Saul Williams on the Closing of Holler — Page 3

If you are selling tickets, people are going to ask you what you think. Considering it's anecdotal, I really can't judge- but if someone is deciding between a few shows, they're going to ask the seller's opinion on their choices.

But audiences DONT necessarily prefer shows packaged like Rocky. Which is why it's closing. And why Bullets is closing. And why any number of musical adaptation of an existing property fail.

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If people could really figure out what brings audiences to Broadway, they would have a much easier time finding shows that resonate with people and therefore will make a profit. It seems like nobody really knows. It seems like its just the culture of the season, what demographic feels like shelling out big bucks at that particular moment, the time that the show opens, and a little bit of luck.

"Kelli, on the other hand, did go and whine and complain to press about commercial Broadway and how audiences just don't appreciate the same kind of musicals anymore."

The article I recall from an interview she did the day after Bridges closed was her questioning how something she felt had all of the elements of a classic show, that spoke to her so deeply, was unable to find an audience. And how, as an actress, she would rather find shows that spoke to her like that less often than try and take any role just for a paycheck.

All of the elements you mentioned were said, but the trajectory was pointing inward, not projecting out to blaming audiences for those things. But it still seemed reasonable to be raising those philosophical issues the day after you lose your job.

He's clearly pretty unhappy and doesn't really have a grasp on the reality of things. A lot of people were optimistic and wanted it to succeed, but they went to see it and it just wasn't very good. Of course the core audience was limited, but if it was really well done and made for a compelling night of theater good word of mouth would have spread and more people would have gone to see it (and actually paid).

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