THE MUSIC MAN Reviews — Page 5

I find it hard to buy the theory that Rudin’s downfall caused an over correction here- the production had been workshopping for quite a while, even prior to the pandemic. It’s clear this production was conceived with changes to the material in mind.

Updated On: 2/11/22 at 04:27 PM

poisonivy2 said: "I think it;s a hard show to get right because Harold Hill is one of those MT roles extremely wedded to its originator. It was so associated with Robert Preston (a bit like TKAI and Yul Brynner) that it's hard for anyone to follow up."

Maybe for older audiences, but I've no clue who Robert Preston is. I don't think younger generations are going to compare Hugh to anyone. It's just whether the show is good or not. To me, a whole lot of dancing and a bad set make me disinterested in seeing the show. If I'm paying $200+ I want some Sunset Blvd type sets not just a bunch of flats.

I just think this show really lacked in the "wow" department. There's plenty that could have been done but they went by-the-books and people are just not interested in that as much.

I suspect it will do fine, but will probably lower their prices.

Craig Bierko sounds alarmingly similar to Robert Preston.

I don't think I realized just how much this revival cost. DOLLY cost $15.9M; this is capitalized for up to $24M, which certainly makes it the most expensive revival in Broadway history.

I will say, it's really nice that the show gets to have a presence on social media. Unlike Dolly, the clips, BTS things, and press is really fun to see. I can't wait to see the show.

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Craig Bierko sounds alarmingly similar to Robert Preston.

I don't think I realized just how much this revival cost. DOLLY cost $15.9M; this is capitalized for up to $24M, which certainly makes it the most expensive revival in Broadway history."

Do you have a source for the 15.9M figure? Nytimes reported the Music Man budget, but I can't find verification for the Dolly budget.

poisonivy beat me to it.

And just to be clear –– $15.9 isn't a modest price by musical standards, either. So considering the financial situation of DOLLY, it's kind of bizarre that MM ballooned out so much. Curious to know how much the Covid delays and Rudin's departure added to the cost. I believe David Geffen & Barry Diller put up the majority of the money themselves.

poisonivy2 said: "Hugh Jackman I'd imagine is not cheap."

His salary/profit participation % is all part of the weekly operating cost, which is entirely separate from the $24 mil capitalization. Weekly operating cost is surely more than $1M per week, and he's probably getting at least $200K. Weekly operating cost also includes the actor salaries, orchestra, crew, weekly advertising, royalties, rent, etc.

The $24M capitalization covers building the physical production, rehearsals/workshops, advance fees to the creative team, advertising before previews start, insurance, legal fees, GM/producer office fees, Opening Night expenses, etc.

Updated On: 2/11/22 at 07:07 PM

Preface: Nobody knows anything.

Educated guess: Music Man will remain a respectable hit, but not Hello, Dolly! Tickets will be available. The model may be more, say, second year To Kill a Mockingbird. Discounts will be assiduously avoided to serve the brand, but prices may creep down.

Even so, the reviews we're parsing may be irrelevant a month from now. Or by summer. They have pull quotes, and money will be spent. Oh, much money will be spent telling us how good it is.

In closing: Nobody knows anything.

BwayStarlette said: "I love the Music Man. I love love love Hugh and Sutton. But when I saw this a month ago... my heart was crushed. It's is boring, and the reviews are accurate. I thought maybe they were both still sick, tbh, because it was at once high energy and very sleepy."

Saw it more than once. While the performances improved post illness, the show still had boring moments. Performances in front of curtain was like a variety review of different acts ala Ed Sullivan, though this gave them opportunity to get scenery and cast in place for next scene. Majority of reviews were not great.

The Daily Beast got it. "...Sometimes it is like he is dancing in another of his one-man shows rather than with a company. His glance, his smile, his leer, his mugging is all aimed at us. He is always center stage."

Felt like the cast was nothing more than the feathered costumed background singers/dancers of a Vegas show. His Trouble and 76 Trombones were blah with Robert Preston turning in his grave. Thought Mrs Paroo Mullen) too old to be Winthrop's mother and nothing special about her performance. Enjoyed dance scenes but unsure why handstand and flip acrobatics were needed.

It was fun to watch kids. Costumes were amazingly gorgeous. The last time I saw it, Hugh and Sutton hammed it up more when Hugh forgot lyrics. Overall a good show, but not great for the prices commanded.

Auggie27 said: "Preface: Nobody knows anything.

Educated guess: Music Man will remain a respectable hit, but not Hello, Dolly! Tickets will be available. The model may be more, say, second year To Kill a Mockingbird. Discounts will be assiduously avoided to serve the brand, but prices may creep down.

Even so, the reviews we're parsing may be irrelevant a month from now. Or by summer. They have pull quotes, and money will be spent. Oh, much money will be spent telling us how good it is.

In closing: Nobody knows anything."

Will it recoup its initial investment of $24M though? I hope it will but the weekly nut seems high given the large cast and 2 big leads. I love Sutton but I do think had the producers had gone with an unknown as Marian the weekly nut would have been lower (yet people would still flock to the show thanks to Hugh Jackman.)

I recall investors questioned why Rudin was spending a ton of money in marketing/advertisements for Hello Dolly! after the Tony awards when people already knew she was starring in the show. Bette Midler earned around $150k/week so I'd think Hugh is probably making around that amount.

I'm not a fan of the Music Man plot but I still watched this show twice since I'm a fan of Hugh Jackman and the first time I saw it back in December Sutton was out. Thankfully both Hugh and Sutton performed the second time I watched it.

Wick3 said: "Auggie27 said: "Preface: Nobody knows anything.

Educated guess: Music Man will remain a respectable hit, but not Hello, Dolly! Tickets will be available. The model may be more, say, second year To Kill a Mockingbird. Discounts will be assiduously avoided to serve the brand, but prices may creep down.

Even so, the reviews we're parsing may be irrelevant a month from now. Or by summer. They have pull quotes, and money will be spent. Oh, much money will be spent telling us how good it is.

In closing: Nobody knows anything."

Will it recoup its initial investment of $24M though? I hope it will but the weekly nut seems high given the large cast and 2 big leads. I love Sutton but I do think had the producers had gone with an unknown as Marian the weekly nut would have been lower (yet people would still flock to the show thanks to Hugh Jackman.)

I recall investors questioned why Rudin was spending a ton of money in marketing/advertisements for Hello Dolly! after the Tony awards when people already knew she was starring in the show. Bette Midler earned around $150k/week so I'd think Hugh is probably making around that amount.

I'm not a fan of the Music Man plot but I still watched this show twice since I'm a fan of Hugh Jackman and the first time I saw it back in December Sutton was out. Thankfully both Hugh and Sutton performed the second time I watched it."

From what I understand, not only did Bette charge an arm and a leg, so did Jerry Herman, which accounted for the high weekly nut of Hello, Dolly!

austinyourface said: "The Music Man has also stacked its supporting roles with Tony winners who are being paid premium, as well. Heck, even recognizable folks like Rema Webb could probably have negotiated better rates for themselves."

Uhh... no.