When will Bright Star post closing?- Page 2

[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.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 8:26am

People NOT chosing another show because of Hamilton were not already going to the theater.   That's like saying its BOMs fault for the failures of its season, or Wicked for those that failed their year.

 

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 8:36am

I'd like to throw this out there and see how people feel about it-

The demand for HAMILTON has driven the pricing for premium and secondary market tickets to a point well beyond what most people have normally come to expect to pay to see a show.  I'd imagine then that a lot of people that would have come to town to see a handful of shows on their trips now cannot do that as they've spent the lion's share of their ticket budget to see THE show.  There are probably also a ton of locals who would see a few shows a year that have allocated their money towards seeing what everyone around else is talking about.  

I'm fully aware that everyone on this board knows how to skirt the issue of expensive tickets for basically any other show, but those coming in from out of town generally buy their tickets in advance and pay a higher price than we all do generally.

[John Adams]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 9:59am

I'm hoping that Steve Martin is keeping the show afloat until Carmen Cusack wins the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical, and that once she wins, the punters who only react to "Tony Award Winner" cues (as opposed to the fantastic word of mouth she's already generated) will tip the ticket sales favorably, keeping the show intact for many more months. (How's that for a run-on sentence?!)

I think the contest is between Erivo and Cusack only. All the other ladies are doing excellent work, but when everyone is excellent, you have to start looking hypercritically for details. For me, Cusack and Erivo are the  standouts.

Cusack has the edge over Erivo because Cusack has a larger body of work under her belt that proves the choices she made to create this role (vocal intonation, character, and even the detail of her accent) are largely different from any role she's done in the past. In Cusack's case, you can see, hear and measure the work she's put into this role. Erivo has done excellent work, too (especially regarding her accent) but not to the levels that Cusack has.

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 10:40am

frogs_fan85 said: "The demand for HAMILTON has driven the pricing for premium and secondary market tickets to a point well beyond what most people have normally come to expect to pay to see a show.  I'd imagine then that a lot of people that would have come to town to see a handful of shows on their trips now cannot do that as they've spent the lion's share of their ticket budget to see THE show.  There are probably also a ton of locals who would see a few shows a year that have allocated their money towards seeing what everyone around else is talking about."

OR... they can't even get Hamilton tickets, so it is completely factored out of their show budgeting equation, and they just don't necessarily want to see this or other shows? I mean, Bridges of Madison County didn't have Hamilton to blame, nor did Honeymoon in Vegas, The Last Ship, and on and on... it's not like 'what is this crazy thing happening now where shows people think are good are closing because people aren't buying tickets?' It's literally an annual occurrence, with different players every year...

[Broadway Forever2]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 10:50am

haterobics said: "frogs_fan85 said: "The demand for HAMILTON has driven the pricing for premium and secondary market tickets to a point well beyond what most people have normally come to expect to pay to see a show.  I'd imagine then that a lot of people that would have come to town to see a handful of shows on their trips now cannot do that as they've spent the lion's share of their ticket budget to see THE show.  There are probably also a ton of locals who would see a few shows a year that have allocated their money towards seeing what everyone around else is talking about."

OR... they can't even get Hamilton tickets, so it is completely factored out of their show budgeting equation, and they just don't necessarily want to see this or other shows? I mean, Bridges of Madison County didn't have Hamilton to blame, nor did Honeymoon in Vegas, The Last Ship, and on and on... it's not like 'what is this crazy thing happening now where shows people think are good are closing because people aren't buying tickets?' It's literally an annual occurrence, with different players every year...

 

"

Exactly I find it hilarious that Hamilton is being blamed. people are trying to find ways to undermine it's great success.  Tourists are not paying thousands of dollars to see Hamilton they are just seeing other shows. Bright Star and American psycho just aren't one of them. Hamilton tickets are sold out and only the super wealthy are buying the resale tickets. Shows literally close after short runs every year. it's unfortunate but that's how the business works. It's not Hamilton's fault at all. 

Updated On: 6/7/16 at 10:50 AM

[bwayandstuff]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 11:08am

I don't think Hamilton is why these shows are closing but I do feel a little torn by all the Hamilton hype. I was lucky enough to see it in October so maybe my opinion is skewed but I do believe it deserves the nominations it got and the press it's received. On one hand, it's done a lot of great things for the Broadway community: drawing attention to diversity, starting conversations about what musical theater can be, attracted new audiences... On the other hand, it does stink that it's overshadowing so many other great shows. I know that can happen any season and I'm sure it's happened before, but I feel for those other shows that audiences seem to be loving but just can't keep up for whatever reason.

For example, one of the recent Tony commercials basically went like this, "The Tony Awards are happening. We're celebrating Broadway. But mostly, we're celebrating HAMILTON. HAMILTON is performing. This is your chance to see HAMILTON on TV. HAMILTON." and I get it. Why shouldn't they use the most popular show to advertise the Tony's? That's the obvious and smart thing to do. But still, it's just like c'mon guys...

In the fall, I was one of the people who was crazy about it. I listened to the recording hundreds of times, read every article, every interview. Now, I find myself frequently skipping over the songs when they come up on my iPod because of the overkill. I still think it's great but the hype has just worn me out.

[Broadway Forever2]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 11:24am

I completely get being tired of the hype, but i think it's part because Hamilton has entered mainstream media which other musicals haven't. Like last year or the year before for instance did any of the shows really have any mainstream media attention? I honestly don't read most Hamilton related articles or listen to the cast recording that often or I would probably get exhausted of it. But it gets the media exposure due to the interest. 

 

Anyway I honestly hope the best for all the musicals that open and for Bright Star because I've heard positive things but i'm tired of this new wave of blaming Hamilton when a show closes. Like Lion King consistently pulls 2 million each week and it came out nearly 20 years ago and I know people who have seen it like 15 times. Same with Wicked .Shows like that probably effect theatre box office more than a show that most people cant' get tickets to. 

Updated On: 6/7/16 at 11:24 AM

[bwayandstuff]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 11:36am

That's very true. It is everywhere, not just sequestered to the often times very "niche" Broadway community and media. And yes, I guess I am partly to blame for being worn out... I went into the Hamilton whirlwind at 10000mph and couldn't keep up haha 

I totally agree that it's silly to blame Hamilton for the exact reason you mentioned. This hype has happened before with other shows (maybe to a lesser extent), it's still happening, and will happen over and over again. Sometimes a show clicks with and audience, sometimes it doesn't. I guess it would just be easier to to accept that, if Hamilton wasn't everywhere.

But I loved Bright Star and Carmen's performance is amazing. I hope for her sake and the rest of the cast and creative team who seem to genuinely love this project, that it stays afloat. 

[Hairspray0901]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 11:48am

I LOVE Bright Star, I've seen it 4 times and can't get enough of it. The score is refreshing and Carmen is such a gem. It is my favorite new musical of the season (Ham, aside...) and I am really hoping it makes it at least through July. I applaud Steve Martin for pumping his own money into it and hope their Tony performance is able to stir up some ticket sales. I have tickets for June 23rd so I'm praying it stays open at least until then so that my Mom gets to see it!

[tja928]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 11:52am

I'd have to imagine that if there's been so much effort to keep it open "until" the Tony's that they'd need to give it at least a couple weeks after to try for any post-Tony bump. But that's just my gut feeling...

[Kad]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 11:54am

I doubt tickets to Hamilton are making or breaking most  trips to NYC. Tourists will have second choices for Broadway shows- and certainly other shows this season, such as Waitress, School of Rock, or even Shuffle Along, are doing well for themselves despite Hamilton's looming presence.

Bright Star has had trouble from the get-go, probably due to being an unfamiliar title reliant on Steve Martin's name.. but Martin is beloved as an actor and comedian, not so much as a composer or writer. American Psycho suffered from mixed reviews and word-of-mouth, as did Tuck Everlasting.

This time of year is always tough for the shows lagging behind the pack, the shows barely doing enough business to hang in there for a little while but not well enough to make it without Tony Awards exposure.  

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 12:11pm

The only place I see Hamilton impacting other shows this season is in their ability to leverage press from Tony nominations and potential Tony wins.  Kind of like getting good pull quotes. 

 

 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 2:08pm

Broadway Forever2 said: "Multiple Shows close every year. Blaming a popular show is so hilarious to me. Waitress, Shuffle Along and School of Rock are doing fine."

Agreed. I know quality is not necessarily the main determinant of why a show closes but having seen Allegiance, Dames at Sea, Tuck Everlasting, American Psycho, Spring Awakening, and Bright Star, Hamilton is not the reason they closed/aren't doing well. I have great affection for many parts of these shows but they were not entirely successful in a way that could only be overcome by finding a large enough audience who didn't care. 

That said, I also hope Bright Star can make it through July so I can see it again.