Shows' initial investments

#1

Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 1:51pm

I know we all hate these "I'm doing a project, so please help me find _____", so I apologize in advance, BUT...

I'm doing a project, so pretty please with the I've-been-here-long-enough-and-have-earned-the-right-to-ask sugar on top help me figure out where I can find the start up costs of various shows and whether or not they've recouped. I know that BWW does a write up on it at the time, but I've not been able to find the information for some of the older productions around. Any information on any show, past or present, is lovely. The only thing I can't use in my project is a show from this season.

Thanks.

#2

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 1:56pm

I mean, it would be easier if you had a few past shows in mind and we can go from there? PM me if you have a few in mind

#3

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 1:59pm

Well, right now I'm trying in vain to find info on DRS's investment, so if you've got that...

I'd like to stay fairly current so that I won't have to mess with inflation rates. I'm thinking of looking at: Chicago, Rent, Cabaret, Hairspray, Mamma Mia!, Rent... basically anything, but I do think I ought to stick with just musicals. I'll need some flops, too.

Thanks for offering help.

Updated On: 5/13/06 at 01:59 PM

#4

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:36pm

Were the following hits or flops in terms of finances?

LSOH revival
Ragtime
Fiddler revival
Little Women
Man of La Mancha revival
Sunday in the Park with George
LaChuisa's Wild Party
Wonderful Town revival

#5

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:41pm

Off the top of my head I believe it was around 11 mil. If you can wait until Monday I can get you more precise numbers on DRS. Do you need to include the costs for its pre-Broadway tryout in San Diego? It has recouped and returned 65-70% at this point. I forget where it is at exactly.

#6

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:43pm

Wasn't LaChiusa's Wild Party off-Broadway? If so, that might be something to consider if you're comparing it to stuff on Broadway. Edited -- disregard, I was mixed up.

Little Women and Man of La Mancha were both definitely financial flops. I think the majority of that list was, but I'm not completely certain.

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

Updated On: 5/13/06 at 02:43 PM

#7

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:44pm

Lippa's Wild Party was Off-Broadway, LaChuisa's was on.

Vinnie, the approximation you've given will do. Thanks to all who try to help.

#8

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:47pm

Lippa's Wild Party was Off-Broadway at MTC, not LaChiusa's. If I remember correctly the LaChiusa production was capitalized at roughly $8 million.

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"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

#9

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:50pm

Now that I realize I was totally mixed up about that (I thought Lippa's was at the Biltmore) which theatre did they produce it in, the proscenium or the black-box? (Sorry for the threadjack, I'm just curious.)

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

Updated On: 5/13/06 at 02:50 PM

#10

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 2:51pm

Does anyone know about:

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Urinetown
The RHS revival
Company

Thanks Margo

Updated On: 5/13/06 at 02:51 PM

#11

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 3:06pm

The Wild Party played a the Virginia, now August Wilson, Theatre which is a proscenium house (like every other Broadway house excpt Circle in the Square -- Broadway doesn't have black box theaters).

The Lippa Wild Party played at MTC's Stage I which has 299 seats and sort of has a proscenium.

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"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

#12

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 3:08pm

I meant to just ask that about Lippa's; I put the option in reference to MTC's two spaces at City Center, but thanks.

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A work of art is an invitation to love.

#13

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 6:42pm

bump

#14

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 7:46pm

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown Revival did not
Urinetown did I believe
The RHS revival did not
Company the original did, the revival was Roundabout

#15

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 7:58pm

Little Women The Tour is still doing well financially.

#16

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 8:21pm

Wait, DRS recouped?

#17

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 8:41pm

No, Vinnie said: "It has recouped and returned 65-70% at this point. I forget where it is at exactly."

I'm actually suprised. It has been doing steady business, but I guess a musical is a big investment.

#18

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 9:02pm

Thanks.

What about:
Funny thing-Forum
Into the Woods OBC
Into the Woods revival
Annie Get Your Gun revival
Cabaret OBC
Dreamgirls
Gypsy original
Gypsy revival
Miss Saigon

#19

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 9:25pm

Funny thing-Forum -- Recouped
Into the Woods OBC -- Recouped
Into the Woods revival -- did not recoup
Annie Get Your Gun revival -- Recouped
Cabaret OBC -- Recouped
Dreamgirls -- Recouped
Gypsy original -- Recouped
Gypsy revival -- did not recoup (I think)
Miss Saigon -- Recouped

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"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

#20

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 9:43pm

Margo, you are a wonderful human being. Honestly.

Also looking info on any revival or original broadway production of:
Hello, Dolly!
Guys and Dolls
The Sound of Music
Oklahoma!
South Pacific
The Pajama Game
The West Side Story
Assassins

Updated On: 5/13/06 at 09:43 PM

#21

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 9:57pm

The original productions of all of those shows (save for ASSASSINS which was a not-for-profit production) recouped and in fact were pretty big hits. There are lots of revivals of several of those shows which would take a while to break down (several of those recouped as well).

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"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

#22

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 10:00pm

Thanks, Margo.

How exactly do you know all of this? If there's some kind of website I can look at, I'd like to have the link so I can stop pestering you for information. I do sort of need information on the revivals because I'm a bit short in that category.

#23

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 10:05pm

Well, first off you're asking about several of the most famous and successful shows in Broadway history. No research is needed to know that Hello Dolly (which ran for 6 years) or Miss Saigon (which ran nearly a decade) were a major hits. Generally speaking, prior to 1970 or so, if a show ran over a year, it typically recouped (there are exceptions -- usually shows that were too expensive to run profitably).

For info on shows and their revivals, checkout www.ibdb.com which has detailed data on every show in Broadway history going back over 100 years (though it doesn't have investment info).

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"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie [http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/] "The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney

#24

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 10:07pm

Thanks

#25

re: Shows' initial investments

Posted: 5/13/06 at 10:42pm

The most recent Gypsy revival did not recoup, it came quasi-close though...