POTUS starring Vanessa Williams, Julianne Hough, Rachel Dratch & More to Open This Spring- Page 2

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/5/22 at 12:18pm

Loopin’theloop said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Auggie27 said: "Hang on before buying if the prices and seat locations offend. As good as the cast is, and it's stellar indeed, this will likely be heavily discounted."

This. The ensemble may be talented, but it is not a group of stars that will sell large volumes of full-priced tickets.

Separate from the above comment — who replaced Lucy Liu?"

Being entirely blunt, it’s also not the best play in the world either."

 

Have you read it?

 

[Loopin’theloop]

Posted: 3/5/22 at 8:34pm

uncageg said: "Loopin’theloop said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Auggie27 said: "Hang on before buying if the prices and seat locations offend. As good as the cast is, and it's stellar indeed, this will likely be heavily discounted."

This. The ensemble may be talented, but it is not a group of stars that will sell large volumes of full-priced tickets.

Separate from the above comment — who replaced Lucy Liu?"

Being entirely blunt, it’s also not the best play in the world either."



Have you read it?

"

I have. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/5/22 at 8:40pm

Can't imagine this sells. Granted it was just announced, but with this cast, you'd figured it would be talked about a little. Look at sales for the first preview, about 10 seats sold in the balcony and 20 seats sold in the mezz. You have to wonder why they picked the Shubert?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/5/22 at 9:11pm

I think once word gets out people will see this. It's a great cast. There's something for everybody. There's just been no advertisement yet

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/5/22 at 10:48pm

ACL2006 said: "Can't imagine this sells. Granted it was just announced, but with this cast, you'd figured it would be talked about a little. Look at sales for the first preview, about 10 seats sold in the balcony and 20 seats sold in the mezz. You have to wonder why they picked the Shubert?"


There's no "picking" when it comes to theatres, unless you're holding a hot hot hand (such as Hugh Jackman in MUSIC MAN). And even then, there are limits. The producer goes to the theatre owner of their choice and pitches the show. If the theatre owner thinks it's worth their time, it'll be placed on a list. Size is certainly a factor (# of seats greatly impacts budget), but it ultimately comes down to scheduling and availability. If the producer was offered the Shubert and DIDN'T want to take it, then the show could have waited for another venue (an offer which might have never come).

If you're a play, you're probably going to be kissing the feet of Bob Wankel of the Shubert Org at some point, since the Shuberts hold the vast majority of playhouses. With big musicals, the convo will be a little different since those are more spread out. It's all about relationships.

As for the cast, these are not money stars. That's a fact, not opinion –– Williams, White, and Cooper have all been in financial failures in the past decade. That's not saying they are nobodies!! But this combo of people in a new play is not enough to drive 1500 full-priced ticketbuyers per night in week one of the sales cycle! (It's pretty rare for a play to sell a ton of tickets right when it goes on sale, unless it has like...Denzel or Pacino or Helen Mirren or Tom Hanks.) If it gets absolutely STELLAR reviews and word of mouth and has a good ad/press campaign, that could certainly change things. But at this stage in the game, I wouldn't put money on POTUS recouping.

Updated On: 3/5/22 at 10:48 PM

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 3/6/22 at 4:13am

I really want to understand how some of these producers get investors on a project like this

How do you announce and put a Broadway show onsale SIX WEEKS before first preview? a show thats had no prior productions and has a nice cast but not anyone that anyone in this climate is going to trip overthemselves to grab a ticket to see and one thats not even going to potential qualift for this TONY season

also the last thing I want right now, comedy or otherwise is a political play

 

yikes

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/6/22 at 6:55pm

Ill be curious to see the advertising. But it does seem an out of left field choice. But I'd go to see White and Dratch.

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 3/9/22 at 9:34am

If anyone here is interested… I initially bought tickets for a preview performance in April. Orch row N for $113. Returned those as I saw they now have orch N and similar at $60 a ticket with fees! 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 3/9/22 at 9:48am

I don’t want to judge a show until I see it. But aside from maybe one announcement of this show on Playbill and discussion on here, I haven’t seen much promotion for the show. Do we think they’re waiting to see reactions for the first few previews? I feel like it could go either way…maybe. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/9/22 at 12:07pm

hearthemsing22 said: "I don’t want to judge a show until I see it. But aside from maybe one announcement of this show on Playbill and discussion on here, I haven’t seen much promotion for the show. Do we think they’re waiting to see reactions for the first few previews? I feel like it could go either way…maybe."


Anyone who waits to see reactions to first previews to start properly advertising their show has no right to work in this industry.

The show was announced one week ago, so it's not surprising that you haven't seen much advertising yet. It got a typical amount of press coverage in all the major theatre publications and in the NYTimes. Every show's advertising campaign is going to be different, HOWEVER...being that this begins previews in about 6 weeks, I would hope to see most of the following:

- direct mail & email

- programmatic online advertising (digital and video based on browsing interests)

- possibly a small run of TV spots in the NY/tristate area

- some type of outdoor advertising (subway ads, taxi tops, ad space in transit hubs, etc). Times Square billboards are usually a waste of money.

- a full-page ad in the NYTimes, though that can be a similar waste of money to the above

- full-page ads in NY/tristate editions of glossy print magazines (Vanity Fair, Variety, New Yorker, Vogue, NY Magazine, etc)

- social marketing

Separate from advertising, there will be press coverage –– feature stories, interviews, etc. –– which the team of course hopes will be in publications that go beyond normal theatergoing demographics.

We should also expect that it will discount heavily, at least in previews –– codes in direct mail/email, TDF, TKTS, maybe even stunts related to politics or feminism to try to drum up sales/interest.

The show doesn't have a lot of time before the first preview, and as discussed this is not a "money cast," so they will need to do some serious advertising to compete with much starrier plays this spring (Macbeth, Plaza Suite, Birthday Cakes, American Buffalo, Take Me Out, etc). 

Updated On: 3/9/22 at 12:07 PM

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 3/9/22 at 12:24pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "hearthemsing22 said: "I don’t want to judge a show until I see it. But aside from maybe one announcement of this show on Playbill and discussion on here, I haven’t seen much promotion for the show. Do we think they’re waiting to see reactions for the first few previews? I feel like it could go either way…maybe."


Anyone who waits to see reactions to first previews to start properly advertising their show has no right to work in this industry.

This is the first show I have ever said this about, and I always give shows a chance. People were turning up their noses at shows like Gettin’ The Band Back Together. I saw it. I had such a great time I went back and saw it again. I give shows a chance. Anyone who thinks they have any right to tell someone something like what you said needs to reconsider how they treat people. You don’t get to decide that. 

The show was announced one week ago, so it's not surprising that you haven't seen much advertising yet. It got a typical amount of press coverage in all the major theatre publications and in the NYTimes.Every show's advertising campaign is going to be different, HOWEVER...being that this begins previews in about 6 weeks, I would hope to see most of the following:

- direct mail & email

- programmatic online advertising (digital and video based on browsing interests)

- possibly a small run of TV spots in the NY/tristate area

- some type of outdoor advertising (subway ads, taxi tops, ad space in transit hubs, etc). Times Square billboards are usually a waste of money.

- a full-page ad in the NYTimes, though that can be a similar waste of money to the above

- full-page ads in NY/tristate editions of glossy print magazines (Vanity Fair, Variety, New Yorker, Vogue, NY Magazine, etc)

- social marketing

Separate from advertising, there will be press coverage –– feature stories, interviews, etc. –– which the team of course hopes will be in publications that go beyond normal theatergoing demographics.

We should also expect that it will discount heavily, at least in previews –– codes in direct mail/email, TDF, TKTS, maybe even stunts related to politics or feminism to try to drum up sales/interest.

The show doesn't have a lot of time before the first preview, and as discussed this is not a "money cast," so they will need to do someseriousadvertising to compete with much starrier plays this spring (Macbeth, Plaza Suite, Birthday Cakes, American Buffalo, Take Me Out, etc)."

Definitely agree with this final point however. They’ll have to start ASAP on seriously promoting the show. 

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 3/9/22 at 12:25pm

hearthemsing22 said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "hearthemsing22 said: "I don’t want to judge a show until I see it. But aside from maybe one announcement of this show on Playbill and discussion on here, I haven’t seen much promotion for the show. Do we think they’re waiting to see reactions for the first few previews? I feel like it could go either way…maybe."


Anyone who waits to see reactions to first previews to start properly advertising their show has no right to work in this industry.

This is the first show I have ever said this about, and I always give shows a chance. People were turning up their noses at shows like Gettin’ The Band Back Together. I saw it. I had such a great time I went back and saw it again. I give shows a chance. Anyone who thinks they have any right to tell someone something like what you said needs to reconsider how they treat people. You don’t get to decide that. I work in theater. I give shows chances. Can you say the same? Also how many people on these boards say they want to wait to see how a show is received before they get tickets? When a stunt cast is announced, how many people wait to see how the person is received before getting tickets? You have no right to say that. 

The show was announced one week ago, so it's not surprising that you haven't seen much advertising yet. It got a typical amount of press coverage in all the major theatre publications and in the NYTimes.Every show's advertising campaign is going to be different, HOWEVER...being that this begins previews in about 6 weeks, I would hope to see most of the following:

- direct mail & email

- programmatic online advertising (digital and video based on browsing interests)

- possibly a small run of TV spots in the NY/tristate area

- some type of outdoor advertising (subway ads, taxi tops, ad space in transit hubs, etc). Times Square billboards are usually a waste of money.

- a full-page ad in the NYTimes, though that can be a similar waste of money to the above

- full-page ads in NY/tristate editions of glossy print magazines (Vanity Fair, Variety, New Yorker, Vogue, NY Magazine, etc)

- social marketing

Separate from advertising, there will be press coverage –– feature stories, interviews, etc. –– which the team of course hopes will be in publications that go beyond normal theatergoing demographics.

We should also expect that it will discount heavily, at least in previews –– codes in direct mail/email, TDF, TKTS, maybe even stunts related to politics or feminism to try to drum up sales/interest.

The show doesn't have a lot of time before the first preview, and as discussed this is not a "money cast," so they will need to do someseriousadvertising to compete with much starrier plays this spring (Macbeth, Plaza Suite, Birthday Cakes, American Buffalo, Take Me Out, etc)."

Definitely agree with this final point however. They’ll have to start ASAP on seriously promoting the show."

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/9/22 at 12:44pm

hearthemsing22 said: "This is the first show I have ever said this about, and I always give shows a chance. People were turning up their noses at shows like Gettin’ The Band Back Together. I saw it. I had such a great time I went back and saw it again. I give shows a chance. Anyone who thinks they have any right to tell someone something like what you said needs to reconsider how they treat people. You don’t get to decide that."

The comment is about producers, not you as a ticketbuyer. Producers of a $5M+ new play have an obligation –– to the investors and artists –– to do their best effort in advertising ahead of previews. Campaigns evolve over time and the tone might shift after the first preview, especially as WOM takes off (a good thing). They will have to start advertising before the first preview or else they will absolutely bleed themselves dry by Opening Night.

My tone won't change unless I see hard data that impacts my belief.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 3/9/22 at 2:35pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "hearthemsing22 said: "This is the first show I have ever said this about, and I always give shows a chance. People were turning up their noses at shows like Gettin’ The Band Back Together. I saw it. I had such a great time I went back and saw it again. I give shows a chance. Anyone who thinks they have any right to tell someone something like what you said needs to reconsider how they treat people. You don’t get to decide that."

The comment is about producers, not you as a ticketbuyer. Producers of a $5M+ new play have an obligation –– to the investors and artists –– to do their best effort in advertising ahead of previews. Campaigns evolve over time and the tone might shift after the first preview, especially as WOM takes off (a good thing). They will have to start advertising before the first preview or else they will absolutely bleed themselves dry by Opening Night.

My tone won't change unless I see hard data that impacts my belief."

Ahh. In that case, I hope we see/hear about this ASAP!! They definitely need to amp up right now, basically. 

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 3/9/22 at 2:52pm

The LAST thing I would pay money to see is a comedy about an incompetent president.  We've just had two.

Agreed that they need to get cracking with the publicity.  This comes across as the kind of audience-pleasing mainstream comedy that has repeatedly failed on Broadway in the 21st century (Seminar, Dead Accounts, Elling, Chicken & Biscuits, etc etc).

Good luck to them. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/9/22 at 2:53pm

They have a cast that can at least do some television adverts on the local shows to get interest running. But it's interesting they have been so quiet. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 3/9/22 at 2:54pm

Borstalboy said: "The LAST thing I would pay money to see is a comedy about an incompetent president. We've just had two.

Agreed that they need to get cracking with the publicity. This comes across as the kind of audience-pleasing mainstream comedy that has repeatedly failed on Broadway in the 21st century (Seminar, Dead Accounts, Elling, Chicken & Biscuits, etc etc).

It certainly didn't help matters that 3 of those 4 were incredibly sh*tty plays.

 

 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/9/22 at 5:35pm

To be fair, we don't know if this is or isn't a great play. Worse plays have attracted better casts.

Also, with today's Tony announcement, it has been confirmed that this will be part of the 2022-2023 Tony season:

The Tony Awards eligibility cut-off date for the 2021-2022 season is Thursday, April 28, 2022 for all Broadway productions which meet all other eligibility requirements. Nominations for the 2022 Tony Awards will be announced on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.

Updated On: 3/9/22 at 05:35 PM

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 3/9/22 at 10:32pm

Also why is this opening TWO WEEKS after the TONY deadline...this seems so bizarre from start to finish 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/10/22 at 1:49am

I mean these names might not be Jackman levels, but they're still busy, working women, so I'm sure it has to do with scheduling. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/14/22 at 3:34pm

Here's a "commercial"/promo video for the play filmed over Zoom.

I sure hope the play itself as funnier than this, which may also be offputting to see people talking on Zoom at a time when ticket buyers are trying to forget the pandemic........

Discount code POTMC13 for 40% off in previews. There are also $29 rear mezz seats during the first 2 weeks without a code. But there will surely be better discounts available leading up to the start of previews.

Updated On: 3/14/22 at 03:34 PM