Why is Priscilla not doing better business?- Page 2

[bwaybug85]

Posted: 4/25/11 at 7:03pm

Is this thread for real? The show sells in the 80/90% range every week (which is very hard for the Palace usually), made over $1 million last week, and for past weeks seems to have been either the 5th or 6th highest grossing show. Also, the average ticket price is pretty high. I just checked and the average rating was B+ on Stagegrade which is a lot higher than some other shows. I actually thought this thread was a joke at first because it is doing SUCH good business. Also when I saw the show the audience went crazy at curtain call (the applause was probably the loudest I've ever heard at any show), and everyone was raving about it on the way out (including some well-known Broadway performers that were in attendance) so I can't imagine the word of mouth is terrible.

[DAME]

Posted: 4/25/11 at 7:21pm

Yes it is for real. And I am a big fan of the show. I think the comparison to Mamma Mia can only be made by someone who has not seen it. ( Jukebox musical comparison aside).

[Luscious]

Posted: 4/25/11 at 7:34pm

Could be as simple as it's not very good. Saw it last week and was extremely disappointed. I knew it was a piece of fluff going in, but still wanted to love it on that level. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. There's so much about it that just doesn't work and could have been so much better.

[DAME]

Posted: 4/25/11 at 8:48pm

I am not crazy about its ad campaign either. Has anyone seen those behind the scene videos with Nick Adams on broadway.com? To me he is very irritating.

[Luscious]

Posted: 4/25/11 at 10:04pm

I didn't care for any one of the three leads. I didn't like their interpretation of their characters and I didn't think they had much chemistry between them. The book, IMO, was a complete mess. The dialogue was mostly cringe worthy. Almost all of the jokes, which were old when I first heard them a few decades ago, landed with a thud. In addition, the set design consisted mainly of the bus, without much else to look at or impress -- other than the over-the-top costumes, of course. Some of the songs and production numbers were fun, and some couldn't end soon enough for me. Believe me, I've waited a long time to see this show and very much wanted to enjoy it. Unfortunately, the only thing it did was make me want to avoid Broadway for a while and focus more on Off-Broadway and alternative theatre.

Updated On: 4/26/11 at 10:04 PM

[goldenboy]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 12:29am

My straight sister and brother from the mid-west raved about it.
I told them to buy tickets as it was a hit in London and Toronto.

After buying tickets and before seeing it they stated, "I didn't know it was about drag queens." If they knew they probably wouldn't have bought tickets.

They loved the spectacle of the evening and the familiar disco tunes. The over the top choreography and costumes. They enjoyed the performances of all the leads as did I.

It was a musical that in my humble opinion improves on the original movie (which I was not a fan of) --Something Sister Act nor Catch Me if you can achieved.

It is a great Broadway spectacle type show with recognizable tunes.

I think 900 thousand plus is respectable. Word of mouth.. that I am hearing is very good.

Hopefully word of mouth will prevail. There may be residual
homophobia and fear of drag queens on some peoples/tourists parts.

And when people ask what is it about... and you say 3 drag queens crossing the Australian outbook... it can be a hard sell.

I would tell people if they love big Broadway Musicals and spectacle... just see it. It deserves to have a long run.
And in my humble opinion better than Sister Act, Catch Me and
Wonderland.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 1:15am

I saw the show this past Friday and really enjoyed it. My sister enjoyed it less so - mostly because I think many of the jokes went over her head. She asked about the ping pong balls and I had a "deer in headlights" moment. But she still had favorite songs, costumes, etc and she enjoys the cast recording.

The night I went it was obvious that the crowd was enjoying themselves. I would see it again should the opportunity arise and I would recommend it to others.

Updated On: 4/26/11 at 01:15 AM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 1:56am

I still have no idea what this thread is on about. The show is doing great business.

[theaternut]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 10:41am

She is asking why it is not doing better business. Which it should be. The numbers are fine but not indicative of a show with legs. That is what the thread is about. Very simple. Last week was very indicative of a busy week in the city with tons of tourists and conventioneers. Most shows went up in attendance and neared or got to capacity. Priscilla did not. Understand it now? I can't help you anymore.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 10:50am

None of the theater savvy people (straight) in my office/social circle have ever heard of the movie. That's a problem. They've all heard the buzz about The Book of Mormon -- because it's "South Park".

[Q]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 10:58am

"None of the theater savvy people (straight) in my office/social circle have ever heard of the movie."

That's almost inconceivable to me - especially since it got exposure at the Oscars.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 11:12am

yes, but true.

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 11:15am

Even though it is doing well, I found it interesting that it was the only musical that didn't go up in attendance but actually went down from the previous week. It was one of only 3 shows whose attendance was down.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 11:24am

Not every show is guaranteed to sell out. And the movie upon which it's based is a cult Australian film. This show is doing just fine. People need to chill.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 12:26pm

I'm theatre savvy and straight and I've heard of the movie. I absolutely remember the credit card dress from the Oscars that year. And let us not forgot the classic episode of Drew Carey show where Drew and the gang go to a midnight viewing of Rocky Horror only to find that it's been switched to Priscilla and Mimi, Mr. Wick et al are there in costume. And then the "dance off" between the two groups.

It is a part of pop culture so I do have a hard time understanding how people have not heard of it. Maybe they haven't seen it but I'm sure they've heard of it.

Updated On: 4/26/11 at 12:26 PM

[bwaydreamer]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 12:29pm

Because its a bad show

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 12:45pm

Regarding the movie, I also think it depends on what part of the country you live or lived in or if you live in a small town. it wasn't in really wide release when it hit theaters here in the US. I had to go to a small Landmark theater to see it. I know a lot of gay people who haven't heard of the movie. I know a lot of straight people who haven't either.

[theaterdrew]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 1:53pm

Having just seen a performance on the View, I'd say its publicity may be having a hard time hitting the right notes with people like me who are tourists to NYC. I hate to say it, but the performance came across like a garish circus rather than a fun Broadway show. I never thought that about TV performances of other jukebox musicals like Mama Mia or shows with men in drag like La Cage.

With so many exciting musicals to pick from, I can't see Priscilla making the list based on what I've now seen of it. (Unless MAYBE I can get it at TKTS.)

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 2:19pm

theaterdrew, I pretty much agree with you about that performance on The View. Even as fun as the costumes are for that number, it just didn't look all that great on tv to me.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 3:47pm

I hate when they use I Will Survive to promote the show. It leaves the completely wrong impression. I mean what about Go West? Don't Leave Me This Way? We Belong? Ugh!!!!! Horrible choice.

[theaternut]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 7:35pm

The number on The View was yucky. And by the way... if you go to the boxofffice they are giving half price seats if you mention you saw the offer on their facebook page. ( about $70.00) for matinees. It is a good show. Worth seeing.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 7:40pm

This show REALLY does not play well online or on tv. But I loved it live.

But, when you think about it, what shows do work well on tv? Most every show plays better onstage, for obvious reasons...

[theaterdrew]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 7:46pm

There's a difference between being better live and playing well on TV, though. I have seen plenty of TV performances that intrigue me, because I always factor in that the live experience will be different.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 4/26/11 at 7:58pm

I agree, and I admit that Priscilla plays especially badly on tv. But, really, even shows that play decently on tv always play much better live.

[DAME]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 12:52pm

They need to shelve the "I will survive" number from tv appearances.