WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Broadway Previews — Page 5

In a season where things will get squeezed out by the sheer number of options, I can't help but feel like this is the big show on the chopping block regardless of how much love they get from award nominators. I'm going to predict a little bleaker and say that we'll see this out within a month of opening.

So much talent and artistry on that stage, but they're working with a bland and forgettable template. I really, really wanted to have a good time. I just couldn't care.

Updated On: 3/6/24 at 11:29 AM

So are the paid shills and friends / family pretty much the only ones who like this show?

Lately, I've been looking at seating charts from official ticket sellers a few hours before some evening performances, for the new musicals this spring that are tougher sells. It looks like Elephants has been filling up most of their house so far, though for all I know, half the Imperial could be comped.

EDSOSLO858 said: "So are the paid shills and friends / family pretty much the only ones who like this show?."

I liked it. It's got problems but I still had a fun time.

Talented cast, but the bland writing and design made it a total fail for me. The fact that it cost over 25 million dollars is baffling because it looked very cheap. I don't foresee a long run ahead.

Falsettolands said: "In a season where things will get squeezed out by the sheer number of options, I can't help but feel like this is the big show on the chopping block regardless of how much love they get from award nominators. I'm going to predict a little bleaker and say that we'll see this out within a month of opening.

So much talent and artistry on that stage, but they're working with a bland and forgettable template. I really, really wanted to have a good time. I just couldn't care."

I don't think it will succeed but I don't think it will close THAT quickly. They'll at least wait it out for Tony noms and then if it gets a slew (big IF), probably ride it out through the awards

FANtomFollies said: "It's very telling that with these new photos released, they continue to hide the elephant puppet from all marketing."



Why do you think they should give away the surprises for free?

The cast will perform from the show on Good Morning America this Tuesday.

DaveyG said: "Apparently 3 million dollars of the cap is reserve so they can take some losses for a few months. But at some point, it has to pay for itself. I'm not hopeful for it."

That's a healthy reserve, but keep in mind that USUALLY covers any budget lines that go over + closing costs (loadout, reconciling the books, etc). So if the costumes and set come in over budget, or if they reorchestrate a bunch of songs in previews, or if previews lose more money than anticipated, that can really chip into the reserve. (The weekly running cost is about $950K, right?)

FANtomFollies said: "It's very telling that with these new photos released, they continue to hide the elephant puppet from all marketing."

Exactly. They try to do a slow reveal of the elephant in the show, but when it finally makes it's full entrance, it's quite disappointing. Exact same concept as The Lion King, but it just looks a whole lot cheaper/worse. The less said about the other puppets and animals, the better.

BETTY22 said: "It's $1,100.000 per week......."

seriously? Oof I don't see a bright future

I don’t really understand why this property exists. Are regional theaters even going to put this on granted they’d need circus performers and puppets? This is getting bad word of mouth.

FANtomFollies said: "JSquared2 said: "FANtomFollies said: "It's very telling that with these new photos released, they continue to hide the elephant puppet from all marketing."

Why do you think they should give away the surprises for free?"

Does Lion King 'give away the surprise' for free every time they show the puppets in their marketing? Get real."

Have you seen the show? Lion King OPENS with 400 puppets emerging from within the audience. Water for Elephants hides the elephant for a solid hour. While I agree that the big reveal is a major disappointment (particularly given how gorgeously done they present the horse in act 1) it would be nuts to advertise the thing they want to "reveal" in the show.

Remember how the puppet was revealed in King Kong.

I didn't like the show, but wow, I loved seeing the puppet for the first time.