What makes a show successful? (Or: What makes you want to see a show?)

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What makes a show successful? (Or: What makes you want to see a show?)

Posted: 5/5/10 at 7:30pm

I know the people who frequent this board aren't necessarily the average theatre-goer, but I was just curious: What do you think makes a (Broadway) show a success? And what lures you to the theatre if you haven't seen a particular show before?

Interesting book (specific themes/topics)? Score? Stunt casting? How much influence do advertising and critics' reviews have nowadays? I'm guessing the younger crowd relies on places like this, social networks and such for peer opinions, but what about older folks who see maybe one or two shows per year?

I guess I just wanna figure out if there's a single element that can sort of predict a show's success (commercially or in just in terms of longetivity).

Personally, I tend to skip shows where I feel I wouldn't like the musical style (Come Fly Away, MDQ...), if the book doesn't sound absolutely interesting. I am however more inclined to see rock musicals just for the music, cause I'd much rather come out of a show humming a tune. Am I the only one who's weird like that? How do you choose what shows to see?

What makes a show successful? (Or: What makes you want to see a show?)

Posted: 5/5/10 at 7:45pm

For me, it's the score. And the story that goes along with the score sorta helps. When I first heard of Spring Awakening, it was because of the Bitch of Living music video. The music attracted me way before I knew the story.

What makes a show successful? (Or: What makes you want to see a show?)

Posted: 5/5/10 at 7:47pm

Depends. Sometimes it's the star, sometimes it's the score or story (and that also depends on if it's a new musical or revival), sometimes it's the production itself (EX: the AMAZING 2005 revival of Sweeney Todd).

What makes a show successful? (Or: What makes you want to see a show?)

Posted: 5/5/10 at 8:30pm

"I guess I just wanna figure out if there's a single element that can sort of predict a show's success (commercially or in just in terms of longetivity)."

If there was a "single element", don't we think that the literally hundreds of producers who invest in Broadway shows would have discovered it by now?

If there was a "single element" that could predict show's success, 75% of the shows wouldn't close at a loss.

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What makes a show successful? (Or: What makes you want to see a show?)

Posted: 5/5/10 at 8:43pm

...which, true, makes a lot of sense. But on the other hand: Don't jukebox musicals (the more commercially successful and somewhat contemporary the bands, the better) have a built-in audience? Mamma Mia, Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages and to a certain extent American Idiot would suggest so.

I wouldn't call 75% of those good musicals, but considering that the majority of the people who see Broadway shows are tourists (who'll likely only see one show and want to make it a "good" one), taking something familiar and putting it in a comic/light setting seems to be a recipe that works quite well.
Also there has always been the notion that only "American" topics , or at least topics the average American can easily relate to will make for a successful show (whereas the European operetta was more about our feelings as human beings, for example).

But I digress. You're certainly right when it comes to original (book & score) musicals.

What makes a show successful? (Or: What makes you want to see a show?)

Posted: 5/5/10 at 8:51pm

I've seen Broadway shows for many reasons, and not necessarily the same one. Sometimes, it's advance buzz, or a star, or a composer or director or playwright. Sometimes, it's because I have a friend in the show or associated with it. Sometimes, it's just to get out of the rain and escape for a few hours.

Examples:
Cats OBC - Advance buzz from London plus the London cast recording
Hairspray OBC - Advance buzz, Marc Shaiman, and Harvey Fierstein
The Heiress - advance buzz on Cherry Jones
Fences - James Earl Jones, then I went back a second time for Mary Alice
Jersey Boys - wanted to see what the fuss was about
Grey Gardens - love for the documentary and advance buzz on Ebersole and Wilson
On Your Toes revival - I wanted to see George Balanchine's choreography on stage
Sweet Charity 1985 - I wanted to see Bob Fosse's legendary choreography on stage
Dreamgirls OBC - advance buzz
Mystery of Edwin Drood OBC - Betty Buckley, Cleo Laine, and George Rose
Les Miserables - had a friend in the OBC
Raggedy Ann - had a friend in the OBC (God, help me)
Smile - Marvin Hamlisch
Show Boat '90s revival - had a friend in the show
Titanic - had a friend in the show (that's the only reason)
Ragtime OBC - had a friend in the show, plus I loved the novel
Tango Argentino - free tickets
Precious Sons - free tickets
Phantom of the Opera - free tickets
Into the Light - free tickets

This is just a sampling ... so ... lots of reasons.

As to what makes a show successful? If we could come up with a foolproof answer, we'd be millionaires.

"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

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