BrodyFosse123 said: "Dancingthrulife2 said: "Addendum said: "Patti LuPone said on WWHL Monday night that she doesn't expect Broadway to be back until "Next year" "
Well, maybe next year."
What she actually said was that’s she’s being told January.
"
But she also said that's just a date that's been tossed out as a possibility
I did find that month interesting since normally Broadway low season starts after MLK day in January. Then again, we're all going to be seeing a new normal develop.
THE CORONAVIRUS VERSUS THE THEATER.…I would love to believe that theater (and dance and concerts, and the like) will soon get “back to normal.” I want that to happen, as much as anyone. But, let’s look at the realities.But I’m not sure I see how the risks–to performers, stagehands, ushers, and audience members alike–will be significantly lower in a couple of months, or in six months, or even in a year or two.I’d like to be wrong about this. I want to cheer on friends on Broadway, and in Boston, and in Princeton, and in East Haddam, CT…. But how will the risk of infection with a virus for which we have no cure be removed in six months? Or in a year? Will audience members, performers, stagehands, and ushers be wearing protective face masks? The Spanish Flu of 1918 lasted about three years before finally burning itself out. (And I’m not saying Covid-19 is the same thing—just seeing if history can offer any possible clues.) http://www.theaterscene.net/columns/on-the-town-april-2020/chip-deffaa/?fbclid=IwAR1N_2G_mWOuISnCGyDzzqYX8JHWRb6EnKJhZe1PY57Kzr3lv9uSsqjJ2Ig
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
The Public cancelled Shakespeare... IN THE PARK. For the entire summer. And all inside programming.
I was told today that producers for a newish show are looking at if they’re able to reopen some point in the summer with limited seating, charging upwards of $400 a ticket to make a profit. It’s insane.
Jordan Catalano said: "I was told today that producers for a newish show are looking at if they’re able to reopen some point in the summer with limited seating, charging upwards of $400 a ticket to make a profit. It’s insane."
I ran the numbers for a scenario like this and don't think it can fly. In a thousand seat house, you'd be selling no more than 250 seats, and that would include the lousy ones. I cannot think of an "newish" show (or any other, even Hamilton) that could sustainably make money on that basis. And if it were a musical there would be other massive impediments.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/14/13
Robbie2 said: "THE CORONAVIRUS VERSUS THE THEATER.…I would love to believe that theater (and dance and concerts, and the like) will soon get “back to normal.” I want that to happen, as much as anyone. But, let’s look at the realities.But I’m not sure I see how the risks–to performers, stagehands, ushers, and audience members alike–will be significantly lower in a couple of months, or in six months, or even in a year or two.I’d like to be wrong about this. I want to cheer on friends on Broadway, and in Boston, and in Princeton, and in East Haddam, CT…. But how will the risk of infection with a virus for which we have no cure be removed in six months? Or in a year? Will audience members, performers, stagehands, and ushers be wearing protective face masks? The Spanish Flu of 1918 lasted about three years before finally burning itself out. (And I’m not saying Covid-19 is the same thing—just seeing if history can offer any possible clues.)http://www.theaterscene.net/columns/on-the-town-april-2020/chip-deffaa/?fbclid=IwAR1N_2G_mWOuISnCGyDzzqYX8JHWRb6EnKJhZe1PY57Kzr3lv9uSsqjJ2Ig"
History absolutely can offer clues and we can use them and learn, but we also have to remember that a century later, "Things never happen the same way twice", to quote one of my favorite literary characters. A friend posted this article, basically saying the only thing we can really factually confirm is that the second wave was worse, but numbers are still kind of all over the place. Even experts on this are still researching that pandemic, but also with the reminder that science then and science now are 180 degrees of different. Or rather the technology available is vastly differently. Vaccines weren't the "thing" they are now, nor did we have global disease institutions that we have now, The WHO, CDC, etc. Yes vaccines have been around MUCH longer than just a century, but science and available technology at any given time in history go hand in hand. Better/more advanced technology allows for more/better scientific study. We didn't have then what we have now. Which is to our moderate advantage. Of course, that doesn't mean new diseases still don't pop up here and there, we just happen to be unlucky enough to live through one of them. Viruses are a bitch that way, constantly mutating to throw us all for a loop when we least expect it.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/04/25/fact-check-total-deaths-each-spanish-flu-wave-unknown/3024648001/?fbclid=IwAR06igz2d_YSkR_0Is7sy27NtYkJ3phPeMJgh4CdLcFkeCVOfwtwQGAQIHk
Jordan Catalano said: "I was told today that producers for a newish show are looking at if they’re able to reopen some point in the summer with limited seating, charging upwards of $400 a ticket to make a profit. It’s insane. "
I would ask these producers who they think can afford those $400 tickets with 30 million people unemployed. I wonder if this is for SIX?
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/31/18
ACL2006 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "I was told today that producers for a newish show are looking at if they’re able to reopen some point in the summer with limited seating, charging upwards of $400 a ticket to make a profit. It’s insane. "
I would ask these producers who they think can afford those $400 tickets with 30 million people unemployed. I wonder if this is for SIX?"
The Company/Sondheim/Lenk/Lupone 'crowd' would probably pay that much, I doubt Six fans could/would.
HogansHero said: "Jordan Catalano said: "I was told today that producers for a newish show are looking at if they’re able to reopen some point in the summer with limited seating, charging upwards of $400 a ticket to make a profit. It’s insane."
I ran the numbers for a scenario like this and don't think it can fly. In a thousand seat house, you'd be selling no more than 250 seats, and that would include the lousy ones. I cannot think of an "newish" show (or any other, even Hamilton) that could sustainably make money on that basis. And if it were a musical there would be other massive impediments."
That’s the ballpark of what I was assuming, too. The minimum 6 ft social distancing would necessitate at least three seats between audience members in a row, not to mention behind and in front of them.
And frankly, having 250 people in a Broadway house is still a “mass gathering” regardless of how many seats or rows are between patrons, and it seems incredibly doubtful that such a thing would be permitted in the near future.
The only way that would work is charging that amount of money for 25% capacity. Theater truly would only be for the 1% for the foreseeable future. Crazy.
Broadway Star Joined: 9/3/14
Come on producers. You can create a play or musical that’s profitable for less than 250 x $400!.
Just strip back the costs to the bare essentials like college black box productions.
No, it won’t be “ business as usual “ but something would be better than nothing.
The Company/Sondheim/Lenk/Lupone 'crowd' would probably pay that much, I doubt Six fans could/would."
But that Company isn't worth $400/ticket at all. That kind of price would only be justified if it was A++ Hollywood or music superstars.
Sunny11 said: "Come on producers.You can createa play or musical that’s profitable forless than 250 x$400!.
Just strip back the costs to the bare essentials like college black box productions.
No, it won’t be “ business as usual “ but something would be better than nothing."
The stage hands union would like a word.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/31/18
blaxx said: "
The Company/Sondheim/Lenk/Lupone 'crowd' would probably pay that much, I doubt Six fans could/would."
But that Company isn't worth $400/ticket at all. That kind of price would only be justified if it was A++ Hollywood or music superstars."
No one is worth that amount x
Broadway Star Joined: 9/3/14
raddersons said: "Sunny11 said: "Come on producers.You can createa play or musical that’s profitable forless than 250 x$400!.
Just strip back the costs to the bare essentials like college black box productions.
No, it won’t be “ business as usual “ but something would be better than nothing."
The stage hands union would like a word."
They are all unemployed now and if broadway insists on producing shows with costs so high in this new normal that profit can only be achieved by charging prices unaffordable for 99% of the population, then they are going to remain unemployed for at least a year.
Broadway Star Joined: 8/7/11
blaxx said: "
The Company/Sondheim/Lenk/Lupone 'crowd' would probably pay that much, I doubt Six fans could/would."
But that Company isn't worth $400/ticket at all. That kind of price would only be justified if it was A++ Hollywood or music superstars."
I agree,and I'm a big fan of both LuPone and Lenk. The only way I'd pay $400/ticket for any kind of show is if someone brought Lennon and Harrison back from the dead and reunited all 4 Beatles.
Stand-by Joined: 3/10/17
I don't think it happens at all until "mass gatherings" are acceptable to the politicians, and the main idea would be to make the theatre acceptable to enough patrons, so shows can make a profit.
fosterfan2 said: "I agree,and I'm a big fan of both LuPone and Lenk. The only way I'd pay $400/ticket for any kind of show is if someone brought Lennon and Harrison back from the dead and reunited all 4 Beatles."
But will they stagedoor?!
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/31/18
Jordan Catalano said: "Well maybe Streisand.
Maybe. "
Nope...only ABBA could get $400 out of me x
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/10/08
Impossible2 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "Well maybe Streisand.
Maybe. "
Nope...only ABBA could get $400 out of me x"
$400 is nothing now for concerts. When I was pricing Lady Gaga for my now cancelled Las Vegas trip, the nosebleed with fees were $400. The rest of the seats were in the $600 range. The closer seats to the stage were over $800. Before anyone says well that is Vegas and Lady Gaga, floor seats closest to the stage for Janet Jackson and her new tour are $440 plus fees. I paid $100 for fourth row for her last tour. Alicia Keys floor seats are $360 with fees. Elton John's Farewell tour nosebleed is $300 plus fees. Floor seats were in the $500 range. The unfortunate thing is people do pay these prices. Broadway theaters have way less seats. So if the above is the norm with thousands of seats, the prices for a Superstar in a Broadway theater would be at least over a grand.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/10/08
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/31/18
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/31/18
ArtMan said: "Impossible2 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "Well maybe Streisand.
Maybe. "
Nope...only ABBA could get $400 out of me x"
$400 is nothing now for concerts. When I was pricing Lady Gaga for my now cancelled Las Vegas trip, the nosebleed with fees were $400. The rest of the seats were in the $600 range. The closer seats to the stage were over $800. Before anyone says well that is Vegas and Lady Gaga, floor seats closest to the stage for Janet Jackson and her new tour are $440 plus fees. I paid $100 for fourth row for her last tour. Alicia Keys floor seats are $360 with fees. Elton John's Farewell tour nosebleed is $300 plus fees. Floor seats were in the $500 range. The unfortunate thing is people do pay these prices."
Well concerts have been destroyed by phones anyways so this is merely the final nail in the coffin for me.
Ill buy the Blu-ray x
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