ON THE TOWN Box Office Yikes! — Page 3

I don't think there's any way to tell how they are doing until January. Every show needs a few weeks after it opens to find its marketing message and mix. And for the audience to participate in that mix.

"The only exceptions were the relic sitting next to me griping about having to stand for The Star Spangled Banner (and ominously defying anyone to expect her to stand for it again) and her husband who kept wanting to check out sports scores - although said relic forbade him from any further discussion on it because she thought the show was a "success" and he was trodding on her evening."

And did you say hello to the Roxy's? At least she wasn't griping about Obamacare.

When I go home to visit every housewife badgers me about seeing Jersey Boys.

If only they could understand what they're missing out on with On the Town.

New wave of discounts will be coming soon. Hang in there.

Yeah, you can't fault them for wanting to sell SOME seats at full price if they can....

Huh? The Lyceum to the Lyric? That makes zero sense. I'm pretty sure your sources are entirely wrong. They're doing the show with a full orchestra and cast. No one that they would fit anywhere else. I think it's a suitable theater, I just wish they had the visuals to match. It feels cheap. It's a great show, but there really isn't any "wow" moment that a Tourist would recommend to someone.

What about it eventually moving to a smaller theatre, rather than actually closing?

I saw it Saturday afternoon, and thought it was wonderful. I'd love to see it last long enough to get a Tony nominations boost. Surely it deserves something at least for choreography and Tony Yazbeck's performance.

I'm sure the size of the cast and orchestra is a huge expense, too.

I remember Jerome Robbins Broadway, which was wonderful, simply couldn't make payroll.

Sad... these large delightful shows are dying out.

Updated On: 11/6/14 at 11:57 PM

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I keep watching the TV commercial (beautiful, tonally and otherwise, couldn't be better), and thinking in hard core marketing/ demographic terms: the show appeals to boomers over 60 (or 65), most of whom have either seen a revival or the film (on TV) and just don't have enough curiosity. Truthfully, the score's biggest fan base would likely be people in their 70s. People for whom the 1940s have some personal nostalgic appeal (and even there: those people would be in their 80s). Many posters loathe this sort of niche pigeonholing based on age, but a 40's musical about three sailors, even with iconic songs, isn't something people under a certain age will fork over $150 to see. This can't be an huge shock to anyone. Why is it?

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Updated On: 11/7/14 at 05:38 PM

Brian Song-
You obviously dislike the show, which is certainly legit. But the percentage of capacity has nothing to do with whether or not it is a "hit". If it were at the Helen HAyes, selling out every night, but having the exact same sales figures, it would be no more of a hit than it is now at Lyric. It's all about making money, and so far, and for the immediate future, there are no problems. The show will make it to Tony Nomination time easily, will pick up around 10 noms, quite possibly win Best Revival, and run an additional 12-18 months on the strength of that. I am sorry you don't like the show, but even you must admit that you are in the minority on this one.

"But the percentage of capacity has nothing to do with whether or not it is a "hit". If it were at the Helen HAyes, selling out every night, but having the exact same sales figures, it would be no more of a hit than it is now at Lyric."

I don't completely agree. There are advantageous to selling out a smaller theatre compared to half-filling a barn (i.e., they aren't necessarily equal):

* The rent of the smaller theatre is likely cheaper
* Selling out generates hype/buzz/word-of-mouth both outside and inside the theatre. Nothing sucks the atmosphere out of a theatre faster than a dead or empty audience, in my opinion


I don't think On the Town is necessarily doomed but it may be in trouble. Let's wait and see.

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Updated On: 11/7/14 at 06:19 PM

If being in the business meant being able to predict shows that would run a long time and not close early, etc., wouldn't all shows by now stay open a long time and not close, since industry veterans could just sort that all out in advance? Seems like it would save a lot of time, money, and heartache...