Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
rockfenris2005
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#0Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 9:17am
How on earth is this possible? After all these years?
How can a show stay open for that long?? Wouldn't people get tired of it?? Why can't they open something new?? They should make a policy to close old shows, like in supermarkets, where things pass their use-by-dates. Then again, if there was a lot more new talent in Broadway to replace (even though it's everywhere BUT Broadway, which has never concerned producers lol) it might be a good idea. Who else feels, like I do, that there will be a huge boom in the musical theatre in twenty years time? There will be a renaissance... Someone will rise up, like Lloyd Webber, and it'll start all over again
Who can explain it, who can tell you why?
Fools give you reasons, wise men never try
-South Pacific
touchmeinthemorning
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
#1re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 10:21amIf it stays open past Jan 2006, it will be the longest running musical of all time. I don't doubt it will do that...esp. with the free press it'll get from the opening of the feature film.
"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'"
-- unknown
#2re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 10:35am
Nah, the film will only make people want to see the show even more. Sales will boost. It will be #1.
I don't think "expiration dates" are a good idea. If a show is that good, let it stay open. All the designers of the show put good work into it, and they deserve what get.
"You put into it what you get out of it."
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
Ebonic_Singer
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/18/04
#3re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 10:35amThat depends on the reviews the movie gets.
popcultureboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/23/03
#4re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 10:41amThe only reason expiration dates are a good idea is because a show is allowed to get tired and be performed in such a subpar way that it is no match on how it should be and the show should be put out of its misery (Rent, for example). If you keep a show running for x amount of years, it should be the same quality now as it was on opening night.
Nothing precious, plain to see, don't make a fuss over me. Not loud, not soft, but somewhere inbetween. Say sorry, just let it be the word you mean.
#5re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 10:42amIn 2006, it will be the longest running Broadway musical. The London productions of Cats and Starlight Express had longer runs than that. And the ALL-TIME longest running musical is still The Fantasticks.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#6re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 10:51am
But the longest performed show, non-consecutavely is PETER PAN. 
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
Chrysanthemum62001
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/04
#7re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 11:01amI also agree that if shows stay open for x amount of years they should stay on the same level of performance. ahem-CABARET...I hated that they couldn't have the show cast without a b-list celeb.
"What a mystery this world. One day you love them and the next day you want to kill them a thousand times over." The Masked Bandit in THE FALL
kissmycookie
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/21/04
#8re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 11:02amIf Cats ran longer. POTO can at least equal that mark...
touchmeinthemorning
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
#9re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 11:05amYes. Mr Matt...that's what I meant. I just think the record to break right now will be the Cats record...cause good heavens...breaking the Fantasticks record will take quite a bit longer. =)
"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'"
-- unknown
#10re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 11:07am
Yes, and AIDA.
Perhaps they should form a committee that would boot shows, IF AND ONLY IF:
1) The Theatre is desired for another show;
*AND*
2) The show lacks in performance since it's first casting change;
*AND*
3) The show has played at least one year;
4) The show receives less than 75% of its seating capacity.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#11re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 11:30am
Capn Hook,
"But the longest performed show, non-consecutavely is PETER PAN."
If you add up all of the performances of the original Broadway production and the five Broadway revivals combined, you come up with 847 performances (the equivalent of about a two year run altogether). Are you somehow adding up every single bus-and-truck production, community theatre run and high school performance to come up with that statement? Even if you are, there are several shows that have more total performances (Broadway, road and amateur combined) than "Peter Pan."
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#12re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 11:51am
"If you add up all of the performances of the original Broadway production and the five Broadway revivals combined, you come up with 847 performances (the equivalent of about a two year run altogether). Are you somehow adding up every single bus-and-truck production, community theatre run and high school performance to come up with that statement? Even if you are, there are several shows that have more total performances (Broadway, road and amateur combined) than "Peter Pan.""
Actually, you get 1,768 for Broadway, but this includes the play as well, which I always include when referencing to PETER PAN in general (not the Leigh/Charlap musical version). But I didn't make this clear, and I only stated that as a joke.
Cheers to PETER PAN - 100 Years and counting...
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#13re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 1:09pmIs anyone else reminded of that Peter Pan guy with the website?
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#14re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 2:12pm
Mister Matt,
I wasn't going to say it.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
jonartdesigns
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/04
#15re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 2:14pmi agree with closing crappy tired shows but some do get upswings with casting changes frequently (chicago for example is still going strong and with few exceptions (melanie)the cast is usually excellent)
"Grease," the fourth revival of the season, is the worst show in the history of theater and represents an unparalleled assault on Western civilization and its values. - Michael Reidel
#16re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 2:16pmIf people are still going and the show's still making money and people are still enjoying it why should it close?
TheGirlinTheFrock
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/26/04
#17re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 2:24pm
Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe POTO has consistently been in the top 10 of ticket sales. Why would you want to close a show that is doing so well? Because of another show wanting to use the theatre? There is no guarantee of how good it will do.
The Peten Pan guy...Wow. He was on Conan recently.
For those of you who dont know who he is...
Though scattered and divided we are still its heart...AIDA SEPTEMBER 5th, 2004...one more longing backward glance...
I AM NOW "TGIF!"
#18re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 2:55pm
I'm speechless.
I also say that if a show is doing well, let it stay open. And I have read that the Phantom production is still well worth seeing. I hope it stays open, I saw it a year after it opened on a bad day and really want to see it again.
Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder
#19re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 3:06pm
Margo,
But you were thinking it, weren't you?
That guy scares me.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#20re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 3:13pmEverytime I go to that site, my jaw drops and I can spend hours just mesmerized by it. I can't believe he's 50 now.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
#21re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 3:16pmI really was not expecting....what I got. But in reading through the site, he has a pretty good outlook on what he is doing and does it for good causes. God bless him!
Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder
#22re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 3:36pmNot just good causes. Take a closer look at the captions for his fashion pictures. It quite obviously is also a fetish for him.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#23re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 3:44pm
Ya think?!!
I will do that at home....with a glass of wine in hand!
Just give the world Love. - S. Wonder
Updated On: 9/7/04 at 03:44 PM
Marquise
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/1/04
#24re: Phantom of the Opera STILL RUNNING?
Posted: 9/7/04 at 3:46pm
"How can a show stay open for that long??"
Popularity, Box-Office sales, perhaps?
"Wouldn't people get tired of it??"
Apparently not. Good word of mouth goes along way. No matter what anyone else thinks of the show.
"Why can't they open something new??"
Hundreds of new shows have opened (and closed) since Phantom made it's debut. The producers aren't stupid. Why close something that's a consistent money maker and a crowd-pleaser.
No one's that stupid."
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