Predictions on Shows Closing

I really want to say something about these threads.

The fact that we're already talking about a show closing when it's only been for a week or so, or it not doing well, or stunt casting it - is really a shame. And I'd say that for any show. I hate these damn prediction threads. They're just down right mean and totally pointless. If you don't like a show, fine. Have your reasons. Don't go around saying it's going to close by June. Or by July. These actors are pouring their heart and souls into their performances - look at the cast of LESTAT for God's sake - and all you people can ever think about is when the damn thing is going to close. How about a thread that celebrates their work and says - you know, I know they're in a bad show, but God, I'm glad they're working.

It's a tough business, folks. Let's be glad that these actors aren't starving, that instead, we have a chance to see them on Broadway at all.

It's funny, but sometimes I wonder how many of you all are really just bitter and jealous of those that have succeeded in the business and actually made it past community theater.

Let's try celebrating the massive amount of work there's been lately. New shows constantly. New workshops constantly. Plenty of theater on and off-Broadway. Some of it doesn't do well. Some of it flops. But instead of rooting for a show to close, let's be glad these people have jobs.

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Updated On: 5/24/06 at 09:50 AM

Maybe some people think that some people that are in these shows don't deserve to have jobs.

I agree with you, trash. But I'm sure many people on this board don't, and this thread will turn into a bashing of shows that I like (for example, Tarzan and Wedding Singer) and people will continue to make rude comments about them on every thread. I've gotten into enough arguments on these boards to know that no matter what, someone will always disagree with you. I don't mind if someone doesn't like the same show as I do, there are lots of shows on Broadway to cater to many different tastes and styles. No need to continually bash a show, wish it would close, the actors to be out of work, etc.
For those that criticize everything and everyone: Be happy that so many people have jobs, they work on Broadway to bring theater and entertainment to all of us. If you don't like them in a show, please, go write your own show, do what you can to get to broadway, and hope that critics and people seeing the show aren't nearly as harsh on you as you have been on them.

Updated On: 5/24/06 at 10:42 AM

I give Hot Feet another week or two...

I would agree with you if Broadway is only about actor or created amateur production.

I can say that I never take down any show and being nasty toward any show.

However, I must admitted that I do upset with

1. Ticket Price ($110 now for no reason)
2. Overall quality of new Broadway shows.

I will be more supportive if I feel that Broadway producers walk a fine line between art and commercial. Unfortunately, I did not feel it that way. They look down on the taste of the audiences and we end up with a lot of Junk on Broadway. I’m glad that they will close some of these junks no matter how hard the actors work on the stage. It’s a shame to theatre community.

Moreover, theatre environment has gone downhill too. They sell popcorn and chips now. My last few Broadway show was filled with plastic bags/ potato chips bags sounds. Forget about candy wrapper, they are nothing compare popcorn chewer behind my seats.

I agree about bashing shows. This is an incredibly tough business and frankly I'm not sure how the actors handle it sometimes. They pour their heart and soul into a show, work on it for nearly a year, only to hand their baby over to a viscious public. You've got to wonder how many times that happening would make an actor leave Broadway to pursue other venues to perform in.

'The Death of Musical Theatre'....if anyone deserves a scathing review, it is BRANTLEY. If he hates theatre so much...why is he reviewing it? Nothing is given the chance to find its audience anymore. And any time someone does a show that isn't some bubble-gum jute box musical, it gets shot down. So no one wants to produce them anymore, or take a risk in an original show. Very FEW shows are entirely original...even Oklahoma! was based on a book.

Original, creative shows will only start to return to Broadway when the public is ready to receive them. We ARE a nation at war, and the general public (not seasoned theatre-goers, believe it or not...but tourists...mom and dad from Ohio) wants a distraction in the theatre. Broadway changed after 9/11... and even The Light in the Piazza, as incredible as it is, got bad reviews. Caroline, Or Change didn't last long, but thank God for it...for pushing some boundaries and trying something new. These jute box shows...Mamma Mia!, Good Vibrations...it's familiar to an audience and they know they'll 'like' it based on the music, so producers will put it up. Musicals adapted from well-known, successful films....same things. It's a safe bet, sure thing producers can rely on in this unsteady time of theatre.

Until audiences support different shows and reject spending over $100 to see on stage, something they could rent and probably have a better time watching...don't expect things to change too soon.

I was kinda put off by that Brantley article too. I thought that was kind of harsh. Why everytime there is a bad season is everyone ready to trumpet the death of the Broadway musical? There was nothing at all this season that was artistically redeemable? It was just ALL bad?? Somehow I doubt it.

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Trash, you need to stop being so insanely righteous and sensitive.

If a show is doing poorly and it has received poor reviews, there is absolutely nothing wrong with speculating when it will close, or how long it will last. You KNOW that you've atleast wondered the same thing to yourself after, say, LESTAT reviews came out.

Just because there is speculation of when or if a show will close doesn't mean that those speculating don't like the show. You need to majorly chill out. I liked THE WEDDING SINGER. I can still speculate when it will close. I don't think it deserves to close immediately, but my questioning it's staying power is absolutely okay.

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My saying TARZAN is the biggest theatrical abomination I've ever seen has nothing to do with me speculating when it will close. At all. They're unrelated. I bash it because it is horrendous.

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Wondering when a show will close and going on the boards (that these actors read, folks) and saying "Damn, LESTAT is gonna close in a week so let's put MAME in there" or whatever... are two completely things. I would hate to see people speculating when my show will close. I know how to keep those things to myself.

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Munk - Although I thought you were way too harsh on Tarzan, I agree with you that predicting when the show will close is not way out of the line. In fact, I saw producers did it with other shows all the time during the conversation.

I wonder if it's the same with predicting who will win TONY Award. Should not we be sensitive on this too then? By predicting winner, it is also a prediction of which other nominees will lose?

Are we saying it's okay to wonder, like "when will ___ close?" but it's not okay to speculate, where speculation can include "___ will close ___," "let's replace ___ with ___," or "___ needs to close!" You can't filter the responses to the questions, so you really can't pick and choose.

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Because it's become a complete joke. It's not in danger. Ever heard the phrase that says if you're offended, then it applies to you?

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