Tony Nominations- what does it mean as far as closing notices? - Page 2

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 6:07pm

Just love the schadenfreude on this board. I know you'll say your 'just curious' but admit it -you're poppin' a small one thinking about it

[Famebroadway2]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 6:53pm

Can someone explain what was so bad about the marketing for Bridges?

I know the original poster was boring, but I don't understand what else they did wrong.

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 6:55pm

their original tv ad was ATROCIOUS

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 6:57pm

"I think Bridges' days are numbered, sadly, although I have to wonder if they'll try to stick it out so voters can hear the score live and see Kelli O'Hara."

A large majority if the voters have already seen Bridges. Part of the eligibility is having made enough performances available for the voting body to see the show. That's why a show that closes unexpectedly after opening could be deemed ineligible. Or if the producers are smart and can see the writing on the wall they will suddenly get a lot of voters in during the final week of previews (I know for a fact that a number of voters were seeing Velocity of Autumn during previews).

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 7:04pm

"Can someone explain what was so bad about the marketing for Bridges?

I know the original poster was boring, but I don't understand what else they did wrong."

Their posters, and ads were bad. For some reason, people responded better to the cool tones over the warm ones. They corrected it over time, and now their marketing campaign looks great and is all over the internet and on TV. I think they should have marketed it as a doomed lover situation, and not two people looking happy on a poster. But, too little too late, I guess.



Updated On: 4/29/14 at 07:04 PM

[Steve721]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 7:30pm

"Can someone explain what was so bad about the marketing for Bridges?

I know the original poster was boring, but I don't understand what else they did wrong."

I don't fully understand how people pick shows to see, apart from the tourists who want to see The Lion King and Phantom. People on this board know about the general buzz for a show and what the reviews say, but my impression is that others--particularly people who show up at the TCKTS booths--are much less informed.

In the case of Bridges, I wonder how many people actually remember the novel? It sold millions upon millions of copies, so you'd think there would some general awareness about the story. Maybe people remember it as being this sort of treacly love story, which might narrow the appeal. For that reason, I wasn't particularly interested in seeing the musical until I heard the some of the songs.

How do you structure a marketing campaign that makes people aware of the score, which, together with the performances of it by O'Hara and Pasquale, is the real strong point of the show? I'm not sure. The leads appear to have been booked on every TV talk show that would have them. O'Hara is reasonably well known to Broadway audiences, and I thought her rave reviews would put enough butts in the seats to keep it going until her contract was up. But obviously I was completely wrong about that. What else could they have done to market it? I'm just not sure. Perhaps this should have played in a smaller, off-Broadway house.

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 4/29/14 at 10:13pm

As a business traveler (now) to NY I get to watch the ads for Broadway shows on the hotel TVs

Bridges was atrocious. I felt like I would be seeing a telenovela. So if anyone looks at the hotel TV to pick shows that would appeal to a very limited audience

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 4/30/14 at 1:17am

Reading all of these comments (OK, I skimmed a few) it makes me sad we didn't have a message board like this in 1981 (42ND STREET vs WOMAN OF THE YEAR) or 1984 (BABY, TAP DNCE KID, LA CAGE, SUNDAY) or 1987 (LES MIZ (1), STARLIGHT EXPRESS, ME AND MY GIRL.)

There was a BBS in 1994 (GREASEPAINT) for the battle of PASSION vs. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. The discussions grew epic with one guy insisting that if PASSION won over BEAST he would never ever watch the Tony awards again! (I wonder what he'll be doing on June 8?)

[nyla123]

Posted: 4/30/14 at 1:49am

Believe me, it's not the marketing team's fault. The producers ignored a lot of the marketing team's advice on a lot of the most boneheaded decisions.

[DrewBill]

Posted: 4/30/14 at 4:02am

Agree with the above comments about the "Bridges" marketing plan. But I also wonder if the source material was just past its prime -- the novel was published 22 years ago, and the film was released 19 years ago. Perhaps in the eyes of ticket buyers, "Bridges" is either completely forgotten, or just considered a pop culture relic from the past?

[bobs3]

Posted: 4/30/14 at 10:48am

BRIDGES will probably post a closing notice this week and be gone by mid-May. I think the producers were counting on a Best Musical nomination (and win) but that won't happen. Tony Awards for acting alone don't boost a show's grosses. The only categories and wins that will boost a show grosses are Best Play and Best Musical.