Most expensive shows of all time.

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Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 3:39pm

Been looking around but with Spider-man hovering, it's the only thing that comes up when you search. Does anybody have a list with production costs? They can be broadway or west end or whatever.

Thanks for the info.

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 3:41pm

I recently heard that Shrek was one of the most expensive.

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 3:42pm

No helpful information from me, but an anecdote from a silly woman behind me at Women on the Verge. At intermission she said with disdain, "That is the most money I've ever seen on a stage." Really? This $6 million production is the most expensive-looking production you've ever seen? I can name a number of productions (especially Les Mis and Phantom, which she must have seen at some point) that surely cost more than WOTV.

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 3:50pm

Shrek is second most expensive at about $25 million.

I'm sure 9 to 5, Wicked, and Spamalot are up there too.

And according to the Times, WOTV cost only $5 million, a number I find mind-boggling especially considering it's only half a million more than Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Women on the Verge has a million and a half set changes, giant projection screens, ridiculous moving sets, and a high-profile cast. BBAJ has NO set changes (and a simple set at that), no orchestra, and no stars in the (relatively) small cast.

Formerly SirNotAppearing - Joined 3/08

Updated On: 12/4/10 at 03:50 PM

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 4:08pm

I believe I read somewhere that if you adjust for inflation, the original "Follies" was the most expensive.

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 4:11pm

Yes, how in the world did Bloody Bloody cost that much? Or Verge cost that "little"? I think Scottsboro Boys also had a budget of $5 million. It would surprise me if that cost the same as Women on the Verge- especially since their theaters have a pretty similar size feel to me.

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 4:12pm

^ That's correct. If it were done today exactly as it was done in the early 70s, the budget would be somewhere around 80 mil. Those werent cheap costumes by any stretch, the set was a huge affair (actually far more complex than the photos suggest -- check the model at the Library of Performing Arts the next time they bring it out), and it was a pretty massive cast and crew.

http://docandraider.com

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 4:13pm

Aren't the principals in Women on the Verge making significantly less than they would in a commercial production?

When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain. -Kad

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 4:13pm

The Scarlet Pimpernel cost somewhere around $18 MIL between the 3 productions. This did however cover one creative team, then a director switch (and updated sets/changes in other design aspects), a 3-city, 3 month premiere tour, and the scaled down production sets and theatre change!

#10

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 4:30pm

I read in the Spiderman thread that like its un-related movie of the same name, Titanic the musical cost a considerable amount and was regularly sniped at in previews as being DOA. True?

#11

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 4:36pm

I dont know how well TITANIC did or did not succeed at the box office, but it was pretty high budget... which is one reason why, at the end of the first act, I laughed... perhaps a bit too loudly for the comfort of my b/f.

And while it never made it to Broadway, one of the most expensive works in progress had to be the late 70s BARBARY COAST, which was all sets and costumes and not much else. The story behind that trainwreck is a fascinating one.

http://docandraider.com

#12

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 4:36pm

True...for the most part.
Wicked cost $14 million
Shrek I heard was upward of $20 million (not sure if thats true)
Titanic was (back in the 90's) over $10 million (perhaps $15 million)

"Life in theater is give and take...but you need to be ready to give more then you take..."

#13

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 4:38pm

Dance of the Vampires was 30 million. You could really see the money on that stage!

#14

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 4:45pm

Cats?

#15

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 5:00pm

How has Lion King not been mentioned?

#16

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 5:01pm

Yea, you could DEFINITELY see all the money put into DotV when Michael Crawford starts singing in his falsetto while controlling a bat that looked like it was made by a 3rd grader. TOTALLY what they paid $30 mill for...MC ruined that show... :P

#17

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 5:05pm

Everyone seems to be concentrating on Broadway. The OP stated that (s)he wishes to consider ALL productions.

LORD OF THE RINGS quickly comes to mind.

How much did SUNSET BLVD cost?

"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#18

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 5:28pm

LORD OF THE RINGS... another WTF were they thinking? production. I saw it in Toronto and was utterly flabbergasted.

http://docandraider.com

#19

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 5:29pm

Initial SUNSET BOULEVARD Broadway budget was $13 MIL. They went over almost immediately from the beginning because of the hydraulics and marketing fees, which I believe I read somewhere were triple what the original budget had allowed weekly.

Not to mention many people add the law suits in with that one, which made it cost about $20 MIL. (It did make back way over half of that though!)

#20

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 5:33pm

The REAL question (and only for those that have seen it):

If you saw Spider-Man, without knowing anything about it's history, what would you guess the budget was?

Personally, I would guess it to be a 20 million dollar show, based simply on what you see on stage.

Behind the fake tinsel of Broadway is real tinsel.

#21

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/4/10 at 6:03pm

If we are going on non Broadway shows, Phantom in Las Vegas has to be up there. I can't find a figure, but I remember it costing somewhere north of $60 million. correct me if I'm wrong.

#22

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/5/10 at 12:42am

I thought Miss Saigon came in at around $30 million dollars?

#23

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/5/10 at 1:14am

All of this talk of expesive special effect flop brought to mind FRANKENSTEIN

Frankenstein, 1981
The most expensive dramatic production to come to Broadway at the time, Frankenstein lasted just one night at the Palace Theater. Elaborate special effects and a ballooning budget behind extensive scenery (and the huge crew of stagehands to move it all around) made it impossible for the production to withstand a critical panning.

Story about Frankenstein

"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2

Updated On: 12/5/10 at 01:14 AM

#24

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/5/10 at 1:28am

THE PIRATE QUEEN was pretty pricey, and lost almost all its investment.

"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards

Updated On: 12/5/10 at 01:28 AM

#25

Most expensive shows of all time.

Posted: 12/5/10 at 1:32am

My friend said that he would have guessed it looked to be around $30 million if he didnt know any better. But you gotta also look into the stuff ya dont see (actor salaries, royalty fees, backstage hydrolics, ect.)

"Life in theater is give and take...but you need to be ready to give more then you take..."

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