THE WIZ Previews- Page 2

[Listener]

Posted: 3/30/24 at 3:36pm

I'm disappointed that this doesn't seem poised to be a success. The Live version from a few years back showed promise. Did they keep the new songs, like "You Ain't Gonna Give Up On Me Now" or Neyo's "What Would I Do If I Could Feel" from that broadcast?

It's definitely a show that could have used some sprucing up. If people already have Wicked on Broadway, and the Wizard of Oz on DVD at home, you've got to deliver really, really strong alternative Oz material. The songs in the original Wiz are a bit of a mixed bag, from what I remember...

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/30/24 at 3:41pm

“What Would I Do If I Could Feel" is in this. 

[Listener]

Posted: 3/30/24 at 3:48pm

Thanks Jordan. What about the first one, which may have been called "Together We Do". It had great momentum, hope they kept it. Dorothy telling her friends they're going to take on the mission of killing the witch.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/30/24 at 3:57pm

Nope, not there. 

[Listener]

Posted: 3/30/24 at 4:05pm

Oh darnit. Mistake.

Here's the live version. It's called "We Got This".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNfHerF_LV4

I'm not saying it's a great look for Dorothy to get everyone smiling about killing a person they've never met, but the song was energizing and a bit of an anthem.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/30/24 at 4:08pm

No song with that title, either. 

[inception]

Posted: 3/30/24 at 5:18pm

The info on that video says that was written by Ne-Yo & Elijah Kelley specifically for that TV version.  It didn't get added to this Broadway version.  It definitely sounds like a Ne-Yo song.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/30/24 at 5:30pm

Listener said: "I'm disappointed that this doesn't seem poised to be a success. The Live version from a few years back showed promise. Did they keep the new songs, like "You Ain't Gonna Give Up On Me Now" or Neyo's "What Would I Do If I Could Feel" from that broadcast?

It's definitely a show that could have used some sprucing up. If people already have Wicked on Broadway, and the Wizard of Oz on DVD at home, you've got to deliver really, really strong alternative Oz material. The songs in the original Wiz are a bit of a mixed bag, from what I remember..."

I mean it was sold out in Chicago for the few weeks it was here so clearly there’s an audience for it. Just see if they’ll show up and pay top dollar. 

[silent]

Posted: 3/30/24 at 10:49pm

There’s an audience for the show. I’ve learned over the years that some folks on this board don’t like anything. And the shows they go crazy about are a big yawn. 

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 3/30/24 at 11:04pm

Or! Some shows are just bad! And This Revival is one of them. This show deserves so much more. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 3/30/24 at 11:35pm

RippedMan said: "I mean it was sold out in Chicago for the few weeks it was here so clearly there’s an audience for it. Just see if they’ll show up and pay top dollar."

Many a musical revival (or musical based on a branded property) has started off strong and fizzled out after 6/12/15 weeks. We'll see what this WIZ can do. Its advance is strong, I'm told, but will take more to sustain it and become profitable. The benefit is that the Broadway capitalization is the same as the tour and it might have already returned some money to investors.

Updated On: 3/30/24 at 11:35 PM

[KarenValentine'sheadband]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 12:19am

BroadwayNYC2 said: "Or! Some shows are just bad! And This Revival is one of them. This show deserves so much more."

 

Agree. Saw in LA. So disappointing. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 9:57am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "RippedMan said: "I mean it was sold out in Chicago for the few weeks it was here so clearly there’s an audience for it. Just see if they’ll show up and pay top dollar."

Many a musical revival (or musical based on a branded property) has started off strong and fizzled out after 6/12/15 weeks. We'll see what this WIZ can do. Its advance is strong, I'm told, but will take more to sustain it and become profitable. The benefit is that the Broadway capitalization is the same as thetour and it might have already returned some money to investors."

That would make sense since this feels like just another "tour stop" and it will do well back out on the road. 

[BdwyFan]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 11:44am

KarenValentine'sheadband said: "BroadwayNYC2 said: "Or! Some shows are just bad! And This Revival is one of them. This show deserves so much more."



Agree. Saw in LA. So disappointing."

I disagree. Saw it in LA and thought it was fantastic then. So did the (sold-out) crowd from what I could tell. Amazing cast. And now having just seen a preview on Broadway it’s honestly even better.  Some book changes, choreography, design, etc. It also looked pretty well sold. And while leaving the theatre, I did also hear it’s a pretty well sold advance so I would expect it to do well on Broadway. Sadly, I think better than all the new musicals which seem to be cannabalizing each other. At least that is my take. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 11:58am

Short of a highly compelling case like winning some major awards, this is meant to be a limited run and contracts of the cast will be up by September.

Since it’s going back on tour, I think Broadway is just meant to be the last stop before ending this run. Plus, if I recall, the last two tours that arrived on Broadway - JEKYLL & HYDE and MOTOWN both crashed and burned. (SIX wasn’t really a full tour - it was essentially two back to back tryouts)

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 12:01pm

While we disagree on the quality of the show itself, I absolutely agree that it could be a big success. With summer coming up, there’s not a lot new that families with kids can take in so it’s perfect timing for those dollars. 

[Bette's Turban]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 12:12pm

It was crap in LA.  

[brdwybound04]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 1:22pm

The box office manager told me last week when ai purchased my ticket at the Box Office, that it had already banked +$8 million in advance sales for its Broadway run, and was aiming to run through the end of this year minimum, and hopefully through next spring, before heading back out on tour July 2025…

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 1:29pm

Listener said: "I'm disappointed that this doesn't seem poised to be a success. The Live version from a few years back showed promise. Did they keep the new songs, like "You Ain't Gonna Give Up On Me Now" or Neyo's "What Would I Do If I Could Feel" from that broadcast?"

 

"What Would I do If I Could Feel" is not a new song to the show. It is part of the original score.

 

[Kad]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 1:41pm

I’m finding it a little weird so many people are talking up its advance. Its houses look decent in April but crater dramatically after that. This does not, at first glance, look like a production with a huge advance. 

[KarenValentine'sheadband]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 1:42pm

Updated On: 3/31/24 at 01:42 PM

[KarenValentine'sheadband]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 1:46pm

BdwyFan said: "KarenValentine'sheadband said: "BroadwayNYC2 said: "Or! Some shows are just bad! And This Revival is one of them. This show deserves so much more."



Agree. Saw in LA. So disappointing."

I disagree. Saw it in LA and thought it was fantastic then. So did the (sold-out) crowd from what I could tell. Amazing cast. And now having just seen a preview on Broadway it’s honestly even better. Some book changes, choreography, design, etc. It also looked pretty well sold. And while leaving the theatre, I did also hear it’s a pretty well sold advance so I would expect it to do well on Broadway. Sadly, I think better than all the new musicals which seem to be cannabalizing each other. At least that is my take."

 

I disagree. Selling tickets has nothing to do with how good or bad a show is. They are two separate things. 

Updated On: 3/31/24 at 01:46 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 1:59pm

brdwybound04 said: "The box office manager told me last week when ai purchased my ticket at the Box Office, that it had already banked +$8 million in advance sales for its Broadway run, and was aiming to run through the end of this year minimum, and hopefully through next spring, before heading back out on tour July 2025…"

Not true as my agent friend said contracts are through end of July for the Broadway run and it plans on going back out on tour- dates tbd for '25

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 2:27pm

Oof, ticket sales are not good.  The Sat matinees (I only poked around the dates in June) were sold very well but thats about it.  Most other performances barely had 20% sold.

 

FWIW, tix are only on sale thru the 3rd week in August.

[MatthewS1]

Posted: 3/31/24 at 2:35pm

brdwybound04 said: "The box office manager told me last week when ai purchased my ticket at the Box Office, that it had already banked +$8 million in advance sales for its Broadway run, and was aiming to run through the end of this year minimum, and hopefully through next spring, before heading back out on tour July 2025…"

The tour restarts in February 2025.