Will Newsies be a hit? — Page 2

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#26

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/15/12 at 10:27pm

I don't think anyone is saying it will be a flop, since being DISNEY, we will never know, but they certainly can't make money in a limited run. If they do extend they will have to announce it before TONY night, they can't wait to see if they win and re-open the next day.

Updated On: 2/16/12 at 10:27 PM

#27

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/15/12 at 10:42pm

I imagine any extention will be announced before The Tonys. My prediction is that it'll run until January at least, I imagine it'll have a tour sometime next year even it doesn't extend.

#28

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/15/12 at 11:17pm

The biggest buzz out of NJ for this show was Jeremy Jordan, as well as a bunch of boys doing alot of acrobatic dancing. I'm sure it'll do well enough to sustain a healthy run in NYC, and I imagine it will win the choreography award for Gattelli ( hes overdue, and tbis time he finally has the ensemble dancing-South Pacific and Sunday In The Park don't count. And with such a weak, even non-dansical season they may even take home the top prize.

Also, as a previous poster mentioned, there are no star salaries.

In addition, the mere fact that Disney isn't producing the album is sort of telling. Might this be a first that a Disney show is not producing the album under their own label?

With the smart move of announcing a limited run, coupled with the cast recording being produced by Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight, it sure to hell looks like they're not taking on much risk.

#29

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/15/12 at 11:24pm

To answer an above question: Yes, it's being advertised heavily on ABC-TV, but that's a Disney-owned station.

"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

#30

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/16/12 at 12:11am

I don't doubt it will do healthy business, but with the opening of so many new shows around the same time, it might get swept under.

#31

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/16/12 at 7:24am

I predict it will be the biggest hit new musical of the season.

It's cult status extends beyond the theater community, and it is generating buzz there.

"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert

#32

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/16/12 at 8:20am

No. It is too dark! It's mostly black and white (and sepia).

Broadway musicals, like newspapers and movies these days (and computers, and telephone screens), need color. Musicals, especially, need colorful sets and costumes to draw and maintain a following.

p.s. I expect now to see a short (or long) list of exceptions.

#33

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/16/12 at 8:53am

I thought it showed a lot of promise at Paper Mill: fine songs, acrobatic dancing, drama and humor. But oh, the opening--a serious, soul-searching song, even before we know anything at all about protagonist Jack?! It needs the bouncy opening of the movie, and that will carry the audience through to the place it has to be in order to become interested in and care about the characters.

#34

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/16/12 at 9:21am

IMO, any further extension will be dependent on the TONY nominations which will be announced in early May. If it gets a bunch, they'll extend; if not -- well, as I keep saying, its all a crap shoot.

BroadwayEd

#35

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/16/12 at 9:32am

Isn't the tour already booked? Are they able to extend?

#36

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/16/12 at 5:03pm

My apologies if it has been discussed/announced before but I see Capathia Jenkins is playing a new character Medda. Does anyone know who Medda is?

''With the number of people I ignore, I'm lucky I work at all in this town'' - Helena Bonham Carter

#37

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/16/12 at 5:19pm

If I'm correct, Medda is a new version of the vaudeville singer played by Ann-Margret in the movie. Hopefully she gets some better songs this time around.

Formerly SirNotAppearing - Joined 3/08

#38

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/17/12 at 8:18pm

It does seem to be selling pretty well. I got the chance to order tickets the week before they went on sale.They didn't seem to be holding back seats. I did get row f center orch for both dates I wanted BUT I ordered right away. When I checked at the end of the week for a friend some of dates didn't have much left for the center orch. Not sold out of course , and there was plenty for the back and side. If it's at all fun I'll bet it'll do well for this limited engagment.

#39

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/17/12 at 11:47pm

After Tarzan and Mermaid flopped in comparison to Beauty and the Beast, Lion King and Mary Poppins, it's unsurprising that Disney is not taking much of a risk with Newsies although at $5m, if it is a hit then it'll be extremely profitable should the limited run become an open run and it'll show to Broadway critics and theatregoers that Disney isn't just about big, expensive musicals.

They also have Peter and the Starcatcher, I'm surprised they're not lead producer and also have other producers given it's their first play but like Newsies, I guess they want to minimise the risk but given they own the property, they'll reap the reward should Peter be a hit as well.

#40

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/18/12 at 12:34am

'But oh, the opening - a serious, soul-searching song, even before we know anything at all about the protagonist ...'

Hmmm. There's this 1940s musical that doesn't start with a big and brassy opening number. It begins with a guy pensively singing about how 'everything's going his way.' Yup. That's Curly singing 'Oh, What a Beautiful Morning' in 'Oklahoma!' And there's this 1930s show now revived on Broadway, featuring a young woman singing a serious lullaby, and she's not even one of the protagonists: Clara, with 'Summertime' in 'Porgy & Bess.'

Unless it's been changed for Broadway, the stage version of 'Newsies' opens with a ballad of 'Santa Fe'; it sets up Jack's personality and dream to better his life. If you think your sense of dramaturgy is better than Feinstein, Feldman and Schwartz', that's your opinion. But judging from the rousing reaction and rave reviews it got at Paper Mill, this was NOT an issue for the audiences there. Nor will it be on Broadway. It's a crowdpleaser of a show, and I predict it'll be a big hit among the season's new musicals and probably clean up at the Tonys.

Updated On: 2/18/12 at 12:34 AM

#41

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/18/12 at 12:47am

I don't doubt it will be a hit and clean up at the TONYs either, but Wayman you get hot pants at any show where there's lots of males dancing !

#42

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/18/12 at 12:49am

Wayman!
Did you just compare NEWSIES (which I liked) to OKLAHOMA!!!!!!
C'mon.

#43

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/18/12 at 1:48am

I would not be surprised if NEWSIES has a new opening number on Broadway.

#44

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/18/12 at 11:30am

I hope you are right Ijay.
I would also like to see a scene in Act II where Jihn Dosset has Andrew Keenan Crutchie Bolger chained shirtless to a wall as he pokes him for NEWSIE information. Then Crutchie can sing a power ballad about being a lonely cripple, still shirtless, of course.

That's how you win a TONY!

Updated On: 2/18/12 at 11:30 AM

#45

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/18/12 at 12:15pm

Clean up at the Tonys? Really? I sure it will get some noms and likely a win or two - but I doubt its going to dominate.

(I doubt any one show will dominate in the win category)

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

Updated On: 2/18/12 at 12:15 PM

#46

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/18/12 at 1:42pm

It's the most family-oriented musical opening this spring. Here are its competition:

Once
Jesus Christ Superstar
Evita
Ghost
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Leap of Faith

Aside from the Webber revivals, I think it has the broadest appeal. And I think it has a good shot at some awards.

Updated On: 2/18/12 at 01:42 PM

#47

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/18/12 at 2:58pm

(I'm not sure what family-oriented has to do with Tony wins.)

Don't forget Spidey. It's eligible THIS year.

I'm thinking ONCE could be awarded Best Musical.

#48

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/18/12 at 10:42pm

Family-oriented means that it will tour well, which means that theater owners and producers will vote for it.

#49

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/18/12 at 10:49pm

Just like theatre owners voted for the family-friendly Avenue Q, Spring Awakening, and The Book of Mormon?

I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

#50

Will Newsies be a hit?

Posted: 2/18/12 at 11:13pm

^ Point taken with Spring Awakening, but Wicked did not need Tonys to do good business on the road. Avenue Q campaigned for the Tony and promised a tour which they initially backed out of to do a sit down production in Las Vegas, creating more restrictions for Tony nominated shows. Mormon has very broad appeal (aside from some bad language) and I'm sure that the tour and UK productions will do very well. It's not like voters rallied behind Scottsboro Boys (although the nominating committee did).

In any event, I was merely making the point that Newsies appeals to a larger market than Once, Ghost, Nice Work If You Can Get It, and Leap of Faith.

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