bear88 said: "The article says The Band's Visit has the field to itself this fall. The musical has critical raves and no competition. That said, it may take a while for actual people to start buying tickets, months in advance. It doesn't sound like the sort of show that will provoke a ticket-buying frenzy before it opens.
The spring is more crowded, as always, with a bunch of shows that will sell lots of tickets even if they're terrible because people know the source material. As someone who likes original Broadway shows, this seems like an uninteresting season for musicals, even if some of these shows are well-executed.
As I won't be coming to New York next year, barring a major change of plans, I guess that's a good thing for me. But it sure seems like a year focused on safe bets and sure things. Mean Girls might make for a fine musical, something my daughter would want to see, but I'm not personally intrigued.
I think that the Band's Visit might possibly take the same trajectory as CFA. It comes in as a small show with little fanfare, but with rave reviews almost guaranteed. It's also a feel good show that will, I predict,garner several Tony nominations, including one for Best Musical, Best Actress (Katrina Lenk) and Best Score. So I think it will build, as has CFA, a very good audience going in to Tony season, and if should happen to win the Best Musical Tony, watch out. CFA is now a hard ticket to get, and TBV might end up in the same category.
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CZJ at opening night party for A Little Night Music, Dec 13, 2009.