What was the last new straight play that recouped?

#1

What was the last new straight play that recouped?

Posted: 12/26/12 at 6:59pm

With so many flops, granted many of them are due to poor subject material, it seems like new straight plays never recoup. I'm sure I must be missing something but I can't think of the last commercial production of a new straight play that recouped. It seems the only straight plays that ever recoup are revivals of well-known classics with star-studded casts like Glengarry Glen Ross or last season's Death of a Salesman.

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Scratch and claw for every day you're worth! Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming You'll live forever here on earth.

#2

What was the last new straight play that recouped?

Posted: 12/26/12 at 7:02pm

Didn't Tribes and Venus in Fur recoup? Also, One Man Two Guvnors?

#3

What was the last new straight play that recouped?

Posted: 12/26/12 at 7:07pm

I knew I was missing something obvious ha yes I forgot One Man, Two Guvnors recouped. I don't think Venus in Fur did but I could be mistaken. And I should have clarified that I was discussing only plays on Broadway. Off-Broadway many plays have found success.

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Scratch and claw for every day you're worth! Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming You'll live forever here on earth.

#4

What was the last new straight play that recouped?

Posted: 12/26/12 at 7:07pm

Other Desert Cities did, as well.

#5

What was the last new straight play that recouped?

Posted: 12/26/12 at 7:10pm

Didn't know that, thanks. I guess the current failings of pretty horrific material this season made me forget..

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Scratch and claw for every day you're worth! Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming You'll live forever here on earth.

#6

What was the last new straight play that recouped?

Posted: 12/26/12 at 7:14pm

Has Peter and the Starcatcher recouped? Or will we not know because it's Disney (yes, I know there was the announcement of Newsies recently)?

#7

What was the last new straight play that recouped?

Posted: 12/26/12 at 7:32pm

There has definitely been some sorry material this year.

#8

What was the last new straight play that recouped?

Posted: 12/26/12 at 7:37pm

Death of a Salesman and Glengarry Glen Ross both recouped.

#9

What was the last new straight play that recouped?

Posted: 12/26/12 at 7:40pm

Death of a Salesman and Glengarry Glen Ross both recouped.

Hm, if only that could have been discerned by reading literally ANYTHING from the original post where those exact examples are cited.

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Scratch and claw for every day you're worth! Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming You'll live forever here on earth.

#10

What was the last new straight play that recouped?

Posted: 12/26/12 at 10:49pm

I'd imagine WAR HORSE recouped.

I wonder if AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY did? It certainly had enough success to warrant a move to a new theatre.

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"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#11

What was the last new straight play that recouped?

Posted: 12/26/12 at 10:52pm

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/117528-August-Osage-County-Recoups-Initial-Investment

August did indeed!

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A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.

#12

What was the last new straight play that recouped?

Posted: 12/26/12 at 10:57pm

RACE also recouped:

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/138920-Mamets-Race-Recoups-Investment

#13

What was the last new straight play that recouped?

Posted: 12/26/12 at 11:10pm

I really hope STARCATCHER ends up recouping. That show deserves it. Does anyone know its initial investment and/or running costs? They couldn't have been that high.

#14

What was the last new straight play that recouped?

Posted: 12/26/12 at 11:41pm

RED recouped

#15

What was the last new straight play that recouped?

Posted: 12/27/12 at 7:24pm

The Motherf*cker with the Hat, Vanya Sonia, and Ghetto Klown did.

Updated On: 7/29/13 at 07:24 PM

#16

What was the last new straight play that recouped?

Posted: 12/27/12 at 7:28pm

Isn't War Horse non-profit as it produced by the Lincoln Centre and the National Theatre so any money it made would back into both companies rather any investors?

#17

What was the last new straight play that recouped?

Posted: 12/27/12 at 7:53pm

Jonwo, you're correct. But they may still have announced that the show recouped its production costs. It's not often that the non-profit Broadway owners have a hit, but I'm 90% positive that Roundabout announced that their CABARET revival earned back it's upfront costs.

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"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#18

What was the last new straight play that recouped?

Posted: 12/27/12 at 8:09pm

With a non-profit, I assume it's a hit when it extend or becomes an open run and launching a national tour in the cases of South Pacific and Anything Goes. Harvey was a huge hit for Roundabout but couldn't extend due to Jim Parson's availability, they must have made some money from its run.