Why would a show open in mid-August?
Why would a show open in mid-August?
#1Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 11/24/17 at 5:14pm
I was just reading that the highly-anticipated musical "Pretty Woman" will be opening on Broadway August 18, 2018. I always thought producers would want their show to open in the Fall - Spring. Unless I'm completely wrong, isn't Summer usually reserved for already running shows to attract a big tourist box office, especially if they're a Tony favorite or on the brink of closing.
Why is PW not waiting till late September - November? Or, if they want the tourist crowd - why not open in May or June rather than the end of the summer season?
#2Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 11/24/17 at 5:18pmHamilton opened in mid summer....
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#3Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 11/24/17 at 5:30pm
Scheduling, especially of the stars and creative staff, and theatre availability are the two biggest factors in determining when a show opens. Producers may want to open during the "desirable" times, but if your director, choreographer, or star (to name a few) are not available at those times then you open when they are, and the same goes with the theatre itself.
#4Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 11/25/17 at 1:18pm
I wonder if it gives the show a chance to catch the late summer-Labor Day crowds and help spread word of mouth, instead of waiting until the holiday season to start that boost in sales. And with so many musicals traditionally closing around Labor Day, they have a better chance of catching the stranded folks that still want to see a musical.
And hey, look at what opening in the summer did for Hairspray and Avenue Q!
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#5Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 11/25/17 at 1:21pm
Guaranteed, If people want to see your show they will come regardless of the month it opens and vice versa.
Prove me wrong but I doubt there are shows that would have been mega hits had they opened at a better month; with the exception of potential Tony winners who would have benefited to open close to awards season.
Vespertine1228
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/30/05
#6Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 11/25/17 at 2:46pm
We always complain every April about how many new shows are opening and how it's nearly impossible to get to them all. They always end up cannibalizing each other.
I'm all for shows opening at non-traditional times. Why not take all of the attention while you can? Mid-August is still close enough to the unofficial start of the theatre season.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#7Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 11/25/17 at 3:05pmThe original 42nd Street opened in August.
Skimbleshanks2
Broadway Star Joined: 2/11/15
#8Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 12/16/17 at 9:34am
Is it normal for a show to go on sale BEFORE the out of try out even happens?? I'm shocked that PRETTY WOMAN tickets are already on sale since it opens in CHICAGO months prior -- the whole release schedule for this is so bizarre ...
I guess they're banking on it being a hit? Weird since BRYAN ADAMS is the only real name here
#9Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 12/16/17 at 9:45amIt’s a privilege to have your show get to broadway. So if you’re lucky and a theatre opens up and of all the shows out there, they offer it to you, it’s probably hard to turn it down.
#10Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 12/16/17 at 10:16am
This seems like an appropriate time to mention the cardinal rule of theatre: there are no rules. I feel confident that this show could have found a theatre for a different opening, but slots are what you make of them. There are opportunities that come to shows that open in the summer that are not available in more crowded times. Of course, it is possible the show is being incompetently produced and will fail because of that, and it is of course possible it will be poorly received and close promptly because of that (as it would in any other time slot). But a strong show has no reason to be afraid of August.
#11Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 12/16/17 at 10:19am
There's one rule, Mr. Hogan:
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#12Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 12/16/17 at 11:39am
HAIRSPRAY opened in mid-August 2002. The show generated so much word-of-mouth buzz that preview performances felt like Opening Night with the amount of celebrities attending them. The show's out-of-town tryout in Seattle was electric so Broadway was anxious for the show to arrive. So much so that the Original Broadway Cast Recording was done right after Seattle and available at the Neil Simon Theatre during the last few days of previews.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#13Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 12/16/17 at 11:56am
Did HAIRSPRAY play an extended preview period? I was still teaching when I saw it with a group of my colleagues. I would have guessed that was around the end of June. I remember it was definitely a preview performance. You're saying here that it opened in August. Hmmm....
#14Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 12/16/17 at 12:13pm
Dollypop said: "Did HAIRSPRAY play an extended preview period? I was still teaching when I saw it with a group of my colleagues. I would have guessed that was around the end of June. I remember it was definitely a preview performance. You're saying here that it opened in August. Hmmm...."
IBDB answers your question:
First Preview: Jul 18, 2002 Total Previews: 31
Opening Date: Aug 15, 2002
Skimbleshanks2
Broadway Star Joined: 2/11/15
#15Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 12/16/17 at 1:16pm
I am not perturbed by the AUGUST date — I’m just like why bother with the CHICAGO out of town try out period... isn’t it pointless?
I wonder if BRYAN ADAMS’ schedule warranted this, since he’ll likely have to come to the show and promote it as it doesn’t have star power beyond KAZEE and BARKS
#16Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 12/16/17 at 1:50pm
"I’m just like why bother with the CHICAGO out of town try out period... isn’t it pointless? "
When a show comes in cold, it gets lambasted. When it goes to Chicago first, it also gets grief? You just cant win around here.
Shows go out of town to see whats going on and to fix things before it is too late. If nothing else, a cold open precludes fixing a set in most cases (sometimes even lights), and that is sometimes a big deal.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#17Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 12/16/17 at 1:56pm
Also, out-of-town tryouts are attended by non-New Yorkers so the creative teams get a better gage on regular audience responses which overall is their target audiences. These out-of-town tryouts were standard for decades and all the classic Broadway musicals did this - it was standard practice. By the time they arrived into New York, the shows had already gone thru an enormous amount or reworking. Heck, some even saw the turkey their show was and just flat-out cancelled their Broadway run. Better to just close your show out-of-town than be labeled a Broadway flop.
Skimbleshanks2
Broadway Star Joined: 2/11/15
#18Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 12/16/17 at 2:13pm
All I meant was -- it's cutting it close, time wise! I guess they're confident...?
Skimbleshanks2
Broadway Star Joined: 2/11/15
#20Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 12/17/17 at 8:48am
To the BROADWAY opening. I thought out of town try outs usually happened well in advance...
#21Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 12/17/17 at 9:57am
well it's a couple of months which is an eternity in the theatre!
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#22Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 12/17/17 at 10:37amIt's about 3 1/2:months out....lots of time to re-work it.....especially since they will likely be fixing things DURING the Chicago run.
#23Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 12/17/17 at 12:57pm
“I don't need time, I need a deadline.” - Duke Ellington
Speed
Broadway Star Joined: 7/12/03
#24Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 12/17/17 at 4:54pm
HogansHero said: ""I’m just like why bother with the CHICAGO out of town try out period... isn’t it pointless? "
When a show comes in cold, it gets lambasted. When it goes to Chicago first, it also gets grief? You just cant win around here.
Shows goout of town to see whats going on and to fix things before it is too late. If nothing else, a cold open precludes fixing a set in most cases (sometimes even lights), and that is sometimes a big deal."
When a show is good, it's good. The Book of Mormon had no out of town tryout and is one of the biggest hits of the decade. Meanwhile, did I hear that CAROUSEL is having a developmental lab? Jesus Christ.
#25Why would a show open in mid-August?
Posted: 12/17/17 at 6:01pm
Speed said: "did I hear that CAROUSEL is having a developmental lab?"
How would we know what you heard?
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