Why is Hamilton not doing 9 show weeks?

[NiceWork2]

Posted: 11/9/15 at 2:29pm

I was wondering if anyone knew why Hamilton is not exploring doing 9 show weeks during some of these holidays weeks like wicked and Book of Mormon typically do.   I know it's a heck of a lot in premium pay you have to give these people for the 9th show, but these money maker shows do it.   And Hamilton is a long show running time wise and very strenuous to put on, but wicked is pretty long running time and physically demanding as well.    If they opened up a 9th show during thanksgiving week or Christmas/new year's week, they could've cleaned up money wise.   they could've advertised it as a specially added performance and charged double or triple the normal box office ticket price and still easily sold out.   Are perhaps the producers that concerned with maintaining the integrity of the show and not wearing out performers, etc.?  I want to say that they don't their show to become a circus like Lion King, wicked, phantom, etc, but their embrace of media attention says otherwise.   It is a great show , though, I don't blame them for soaking in the publicity and the resulting bucks at the box office.  

[dramamama611]

Posted: 11/9/15 at 2:49pm

NiceWork2 said: "I was wondering if anyone knew why Hamilton is not exploring doing 9 show weeks during some of these holidays weeks like wicked and Book of Mormon typically do.   I know it's a heck of a lot in premium pay you have to give these people for the 9th show, but these money maker shows do it.   And Hamilton is a long show running time wise and very strenuous to put on, but wicked is pretty long running time and physically demanding as well.    If they opened up a 9th show during thanksgiving week or Christmas/new year's week, they could've cleaned up money wise.   they could've advertised it as a specially added performance and charged double or triple the normal box office ticket price and still easily sold out.   Are perhaps the producers that concerned with maintaining the integrity of the show and not wearing out performers, etc.?  I want to say that they don't their show to become a circus like Lion King, wicked, phantom, etc, but their embrace of media attention says otherwise.   It is a great show , though, I don't blame them for soaking in the publicity and the resulting bucks at the box office.  

 

"

 

Usually, there is a week with only 7 shows to balance things out for those shows.  So in the LONG run, it doesn't really matter.  Especially since they are already sold out regardless.

 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 11/9/15 at 2:52pm

They are in no need of extra money. They don't need to "clean up" at the holidays. They "clean up" every week.

Also, shows like Wicked are less concerned about their performers missing shows. They have plenty of covers and understudies to go on during long holiday weeks. Hamilton still has the novelty factor where they want to see the whole OBC. And the longer your weeks are, you start losing performers due to fatigue, etc.

[ChairinMain]

Posted: 11/9/15 at 4:59pm

Hamilton is also a SUPER intense ensemble show. They are pretty much in constant motion in this one. There are very, very few numbers that they are offstage and the choreography is well (ahem) Non Stop. Wicked and Mormon are also ensemble heavy shows, but, I think, not to this extent. I don't know if a 9 performance week is physically possible. 

[TerrenceIsTheMann]

Posted: 11/9/15 at 6:29pm

Yeah Lin is running on fumes as it is

[rob136]

Posted: 11/10/15 at 1:47pm

Pretty much what everyone else has said. If they work their performers down, they'll leave faster, and they'll have to pay heavy costs to recast. Not to mention Lin is the star cast member and surely has influence in these types of decisions - I doubt any cast is going to vote for doing a 9 show week.

If they really had the goal of maxing out on the money from this thing, they could just raise ticket prices by a significant margin. A jump in price of $25 per ticket isn't going to dissuade anyone from seeing the show at these levels of hype, and $25 * number of seats in house * number of performances before they have to lower prices to more manageable long-term levels is an absurd number.