Why is Priscilla not doing better business? — Page 7

I enjoyed the show quite a bit. Not the best night of pure theatre around, but hard to argue that it isn't one of the most fun.

And for what it's worth, I was told my balcony seat was the best available for Monday night, and it was probably about 75-80% full up there. A bit rowdy, but pretty full.

Because it sucks.

It's bright colorful funny costumes and songs you already know and so many confetti guns you lose count.The show is fine for tourists - meaning mostly non-english speaking and the ones that "have to see some musical before I go home to the other hicks".

It should be cut down to 90 minutes and be in a Vegas casino.

I like my evenings of fluff theatre, but there are limits to what fluff should be on Broadway. Send it to Vegas and reap in tons from tourists for at least 2 years if it's marketed right. Meanwhile the palace will be looking for a new tenant for the holidays.

I like my evenings of fluff theatre, but there are limits to what fluff should be on Broadway.

No, there aren't any limits at all. Never has been and never should be. If Broadway had "fluff limits", it never would have gotten out of the early twentieth century operettas and cotton-candy romantic comedies of the 20s and 30s. Bring on the fluff and let the audience choose what they wish to see. Just like every other show on Broadway.

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Each man defines "fun" his own way.

Personally, I don't define "fun" as a colorful parade of costumes, a set of famous songs performed far less well than the original versions, and a story so clichéd you don't need to pay attention (or even speak a word of English). I look for more than that.

But if that's what you like, that's what you like. I can't imagine why anyone would spend $80-150 on that (when you could watch the better movie for almost free), but people pay for all sorts of things.

Ok. I slightly edited the title of the thread so that we can go back to a real discussion when the numbers come out today.

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I'm with newinown on this one.

For all you folks here that Luuuuuuuuuuuv Priscilla, great, I'm so glad the show appeals to you; but I truly don't understand all this hand-wringing anxiety about the less-than-sellout grosses.

Face it, it will NEVER be a “hot” ticket. Why? Perhaps because there's nothing that's original or fresh about the show. It uses the most worn-out disco songs, recycles plot, character, and costumes from the original film (which was truly original) and presents it all in the most over-the-top, desperate style possible.

You love it? Fine. Any and all producers love repeat business and the shows fans will help keep it afloat, but there will probably never be any sort of “Priscilla-mania,” if that's what you're hoping for. Won't happen. "Pure fluff" is a tough sell at $100 or more.

Another weekend above $900,000.

There's no doubt about it, regardless of what we think the show costs, it's making money, which it will continue to make more of as the summer season begins in the coming weeks. I think it'll do fairly well over the summer, and then a lot will depend on advance/word of mouth buzz to determine its fate afterwards.

So, it's doing perfectly well. No, it's not the smash hit that apparently some here were predicting a la Book of Mormon. I don't know, I'm still trying to figure out why anyone thought it'd be a tough ticket/a near sell-out. It has a high average ticket price, so there aren't many big causes for concern. Plus, it's in the Palace, a HUGE theatre. If it was in a smaller theatre, like Eugene O'Neill, for instance, notice that it'd be at 100% each week and would be a tough ticket just like BOM.

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I saw Priscilla last night and the Palace looked full and the crowd very very enthusiastic. Granted not too many shows were playing on a Monday.
Positive word of mouth and perhaps the Tony performance (depending on what they select) should keep filling seats for a while (I hope!).

Steve - since Priscilla isn't nominated for best musical -- I'm pretty sure it won't be performing at the Tony's. With only two nominations (and in all likelihood, at most 1 win), it will generate very little Tony buzz, if any. Instead, it will have to rely on summer tourism dollars and word of mouth, which it will have enough of to have a nice summer run, if not more than that.

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alterego: At least get the spelling of the title of the show correct: THE BOOK OF MORMON. Not MORMAN. Although, if there is a show titled THE BOOK OF MORMAN, then I guess it already has run out of steam.

As for PRISCILLA - The pre-opening advance sales were very much on the "modest" side. However, the word-of-mouth and same day ticket (at the box office and TKTS) sales seem to be pretty good. If you read the article in The Times about how the producers made the Broadway version of the show less in-your-face gay, that should answer some questions about the box office figures.

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/11/theater/priscilla-queen-of-the-desert-gets-broadway-makeover.html

*As for this past weekend's figures: remember, it was a holiday weekend. Lots of tourists in town. Almost everyone had a nice bump in business.

Updated On: 6/1/11 at 12:17 AM

I saw the show in previews and wasn't thrilled with it. What I will give them is that they sang the hell out of most of the songs. I would buy the cast recording, at some point. And If I were forced to make a decision between seeing it or Mama Mia, I would see Priscilla, but thankfully I don't see me having to make that decision and probably won't see either of them ever again. JMO

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I just clicked on Reply in the post before mine.

I guess I will go on to say that I can see how a lot of people will enjoy this show. The costumes are great and the song selection is good. Those are the positive things I found in the show.

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