Why is a B'way show's weekly operating cost such a closely guarded secret?
Why is a B'way show's weekly operating cost such a closely guarded secret?
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
#1Why is a B'way show's weekly operating cost such a closely guarded secret?
Posted: 3/27/07 at 5:47pm
Not that I need or want to know....just curious as to why shows don't disclose that information.
Updated On: 3/27/07 at 05:47 PM
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#2re: Why is a B'way show's weekly operating cost such a closely guarded secret?
Posted: 3/27/07 at 5:49pmIt ain't nobody's business how much a show loses in a week.
BroadwayBen
Broadway Star Joined: 6/5/03
#2re: Why is a B'way show's weekly operating cost such a closely guarded secret?
Posted: 3/27/07 at 6:55pmWhy is it anyone's business? These aren't public companies. They are also not non-profits.
RentBoy86
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/15/05
#3re: Why is a B'way show's weekly operating cost such a closely guarded secret?
Posted: 3/27/07 at 7:06pm
1. Because if you knew that then you would know how much money they aren't making a week.
2. It really is no one's business.
Dover
Leading Actor Joined: 4/29/06
#4re: Why is a B'way show's weekly operating cost such a closely guarded secr
Posted: 3/28/07 at 2:44amYeah. Since the grosses are public information, knowing the nut would allow people to speculate more accurately about how well/badly a show is doing, leading to all sorts of doom-and-gloom predictions. Not good for business.
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#5re: Why is a B'way show's weekly operating cost such a closely guarded secr
Posted: 3/28/07 at 2:54amBut isn't displaying the weekly grosses just as bad? I'm still uncertain about the purpose of putting one up and not the other.
leefowler
Broadway Star Joined: 7/13/04
#6re: Why is a B'way show's weekly operating cost such a closely guarded secr
Posted: 3/28/07 at 10:19amI would be interested in seeing some people's opinions about how much various shows cost to run. A lot of people compared Curtain's chances of financial success with "The Drowsy Chaperone", even though Drowsy is a much cheaper show to run.
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#7re: Why is a B'way show's weekly operating cost such a closely guarded secr
Posted: 3/28/07 at 10:28am
Most "big" musicals - big technical aspects, big company, large orchestra, large crew - cost between $550 and $650,000 per week.
Curtains, of course, is much more expensive to run than Drowsy Chaperone.
A show like Doubt, on the other hand, costs significantly less.
ashbash1990
Broadway Star Joined: 10/15/06
#8re: Why is a B'way show's weekly operating cost such a closely guarded secr
Posted: 3/28/07 at 11:09amwouldn't striaght plays ALWAYS cost less to run, without an orchestra and other musical theatre stuff that the show doesn't need?
#9re: Why is a B'way show's weekly operating cost such a closely guarded secr
Posted: 3/28/07 at 11:09amNot if you've cast Kevin Spacey.
Thesbijean
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/9/04
#10re: Why is a B'way show's weekly operating cost such a closely guarded secr
Posted: 3/28/07 at 12:41pmThe difference between Curtains and Chaperone in weekly operating costs is not as big as you guys think...
BwayBaby18
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/19/05
#11re: Why is a B'way show's weekly operating cost such a closely guarded secr
Posted: 3/28/07 at 1:19pmDoesn't it also make a diffrence if the show has recouped their investments?
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