Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
hilltop
Understudy Joined: 7/13/05
#1Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 4:55pm
From Riedel's June 7th column:
If they gave out a Tony - and they should - for Best Flop, "The Pirate Queen" would win it oars down.
The lumbering show, by the French songwriting team that created "Les Miserables" and "Miss Saigon," will close June 17 at a loss of nearly $18 million, making it the biggest money loser of the season and one of the costliest flops in Broadway history.
Only last week, word around town was that "The Pirate Queen" would scratch out a run till Labor Day, when it would be booted from the Hilton Theatre to make way for Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein" in the fall.
Sources say producers Moya Doherty and John McColgan were prepared to tap some of their vast wealth (from their hit "Riverdance") to keep it afloat during the summer. But advance ticket sales were negligible, and the weekly losses would have been staggering. One source estimates that if "The Pirate Queen" were to run until Labor Day, Doherty and McColgan would be out an additional $2 million.
Broadway insiders began sniping at "The Pirate Queen" from the moment they saw a sneak peek at a press party last fall. The cast sang a few songs, one more turgid than the next, and the plot, as explained by the producers, seemed earnest and dull. (The caviar and champagne, however, were very pleasant.)
. . .
Director Frank Galati, while good at creating stage pictures, was unable to infuse any drama into Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's static script. So the producers brought in Tony Award-winning choreographer Graciela Danielle to restage much of the show. Veteran writer Richard Maltby Jr., who had a hand in "Miss Saigon," also came on board to punch up the script.
Maltby did an extensive rewrite - but many of his ideas were vetoed by Boublil and Schonberg, who, sources say, were reluctant to make changes to their score.
"Richard had some really good ideas, but those guys were stubborn," says a source.
In the end, Boublil and Schonberg's vision of "The Pirate Queen" prevailed. Glub, glub.
link
Updated On: 6/7/07 at 04:55 PM
#2re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 4:57pmOuch.
I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.
fengshuihellnyc
Broadway Star Joined: 3/8/05
#2re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 5:02pmTypical @ss#ole Reidel. Not that I'm a big fan of the show but Come On... Do you have to rub salt in the wounds.
mejusthavingfun
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/12/06
#3re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 5:03pmAt least it wasn't based on a movie. I'm sure the touring comapnies will make some back.
#4re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 5:05pm
$18 million dollars- that is a hefty amount of money to lose.
This show really doesn't deserve to be known as one of the biggest Broadway flops in history...
My 2007/2008 Season:
Grey Gardens (7/5)
110 in the Shade (7/6)
Mary Poppins (7/7)
Xanadu (7/7)
Deuce (7/8)
Spamalot (7/8)
Jersey Boys (8/25)
The Year of Magical Thinking (8/25)
Mauritius (11/2)
Young Frankenstein (11/3)
Rock 'N' Roll (11/3)
Pygmalion (11/4)
Mauritius (11/10)
Mauritius (11/21) Mauritius (11/21)
Sunday in the Park with George (3/6)
South Pacific (3/7)
Gypsy (3/8)
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (3/9)
#5re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 5:10pmWhich Broadway show holds the record for highest losses? "Sunset Boulevard"? from Roman in Austin, Texas.. (the liberal oasis of Central Texas)
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
#6re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 5:21pmOuch is right.
"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999
ThePinballWizard
Leading Actor Joined: 1/25/06
#7re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 5:23pm
I think the smartest thing they should have done was just to tour it around the US like they did with Martin Guerre instead of leaving it in Chicago. At least they could have figured out whether or not it would work. And even then they still couldn't get it right.
I remember I saw the last US performance of the tour of Martin Guerre. The cast was so emotional because they're dreams of opening on Broadway were smashed into pieces. While the music was beautiful, there was really nothing in the show that would have drawn audiences. Half of the people that were sitting around me (over 50) were asleep.
So they're 0 - 2 now, at least in the US. It's just not the 80's anymore.
"Isn't it strange that we spend most of our time learning to do what they put people in asylums for." - Jane Fonda on Acting
#8re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 5:26pmI don't know, kind of sounds like the composers were egomaniacs and thought their show was perfect and didn't require any changes (hmmm, sounds quite a lot like Elton John and Lestat).
Hey Dottie!
Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
#9re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 5:28pm
Well, clearly a tour wouldn't have worked if the composers didn't allow Maltby Jr. to fix the show and bring in some good ideas. If they really wanted to bring the show to Broadway, they should have closed out of town and done an extra workshop, then open on Broadway if they felt ready. The way they did things was way too rushed, they relied on the "From the creators of LES MISERABLES and MISS SAIGON, and the producers of RIVERDANCE" tag to sell tickets, and guess what? Only a handful of people bought the bait.
Is SUNSET BLVD. the costliest flop on Broadway? I don't think so though it's probably up there.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#10re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 5:28pmThat made me giggle
Jack: For your information, most people who meet me do not know that I am gay.
Will: Jack, blind and deaf people know you're gay. Dead people know you're gay.
Jack: Grace, when you first met me, did you know I was gay?
Grace: My dog knew.
#11re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 5:34pmWasn't Dance of the Vampires the most expensive flop? It's surly not Sunset Boulevard.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#12re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 5:40pmI adore Sunset but why is it so hard to believe?
#13re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 5:44pm
Oh please- don't pick on "PIRATE QUEEN" . I just got an e-mail
from them today about a special bonus -- MUST GO by June 17..
(its like one of those going out bussiness flyer, huh ?)
I kinda feel sorry for the cast. Too bad I cannot see it again,
bec. its sucks and they already took my $ 60.00 and no one wants to go with me and sit thru that horrible Schoenberg and Boubil Score.
The Musical is not really bad, it just sucks !
J*
Updated On: 6/7/07 at 05:44 PM
#14re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 5:45pmI was in the city this past Saturday to see Chorus Line. There was an ad in the paper selling the tickets for $35.00. I bought them and will see Pirate Queen the day before it closes. We were asking people as they left the theater if they liked it, and they all said "yes". :-0
"Life is not measured by the number
of breaths we take, but by moments
that take our breath away."
"Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
but how to dance in the rain."
#15re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 5:45pm
According to Wikipedia, SUNSET cost $10 million. And, while it ran for two years, it did not make any of that money back.
So, though it was expensive, it looks like its not the BIGGEST financial flop in Braodway history...
"One no longer loves one's insight enough once one communicates it."
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#16re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 5:51pmReidel seems to get his jollies reporting on a shows demise
Poster Emeritus
whatever2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/25/06
#17re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 5:56pm
> it ran for two years, it did not make any of that money back.
huh? how could something run for two years and not make "any" money back?
(edited for typo.)
"You, sir, are a moron." (PlayItAgain)
Updated On: 6/7/07 at 05:56 PM
#18re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 5:56pm
Who are his "sources." He constantly cites "a source" in all of his columns . . . interesting.
I despise the POST in general, anyway.
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird
To Kill A Mockingbird
mightydog
Understudy Joined: 10/12/06
#19re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 5:58pmAlthough you should probably have to adjust the cost of "Sunset" and convert it to 2007 dollars. This will take into account the value of $1 today vs then. It closed ten years ago in 1997 and guestimate inflation has been 4-5% a year since. That would mean $10 million in 1997 is equal to approximately $15 million today.
whatever2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/25/06
#20re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 6:00pmcontinuing in the role of economics professor pro tempore: inflation has been nowhere near 4% to 5% in the past ten years. in fact, for the majority of that time, it's managed to stay at or near 3%, and several times dipped as low as 2%.
"You, sir, are a moron." (PlayItAgain)
Ladyofthe Lake
Leading Actor Joined: 1/1/05
#21re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 6:01pm
Who are his "sources." He constantly cites "a source" in all of his columns . . . interesting.
Um, well...if he named his "sources," I'm sure they wouldn't be his sources any longer...
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#22re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 6:04pmWasn't Dance of the Vampires the most expensive flop?
#23re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 6:08pmHoly ****, that's a lot of money.
mightydog
Understudy Joined: 10/12/06
#24re: Riedel: $18 Million 'Pirate' A Historic Flop
Posted: 6/7/07 at 6:09pm
Thanks for your precision but no need to be a snot. I have a degree in economics and I said GUESTIMATE. That is a cross between a guess and an estimate. Also, technically the production costs were incurred before November 1994 (opening) and not 1997 (closing) so the time horizon was more like 12-13 years not the 10 I used. Surprised you didn't comment on that.
You unfortunately take yourself and this board too seriously.
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