When will Bright Star post closing?

[TFMH18]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 6:12pm

This one pains me to write. 

I love this show so much, but there is just no way it's seeing itself through the summer. Before detractors jump on me for being negative, I have created this thread because I really am wondering how long after the Tonys the show will wait to jump ship. It is very important to me that I attend the final performance, but I am potentially planning a trip for some time at the end of this month, so any insight will be helpful. 

I don't think a notice will go up the day after the awards, as the entire intent of Steve Martin and Edie Brickell putting their own money into the show is to get it to the telecast. So, will a closing notice go up the following week for the week after that? I'm curious as to others' thoughts. 

And to reiterate, there is zero snark intended here. If you look at the threads on which I have posted recently, it's been entirely cheerleading for this show. I so wish it could have caught on with a bigger audience, but I am infinitely grateful for its existence at all, as well as that gorgeous cast recording which we will have forever. And of course, I am beyond-words thrilled that Bright Star brought Carmen Cusack to Broadway and into the zeitgeist. She is thrilling and though the show isn't lasting, I predict a long and fruitful career for her-- may this be the first of many Tony nominations for this thrilling star. 

Updated On: 6/6/16 at 06:12 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 6:16pm

Your thread title is misleading.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 6:18pm

Indeed it is

[TFMH18]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 6:19pm

I've added a question mark-- hope that makes it clearer?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 6:21pm

If the Tony exposure does not goose the box office, it will be up to Martin how much money he wants to pour into it before throwing in the towel..

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 6:26pm

I know you're asking this question sincerely, but seeking speculation from strangers on the internet to assist you in picking dates for a trip will not likely work out in your favor. If you want to ensure you're at the final performance, then don't plan your trip until a closing notice goes out.  

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 6:33pm

HAMILTON has spelled death for so many shows this season.

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 6:40pm

Mr. Nowack said: "HAMILTON has spelled death for so many shows this season."

I think the typical warhorses like Phantom, Wicked, and Chicago are far more detrimental to new shows than Hamilton. Tourists hoping to see a show with which they're already familiar aren't going to be getting into Hamilton, but they can pretty easily get into those other titles. I do think that there seems to be an abnormal number of shows shuttering early on in the summer, though.

 

Updated On: 6/6/16 at 06:40 PM

[gypsy101]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 6:54pm

Mr. Nowack said: "HAMILTON has spelled death for so many shows this season."

In what way exactly? I usually agree with you on all counts Mr. Nowack but that makes no sense to me. How can a show that's been sold out for almost a year have affected people attending other shows?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 6:59pm

Press coverage.

Everybody everywhere wants to name drop HAMILTON, feature HAMILTON, have. Silly feTure with no purpose for every HA,ILTON cast member, etc.

The bulk of free press ends up going to HAMILTON, or to a show that is a disaster (no ou ..).

The rest of the shows tend to fall by the wayside to a degree, more so if they don't have a star name at center stage.

[tja928]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 6:59pm

At risk of sounding like a broken record, and for my own selfish reasons, please no sooner than July 3rd. 

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 7:01pm

broadwayguy2 said: "Press coverage.

Everybody everywhere wants to name drop HAMILTON, feature HAMILTON, have. Silly feTure with no purpose for every HA,ILTON cast member, etc.

The bulk of free press ends up going to HAMILTON, or to a show that is a disaster (no ou ..).

The rest of the shows tend to fall by the wayside to a degree, more so if they don't have a star name at center stage."

Even if Hamilton weren't a part of this season, I can say with confidence that the people in my life who don't follow theatre would still not know what Bright Star is.

 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 7:54pm

You'd think that since there's this conception that it's impossible to get tickets that the other shows would get more traffic but instead no one goes because it's just not HAMILTON so why bother. Just wait a few months and pay a few extra bucks and see THE show.

That is my own jaded personal theory though. The press angle is also valid.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 7:55pm

And shows aren't even holding out until the Tony Awards because they know they have no chance for that boost because HAMILTON will win them all.

[StephieElise]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 8:34pm

Mr. Nowack said: "HAMILTON has spelled death for so many shows this season."

However, many people (myself included) are coming for Hamilton and staying for other shows. Hamilton was the first show I booked (I actually booked it before even planning a trip to the US!) but I now have tickets to Shuffle Along and Waitress and will see at least 1 other show while I'm there. I also haven't heard of other tourists who would have seen a show otherwise saying Hamilton or nothing.

I could see that it may have more of an impact with people who see shows more regularly but are pouring their entire theatre budget into only seeing 1 show. 

[ANewBrainn]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 8:56pm

If Bright Star did not get the tony noms it did it would have closed already.  Look at Disaster and Tuck Everlasting and American Psycho.  It's sad really.  Hamilton probably deserves a lot of the noms it got but it really does not need them when it comes to audience boosting.  Bright Star probably would have closed already also if Steve Martin was not doing press for it.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 9:06pm

^^^^ Exactly, Stephie. A competing theory is that a rising tide floats all boats.

I know that seeing an excellent show makes me want to see several more.

Sitting through a painful evening often encourages me to think my money might be better spent outside the theater.

But none of us has any data to prove one theory or another.

[Broadway Forever2]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 9:58pm

i know MULTIPLE people who have gotten into theatre because of all the Hamilton hype. Most people can't see Hamilton because of the lack of tickets. Do y'all really think shows like Tuck Everlasting and Bright Star would be getting press if Hamilton didn't exist? Tourists drive most of theater box office and when they see that they cant' get tickets to Hamilton they look for another show that interests them. Like another person said. Shows like Phantom and Wicked probably have a bigger effect than Hamilton 

[GreasedLightning]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 10:43pm

gypsy101 said: "Mr. Nowack said: "HAMILTON has spelled death for so many shows this season."

In what way exactly? I usually agree with you on all counts Mr. Nowack but that makes no sense to me. How can a show that's been sold out for almost a year have affected people attending other shows?

 

"

Because everyone coming is coming to see Hamilton and if they can't get tickets now, they're postponing their trips until they can get tickets. 

I'm not saying no one is coming to see other shows. Tourists still exist. I'm not stupid. But the attention and desire to get into Hamilton is drying out other shows with potential. 

[Broadway Forever2]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 10:48pm

GreasedLightning said: "gypsy101 said: "Mr. Nowack said: "HAMILTON has spelled death for so many shows this season."

In what way exactly? I usually agree with you on all counts Mr. Nowack but that makes no sense to me. How can a show that's been sold out for almost a year have affected people attending other shows?

 

"

Because everyone coming is coming to see Hamilton and if they can't get tickets now, they're postponing their trips until they can get tickets. 

I'm not saying no one is coming to see other shows. Tourists still exist. I'm not stupid. But the attention and desire to get into Hamilton is drying out other shows with potential. 

 

"

This really makes no sense. Most people if they really wanted to see a Broadway show would see another show if they can't see Hamilton. It's just logical. tourists drive the majority of theatre boxoffice. The shows that aren't doing well are shows that Tourists aren't interested in. The people who would wait months to see Hamilton are people who are ONLY interested in Hamilton  wouldn't be watching a Broadway show anyway if it wasn't for it. Multiple Shows close every year. Blaming a popular show is so hilarious to me. Waitress, Shuffle Along and School of Rock are doing fine. 

Updated On: 6/6/16 at 10:48 PM

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 2:46am

Best wishes to everyone involved. Carmen Cusack deserves a better career.

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 2:59am

Hamilton is a very similar position to ReNt or A Chorus Line. Regardless of the time period, the score and attitude are reflective of their present. That's what gives them a lot of importance. A lot of musicals look for the universal in a structural and musical way. Hamilton's music will sound SO dated in 10 years. A musical like Hamilton can only have its full punch if experienced in the present. 

And just like ReNt and ACL, a revival would only have future audiences wishing they had seen the original. 

If Bright Star has a lot to offer, it may be better acknowledged in the future. Timing has not been kind to many shows that perhaps deserved better. Just look at Chicago, for example. If you had told anyone back in the 70's that a Chicago revival would run for decades while ACL would just be modestly received, they would have thought you were crazy. We are reactive to things of today; a lot Broadway shows can find better luck and timing as time goes by. 

[¿Macavity?]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 5:08am

I hope that this nice little show can hold on through the rest of the year, so that I can see it!

[devonian.t]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 5:19am

Very well put, Blaxx.

Personally I find this score very appealing and hope the show finds popularity in the regions if it can't survive on Broadway.

Updated On: 6/7/16 at 05:19 AM

[schubox]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 5:34am

blaxx said: "Hamilton is a very similar position to ReNt or A Chorus Line. Regardless of the time period, the score and attitude are reflective of their present. That's what gives them a lot of importance. A lot of musicals look for the universal in a structural and musical way. Hamilton's music will sound SO dated in 10 years. A musical like Hamilton can only have its full punch if experienced in the present. 

And just like ReNt and ACL, a revival would only have future audiences wishing they had seen the original. 

If Bright Star has a lot to offer, it may be better acknowledged in the future. Timing has not been kind to many shows that perhaps deserved better. Just look at Chicago, for example. If you had told anyone back in the 70's that a Chicago revival would run for decades while ACL would just be modestly received, they would have thought you were crazy. We are reactive to things of today; a lot Broadway shows can find better luck and timing as time goes by. 

 

"

I don't know if it will sound dated. A lot of it is based on 90's hip hop and rap which is still very popular. I get what you're saying though. Obviously interest in the show will die down eventually, I wonder if people will just get sick of hearing about it.