Why did MEMPHIS not run longer?

As someone who wasn't around these boards or the broadway grossing community at all when this ran, were there any specific reasons this show didn't sell well or play longer? I am such a major fan of this show and its music, and think it would play really well today. Did this show simply not sell well? Poor marketing? I guess I am someone who just doesn't understand as this show brought me so much joy, I am glad its out on DVD for everyone to enjoy but it is nowhere near the same as experiencing this show in person.Â

Updated On: 1/14/19 at 02:30 PM

It had a totally respectable run of nearly 3 years, playing longer than a lot of other Best Musicals (incl. Fun Home, Spring Awakening, Millie, Titanic, Gent's Guide, City of Angels). It was never a huge hit like Dear Evan Hansen, but it recouped the week that it closed. It was extremely lucky to have won Best Musical in the weakest year for new work since 1995.

It also opened in 2009, when the economy was not kind to other new musicals. It could be argued that Spring Awakening, In The Heights, Billy Elliot, and Memphis might have run a little longer in a more economically-sound time.

Updated On: 1/14/19 at 02:39 PM

Because it was as mediocre as they come.

American Idiot should have won.

I am also someone who didn't like it and would have much preferred seeing American Idiot which, while flawed in terms of its book, had one of the best scores (wrongfully not eligible) in the last 40+ years. I don't think anyone expected it to run as long as it did after it won, which was also a surprise.

Updated On: 1/14/19 at 03:25 PM

Jordan Catalano said: "Mediocre is a very kind word to describe it."

I was being very, very kind.

This show has always been fascinating to me because the buzz (or lack thereof) on this board was completely at odds with how others seemed to be experiencing the show. If anyone could have predicted what happened to this show in the initial preview thread here they would have been ridiculed. The board was particularly scathing - I doubt anyone here could have possibly predicted it would have won Best Musical, run for 3 years - been filmed etc.

HogansHero said: "I am also someone who didn't like it and would have much preferred seeing American Idiot which, while flawed in terms of its book, had one of the best scores (wrongfully not eligible) in the last 40+years. I don't think anyone expected it to run as long as it did after it won, which was also a surprise."

Why was it wrongfully not eligible? The music existed prior to the show's conception. Sure, new arrangements were done, but to be eligible for Best Score, a majority of the score must be newly written for the show. The eligibility rules were followed. I don't see how it's "wrongful".

@Ginger Bread The argument is that it was written as a concept album and the show that opened was a progression from that. You don't have to buy into the argument if you don't want to.

Mike Barrett said: "BwayLB said: "LuPita2 said: "Incredible show with brilliant leads. It ran for three full years, almost all of the original cast was STILL in it, and recouped. It's pretty great to be able to watch it on BroadwayHD, Amazon, and the DVD. I think it's awesome that two of the principals are currently in Hamilton :)"

Then whos in it besides Mr Iglehart"

Montego Glover is Angelica in Chicago!



Isnt Chad still in Come From Away?



"

TheGingerBreadMan said: "HogansHero said: "I am also someone who didn't like it and would have much preferred seeing American Idiot which, while flawed in terms of its book, had one of the best scores (wrongfully not eligible) in the last 40+years. I don't think anyone expected it to run as long as it did after it won, which was also a surprise."

Why was it wrongfully not eligible? The musicexisted prior to the show's conception. Sure, new arrangements were done, but to be eligible for Best Score, a majority of the score must be newly written for the show. The eligibility rules were followed. I don't see how it's "wrongful"."

The Who's Tommy says hi.

I have to say that I really enjoyed it when I saw it (the day after it opened, got much better reviews than I expected, and I happened to be in NYC). That said, I never bought the cast recording and I never had any interest in seeing it again, so I must have realized deep down that a huge portion of my enjoyment was probably due to the the cast's energy levels, probably amped by getting much better reviews than anyone expected.

I also felt that the show had no competition that season for regular theatre goers, i.e., not most of the people on this board), who wanted to see something new, fairly 'traditional', and reasonably well reviewed. That left out Fela, American Idiot and The Addams Family, which had good audiences until I guess Nathan Lane left (but which was terrible and got terrible reviews).

My conclusion: it was enjoyable, energetic, forgettable, and lucky that it ran for three years.

PS -- I tried to watch the taped performance and turned it off pretty quickly (maybe half hour in) because Chad Kimball's performance had evolved to the point where he seemed to be channeling Leonardo DiCaprio's Howard Hughes, during his most extreme phase, and I just couldn't sit through it.