New YouTube Video Attacks Broadway Bigshots

[uncamark]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 12:07pm

Here is a video from someone named "ModPop" that attacks the domination of Broadway by Shubert/Nederlander/ATG and demanding more jobs/being paid better/more artistic freedom  (it is a half-hour long):

https://youtu.be/fvMqfT4Lm1Y?si=pmmEGptg6_5Mco1M

Some of what he brings up may be familiar to many of you, including the alleged overemphasis on musical revivals and jukebox shows. He also seems to have a belief that Broadway should be more like off-off-Broadway, as if this is what the majority of theatergoers want. And honestly, I don't think breaking up the Shuberts is going to change anything. This is commercial theater, not LaMama. Finally, he sure has an obsession with "Chicago" and WTF is that he's covering Scott Rudin's face with?

 

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 12:53pm

Well, ever since I got emails from ATG advertising “food in your seat” , I have little hope that Broadway in general is going to get any less chaotic and uncivilized 

[Crusty Bagel]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 12:57pm

They should just turn the August Wilson into a permanent vaudeville house and let people socialize and linger around the theater.  Have a new show every week

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 1:21pm

This guy makes some valid points about how the business is controlled, but then he consistently undermines his assertions by cherry-picking some data and by going off on tangents about things he personally hates (ie: why is he so mad at Chicago?)

[EmceeHammer]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 1:33pm

Crusty Bagel said: "They should just turn the August Wilson into a permanent vaudeville house and let people socialize and linger around the theater. Have a new show every week"

YES!!!! A literal tourist trap to section off the people that want the Broadway "experience" but not actual theater. A nonstop chorus of tap dancing acrobats in skimpy outfits. A confetti cannon going off every twenty minutes. A random celebrity trotted out centerstage to pose for photos and possibly belt some ALW. For a VIP upcharge they'll turn your phone into projections so you can second screen without missing any of the action. All the M&Ms and wine-in-a-souvenir-sippee-cup you want. Exit through the gift shop and be sure to check out the full selfie-studio in the lobby. Pedicabs blasting Empire State of Mind are conveniently waiting right outside to usher you to the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.

 

[uncamark]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 2:29pm

EmceeHammer said: "Crusty Bagel said: "They should just turn the August Wilson into a permanent vaudeville house and let people socialize and linger around the theater. Have a new show every week"

YES!!!! A literal tourist trap to section off thepeople that want the Broadway "experience" but not actual theater. A nonstop chorus of tap dancing acrobats in skimpy outfits.A confetti cannon going off every twenty minutes. A random celebrity trotted out centerstage to pose for photos and possibly belt some ALW. For a VIP upcharge they'll turn your phone into projections so you can second screen without missing any of the action. All the M&Ms and wine-in-a-souvenir-sippee-cup you want. Exit through the gift shop and be sure to check out the full selfie-studio in the lobby. Pedicabs blasting Empire State of Mind are conveniently waiting right outside to usher you to the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.

And meanwhile at the other 40 Broadway houses, Beckett, Ionesco, Adam Guettel musicals, performance artists and hip-hop shows that aren't Miranda attract nothing but crickets.

 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 2:43pm

I mean, there a several shows that have been open for multiple years that are none of those... so... like... yeah. 

Maybe we get budgets under control and shows wouldn't need to run sold out for 2 years to turn a profit...

Updated On: 8/7/25 at 02:43 PM

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 2:53pm

TheatreFan4 said: "I mean, there a several shows that have been open for multiple years that are none of those... so... like... yeah.

Maybe we get budgets under control and shows wouldn't need to run sold out for 2 years to turn a profit..."

The decrease in costs that this would require, especially labor costs, seems unattainable. 

[Crusty Bagel]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 2:53pm

He also makes contradictions. He blames long running shows for taking up space, and how they are somehow preventing new work from being produced, but then complains about so much turnover on Broadway.  I roll my eyes anytime people just blame everything on the landlords. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 2:56pm

uncamark said: "EmceeHammer said: "Crusty Bagel said: "They should just turn the August Wilson into a permanent vaudeville house and let people socialize and linger around the theater. Have a new show every week"

YES!!!! A literal tourist trap to section off thepeople that want the Broadway "experience" but not actual theater. A nonstop chorus of tap dancing acrobats in skimpy outfits.A confetti cannon going off every twenty minutes. A random celebrity trotted out centerstage to pose for photos and possibly belt some ALW. For a VIP upcharge they'll turn your phone into projections so you can second screen without missing any of the action. All the M&Ms and wine-in-a-souvenir-sippee-cup you want. Exit through the gift shop and be sure to check out the full selfie-studio in the lobby. Pedicabs blasting Empire State of Mind are conveniently waiting right outside to usher you to the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.

And meanwhile at the other 40 Broadway houses, Beckett, Ionesco, Adam Guettel musicals, performance artists and hip-hop shows that aren't Miranda attract nothing but crickets.
 

Wha???

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 3:05pm

Crusty Bagel said: "He also makes contradictions. He blames long running shows for taking up space, and how they are somehow preventing new work from being produced, but then complains about so much turnover on Broadway. I roll my eyes anytime people just blame everything on the landlords."

Just as blockbusters make smaller films possible (of which there should be more, and companies should stop playing predatory games on theatrical runs to get more money and pushing out smaller films for more of their own screenings) long running shows allow you to finance smaller shows that are likely to not run as long, but have the potential of becoming a hit because of smaller price tags. It's all very give and take. 

[EmceeHammer]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 3:51pm

uncamark said: "And meanwhile at the other 40 Broadway houses, Beckett, Ionesco, Adam Guettel musicals, performance artists and hip-hop shows that aren't Miranda attract nothing but crickets."

Can I interest you in a $700 ticket to a likely sell-out production of a Beckett revival coming this season? 

[uncamark]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 4:47pm

EmceeHammer said: "uncamark said: "And meanwhile at the other 40 Broadway houses, Beckett, Ionesco, Adam Guettel musicals, performance artists and hip-hop shows that aren't Miranda attract nothing but crickets."

Can I interest you in a $700 ticket to a likely sell-out production of a Beckett revival coming this season?"

And why are those tickets $700 and "Godot"'s likely to sell out?  And would it be such a hot ticket if Keanu wasn't in it? Whoah!

[RUkiddingme]

Posted: 8/7/25 at 4:56pm

uncamark said: " (it is a half-hour long):


"

I'm good thanks!