SPRING AWAKENING RUN -- why so short for a Best Musical? — Page 2

^I'm pretty sure that The Will Rogers Follies ran for a pretty short time as well. Maybe not this short, but short. Also, I don't think this show was meant for this big of a theatre, like maybe it would have done better if it was in a smaller theatre, like the Walter Kerr.

There is only about 150 seat difference between the Walter Kerr and the Eugene O'Neill. I dare say that would have hardly made a difference.

The show is closing due to tough economic times. It has nothing to do with the talent of the current cast not "being up to par." The current cast is very talented.

I'll just throw this out there - I think the economic problems asides (and that is a huge issue) I'm not sure we are going to see as many shows opening and running for a decade as during the 80s and 90s. For one thing, partly because Off Broadway has all but disappeared, Broadway itself is saturated. Every theatre is booked pretty much all the time (compare that statistic to when say RENT or PHANTOM opened - lots of Broadway houses sat empty for years on end) and there is just more competition.

I'd compare it more to how Broadway was in the 20s-60s. Even huge hit productions only ran 4-5.

SPRING AWAKENING is a hit. Its run is only short when compared to musicals that largely opened at a time when trends were different.

Nearly 900 performances is not a short run! Why the concern about a good run like that!

Yes, Paul, that bit about Sweeney shocked me as well. I would have thought at least that show would have run for a little longer, even if it is a Sondheim show.

~Steven

Well, you have to remember that SWEENEY was also playing the Uris (now the Gershwin) one of the biggest houses on Broadway. Had it played at the Booth or the Shubert, it probably would have had a somewhat longer run.

Remember the first few weeks when it looked like there was no way in hell it was going to last a month past the opening?

Updated On: 10/24/08 at 03:57 PM

Spring Awakening closing has no effect on the source material or the cast. The cast is talented, though in certain ways not as good as the OBC (or even tour), and the material is very good. It may not be every cup of tea, but it has a niche on Broadway that makes it successful.

The state of the economy is the reason it is closing. Not because it isn't as good as other Tony award winners or because the cast isn't as good as the OBC.

Musicals that were released a decade or two ago were riding on the country's economic high and had the option to stay open for a quite good length of time. But the natural cycles of the economy mean we hit a downward slope at some point and now, as you can see with all the closings, is that time.

It has nothing to do with the material. I would also guess that long running shows like RENT and Hairspray, if released two years ago, would be calling it quits around now too. It's just the natural state of the cyclical, unfortunate and uncontrollable economy.

If you pay attention to the grosses, you'll notice that the shows that are selling around 60% are going one by one. That's why I'm afraid for Avenue Q, it's getting close.

As a Spring Awakening fan, I really have no complaints about the run. The cast (IMO) remained strong, it recouped and made profit, it will leave memories of 900 performances,people LOVED the show (I don't care what anyone here says), so how can I complain?

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Did anyone mention COMPANY? That ran for 705 performances.

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Really? I think IN THE HEIGHTS will run just as long as SA, if not longer.