Roger Friedman's 411.com: Broadway Shows On Chopping Block
Roger Friedman's 411.com: Broadway Shows On Chopping Block
#1Roger Friedman's 411.com: Broadway Shows On Chopping Block
Posted: 12/28/09 at 7:23am
Hello. I read Mr. Friedman's article on the state of Broadway, especially those shows in dire straits. He's especially fond of "Finian's Rainbow." Here's the article:
By: Roger Friedman // Sunday December 27, 2009
Broadway is packed this week with tourists and the like. You can barely get a seat to any show, and the restaurants in the theater district are full.
But come January 4th, the Great White Way will be singing a different tune. Several shows are in trouble at the box office and may close quickly.
Among them: Superior Donuts closes January 3rd despite solid reviews and an initial rush for tickets. The dreadful Bye Bye Birdie, which was already a limited run. Ditto Carrie Fishers wonderful Wishful Drinking at the subscription Roundabout Theater.
But these are the shows people are gossiping about in the theatre biz: Ragtime, Burn the Floor, Hair, Memphis, God of Carnage, and, believe it or not, Fela!
The latter is a surprise since Jay Z and Will and Jada Smith were faux drafted to endorse and support it. But only Jay showed at the opening, the press office has done nothing but create enemies, and now Im told this by an inside source: Theyre papering the house. The tickets are so discounted, its impossible to make money.
According to playbill.com, Fela! is playing at 89.5% capacity. But the average sold ticket is $77, a far cry from the official top price of $125.
Having even more trouble is the revival of Finians Rainbow at the St. James. This very terrific production is filling just 59% of its seats, and the average is a paltry $68.
If only that shows publicistsame as Fela! had done something early on to encourage positive endorsements. I took my family to see Finians on Saturday, ages 9 to 77, and everyone had a grand time. Kate Baldwin and Jim Norton are not big names, but theyre dynamite. Christopher Fitzgerald continues his hot streak, going from Igor in Young Frankenstein to the winning leprechaun here. And the scoreHow Are Things in Glocca Morra? by Yip Harburg and Burton Laneis out of this world. The show is as timely as ever, and a definite must for families, especially teenagers. Youd think it would be a natural hit.
But there may be no pot of gold at the end of this rainbow.
from RC in Austin, Texas
Roger Friedman's 411.com blog
"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)
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#2re: Roger Friedman's 411.com: Broadway Shows On Chopping Block
Posted: 12/28/09 at 8:03am
Def. sucks to hear! I wish Finian's could last until Tony time!
And I wish HAIR would stick around, but it does seem to be petering out.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#2re: Roger Friedman's 411.com: Broadway Shows On Chopping Block
Posted: 12/28/09 at 9:16am
I'm thinking Hair will last until the cast departs for London. I think they'll end up making a big deal about seeing the show before "it" leaves for London. (Which is a real shame since my HS drama group has 100 tix for it in April.
I'm glad no one is speculating about N2N...remember when we were just hoping it would make it through the summer???? (OK, not EVERYONE was hoping)
The weather these last two weekends didn't do the shows any favors.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
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