Thoroughly Modern Millie Closing- Page 4

[magruder]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 6:02pm

The Broadway production of Urinetown reportedly cost somewhere over $4 million. That is of course, much less than Millie's $9.5 million, but it's still a large figure to try to pay back in a theatre with just over 600 seats. Urinetown had to make up that profit in a theatre almost a third of the size of Millie's Marquis Theatre - and it did it. Less seats means a lower potential gross which means a smaller profit margin, but still, Urinetown managed to defy Broadway conventional wisdom and turn a profit.

[HunterFosterIsMyGod]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 8:38pm

that is very sad, but, like some others, i was not feeling susan. it's just...sutton was...SO GREAT! it's not her fault persay, but ticket sales did plummet after sutton left...

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 9:10pm

Namo, you are absolutely correct. I guess my wording was at fault. What I meant was that Mille brought in more money than Urinetown did.

magruder-yes The Henry Miller was MUCH smaller than the Marquis, but what difference does that make when Urinetwon rarely filled to 100% capacity? Well it does make a difference...it makes the cost of the production cheaper, because it is cheaper to keep a production open in a house that holds 631 people as opposed to a house that holds 1578 people.

My point is that while Urinetown was a success money wise...Millie brought in more people...a LOT more people.
So whether it was a success or not money-wise, it was most certainly a bigger show than Urinetown.

[magruder]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 9:37pm

So...a show can only be considered a success if it plays in a large theatre? Looking at this season, does that make Bombay Dreams a better show than Avenue Q, because more people can see Bombay Dreams in a week?

[Janki]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 9:50pm

It's sad...In a few months time there is gonna be no Millie on Broadway and no Millie in the West End....NOOOOOOOOO....cannot believe it ...and JOey would never make a good Millie (haha)

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 10:22pm

NO NO NO, magruder. That was not my point at all. I was only saying that Urinetown STILL wasn't able to fill the small capacity of it's theatre, so it didn't matter much that the theatre was smaller...in fact, in that case it was a bit of an advantage due to the smaller cost of a smaller theatre.

I was never saying you were wrong.

I was saying that even though Urinetown made a profit, it was still an underdog in attracting people.

Millie was a success, not financially, but it was out there, and it was seen and enjoyed by many.

[Corine2]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 10:22pm

Well I love Millie and I loved Urinetown.
Millie needs to be saved. I am sooooooooooooo sad.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 10:25pm

*Matt goes and gives Corine2 a hug to console her.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 11:21pm

This news breaks my heart! Although Joey Fatone in Millie would just send me jumping out of a window.

[~*Triple Star On Broadway*~]

Posted: 5/14/04 at 11:52pm

Out with the old, in with the new! Its what Broadway is about. I'm sad that this show is closing yes, but I'm very excited about the new shows opening!

[Corine2]

Posted: 5/15/04 at 10:20am

Thanks for the hug Matt!
I am really surprised about Millie. Well to quote Avenue Q
Everything is only for now!
I did think that Millie would be a show that lasted for years like Phantom.
With the world in such turmoil people need shows like Millie.
They also need shows like Embedded.
BUSH IS ONLY FOR NOW! Updated On: 5/15/04 at 10:20 AM

[magruder]

Posted: 5/15/04 at 11:45am

Ever think that Urinetown was at a distinct disadvantage being in a smaller theatre, because the newspaper, television and radio ad budget for a Broadway musical is the same if you are in a 600 seat theatre, or a 1600 seat theatre? You are also downplaying the audience attendance figures for Urinetown, which were stronger than you are saying - it wouldn't have turned a profit if it was underperforming. The producers STILL had a cast of 20, five musicians, and a full backstage team to pay, like any normal musical, with less of a potential profit margin to do so, because of the smaller seating capacity.

And can Millie truly be called a success if its Broadway incarnation will have lost $2 million when it closes?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 5/15/04 at 11:49am

WhatDoINeedWithLove is gonna be crushed

Side note : I ran into Cristian Borle walking up 8th Avenue after the shows let out Wednesday night.. It was right aftre I had parted with Adam Fleming, who I had been walking and chatting with.

[etoile]

Posted: 5/15/04 at 11:57am

"It was right after I had parted with Adam Fleming, who I had been walking and chatting with." -

BG2, welcome back. But thought that restraining order specified a fifty foot distance.

Updated On: 5/15/04 at 11:57 AM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 5/15/04 at 12:04pm

hey now... LOL. I am a good boi.. Just ask Adam, John, Jenna, Sege, Jeff, Todd, etc....

Trust me, I was a lot closer than 50 feet....