Riedel's next victim: THE PRODUCERS

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 9:36am

"BLOOM IS FADING:

ONCE A HIT, 'PRODUCERS' IS FAST
LOSING BOX OFFICE"

http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/bloom_is_fading_entertainment_michael_riedel.htm

A show that once grossed $1 million a week is now pulling in about $450,000 - not quite enough to cover its running costs, production sources say.

A person involved in the show, which opened in the spring of 2001, says there is "real concern" for its future: Unless business picks up in the fall, the musical could shut down by the end of the year.

Rival producers have picked up the scent of decay. Like hyenas closing in on a dying wildebeest, they're circling the St. James Theatre, one of the most desirable theaters on Broadway, in the hope of snapping it up for their own shows.

Both "Grease" and "The Wiz," two revivals slated to open next year, have their eyes on it.

Updated On: 9/27/06 at 09:36 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 10:09am

Aside from which shows are looking at the theater and such "inside info," I think he's stating the obvious. That show has lived well past its time. I saw it more than two years ago, and it was pretty lifeless then.

Updated On: 9/27/06 at 10:09 AM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 10:44am

"That show has lived well past its time"

The same could be said for "Rent".

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 10:47am

While Rent needs some serious cleaning-up, I disagree that it's outstayed its welcome. So do the ticket sales. But the prediction comes from the fact that The Producers isn't making what it needs to to stay running. Rent is (a) cheaper to run and (b) continues to do pretty well in terms of ticket sales, so even if it is tired, it's not in the same danger as The Producers.

Updated On: 9/27/06 at 10:47 AM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 10:48am

I won't get into the RENT agument.

Although it's probably true on some small level, I am too emotionally attached to the show to agree. I'm obviously jaded, and so is everyone else who will discuss this. If people are lukewarm on the show, they'll say it's past it's time. If people love the show, they'll disagree.

I do think that THE PRODUCERS needs to ship out.

But RENT? No thank you. RENT reaches an emotional core in its (mostly younger) audience that THE PRODUCERS has never come close to doing.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 10:52am

I agree -- accepting whatever discrediting things it says for my character, as tired and robotic as Rent will ever get, I cannot imagine what it'll be like to see that show close.

Rent's material has life and spark built in; The Producers did nothing for me. It gets most of its kick from the casting.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 10:59am

I have to agree about the Producers. I saw it 3 years ago with Brad Oscar and Roger Bart as the leads, and the show did absolutely nothing for me. In other words, it was a huge disappointment and I'm sorry I paid full price to see it.

[once a month]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 11:07am

I saw it opeing weekend with Lane and Broderick, seated three seats from Gene Wilder. I enjoyed the show. I laughed...I smiled. I couldn't understand the hoopla, or the Tony award shut-out. Call me a heathen, but it didn't even make my top ten list. Very glad I went, actually I was invited. That's why I never voiced my negative comments when this show was fresh. I didn't want to seem ungrateful, but there were just too many shows I enjoyed more.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 11:13am

Bye bye Producers..
Don't let the door hit ya on the way out.
(Although, neither of the St. James' new tennants sound particularly promising either.)

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 11:16am

I would rather see THE WIZ there than YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN.

THE PRODUCERS may just have another year left in them. Like Riedel quoted, they've already made a 7 figure profit, so the biggest hurdles are long past. They'll pull a few names, and will probably get 6-12 more months out of this mother.

[folkyboy]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 11:17am

Like hyenas closing in on a dying wildebeest

hahahaha god i love Riedel!

[crzyrocket]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 11:19am

I'll offer a dissenting opinion, because I have always enjoyed The Producers. I've seen it with several different casts (Broadway and touring) and the show has always made me laugh.

That said, I'm not going to go crazy with fury should it close. It's had a good, profitable run and it's made a good many people laugh. That's not so bad after all.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 11:19am

Me too!

Hm...could he be quietly referencing THE LION KING....?

[Johnnytoc]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 11:20am

I won't touch the Rent discussion, I'm lukewarm towards the show but I can at least see your opinions.
The Producers Has had a nice run. If it did close by the end of the year, I wouldn't be surprised.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 11:25am

Earlier in the year, I heard the most probable plan with The Producers/St. James is that the St. James wants Young Frankenstein, and would keep The Producers running until Young Frankenstein was ready to move into the theater.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 11:34am

I saw The Producers on tour and I thought it was hilarious, then I saw the movie and I didn't laugh at all. I think it's one of those shows that doesn't lend itself to repeating viewing. Also, the score isn't the strongest, so not many people want to drive around listening to the OBC. I think it's done, but I think they'll milk it until Young Frankenstein opens. I still don't get why the biggest show in Tony history is this...ugh.

[ILUVTOMG]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 11:34am

i'm wondering if the show would have succeeded if someone other than nathan lane had originated the role of max. he was really the show's 'engine.' unfortunately he couldn't save the movie. P.U. what a stinker.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 11:56am

I've seen "The Producers" in NYC with the original cast, the First National Tour, the current NYC cast and I enjoyed it every time. I've also seen "Rent" a few times and liked it as well. However, I would say that both shows have run well past their time. If they both closed and were replaced by something new, I wouldn't shed a lot of tears.

As for "The Wiz" vs. "Young Frankenstein", I'll take "Young Frankenstein". At least it will have an original score. There is already one "Wizard of Oz" story on Broadway. Do we really need another?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 12:01pm

Does Broadway need another Mel Brooks musical, completely void of a decent score and a moving message? No.

[Jon]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 12:03pm

As long as there are teenaged girls and homosexuals, you can never have too many Wizard of Oz stories.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 12:05pm

If it's a choice between a new musical vs. a tired long run ("Rent", "Producers", "Phantom")? I'll take the new one.

[algy]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 12:15pm

Well, if it does closem it's had a decent run - the London Production is closing in January and it's only done what 3 years?

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 1:37pm

THE PRODUCERS could gross $400,000 every week for a year and the show would still have money, as it has a huge surplus from when it was grossing $1 mil every week for those 2+ years.

THE PRODUCERS will stay open until YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN opens, which will either be December 2007 or May 2008...

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 1:51pm

Is it possible Young Frankenstein has been promised the St. James as a thank you to Mel for giving them such a hit with The Producers? I am not sure how these things transpire, but it would make sense that they would keep The Producers until such time as YF is ready to open.

And I agree with Munk, as long as RENT is magically converting Homophobes into Homolovers it should stay open. No matter what the condition of the show is or how much money it is making or losing.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 9/27/06 at 1:58pm

Sueleen: So true.

I do agree that it's likely that Jujamcyn will push THE PRODUCERS to last untiil YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN opens...it would be smart business. Unless, of course, THE PRODUCERS starts doing miserably and they put in a few month run of a special event, I think that the YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is most likely.