Tarzan: Really Doing Badly?

The advance was huge, as to be expected for a Disney show. It'll surely be open in August.

Many posters here dislike Disney and Tarzan and would gleefully see it do poorly, but do not be fooled by the posts you read, the majority are just critiquing the production, not the business its doing. While it is a heavily flawed show, there is something to be enjoyed from it.

While not the sell-out hit that THE LION KING is and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was, TARZAN is selling extremely well and will run for the next couple of years at least.

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Updated On: 6/22/06 at 12:48 AM

Uh, Beauty and the Beast makes money for the greater part of the year. I believe it has very few weeks that it isn't making money.

Thesbijean, read more carefully what I posted.

"While not the sell-out hit that THE LION KING is and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was [...]"

Nonetheless, while BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is not doing the stellar business it once was, it is still a moneymaker for Disney.

Although it is believed that the show will close within the next year or so after MARY POPPINS opens. Having four Disney shows running on Broadway at the same time means they will be competing with one another.

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You can say "wrong wrong wrong" all you want. It doesn't make me so. You clearly have no idea what you're talking about. Beauty and the Beast had 42 profitable weeks last year alone and that is a conservative estimate.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/grossesshow.cfm?show=BEAUTY%20AND%20THE%20BEAST&year=2006

There you have the grosses for the past 12 years. It's a steadily profitable show hence the mouse keeps it open.

In response to Tarzan, it has several years in it. I'd say at least 3.

Updated On: 6/22/06 at 01:18 AM

I used to think that Tarzan would run as long as Aida until I heard about how much the bad reviews got relayed to other parts of the country. Aida had a fair amount of true theatre folks that enjoyed the show and gave it business the keep it open for its respectable time. Here's the rub, theatre folks don't like Tarzan. This coupled with the fact that tourists are getting wind that it isn't a good show could spell slightly early doom for this show. It didn't get mixed Wicked reviews; it got bad reviews. This might actually be enough to disuade tourists who are attempting to be savvy by reading up on shows from actually seeing the show. While the advance is rather large, ticket sales haven't been nearly as brisk since opening. That's why I'm more conservative with my estimate. My estimate was higher, but that was because I thought it would be nearly impossible for Disney to do something truly bad on Broadway. I was a fool for thinking that they were above humanity. In all fairness, I've yet to see the show so all opinions I write are based on hearsay. Hopefully I'll see it in October.

From my experience, the typical tourist either doesn't care about reviews or aren't very knowledgable on them. They think everything gets good reviews.

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Because brokers/scalpers thought it would be more of a total sellout than it's been, and when they can't sell tickets more expensive, they wanna get rid of them. All that means is Tarzan isn't selling like Wicked.

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It might sell out sometimes, but not everday. It's doing good business and I'm sure will grow into a sleeper hit. However, with Mary Poppins opening in the fall, it might take some of Tarzan's thunder.

I wish Tarzan had been put in a smaller theater, and this might sound crazy, but I think a theater designed like Circle In The Square with a really steep orchestra and no real mezzanine or balcony couldve made every seat feel like the front row. Having done student rush 3 times, i think its breathtaking that upclose- like youre a part of the action as opposed to watching it. Im bringing my mother tonight. Maybe Ill actually write a full review when I get home.

It's doing really well. Look at the grosses. 97% capacity is GREAT for a Broadway show in this age!

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Last Wednesday I was walking up 8th as shows were letting out and I tapped a man on his shoulder (He had a Tarzan Playbill in hand) and asked him how the show was. He said that he read all of the reviews and he thought they were unfair and that he really enjoyed the show and thought it was way better than the reviews said it was.

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