AC126748 said: "My first thought upon reading this news was, they're coming back to close the show.
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everythingtaboo said: "Yeah, it's going to close in January. Don't forget they were ready to dump Kinky Boots for Cursed Child last year, so unless something miraculous happens with the grosses, it's packing up its heels.
They were ready or this speculation board was ready?
A couple of thoughts:
1. I think it is great that they are returning. Lots of fresh publicity and a pretty dreary list of new musicals IMO before the spring, other than The Band's Visit. Not knowing enough about TBV, I don't know if that is going to be a big demand show, based on reviews, or more of a Scottsboro Boys / The Visit.
2. I am convinced that Kinky Boots will only close before 2019 only if there is such a demand for available theatres that they are forced out, or paid off to close if they are exceeding their contractual requirements. Why do I think this:
-- Even before Urie, it has grossed significantly more in 2017 than in 2016. Look at the Grosses charts. Why would they close if they continue to achieve of exceed numbers comparable to 2016?
-- If most of the shows close that all are expected to close in the next 6 weeks, there will be slim pickings of shows with easy ticket availability that are also old-fashioned hits 'for the tired businessman' (largely a figure of speech term here). Nix: Hamilton, Dolly, Evan Hansen, CFA, BOM (at least for less than full price) as unavailable without premium tix and / or advanced planning. Nix (potentially) as closed: TGC, War Paint, GHD, Miss Saigon, Bandstand (though I hope not...it is the only one I have not seen that I really want to see, along with Donna Murphy). Nix as a different target audience (some more due to the point at which they are in their life cycle): Lion King, Wicked, Aladdin, Phantom, Charlie, Anastasia, Waitress. That leaves: Kinky Boots, Beautiful, School of Rock and (I guess, though I don't understand A Bronx Tale), and whatever I am forgetting. I really think that Kinky stands to benefit from the publicity / momentum of Urie being followed by the original Tony winning / nominated leads, and that will help get them close enough to next summer's season that they can survive through any downturns that occur during the spring openings.
-- Maybe they will be able to adapt the Weissler model for Kinky Boots, by casting some folks who don't sell a huge number of tickets, but sell enough extra tickets to increase grosses nevertheless?
-- While it is a business, there is also an ego dimension to it. They are close enough to 2,000 performances...then they will be close enough to pass Oklahoma, etc., all along giving employment to a troupe that may otherwise be unemployed.
I was recently accused quite correctly of being perhaps a little too theoretical on some of these posts, and that is probably the case here; but I really do think Kinky Boots is less likely to close at year-end than it was a year ago, unless something changes that can't be anticipated. It is IMO certainly not the overall list of musicals announced for next season so far.
Updated On: 8/2/17 at 06:12 PM
