Why isn't ECLIPSED selling better?

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 1:31pm

It's on TDF all the time.  I'm surprised.  Great reviews, Oscar winning star....Why isn't it doing better? 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 1:32pm

Too depressing.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 1:34pm

I think it might be related to the subject matter. We aren't exactly living in a climate or time when seeing a harshly real and brutal straight play is the first thing on peoples' agenda.

I would also add the frank belief that many Broadway audience members probably aren't interested in such a play that specifically takes place in a foreign nation, too.

Updated On: 3/31/16 at 01:34 PM

[pupscotch]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 1:37pm

It's a straight play, which sadly never helps ticket sales, and it's a hard sell (because it's depressing).

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 1:39pm

Lupita isn't the draw they thought she'd be. End of story.

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 1:41pm

It's tough material and the word of mouth is probably mixed.  I didn't see it on Broadway but know in previous productions the difficulty in understanding the dialects was an issue for some audience members.

[10086sunset]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 1:43pm

neonlightsxo said: "Lupita isn't the draw they thought she'd be. End of story.

 

"

Agreed.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 1:45pm

The unmet expectations of Lupita, as neon mentioned, is also a big component. I have to think about The Elephant Man, which was by all accounts also a "depressing straight play"—but Bradley Cooper sold the hell out of the Booth day in and out. Lupita, while big, just apparently isn't a colossal draw.

[TerrenceIsTheMann]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 1:48pm

Why would she be though? Sure, Oscar winner, great. But that was a pretty small role. Only other thing I've seen her in is Star Wars and that was motion capture. It's totally obvious to see why she can't fill houses- yet. Give her 5-10 years and then she will.

[Anshel2]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 1:50pm

Couldn't understand half of what was being said, with headphones on.

[Margo319]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 1:53pm

A small part?  In 12 Years a Slave?  That wasn't a small part in any capacity.  She was great in it but it was her first role.  She was unknown before that and has done very little work afterwards.  I saw the play and it was good, but it wasn't an enjoyable night at the theater.  

[Lunch_Lady]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 2:00pm

It had a sold out run at The Public so the box office comment is bs. The play is very depressing and people want to see happiness in the springtime. Great play though.

 

[TerrenceIsTheMann]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 2:01pm

She had 18 mins of screentime Margo. A powerful role, for sure, but it's still 18 minutes. This show has a very small market. 

[TerrenceIsTheMann]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 2:02pm

Selling out at the Public and selling out a broadway theater are too very different things.

[bfreak]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 2:13pm

And while 12 Years a Slave received great accolades and attention, it should also be noted it wasn't a huge grosser either at the box office, and that was also depressing.

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 2:24pm

Lunch_Lady said: "It had a sold out run at The Public so the box office comment is bs. The play is very depressing and people want to see happiness in the springtime. Great play though."

 

Have you ever seen the size of LuEsther Hall at the Public? It has a 160 seat capacity.

The fact that you don't understand the difference is "bs."

 

[Lunch_Lady]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 2:27pm

neonlightsxo said: "Lunch_Lady said: "It had a sold out run at The Public so the box office comment is bs. The play is very depressing and people want to see happiness in the springtime. Great play though."

 

Have you ever seen the size of LuEsther Hall at the Public? It has a 160 seat capacity.

The fact that you don't understand the difference is "bs."

 

 

"

The point that I was trying to make, is that the play can sell tickets regardless. Seems like you have a problem with Lupita anyway. Shut it.

 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 2:28pm

TerrenceIsTheMann said: "She had 18 mins of screentime Margo. A powerful role, for sure, but it's still 18 minutes."

Anne Hathaway only had 15 minutes of screen time in Les Miserables, and she still won the Oscar too. It just goes to show that it doesn't matter about how much time you have, it's mainly about what you do with your time.

 

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 2:32pm

FUN HOME sold out at The Public and was a hit uptown too.  

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 2:38pm

BroadwayBen said: "FUN HOME sold out at The Public and was a hit uptown too.  

 

"

Yeah, after it won 5 Tonys, including Best Musical. 

[neonlightsxo]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 2:39pm

"The point that I was trying to make, is that the play can sell tickets regardless. Seems like you have a problem with Lupita anyway. Shut it."

 

Don't tell me to shut it. 160 seats is a LOT different than 804. I don't know what YOU don't understand.

I am a huge fan of Lupita, but I'm also a huge fan of reality.

 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 2:41pm

AC126748 said: "Yeah, after it won 5 Tonys, including Best Musical. "

Fun Home sold pretty successfully on Broadway in the two months between opening in April and the 2015 Tonys.

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 2:52pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "AC126748 said: "Yeah, after it won 5 Tonys, including Best Musical. "

Fun Home sold pretty successfully on Broadway in the two months between opening in April and the 2015 Tonys.

 

"

It sold well but it certainly wasn't an impossible, standing room every night ticket until after the Tonys. And it's gone back to being a fairly easy ticket to get in the last few months. Circle in the Square is also one of the smallest theaters on Broadway. 

Updated On: 3/31/16 at 02:52 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 2:55pm

You have an entirely different audience downtown than uptown.   (and,  of course size of the house)

[Margo319]

Posted: 3/31/16 at 3:31pm

"Anne Hathaway only had 15 minutes of screen time in Les Miserables, and she still won the Oscar too. It just goes to show that it doesn't matter about how much time you have, it's mainly about what you do with your time."

 

EXACTLY