What makes a hit Broadway show?
What makes a hit Broadway show?
ORPHAN
Understudy Joined: 10/17/03
#1What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 4:27amWhat makes a hit Broadway show aside from the obvious, good songs, good story?
#2re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 4:33ama loyal fan base
#2re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 4:37amStrategic marketing
#3re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 5:58amRight or wrong, the truth is for a show to be a hit on Broadway it would also need good reviews.
#4re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 6:59am
There are a lot of exceptions of that rule Taz, I wouldn't say it's a requirement as much as some of the things that other people have mentioned. Specifically, a loyal fan base and good marketing.
There's plenty of shows that have been hits in spite of awful scores.
#5re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 8:04am
Lots of people spending lots of money on tickets, at a guess. :P As to what would encourage these people to buy these tickets? Good reviews, advertising OUT THE WAZOO, a VERY LARGE loyal fanbase, and uh... dogs. Or children. Or boobs. Or something.
#6re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 8:09amPaint your protagonist green or make the characters have sex on a flying platform.
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#7re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 8:45am
What makes a hit Broadway show?
None of those things previously mentioned. Weez hit it right on the button.
TICKET SALES.
#8re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 8:51am
Is anyone else singing the cast recording of "[title of show]" right now?
After all, you do need a recognizable commodity.
#9re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 8:55amFANTASIA!
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#10re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 8:55amNot even that: I direct you to the failures of Lestat, Wedding Singer, etc, etc.
#11re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 11:22amMargo would tell you that in order for a show to be a hit it has to recoup its initial investment. if it closes at a loss, and a lot of show do, then it is a flop. the end. that's all that matters.
shesamarshmallow
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/06
#12re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 11:37amIf people knew what made a hit Broadway show, there wouldn't be so many flops.
Actinggbugg474
Featured Actor Joined: 9/4/04
Fosse76
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/21/05
#14re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 1:55pmAudience desire to see it, Money and Good word of mouth. That's it. The Phantom of the Opera has one of the most boring, repetitve scores, banal lyrics, and poor pacing, and it's a smash. Mamma Mia is ridiculous, yet it's a hit. Jersey Boys is practically a cartoon and it's a hit. Wicked's sold-out sign is DRILLED into the wall, despite mediocre reviews and a poor score. All these have two things in common: HUGE audience response and tons of money!
peach
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/29/05
#15re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 1:58pm
"You won't succeed on Broadway if you don't have any Jews!"
ETA: Actingbugg474 - just saw your post - you beat me to it!
Updated On: 3/6/07 at 01:58 PM
#16re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 2:11pm
Definately a loyal fanbase. Wicked didn't get such hot reviews and look how well it's doing now.
Also, definately mass appeal, such as with Mamma Mia!, Jeresy Boys, Spamalot, etc.
#17re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 2:43pmActors who scream and don't sing. Fangirls.
#18re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 2:50pm
"Margo would tell you that in order for a show to be a hit it has to recoup its initial investment. if it closes at a loss, and a lot of show do, then it is a flop"
Any of us would tell you that, dear.
WestVillage
Broadway Star Joined: 7/20/05
#19re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 2:54pmThe ONLY thing that makes a Broadway show a "hit" is recoupment. If it doesn't recoup, no matter how good it is, no matter how long it runs, no matter how large the fan base, no matter the reviews, it is a flop.
Fenchurch
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/16/06
#20re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 3:16pm
"Margo would tell you that in order for a show to be a hit it has to recoup its initial investment. if it closes at a loss, and a lot of show do, then it is a flop"
Any of us would tell you that, dear."
I wouldn't say that. A simple explanation would be this:
Being in the right place at the right time, and showing your piece to people who like it
End of story.
"Fenchurch is correct, as usual." - muscle23ftl
#21re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 5:27pmYou can show your piece to people who like it and it still may not recoup. If an incredibly expensive production ran for five years and had a large fanbase, but didn't recoup, it is a flop. It doesn't matter how many people saw it or how many people liked it. If a show recoups, it is a hit, if, by the time it closes, it hasn't recouped, it is a flop. Simple as that.
#22re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 6:01pmA plot that everyone could understand. (In most cases.)
AudreyTwoTwo
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/4/06
#23re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 6:42pm
Personally? I think its the audience. If people enjoy it, they'll recommend it to other people. Half of the time people don't listen to reviews.
Well, me at least. Whatever.
Oh yeah, and Jews. I love Spamalot :-P
Smartful Dodger
Featured Actor Joined: 3/23/05
#24re: What makes a hit Broadway show?
Posted: 3/6/07 at 6:45pm
Fairy dust.
Then you just think lovely, wonderful thoughts.
And, UP you go!
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