PARADISE SQUARE - Broadway Previews- Page 7

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 10:39am

"it feels disingenuous"

A lot of what LucasIvy is positing feels disingenuous. They joined last week to participate only in this thread. Despite a lukewarm initial review, they've taken every opportunity to dump on the show even when it's awkward. The show might deserve dumping on (and certainly the producer does) but the way they're doing about it is odd and feels very... disingenuous. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 12:34pm

LucasIvy said: "In a factual back of the envelope look at the weekly gross as reported by Variety and Deadline, the show is losing approximately $250k per week."

That number is way off. The reported gross is $355,401, which nets to roughly $320k. I don't know what the nut is but it is way more than 320+250=$570k

[saxpower]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 1:14pm

HogansHero said: "LucasIvy said: "In a factual back of the envelope look at the weekly gross as reported by Variety and Deadline, the show is losing approximately $250k per week."

That number is way off. The reported gross is$355,401, which nets to roughly $320k. I don't know what the nut is but it is way more than 320+250=$570k"

Questions and Comments

The show is still in previews.   It it common for grosses to be low (potentially not enough to cover expenses) during the preview period?

I looked at ticket availabilty before and after opening.  During the preview period, its seems to be selling decently.   However, after opening the number of available seats goes way up.   Is this because of "papering" by the producers/theatre owners (is that the correct term for giving away tickets or selling them very cheaply so attendance figures are higher)?

Interestingly, if you go to Paradise Square's website, nowhere does it say its in previews, or even mention an opening night.  I wonder how many members of the audience knows they are watching previews.

As a US history nerd interested in the Civil War, the subject of this show interests me.  I won't be able to get up to NYC to see it for a while anyway (live in Delaware) so we'll see what happens with reviews and (for the future of the show, perhaps more importantly), the court of public opinion (or at least of ticket sales). 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 1:46pm

saxpower said: "The show is still in previews. It it common for grosses to be low (potentially not enough to cover expenses) during the preview period? I looked at ticket availabilty before and after opening. During the preview period, its seems to be selling decently. However,afteropening the number of available seats goes way up. Is this because of "papering" by the producers/theatre owners (is that the correct term for giving away tickets or selling them very cheaply so attendance figures are higher)?"

Correct, they are heavily discounting and comping preview performances in the hope that it (a) builds buzz, and (b) gets good reviews so tickets will sell themselves after opening night. But it seems unlikely that the show will receive RAVES on the level that will make ticket sales rise substantially enough for the houses to be filled at a sustainable level...but hey, prove me wrong!

It's not uncommon for a show to lose some money in previews. A smart producer/GM will have a contingency built into their show –– sometimes 1-2 million –– to cover losses as the show develops an audience and to help the show get through its first few months. But this show is budgeted within an inch of its life, so that level of slush money seems unlikely.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 3:31pm

It's intermission at today's matinee.  .       Sets are moving well. Choreography is excellent. Music is pretty good. Dialogue is stilted--especially when it leads into a song.

Overall, I'm enjoying the show..

 

Editing this to include 2nd act comments:

 

The plot becomes convoluted and it reminded me of CAMELOT, where it's up to the chorus to unfurl the story.

Still, I feel it was a decent show with quite a few bright spots.

Updated On: 3/23/22 at 03:31 PM

[starcatchers]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 7:27pm

Dollypop said: "It's intermission at today's matinee. . Sets are moving well. Choreography is excellent. Music is pretty good. Dialogue is stilted--especially when it leads into a song.

Overall, I'm enjoying the show..



Editing this to include 2nd act comments:



The plot becomes convoluted and it reminded me of CAMELOT, where it's up to the chorus to unfurl the story.

Still, I feel it was a decent show with quite a few bright spots."

Did the matinee start on time(ish)? I arrived around 7:15 (for a 7:30 start) and while the orchestra has filled up considerably in the last ten minutes, the will call line was nearly halfway down the block…I can’t imagine there won’t be a delay. 
 

that aside, I’m very excited to see this. 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 10:28pm

Today's matinee started about 10 mins late

[Joshua Rosenthal]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 10:56pm

Saw the show a few days ago and I absolutely loved it and think it deserves to be up there with the greats. It’s truly an amazing show and has a literal show-stopping number nesr the end of the second act. 

[starcatchers]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 11:11pm

Dollypop said: "Today's matinee started about 10 mins late"

Tonight too. With the late start and intermission it clocked in at just under 2:50. 
 

I really enjoyed this! Some spots could definitely use some tightening, and it could afford to lose about 20-30 minutes, but there’s a lot of potential. “Let It Burn” rightfully got a standing ovation. I loved the choreography. The entire cast is spectacular. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/23/22 at 11:36pm

They really, really are. 

[JasonC3]

Posted: 3/24/22 at 6:47am

Joshua Rosenthal said: "Saw the show a few days ago and I absolutely loved it and think it deserves to be up there with the greats. It’s truly an amazing show and has a literal show-stopping number nesr the end of the second act."

I'm curious as to what you found so amazing about it that would earn it a place "up there with the greats."  Anything in particular? 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/24/22 at 12:25pm

Joshua Rosenthal said: "Saw the show a few days ago and I absolutely loved it and think it deserves to be up there with the greats. It’s truly an amazing show and has a literal show-stopping number nesr the end of the second act."

 

I can't say the show is "great" but it's enjoyable. It reminded me of what we called "Grade B Musicals" in the 70's: nice shows but nothing really exceptional. They included SKYSCRAPER, HOW NOW DOW JONES, BAJOUR, and BAKER STREET.

 

[starcatchers]

Posted: 3/24/22 at 9:15pm

Kennedy Caughell made (/is currently making) her debut as Annie tonight! 

[conealpetterson]

Posted: 3/25/22 at 8:17pm

8:17 and tonight’s show still hasn’t started because of technical difficulties.  

[pollster2]

Posted: 3/25/22 at 8:28pm

I won the lottery for tomorrow's performance. I paid online and got an email confirming payment and a message stating that my ticket would be emailed to me. This has not happened. Is there anyone to contact or should I just hope the box office has a ticket for me?

[Scott Stephen]

Posted: 3/25/22 at 9:09pm

I’m having the same issue. If I still haven’t gotten any thing by around 3 or 4 I’ll just call telecharge.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/25/22 at 9:30pm

Tickets for a show tomorrow? You usually get emailed those tickets the day of the show. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/26/22 at 1:06am

pollster2 said: "I won the lottery for tomorrow's performance. I paid online and got an email confirming payment and a message stating that my ticket would be emailed to me. This has not happened. Is there anyone to contact or should I just hope the box office has a ticket for me?"

You should get the e-mail the day of the show with the tickets. Might be as close as 2 hours before curtain.

 

[A Director]

Posted: 3/26/22 at 4:17am

Dollypop said:


I can't say the show is "great" but it's enjoyable. It reminded me of what we called "Grade B Musicals" in the 70's: nice shows but nothing really exceptional. They included SKYSCRAPER, HOW NOW DOW JONES, BAJOUR, and BAKER STREET.

I'd add the Jerry Herman shows he wrote after Mame and before La Cage!

"

 

[inception]

Posted: 3/26/22 at 8:29am

A Director said:

I'd add the Jerry Herman shows he wrote after Mame and before La Cage!

"
Now that feels like a curse.  All interesting shows but....

Dear World: 132 performances with 45(!) previews 

Mack and Mabel: 66 performances with 6 previews

The Grand Tour: 61 performances with 17 previews

If Paradise Square had a star like Angela Lansbury was in 1969 they could do OK, no matter the material.  But, I guess what star would be willing to work with Drabinsky?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/26/22 at 8:32am

A Director said: "Dollypop said:


I can't say the show is "great" but it's enjoyable. It reminded me of what we called "Grade B Musicals" in the 70's: nice shows but nothing really exceptional. They included SKYSCRAPER, HOW NOW DOW JONES, BAJOUR, and BAKER STREET.

I'd add the Jerry Herman shows he wrote after Mame and before La Cage!

"
So true, although DEAR WORLD will always have a special place in my heart.
"

 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 10:53pm

Saw the show tonight with a full house, attendees admitting at intermission that they were in heavily discounted seats. The vibe: Everyone wants to love this new show. You can feel it in the house.  Me included. Hard working company giving unstintingly. The dancing is athletic and often stirring, if repetitive. There's a star making performance that will be widely admired, and deservedly. I’ll just add that the show around her feels adjusted by multiple hands, without a singular vision. You can feel the exposition dumps to clarify, and the presentational style - everything is played to the house - strips the show of needed intimacy, particularly in a non musical house like the Barrymore. I longed for two actors simply talking or singing to one another.

Some clearly find that the preaching to the (NYC) choir tone enhances the piece's relevance to 2022, whereas I’d appreciate drawing contemporary parallels without heavy handed annotation. Trust the sophisticated Broadway audience a little more. That pedantic component -- the show seems determined to teach us -- is not my taste. I prefer discovery. Probably a minority take. The cast is able and stellar and maybe it will catch fire. It’s hard to guess precisely what aspect inspires an advance and therein lies the problem once the heavy papering ebbs. Maybe I’m wrong. The response in the final 15 minutes certainly seemed heartfelt.  

Updated On: 3/30/22 at 10:53 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/29/22 at 11:20pm

Saying the show could lose 20/30 min is pretty crazy. That just means there's a ton of filler. And a good show doesn't need filler. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 3/30/22 at 1:40am

Interestingly, I would not call it filler so much as excess. A meaningful moment that calls for a short moment or even intimacy becomes a production number with too much of everything. I think I may have said this right after I saw it but "too much of a good thing" is the most charitable way of describing it. The signature of this show is Garth's, and if you've seen (e.g.) Ragtime, you know what I mean. 

[Lumiere2]

Posted: 3/30/22 at 2:30am

This is cross posted; I just shared this in the thread of grosses from last week, but thought it might be relevant here.

You know what I find interesting? I'm wondering if Paradise Square is fudging some of the numbers so their attendance appears higher. 

This week's grosses report says they "sold" 7,287 of a possible 7,848 tickets. That breaks down to 981 people per performance.

But the Barrymore has a capacity of 1,058 seats - sure enough, that's how many tickets were available each night when Waitress played the same theatre just a few months ago (according to the Broadway League's reporting.)

So did the Paradise Square team just, remove 80 seats from the house? While that's totally possible, I wouldn't be surprised if they intentionally aren't selling a section of seats so they can claim the house capacity is lower....therefore inflating the reported attendance.

The show claims 92.8% of the house was full last week. But selling 7,287 tickets (yes, even counting the comp'd ones) over eight shows in a 1,058 seat theatre is actually only 86% full. That's a big difference.

Side note: a $47.50 average ticket price is unquestionably being lowered due to how many free (or heavily discounted) tickets have been given out to build word-of-mouth. And it doesn't seem to be working.