What is going on with Passing Strange?

[BenKaye]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 9:42pm

I'm worried as hell about 'Passing Strange," one of the smartest musicals to hit Broadway in recent years. But unfortunately, the box office numbers are, to put it lightly, quite horrible.

It's been in previews for three weeks, I believe, and even "Spring Awakening" didn't have numbers as bad as this. I really hope that this show receives outstanding reviews this Thursday/Friday. If not, then I don't know what will happen.

Please everybody. Go see "Passing Strange." It is such a great show, that we shouldn't be rid of.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 9:54pm

I am seeing it tomorrow night, and looking forward to it, but I think the problems are as follows:

1) From what I have heard, its basically a "rock concert" that is much better suited to "Off-Bway"-

2) They are going to have a very tough time finding a "target audience".

3) No one knows about it !! Everytime I mention this show to people that go to the theatre, they give me that "huh?" look !!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 10:01pm

Testing, I'm going either tomorrow night or Wednesday night.

Where will you be sitting?

[bschneid76]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 10:14pm

I went in not knowing anything about it. Sadly, I didn't understand what was going on, and left at intermission. I wanted to enjoy it, but was disappointed.

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 11:33pm

I think one of its problems is its appeal- it doesn't have any on the surface.
Spring Awakening was an unknown commodity, but it didn't take much of a plot summary to gain interest.

One-line plot summary of SA:
"A rock musical based on a once-banned German play about teenage kids discovering their sexual identities and their bodies."

One-line plot summary of Passing Strange:
"A rock musical by performance artist STEW about the journey of a young boy from the hash bars of Amsterdam to the metal clubs of Berlin about discovery within."

Passing Strange is about a young man's journey towards finding himself. On the surface, it sounds terrible. I haven't seen it, and I'm sure it's actually a very good show, probably a great one. I want it to succeed, but it faces challenges right off the bat to "prove itself" to the public.

Hopefully, reviews and tony buzz will give it a boost.

HOWEVER, it needs a way to market itself as a popular, appealing commodity.
It's relying way too much on STEW. (Who is he? Most people haven't heard of him.)

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 2/25/08 at 11:53pm

Testing and Foster, say hi, if you come to the show this week. I work in the Orch, near the "infra red" person.

[leefowler]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 1:32am

I think it's more than possible that PASSING STRANGE won't be a hit on Broadway. That says something pretty sad about Broadway. It says that Broadway is able to support tourist drivel like Legally Blonde and Grease, but not a show that tries to be different than anything else in town.

The last time I felt so strongly about a show was "Taboo". And we all know how well that did.

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 1:37am

Will it even make it until opening night?

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 1:54am

I'm sure, it's only a few more days.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 2:44am

Some ATC comments on Passing Strange:

Posted by: bruceb 03:38 pm EST 02/25/08
In reply to: Passing Strange at 23% last week? - Ncassidine 03:28 pm EST 02/25/08
I saw it Sunday matinee and really liked it a lot. It was pretty full but we were in the third row on comps and I think probably a lot of people were. My biggest problem was that curtain was at 3 and it didn't start till 3:21 - after an announcement that there were a lot of people in th elobby still getting seats (I think there was a mix up with lists).

I did find Act Two a bit of a strain - still enjoyable but not as good as Act One. The berlin section seemed to meander.

Anyway, I think there is an audience - everyone there seemed to have a great time. And even if people get in on paper, they don't have to stay and enjoy it. I think the audience reaction was enthusiastic and REAL.

Posted by: kidmanboy 05:24 pm EST 02/25/08
In reply to: re: Passing Strange at 23% last week? - rwb 03:54 pm EST 02/25/08
If you mean there aren't any traditional showtunes in the first half of act two, then you're correct. But what it does have is music that represents the time and place, and uses it to enhance and further the story and themes. Stew even makes reference to the difference in the music. The line is something to the effect of "Say you're music sounded like this and you heard this , it's bound to have an effect on you. I'm so glad to see a show that doesn't feel the need to bastardize music in order to make it sound more "broadway." Music in a musical should be used to enhance the setting and themes, and I don't think you can argue that the music in the Berlin section doesn't do that.

However, even for those that like they're songs with a more traditional structure, act two contains my two favorite songs in the show: "come down now" and "working the wound."

I don't know, perhaps this show is too much like performance art to be on broadway. I hope that come thursday the reviewers can see deeper into the piece's messages and artistic merit without trying to constrict it into the form of a book musical.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 2:48am

I'm seeing the show this Sunday, and I am neither excited or dreading it. I am going to walk in with an open mind. I am prepared for something new, possibly something weird.

I don't know why it's not appealing to me as other shows are, and maybe people feel the same way. I kinda know what the show is about, but the main reason I'm seeing it is because it's an off-Broadway transfer. They wouldn't transfer a show out on a limb.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 3:16am

Good attitude, VERYNYC. Just remember that Thursday is opening night, and people seeing the show AFTER that, are weirdly influenced, either negatively or positively, JUST because ONE, NY Times critic says something.

[chris d]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 9:25am

I'm quite broke, but I think I'm going to make the effort to see this. I want to see SitPwG too, but maybe PS needs my money more. XD

[Testing1232]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 9:32am

I am in Balc A, on aisle-- :))

[Testing1232]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 9:33am

For the most part, I think the people on ATC hated it--

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 9:36am

Aside from what I see here, I don't know much about it. This show has a marketing issue. Not a lot of people know about it. Based on music and video clips I've seen, I'm wondering if it would be better suited to play off-Broadway, as Testing mentioned.

This show is going to rely a lot on word of mouth, and if there is no buzz, then how can people spread the word?

[Steve2]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 10:06am

That's not saying much, Testing1232. The people on ATC hate everything.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 10:20am

That might be true, but there are usually differing opinions... from what I read on ATC, around 95% of people hated "PS"

[Testing1232]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 10:22am

<< Aside from what I see here, I don't know much about it. This show has a marketing issue. Not a lot of people know about it. Based on music and video clips I've seen, I'm wondering if it would be better suited to play off-Broadway, as Testing mentioned.

>>

"Hedwig" is probably my favorite show that I have ever seen--- that being said, I dont think there is any way it would have found an audience had it played a Broadway house.

I think "PS", unfortunately, is going to have the same problem.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 10:29am

The numbers were so dismal last week that I question whether it will succeed even with good reviews. Rightly or wrongly, it doesn't appear to be a show with great appeal for John Q. Public. And it's at the Belasco, a theatre of last resort because of its location. Maybe I'll be wrong on this one, but I just don't think it's going to make it. I hope I'm wrong.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 11:25am

You're probably right, Ed. It's one of those sad but true moments.

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 1:01pm

Thanks thetinymagic for re-posting my ATC post.

I read these boards quite often but very rarely comment unless something particularly strikes a chord. To me, passing strange is a once a decade or so kind of show. It's one I will be thinking about for years to come.

I have to say, I am a in my mid-20s and went to the show with my in-laws who are in their mid-50s and they enjoyed it just as much as I did. I think this show really has the ability to speak to people if you're willing to listen. I am not an arts professional, I have not lived in Europe, have not been to Berlin or Amsterdam, and I am caucasian, and yet Stew found a way to speak universal truths...ones that I think are not only original to the theater, but original to film, television, etc as well. The story may not sound original, but what he does with it certainly is.

I urge everyone on these boards to go see it, before it's too late.

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 1:39pm

Saw it downtown and liked it LOT. It had a raw power - a (too)loud rock score married to uncommonly evocative and smart lyrics that at times reminded me of Joni Mitchell or Bob Dylan. A musical about the middle-class African-American experience with a hard rock score instead of the expected R&B, Blues or Gospel.
I loved the Berlin section, and found "My Key" one of the most gorgeous theater songs of the season, and "The Black Man" brilliantly scathing. It's cast is African-American, but it's not 'a black show',if that makes any sense. Interestingly, the audience then was almost all-white.

My only reservation was the last ten minutes had a very muddled and confusing message. It was as if Stew had no conception of how to end his story and threw all his ideas into the last fifteen minutes. But even then, I thought it miles above SPRING AWAKENING.

I'm seeing it the last preview night (Wed at . I've been told twenty minutes have been cut and the finale much clarified.

I can't help feeling there would be more buzz about PASSING STRANGE if it had a cast of pretty white boys and girls and more graphic sexual situations.

Updated On: 2/26/08 at 01:39 PM

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 4:12pm

Tulita and Kidman, you've both expressed very well my feelings about this show (better than I can)...Thanks!
Even if it is suited to a more downtown, off-Bway sensibility, I think the Shuberts were, for once, decidedly courageous to produce it on Bway. Good Luck PS!

[jaystarr]

Posted: 2/26/08 at 4:15pm

GO SEE PASSING STRANGE! and my 10/10 Report on Passing Strange:

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.cfm?boardid=1&boardname=bway&thread=957018#3458491

J*