ROA still running....and running..and running...

[massofmen]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 12:03pm

its fun to look back on those posts in 2009 where so many people on this board thought ROA was only for the "dregs" of society and that no one would see it..and with all the other musicals that opened in 2009 about to close (billy elliot in Jan) i wonder what that says about our society...Think about that..every other musical that opened in 2009 will have closed this january...save for Rock of Ages.

i mean lets be honest, i am brilliant that i called the success of that show from the outset. I mean..wow i am smart. but i digress :)

ROA has a 100 million dollar movie coming out next summer with some of the biggest movie stars on the planet. They have a show running in London, Australia, National Tour, Japan, and Broadway (which is at 95% over and over again albeit it only holds 600 seats with a usual average tix price of over 85.00)

Pretty amazing for a little show that the majority of the theater afficianados on this board said it would die a quick death.

[wdwfreak]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 12:11pm

You're a narcissistic ass aren't you?

[massofmen]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 12:20pm

it took you that long to figure that out? We have known each other for how long now and you are just coming to that realization? Wow..maybe more deductive reasoning classes in school might help a bit.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 12:32pm

Have you seen its grosses? It can't be making much - if anything. It's just holding out until the film gets released so it can be marketed as "As seen on Broadway." The show is also holding out for a boost in attendance from the movie.

The movie would also not be produced if it weren't being marketed with mega stars, jukebox songs, and a big studio behind it. I'm not slamming Rock of Ages - I actually found it surprisingly enjoyable and I think the attention it's bringing to Broadway can only be good for theatre, but let's not pretend the show alone is some sensation.

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 12:50pm

"I actually found it surprisingly enjoyable and I think the attention it's bringing to Broadway can only be good for theatre, but let's not pretend the show alone is some sensation."

I don't think any pretense is necessary-for me, the fact that enough people have found it enjoyable to keep it running this long is pretty sensational.

Another barometer for me is when a show keeps running no matter how many cast changes there are is proof that the show alone is indeed pretty sensational.

Updated On: 10/29/11 at 12:50 PM

[massofmen]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 2:42pm

i agree JANE2. The show is not about any one actor in it its about the source material. Should run for a long long time. And with the free marketing from the movie, the title will be all that more recognizable.

I would imagine most people come to NYC thinking "rock of ages...what is that?" and they are still selling at 95% weekly. Now when people come and actually have an idea of what the show is? I think tix sales will be impossible to get seeing as they are in a 600 seat house ( it would probably behoove them to move back to a bigger house after the movie comes out). Goes to show you that winning a tony award doesn't mean that you will run longer than a show that doesn't if your show is good.


I am sure ROA is making more money than memphis is.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 2:46pm

Neither Rock of Ages nor Memphis have recouped, so... it's not exactly a Clash of the Titans battle you've got going on there.

[massofmen]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 2:52pm

ROA will recoup way before Memphis does seeing that memphis will be closed by January.


ROA..3 more years..unless the movie is horrendous.

[JP2]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 2:54pm

From what I was told by various people about a year ago, ROA has in fact recouped its Broadway investment. But somehow it hasn't recouped its off-Broadway investment, and so they never made an announcement. Don't think I've ever heard of such a thing.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 2:55pm

I think OP was just trying to make a point about Broadway trends. No need to be rude.

[barcelona20]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 3:04pm

massofmen, since you get everything right, remind us again, what did you predict about Hair?

[TheHappyPhantom]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 3:04pm

A long run is not all it take to be a success. How about artistic integrity? The show is pure crap and critics and actual theatre people have no need to waste their time on something so mindless. It's just another sad of case "I knew all the songs and know nothing about theatre, so I loved it". aka Mamma Mia, Baby It's You...etc
Updated On: 10/29/11 at 03:04 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 3:14pm

I personally take exception to the above post.

First-unfortunately, success is actually measured by length of run and profit. I'm an artist so I'm sensitive to that aspect of all the arts, but I've seen exceptional theater pieces which had short runs and were considered flops.

Second-I absolutely loved ROA. I also absolutely loved Pillowman, The Sorrow and the Pity (film), Angels in America, and countless other higher brow works of art. I assume you're not only targeting me with your following statement-"It's just another sad of case "I knew all the songs and know nothing about theatre, so I loved it". aka Mamma Mia, Baby It's You...etc " but I think you're out of line in generalizing the type of person who enjoys ROA.

[JP2]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 5:44pm

I enjoy the show immensely, and I wouldn't say I knew all the songs before hand, or that I know nothing about theater.

[AC126748]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 6:37pm

seeing that memphis will be closed by January.


False!

[binau]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 6:41pm

ROCK OF AGES is doing horribly in Australia and just cancelled its Sydney run.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 9:02pm

Rock Of Ages postponed the Sydney season for the simple reason, it would be up against Annie ( with Warlow ) and Love Never Dies.

The show has sold very well in Melbourne, the Brisbane season is selling well and the show will now head to the west coast.

[TheHappyPhantom]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 9:46pm

It's a sad day when any show is scared to compete with Annie. Who wants to see that???

[ChenoKahn]

Posted: 10/29/11 at 9:52pm

Annie is very popular. Of course they don't want to compete with Annie and Love Never Dies (which ALW has been saying is the definitive production and wants to transfer it to Broadway).

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 10/30/11 at 2:52am

Annie has the who's who of Australian Theatre in it, well maybe not Alan Jones. I would second guess myself as well if I was producing ROA.

Also Sydney can't handle three major productions at once, Hairspray flopped against Jesery Boys and Mary Poppins earlier this year

[Barney Stinson]

Posted: 10/30/11 at 9:40pm

"From what I was told by various people about a year ago, ROA has in fact recouped its Broadway investment. But somehow it hasn't recouped its off-Broadway investment, and so they never made an announcement. Don't think I've ever heard of such a thing."

JP, I was told very recently by an investor that the tour has not yet fully recouped, but is fairly close, and the Bway show is nowhere near recouping. The move was extremely expensive (this was in the article linked below), but the show is making a small weekly profit now.
Lawsuit

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/30/11 at 10:37pm

"ROA was only for the "dregs" of society"

It is. There are A LOT of dregs. Thus, the long running status.

Long running does not equal quality.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/31/11 at 6:06am

Success and quality seldom have much to do with one another, yet alone ART.

Not begrudging anyone here that has enjoyed it -- to each his own -- but you couldn't pay me enough to ever sit through that again. There are few shows I have disliked as much...maybe All Shook Up which is the only show I've ever walked out on, and I would have left this is my sister wasn't with me.

I'm still dumbfounded that it is still pulling in an audience.

[Jane2]

Posted: 10/31/11 at 8:22am

" There are A LOT of dregs."

Then you should be thankful for me and all the other dregs for keeping so many shows going and bringing so much money into Broadway.

You're welcome.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/31/11 at 10:59am

I put a lot of money into Broadway too. I just prefer shows where audience members aren't exposing their breasts, screaming over the actors singing, getting drunk and loud and treating trained actresses like pole dancers.

That's all.