Six on Broadway recoups

https://broadwaynews.com/2023/03/23/broadways-six-recoups-ahead-of-its-600th-performance/



According to Broadway News Six' Broadway production just recouped its capitalization, although its states the initial capitalization was $5M, I have to suspect with covid costs that number likely increased. Overall though, I maybe wrong, but this is the first musical on Broadway to announce its turned a profit since the pandemic.

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I am very surprised it took that long, considering the high grosses and low cap. Even if the budget ballooned to $7M. I think some of us thought it had recouped somewhere around the Tonys, but evidently not!"

Doing some back of the napkin math, either Six has spends a fortune on marketing each week, the capitalization tripled due to the pandemic, or a 75 minute musical with a cast of 11 including alternates, pit of 5, a unit set, and only 7 costumes costs over $800K a week to operate. I know Six also got a $10M government grant to reopen, which I assumed didn't have to be paid back, but also covered the reopening costs and gave the show a buffer if it operated at a lost post reopening. Considering the show only had 1 week where it brought in under $800K and that was when it had to cancel 6 performances due to covid, and otherwise its only had 1 other week grossing under $900K since reopening, I highly doubt its ever run at a loss besides the week of canceled Covid performances.

It is well to remember that there is no correlation between recoupment and the announcement thereof. There is no requirement of a public announcement ever. There is also no control on how a producer chooses to allot net revenue.

Yes the allocation of the net is what makes me say "huh", since the release specified it recouped in Dec 2022 (whether that is true or not). I had simply assumed they weren't going to announce, for modesty purposes in a strange time for the industry. But the timing of all that doesn't really matter.

While it does seem strange that it took so long, it is worth pointing out that SIX is a MAJOR spender when it comes to advertising. They have a really well shot and edited TV spot, which features actual footage (instead of a camera slowly panning over the one piece of key art which so many shows employ...seriously does anyone buy tickets based off those?) I'd say this has to be one of the more expensive Broadway commercials and they have it running everywhere (Id also say its the most effective at making you want to see the show). They also recently did a recut version of it. I dont have access to any financials obviously, but I suspect their aggressive advertising efforts to make the show a omni-present Broadway brand have eaten up a big chunk of cash.

pethian said: "bdn223 said: "...pit of 5, ...."

Pit of 5 at the Lena Horne? I thought the minimum there was 9 musicians.

"

Maybe they got an exemption because its a rock musical, but yes there are only 5 musicians who make up the lady's in waiting of Six.

bdn223 said: "pethian said: "bdn223 said: "...pit of 5, ...."

Pit of 5 at the Lena Horne? I thought the minimum there was 9 musicians.

"Maybe they got an exemption because its a rock musical, but yes there are only 5 musicians who make up the lady's in waiting of Six."



Or are they paying for 9 but only using 5. (Or doesn't that happen anymore?)

bdn223 said: "https://broadwaynews.com/2023/03/23/broadways-six-recoups-ahead-of-its-600th-performance/



According to Broadway NewsSix' Broadway production just recouped its capitalization, although its states the initial capitalization was $5M, I have to suspect with covid costs that number likely increased. Overall though, I maybe wrong, but this is the first musical on Broadway to announce its turned a profit since the pandemic."

I find it very unlikely that The Music Man didn't recoup

It's not relevant to this thread whether you liked the show (and not even on Broadway, or on tour, but on a cruise ship) or would prefer something else.

I think the interesting part is the announcement that the musical is in the black, and is officially a hit - the first post-COVID show to announce as much. The reasons for this are interesting to me, and I've never seen Six (though my daughter did last year).

The musical was all set for Opening Night when the world shut down. I'm sure the producers and creatives went through a lot of stress, knowing they had a hit on their hands but unable to perform for what turned out to be a long time. Would all of their work and investment come to naught? It's a happy ending and good news for theater.

On another show --

Did THE MUSIC MAN ever recoup? Presumably it had one of the largest weekly operating expenses during their season. Their announced development cost ( via Variety) was $ 24 million.

Any word?

On another show…do you think Funny Girl will recoup by th end of Lea’s run?