Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
FranklinShepardInc
Swing Joined: 11/4/07
#1Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 11:17am
Something befuddles me. Why do so many people have no interest in seeing the youth-oriented rock musical PASSING STRANGE, yet these same people flocked to the youth-oriented rock musical SPRING AWAKENING?
Yes, the shows are different, but I'm talking about initial interest before seeing the show, without full knowledge of what it was, yet.
Both had extremely successful, critically acclaimed off-
Broadway runs, and initial positive word-of-mouth before transferring. Both push the genre of musical into new directions. Both feature a style of music fresh to the general Broadway audience. Both take bold new approaches to musical theatre storytelling.
Thoughts?
leefowler
Broadway Star Joined: 7/13/04
#2re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 11:19amSpring Awakening is about youth, and Passing Strange is about race and culture.
Behind the fake tinsel of Broadway is real tinsel.
#2re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 11:20am
Poor marketing.
The SA folks got right on top of a smart new marketing campaign following its Off-Broadway run.
THE PS folks haven't done much to generate enough interest.
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#3re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 11:22am(because there aren't a bunch of cute moppets in the cast from which to extract "voluntaries?")
#4re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 11:28am
correct me if I'm wrong, but during previews didn't SA pull bad numbers? It wasn't until the reviews came out that it really caught fire...right?
Who says the same thing won't happen with Passing Strange?
www.kickfornick.com
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#5re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 11:31am
To be honest, I didn't even realize PS was opening on Broadway...I thought it was opening Off-Broadway.
Their lack of marketing hasn't helped...which, as I remember, SA had a LOT of marketing going on
But even then, wasn't SA loosing popularity until the Tonys?
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#6re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 11:41amI'm plenty interested. Even moreso having seen it already.
#7re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 11:43amIf it weren't for this site, I wouldn't have known anything about the show, and still sort of don't. I haven't seen any advertising for it, and with a title such as that, lack of advertising isn't going to help it's case.
"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."
#8re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 11:48am
Its a good show. I think you guys should see it! Its still on TDF and probbably on TKTS for 1/2 price..so take these advantages..
Its sad.. bec. there's not much buzz bec. it does not feature good looking young kids but the SCORE is more superior than SA. From the time that i have seen it.. I am probbably one of the most vocal person along with yankeefan here in support for this show.. Its very well written, very imaginative scenic design, rockin' score, great lyrics and very fine acting...
PLEASE GO SEE IT ..its the BEST NEW MUSICAL for me this season..(so far) We dont get this much musical anymore that's ORIGINAL & INNOVATIVE!
and I dont wanna hear anymore complains about Disneys, jukebox musicals, movies turn musicals..if you are not going to see PASSING STRANGE & IN THE HEIGHTS! 
J*
Updated On: 2/20/08 at 11:48 AM
#9re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 11:53amI've got no interest in it because until i saw the name being tossed around on here I had never even heard of it. I'm still not entirely sure what it is.
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
#10re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 12:00pm
If I just live in NYC.. I would see this show again and Sunday in the Park with George.. TWO BRILLIANT SHOW!!!
For those unfamiliar with the show. Eugene just did two features on the show:
https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=25286
J*
Updated On: 2/20/08 at 12:00 PM
#11re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 12:13pm
I second, JayStarr: This is the NEW, 21st century
Bway. Go see Passing Strange and pass the word. It's a phenomenon.
#12re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 12:19pmI think it's appeal may be too esoteric, and it kind of came out of nowhere and now it's on Broadway? Plus the marketing(the random posters around the city) is not sparking my interest. Wah wah.
http://theaterfag.blogspot.com/
Reviews and the like
#13re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 12:21pm
For those unfamiliar with the music.. there's a FREE DEMO of 4 songs that you can download...
click here
https://www.passingstrangeonbroadway.com/
1. Go to Audio
2. Click Download on these individual songs:
Amsterdam
Arlington Hill
Come Down Now
Keys
-these songs sound really good live! Its an exhilarating experience to hear it performed live with the book, chreoraphy , lighting ..etc.. It really comes alive... 
J*
Updated On: 2/20/08 at 12:21 PM
BkCollector
Broadway Star Joined: 2/6/08
#14re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 12:21pm
Passing Strange has no interest for a lot of people because there are no white people in it.
They won't admit that of course, but it's the case nonetheless.
#15re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 12:24pm
I hope that's not the reason bec... this is TRULY AN AMERICAN MUSICAL!! considering Broadway is always been a new FRONTIER of ideas ....
J*
Updated On: 2/20/08 at 12:24 PM
#16re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 12:32pmI hope that the increasing munber of threads on this show mean that interest is generating.
PLEASE! Do not post anything negative or dramatic! DidYouReallyHearMe has LOST the ability to ignore such posts and he will comment! Please, help him.
With Clay Aiken in Spamalot, all of Broadway is singing a collective "There! Right! There!" -Me-
"Not Barker, Todd is the only person I've ever known who could imitate Katherine Hepburn...in print." -nmartin-
With Clay Aiken in Spamalot, all of Broadway is singing a collective "There! Right! There!" -Me-
"Not Barker, Todd is the only person I've ever known who could imitate Katherine Hepburn...in print." -nmartin-
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#17re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 12:37pmAnd I'll gladly shill it again.
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#18re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 2:10pm
Something befuddles me. Why do so many people have no interest in seeing the youth-oriented rock musical PASSING STRANGE, yet these same people flocked to the youth-oriented rock musical SPRING AWAKENING?
Have you looked at the grosses for SA during previews? They wish they had PS numbers. As I said earlier, most of us doubted SA was even going to make it to opening night.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#19re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 2:18pm
These are the grosses for SA during previews (Nov-Dec 06) - as you can see they were barely making it, and it's a bigger show than PS.
$135,496 $0 $50.00 $110.00 2,710 5,450 5 49.7% 0.0% 0.0
$200,224 $135,496 $54.19 $201.25 3,695 8,720 8 42.4% 0.0% 42.4%
$199,827 $200,224 $51.24 $201.25 3,900 8,720 8 44.7% 42.4% 2.3%
$182,541 $199,827 $52.54 $201.25 3,474 8,720 8 39.8% 44.7% -4.9%
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
Updated On: 2/20/08 at 02:18 PM
#20re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 2:18pm
oh, for the love of Christ, BKcollector! are you really going to turn this into a race issue? right, because no typically african american shows have ever been successful.
The ones that have been successful HAVE advertised, though. I can tell ya that. I can't say from the ads, because I haven't seen any in N.Y, but is the cast pictured on them?
gosh, it's a good thing Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is doing well, maybe becuase they actually spent money on advertising.
"I'm an American, Damnit!!! And if it's three things I don't believe in, it's quitting and math."
BkCollector
Broadway Star Joined: 2/6/08
#21re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 3:11pmThat's absolutely true, and while I'm not saying it's ENTIRELY based on racial issues, to say that racial issues don't enter into this at all is naive..and dare I say it - Even ignorant.
FranklinShepardInc
Swing Joined: 11/4/07
#22re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 5:08pmbump... because this is very insightful
perfectliar
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/1/04
#23re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 7:18pmI was originally planning on seeing it a couple weeks ago at the second preview, but I changed my mind because I listened to "Amsterdam" and didn't enjoy it. Plan and simple.
#24re: Why no interest in PASSING STRANGE?
Posted: 2/20/08 at 7:21pm
They wish they had PS numbers.
- But PASSING STRANGE's grosses are worse so far than SA'S beginning grosses.
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