Museum of Broadway- Page 2

[Kad]

Posted: 11/12/22 at 2:11pm

Neither of the co-founders have any experience running a museum. But they do have experience in brand activations and experiential marketing, unsurprisingly. In fact, it doesn’t look any anybody involved has any experience even working in a museum. 
 

The lack of involvement from big theatre names and people with legit museum experience is kind of a major red flag to me here. The whole thing looks very focused on Instagrammability, not preservation or education. The twee neon signs? C’mon. 

Updated On: 11/12/22 at 02:11 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/12/22 at 4:07pm

But boy, are they excited to bring in those tourist dollars.  And yes, they are savvy PR folks hence the major media coverage they are having done.  This will be just another NYC tourist trap like all the other Times Square area spots.  NYers know better and saw thru the bulls**t. I’m sure hotel concierges will be getting perks for recommending the museum. They got this covered. 

[averagebwaynut]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 1:58am

Can't say I'm surprised to see people already dumping all over this project on this board even sight unseen -- that's par for the course here more often than not -- but as (I think?) the only person to reply so far who has actually been inside -- my friend who helped build some of the exhibits in the shop took me as a +1 on his preview tour yesterday -- many of you are making some rather incorrect assumptions.

If you quibble with the ticket price, I absolutely understand.  Worth noting that the actual price is $39 but yes, with taxes and a service fee, it's $47 and change (I just bought tickets for my theatre-obsessed niece and nephew around the holidays).  Non-profit museums like the Met and MOMA can certainly charge less.  For-profit attractions have regularly charged this or more.  Personally, I'd call this half-museum, half-attraction.  If it was a few bucks cheaper, I'd be that much happier, but I'll definitely go back at some point and will happily pay.

Where quite a few of you are mistaken is in the accusations of shallowness and this being a place solely for clueless tourists.  Are there plenty of "instagrammable" moments throughout?  Yep, absolutely (and yes, that word annoys me no end).  They surely do want and need those tourist dollars.  But as someone who wears "theatre nerd" as a badge of honor, there's also a TON of historical information on display beyond just costumes: legitimately educational and well-researched text, archival photos, reproductions of writer notes, design sketches, actual set models & props, poster art, etc.  There's a short film at the start on the evolution of the theatre district, which is shorter than I'd like, but still informative.  And there's an entire exhibit designed by David Rockwell after the timeline section that does a pretty incredible job of walking you through many of the backstage jobs a casual theatergoer likely doesn't know about or appreciate (with some truly wonderful visual aids).  

I was there for slightly under two hours and had I read and examined everything I wanted (my host was less of a reader!), I probably could have been there another hour.

No doubt YMMV.  And if you're allergic to the price, that's your personal choice and I won't try to convince you otherwise.  But if you dismiss it out of hand as RiseNY, the Museum of Ice Cream, or The Color Factory on the basis of content and depth, you are just factually incorrect.

If it's helpful, happy to answer any questions based on my experience.  I will say, as NOT AT ALL a fan of "Wicked", the way the show is featured is absolutely spectacular.  And the original art installation this German artist (can't remember name) created using beads/crystals for Phantom -- another show I don't care for -- is terrific.  Other personal faves were the areas devoted to "Hair" and "Rent".

[pagereynolds]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 11:36am

The videos make it look sort of dirty as well as cheap? They certainly comped a lot of people this weekend to promote it on social media.

[HBP]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 12:15pm

This feels a lot like one of those experiences popping up ("The Office" experience, etc.) and less like a museum. Based on posts here and some of those comped influencers' videos, it seems there are some costumes and maybe a few props (?) on display, along with archival photos, but this doesn't have the feel of a museum. I can see charging $50 to do one of those experiences for an instagram shot, but I don't know how exciting it is to sit in a replica of a set piece from Company rather than see the real thing (or a model of the set, original designs, etc.) that might pop up in an actual museum exhibit. 

[pagereynolds]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 12:16pm

HBP said: "This feels a lot like one of those experiences popping up ("The Office" experience, etc.) and less like a museum. Based on posts here and some of those comped influencers' videos, it seems there are some costumes and maybe a few props (?) on display, along with archival photos, but this doesn't have the feel of a museum. I can see charging $50 to do one of those experiences for an instagram shot, but I don't know how exciting it is to sit in a replica of a set piece from Company rather than see the real thing (or a model of the set, original designs, etc.) that might pop up in an actual museum exhibit."

100%. Save your money and see the new Tudor exhibit at the Met instead.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 12:31pm

I think we have to resign ourselves to the fact that Broadway is both art and commerce. This, clearly, is commerce. In a world in which jukebox musicals and brand-derivative "entertainment" sit side by side with Death of a Salesman and Leopoldstadt, I think we have to consider just shrugging our shoulders and moving on. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 1:20pm

Can't say I'm surprised to see people already dumping all over this project on this board even sight unseen -- that's par for the course here more often than not -- but as (I think?) the only person to reply so far who has actually been inside -- my friend who helped build some of the exhibits in the shop took me as a +1 on his preview tour yesterday -- many of you are making some rather incorrect assumptions.

Everyone is just sharing their opinion about it and don't care to be ripped off in this economy. Thank you for admitting you didn't spend anything after your glowing review though, it skews things a little. 

 

[BIG BALONEY]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 2:04pm

London had a nice theatre museum that struggled in Covent Garden and closed up after a few years. I fear this museum will also struggled.  In London at the Victoria & Albert there is a wonderful theatre history section. Hope it works out for all involved and it would be nice to have a sidewalk walk of fame down that street too. It worked for Hollywood Blvd.

[morosco]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 2:29pm

Here's is a complete walk thru of the museum.

[Lola Getz2]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 2:43pm

I might pay $50 if I get to try on Patti's wig or Dolly's dress. But with the exception of actual historical artifacts, I can find those pictures and historic information online for free. Don't really need to walk through a field of fake corn as high as an elephant's eye to appreciate the history of Oklahoma. I'll pass.

[InTheBathroom1]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 4:39pm

well i think it looks fun and informative. it looks like a mixture of art and commerce. sometimes it’s nice to have an interactive museum to keep people engaged. 

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 4:53pm

I was fortunate enough to get an early “sneak peak”of the museum on Saturday. I have mixed feelings. It definitely is equal parts IG photo ops and bdwy nostalgia. I’m not convinced I would want to pay $50 for this but then again I’m not viewing this as a NYC tourist. You step into the gift shop with lots of merch. The tour starts with a brief but still informative video about the progression of bdwy. You then begin walking through the bdwy time-line with some interesting information but are then met with many IG photographable locations. I will say the model of the Gershwin Theater is very very cool. My favorite part was the last section where they take you backstage. There is a lot of video interviews with professionals describing the craft and art of getting a show to broadway. Hopefully they can work out some of the sound kinks because a lot of the sound from one section bled into other sections. Part Broadway history, part art installation, part commercial/IG money grab so I on the fence. 

[juliacd]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 8:39pm

But can't you find the info they have on a google search? I mean 50 dollars is alot. They spent 12 million dollars on this. They set it up like a Broadway investment with recoupment schedules. Thats absurd. That is not how you set up a business venture. 

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 8:48pm

cant you theoretically google any information for anything in any museum?

the point is getting to see things up close and in person and I think the presentation looks pretty cool 

this place is so ridiculous sometimes, I don't any version of this would have pleased some of you

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 8:54pm

juliacd said: "But can't you find the info they have on a google search? I mean 50 dollars is alot. They spent 12 million dollars on this. They set it up like a Broadway investment with recoupment schedules. Thats absurd. That is not how you set up a business venture."

Well, I suppose, but using that logic no-one would ever need to visit a museum at all. It’s not just pictures. There are plenty of props, costumes, hand written composer notes, plenty of photographs,  Hirshfelds etc etc

[TheatreMonkey]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 9:12pm

juliacd said: "But can't you find the info they have on a google search? I mean 50 dollars is alot. They spent 12 million dollars on this. They set it up like a Broadway investment with recoupment schedules. Thats absurd. That is not how you set up a business venture."

Just to play devil's advocate, anything setup similar to a "Broadway investment with recoupment schedule(s)" is indeed just that --  a "business venture". And, outside the world of academia, museums aren't the bastions of research they once were for the everyman. 

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 9:22pm

Slightly curious as to what people were expecting this to cost. To see a movie in NYC is $25, a cocktail at a bdwy show is close to $40…

[HogansHero]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 9:31pm

TheatreMonkey said: "Just to play devil's advocate, anything setup similar to a "Broadway investment with recoupment schedule(s)" is indeed just that -- a "business venture". And, outside the world of academia, museums aren't the bastions of research they once were for the everyman."

I agree, of course, with that first part but I am having trouble figuring out what you are saying in the last part (and what I think I have figured out I don't think is right so... )

Is there any info on who is actually funding this thing? There is obviously some forces beyond the 2 "founders"?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 10:17pm

I watched the video walk-thru and couldn't spot anything representing SHOWBOAT--a landmark musical.

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 10:43pm

Based on these clips alone, this "Out of Towner" says "No".  Just "No".  

[Lola Getz2]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 10:49pm

averagebwaynut said: "Can't say I'm surprised to see people already dumping all over this project on this board even sight unseen -- "

But it really isn't "sight unseen". In fact, there is a LOT seen in these videos. And what is "seen" seems much ado about little. 

 

[blaxx]

Posted: 11/13/22 at 11:32pm

Bill Snibson said: "Slightly curious as to what people were expecting this to cost. To see a movie in NYC is $25, a cocktail at a bdwy show is close to $40…"

Well, if it's an actual museum I'd expect it to cost the same as other museums? But it's not a museum. Maybe call it the Broadway Selfie Experience?

Not even the IG pop ups cost that much.

[averagebwaynut]

Posted: 11/14/22 at 1:01am

Sutton Ross said: 
Everyone is just sharing their opinion about it and don't care to be ripped off in this economy. Thank you for admitting you didn't spend anything after your glowing review though, it skews things a little.
 

Yes.  The mere possibility that I might like something is definitely suspect because I didn’t pay.  Huh?  If you’ve been to the museum and you disagree with me, that’s absolutely fine, of course.  If you haven’t, though, spare me the impugning of my critical skills because you assume they’re somehow attached to my wallet (the same wallet that turned around and bought tickets for relatives after my visit).  And if you thought my review was “glowing”, your critical skills need some work too.

Everyone is indeed “just sharing their opinion” — about something they‘ve seen only part of, and second hand.  And those judgments — which seem to coalesce around a lack of substance and an appeal to the IG-obsessed — are being formed primarily on the basis of videos shot by people they already disdain for their lack of substance and obsession with social media.  That’s conveniently self-fulfilling and not an especially conducive methodology for developing an informed opinion about anything.  Which, alas, is not at all unusual on this board — and that was my point in the section you chose to cite.

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/14/22 at 1:53am

NOT was implied at all. Just that a free experience is perceived differently than a paid one. Human nature.

We're allowed to have opinions on what is previewed to us: good, bad, indifferent. That's why they put out these pieces and "sneak peeks." Of course, they're hoping that most people WILL like what they see, enough to buy tix.

Why would I buy tix for something that simply doesn't appeal to me? That opinion is justified. I've studied theater since the mid-seventies, I'm pretty sure what information might be new to me here, simply isn't worth it. Especially while fighting Instagram moments and possible crowds, especially if like the teenagers that go to Broadway shows like & Juliet.