Mac has deep pockets to keep it running till it's original set closing date - he's got deep pockets for a reason.  He's a business man.  The massive Broadway Theatre cannot be cheap.  The revival just never seemed to catch fire here.  I'm not sure if word of mouth wasn't there or what... I thought once a bunch of things closed in late June that it would start to pick up some audience - but it really hasn't,  If it keeps going - then that must mean they have some good group sales in the fall they're counting on - and figure come November when there's an uptick in tourists through Christmas they'll make up for a dismal summer.  But if not, I wouldn't be shocked to see it gone in September

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 8/28/17 at 10:19pm

bribennett2 said: "Your assurance that 2000 fewer seats are being made available raised my hopes that I might get decent TDF seats that are not in the rear balcony as stated in the offering. Any thoughts or info you might wish to share?

 

Starting with the w/e 7/16/17, the weekly seats available for sale decreased from 13,896 to 11,800. It's right on the weekly Broadway grosses report. More than likely, they closed the rear balcony though I don't know that for a fact..

 

[jtishere]

Posted: 8/28/17 at 11:20pm

This is the first show on my upcoming theatre itinerary Labor Day week. It'll be my first time seeing it, so I'm definitely excited - especially after watching the documentary on iTunes about the making of the revival (The Heat is On Again).

Still, it's very interesting how this revival hasn't quite caught on. I know, for me, it was the megamusical that I seemed to know the least about growing up - and I always wonder if it's partly because it sort of came toward the tail end of that 80s megamusical era. I know it was a big hit in 1991, but if I remember correctly, it never gained the traction that Cats, Phantom and Les Mis did. 

I'm glad I'll get to experience this in a few days, but I do wonder how long it has. I feel like if this were any other show, a closing notice would have posted. But then, War Paint hasn't announced a close either so...

[BdwayLife]

Posted: 8/29/17 at 3:47pm

Enjoy the show jtishere, hopefully, I'll be able to do the same!  I saw the original (when I was on a highschool trip and obsessed with it) whereas all my peers flocked to Beauty and the Beast! 

[jtishere]

Posted: 8/29/17 at 4:38pm

Thanks, Bwaylife! Can't believe I'm finally getting around to seeing it after all these years. 

[Dave13]

Posted: 8/29/17 at 10:55pm

Should do just fine over the holidays.  

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/30/17 at 8:08am

They now have performances on Sundays at 4:00PM.

[egnarotsew]

Posted: 8/30/17 at 9:20am

bribennett2 said: "Your assurance that 2000 fewer seats are being made available raised my hopes that I might get decent TDF seats that are not in the rear balcony as stated in the offering. Any thoughts or info you might wish to share?"

I saw the show a few weeks ago through tdf and my seats were mid center orchestra on the aisle.  

[phan24]

Posted: 8/30/17 at 9:29am

UncleCharlie said: "Starting with the w/e 7/16/17, the weekly seats available for sale decreased from 13,896 to 11,800. It's right on the weekly Broadway grosses report. More than likely, they closed the rear balcony though I don't know that for a fact..
"

This is confirmed, there is now a red velvet curtain that goes across the balcony closing off the rear balcony seats.

https://instagram.com/p/BWYnHVhAjdH/

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/30/17 at 9:41am

How is not selling a section of the theatre cost effective? Do they hire less ushers?  

[Fosse76]

Posted: 8/30/17 at 10:06am

Call_me_jorge said: "How is not selling a section of the theatre cost effective? Do they hire less ushers? "

No. The ushers that seat the rear mezzanine also seat the rear front mezzanine,  so they would still be there. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 8/30/17 at 10:29am

Call_me_jorge said: "How is not selling a section of the theatre cost effective? Do they hire less ushers?"

I dont think it is about cost effectiveness per se.  Less empty seats for the actors to perform to; less empty seats for attendees to look at and wonder whether they made a mistake.  If they are not going to sell those tickets anyway, why advertise the emptiness.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/30/17 at 10:43am

Not an uncommon practice at that theater.  I've seen at least three other shows there that have done that.