Will Story of My Life close?

[broadwayfan113]

Will Story of My Life close?#1

Posted: 2/9/09 at 7:45pm

I say give it a few days...

The Best Blog on Broadway! http://bwaybeat.blogspot.com

[insertclevernamehere]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#2

Posted: 2/9/09 at 7:46pm

It's been here a week. Give it a chance before you write it off.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention...I'm the good cop, he's the bad cop.

Updated On: 2/9/09 at 07:46 PM

[BustopherPhantom]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#2

Posted: 2/9/09 at 7:48pm

Well, here we go.

I should think the producers would be smart enough to know that an original, small, two-handler musical like STORY OF MY LIFE isn't going to catch on right away. Even SPRING AWAKENING, despite the across-the-board raves, didn't really catch on until it won its eight Tony Awards.

Give it a chance, man. If it gets mediocre-to-poor reviews, then we'll have real reason to worry.

"Y'know, I think Bertolt Brecht was rolling in his grave."
-Nellie McKay on the 2006 Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, in which she played Polly Peachum

Updated On: 2/9/09 at 07:48 PM

[dramamama611]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#3

Posted: 2/9/09 at 7:50pm

Well...eventually EVERYTHING closes. (Except Phantom, it seems!)

But let's let it struggle for at least a little while before digging its grave, eh? I'm seeing it next week....so it needs to last at least THAT long!

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.

[BustopherPhantom]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#4

Posted: 2/9/09 at 7:52pm

Here's a question for you (and I'm not trying to be insulting): Has there ever been a Broadway show that closed in previews due to poor ticket sales alone?

"Y'know, I think Bertolt Brecht was rolling in his grave."
-Nellie McKay on the 2006 Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, in which she played Polly Peachum

[DottieD'Luscia]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#5

Posted: 2/9/09 at 8:03pm

I'll be seeing it this weekend.

Hey Dottie! Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany

[HITcards]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#6

Posted: 2/9/09 at 8:26pm

Sadly Bustopher, yes. I believe the most recent to close while still in previews was Bobbi Boland, starring Farrah Fawcett.

[BenKaye]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#7

Posted: 2/9/09 at 8:40pm

I really hope that SOML runs for a while, at least until after the TONY"s. It really is the best new musical I've seen this season, and with the only other two new musicals coming this season being Rock of Ages, and 9 to 5, this will probably be my favorite musical of the season hands down.

My blog- http://okayentertainment.blogspot.com/

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#8

Posted: 2/9/09 at 8:40pm

I'm seeing it on Thursday and can't wait. The allusions to A CATERED AFFAIR have gotten me even more excited considering how much I loved that show (the best new musical of last year IMO).

I hope it catches on...but to be honest, I doubt it will. But I'm hoping.

[RentBoy86]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#9

Posted: 2/9/09 at 10:13pm

I don't think "catch on" is the right word. I mean, I doubt the kiddies that flock to Wicked and SA are going to come see this show. Its such a great piece of musical theater, and a great piece for students to see - it shows how book and music should flow effortlessly into each other. But I think it all depends on reviews...so here's hoping!

[nexttoelectric]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#10

Posted: 2/9/09 at 10:22pm

No, it will stay open until the sun expands and destroys the planet.

[Calvin]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#11

Posted: 2/10/09 at 12:00am

Apophis will get us long before that.

Bobbi Boland didn't close JUST because of bad ticket sales, right? It was a stinking mess.

edited because I was mixing up my fates with my egyptian gods Updated On: 2/10/09 at 12:00 AM

[Actor 7]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#12

Posted: 2/10/09 at 12:34am

For those of us on the West Coast who come to NYC in June, we hope it can gain enough of an audience to remain a viable show simply because we would like to see it as it is being done with its' original cast. Although I know it's not usually the case, but I wish it could move to maybe the Public Theatre with the same cast and set, if it is unable to maintain its' run on Broadway. Shows like this rarely make it to the West Coast if their Broadway run is brief and therefore, we never get a chance to see it with a first class cast like this one. It might stand a greater chance surviving off-Broadway in a smaller theatre, although the Booth seems ideal for a small musical like this one.

[skb2010]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#13

Posted: 2/10/09 at 12:35am

I hope for the cast that it doesn't pull a "Glory Days"

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I? I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

[ghostlight2]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#14

Posted: 2/10/09 at 11:25am

"Bobbi Boland didn't close JUST because of bad ticket sales, right?"

Right - in fact I doubt if ticket sales had much to do with it. The play was amatuerish, and Ms Fawcett, possibly dealing with her illness that was later disclosed, was clearly struggling with her lines, and behaving erratically, often calling characters by the actors' names, and so on.

I cringed to watch her in that condition, and, in this case, I think the producer showed compassion and wisdom by pulling the plug to save further embarrassment. The question was, how did it get to Broadway to begin with?

Hope Story of My Life picks up an audience.

[once a month]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#15

Posted: 2/10/09 at 12:03pm

I'm really looking forward to this musical next week. At least Bobbi Boland had an interesting playbill, great conversation piece with poor Farah in glorious color!

[Elke]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#16

Posted: 2/10/09 at 1:42pm

I sure hope it doesn't! I was in NY last week but have just booked a new flight to see it again at the end of the month.

And Glory Days' first week grosses were worse: it grossed $51,094 with an average ticket price of $22.23.

I was wondering, does the attendance % include people who were comped?

[Phantom of London]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#17

Posted: 2/10/09 at 1:52pm

Hope it lasts and would love to come over the Atlantic to see this.

[ghostlight2]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#18

Posted: 2/10/09 at 1:55pm

"I was wondering, does the attendance % include people who were comped?"

I'm afraid so.

[Elke]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#19

Posted: 2/10/09 at 2:02pm

"I'm afraid so."

Yeah, that's what I thought. It's strange though. I saw the Wednesday matinee (2nd preview) and the theatre looked pretty full. Not sold out, because several side seats were empty, but still...

[WOSQ]

re: Will Story of My Life close?#20

Posted: 2/10/09 at 3:41pm

The percentage is only the tickets for which a sum of money was paid whether it be $35 via tdf or full fare with every discount in between. Comps are not included. If they were, the percentage and attendance figures would be much higher.

And let's get this damn show OPEN before we discuss it closing. Its just not right to do otherwise.

"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable." --Carrie Fisher