SCOTTSBORO BOYS closing December 12? — Page 5

What a shame. Will try to see it in the next few weeks. From the chatter on here I thought it'd be a contender for a number of awards, but this unfortunately will be forgotten about, except for perhaps lesser-publicized awards like orchestrations, score, and book, come Tony time.

So is the reason for this closing because of the poor grosses/attendance?? I feel like this show could have last well until Tony time. This just baffles me why this is closing. I cannot get over how much I loved this show.

If you're marketing something to a specific group, it's a good idea to bear income levels in mind. Face it: at 100+ bucks a pop, I really dont think your average black family will run to see this. Frankly, I dont think your average family period would run to see this, and I say that as one who is indeed planning on seeing it when he gets to NYC next week... but only if it's at TKTS. I just cant afford these outrageous ticket prices -- and that's what, IMHO, is killing Bway. Family shows like WICKED and LION KING -- there's pressure there from the little ones to see it, so folks scrimp and save to make it happen. But in a recession like this, who aside from travellers with expense accounts can honestly afford this stuff?

I look at the lists of shows that some of you have seen and stand amazed. Either you're very good an angling free tickets or you work the student rush or you have fabulous jobs with truly astounding salaries. I cant work any of those angles, so I give myself one really sensational ticket (even at half price, it's sensational), then do standing room at the Met or look off-off-Broadway. This trip, that one sensational ticket will be SCOTTSBORO, and to be honest it'll probably be the last Bway show I'll ever see in NY. I just cant afford it.

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As a person who visited this site once a couple days, I can say I knew nothing about the show until recently. It seems it wasn't discussed much like "Next to Normal". I thought it was something like "altar boys". I am a big fan of K&E but I had no idea that this is their latest work. It's a shame that it will close so soon and I will miss it. If I read something about it earlier, I will definitely try to see it.

Unlike "Next to Normal", I feel this show has too little a buzz to get picked up by its targeting audiences.

A disturbing trend is occuring. A few on this board are complaining about high ticket prices. Doesn't anyone know I am the only one who complains about them?

Maybe this might be a good reason why shows are closing left and right. The increases have been dramatic . In years past, it went up by $ 5 or $10 & held for a while. Now it looks like they going up $ 10 bucks or more every season. $ 120 for a straight play Elling? In what universe.

We always hear about developing new audiences. The powers that be better worry about holding on to those who go now. Everything has its price limits. Many now do not go to see sports as those prices are equally ridiculous . Add to that the concessions and parking.

You gotta feel for Jeter . His skills are dimished & yet he feels he can not make it on $15 million a year. I do not think many on this board would have much of a problem making due on 1/3 of that figure a year.

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Updated On: 12/1/10 at 06:30 PM

Don't get me wrong. i do love musicals that make you think and drama that "holds the mirror up to nature"and theatre that is supposed to teach.actually i really love Cabaret,Venus(by Suzan Lori Parks)The Color Purple (WITHOUT Fantasia. really bad stars drive me crazy actually!)Memphis and Caroline or Change but I just think the reason why a lot of Black people are reluctant to see this is because it's kinda a part of history you want to forget and move on from.you don't want to relive something like that or to even see it or give it a chance.My mom saw the previews of it and was very open to seeing this(which says a lot by her not being a huge theatre fan like me and this type of subject matter is somewhat disturbing for her.)but since our trip is in April we won't even have the option to see it unless they record the last performance on DVD or someone bootlegs it on youtube.

It's extremely difficult to blame rising ticket prices on any one party. Producers would love to attract new audiences to Broadway, but you also need to be realistic. If it was conceivable, I'm sure produces would love to charge $20 for a ticket (I know I'd certainly like that). But rising prices goes far beyond Broadway; you need to explore the overall economy. There's inflation, and that's a fact of life (whether it's unfortunate or not). It's equally as expensive for sports fans or concert goers to attend events as well. But it's not because the producers of promoters are greedy. There are rising expenses which need to be recouped. Every producer has investors, and they have a duty to make them money. Look at how many shows are closing this year... If you lowered ticket prices, they'd all need to go off weeks, if not months earlier. This is because productions would be even further from meeting their weekly nut, therefore dipping further into their reserves, and that contingency money will run out faster. The reason why you cannot blame any one individual is because there's a chain (the same with any other industry) - Broadway shows have multiple suppliers. Lets cite theater owners as an example. Well if theater owners lowered their prices, that would make the budget of a Broadway show go down, which means the producers could charge less for tickets. But it's not as simple as that, because theater owners have their own suppliers who charge increasing prices (as they have increasing costs too). In theory, yes we would all love cheaper ticket prices. But realistically speaking, there's no viable solution (as of yet). It's one thing to complain - but another to help our community, and contribute sensible alternatives.

Updated On: 12/7/10 at 10:08 PM

And let's not forget the unions as well. To tell a producer he *must* have a certain number of musicians even if it's a straight play playing in a "musical house" just sorta bites. Seems ot me that everyone on all sides needs to learn a bit more flexibility.

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Exactly

Just looked on the news Unions are being asked for modest givebacks to save fellow members jobs. They refuse and people get laid off and these are essential services. My guess is it has to get much worse attendence wise before they do something.

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You cannot compare Broadway to sports, because they are two entirely different animals. Yes Baseball players make exorbitant salaries, but Broadway actors do not. Even stars like Daniel Radcliffe receive SIGNIFICANTLY less than they would in other entertainment mediums. I do agree that concessions can be cheaper. But that's not the choice of a theater producer, and has little relation to ticket prices. If anything, ticket prices will become cheaper because of more expensive concessions, as producers get a % of that profit. However the majority goes to an independent company, which has a contract with the theater owner to service that venue, regardless of production. Yes Broadway is outpricing themselves to a degree, but the alternative is no Broadway at all. Riskier shows like The Scottsboro Boys, with dwindling attendance numbers, do not have the luxury of offering cheaper tickets. A production like Wicked does have the ability to offer tickets at a lower price point, but it's bad business. As you mentioned, it's all about supply and demand. Wicked can supply tickets at very high prices and have sold out performances. Since producers have a duty to their investors, they would be doing a disservice by lowering prices. Like any other industry, Broadway is dominated by numbers. There may be some greedy producers, but those who do risky shows like The Scottsboro Boys or Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, aren't in the game for the sole reason of profit. Even David Stone who produced Wicked, did Next to Normal. That show was far from a safe bet, and David provided much of the financing himself. David loves Broadway, and he was in a position to offer something truely original and unique (because if the show failed, he still has plenty of money from his other endeavors). Unions provide many benefits for actors, but they also make things a lot more difficult for producers. Union rules cause expenses to skyrocket. It's the same reason why most manufacturing is done in third world countries. Like any other industry, I'm sure there's a bunch of greedy people on Broadway, but most aren't. Producers are the last to see any money. Writers get advances and royalties, actors and crew get salaries an theater owners receive rent. Not only did The Scottsboro Boys not make the Weisslers any money, but it cost them significantly. Besides a weekly producer's fee to pay for overhead, they don't see any money until the show fully recoups. And because the Weisslers took a risk, they may have a harder time getting funding for their next production (they'll likely be ok, since Chicago was a huge success). The point is, if you're a greedy person, Broadway is far from the first stop on your list.

Updated On: 12/1/10 at 10:51 PM

I have a feeling that we'll be hearing more about The Scottsboro Boys this spring when the Pulitzer Prizes are awarded.

I'll be there on the 25th as well!

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