so what's the deal with the Producers?
so what's the deal with the Producers?
eatlasagna
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/6/04
#1so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/8/06 at 10:57pmjust wondering what you all think... as much as i liked the Producers when I saw it in LA with Martin Short and Jason Alexander... i didn't love the production... but it was an excellent piece of musical theater in my opinion... i laughed and enjoyed the music tremendously... but why, with all it's Tony history winning wins are they talking of closing it down?? it is that expensive to run? if it's this record breaking musical why isn't it lasting longer like Beauty and the Beast or other long running shows... is there no publicity? is the music and book not that great that it actually does need stars for it to be successful? thoughts?
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#1re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/8/06 at 11:09pmWho's talking of closing it down?
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#2re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/8/06 at 11:17pmTake a look at the grosses. It's just not doing too well. The hype has died down.
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.
#3re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 1:48amI think you are talking about the LA production right? Broadway is still in-run and there is going to be another production in Las Vegas
Somebody sit in my chair, and ruin my sleep, and make me aware of being alive!
NathanLaneStalker
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#4re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 2:01am
I think if Dave Hasslehoff (sp?) had joined the broadway production it would be doing better.
I can't see how one of the biggest hits in broadway history can close so soon. Sure it's been 5 or 6 years but Phantom, Beauty and the Beast, RENT, The Lion King, and Chicago have been running to long in my opinion.
Hopefully Young Frankenstein will last longer.
"I'm tellin' you, the only times I really feel the presence of God are when I'm having sex and during a great Broadway musical." - Nathan Lane - Jeffrey
#5re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 2:06am
IMO, David H. is going to be a flop if he do it on Broadway. He has been on Broadway and turned out to be a fiasco! I hope that he is officially banned from Broadway forever! And who said that the Broadway production is going to be closed? The one we are talking about is LA!
Somebody sit in my chair, and ruin my sleep, and make me aware of being alive!
Updated On: 11/9/06 at 02:06 AM
NathanLaneStalker
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#6re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 2:15am
Dave is so bad and campy he would be perfect for Roger!
The Producers is closing in April. That's what a cast member told me.
"I'm tellin' you, the only times I really feel the presence of God are when I'm having sex and during a great Broadway musical." - Nathan Lane - Jeffrey
eatlasagna
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/6/04
#7re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 2:19amno i'm not talking about the LA production... i'm saying i saw the LA Production... i'm talking about the show in general... why are they even talking or why is there gossip that the show is possibly closing if it's this critical hit.... why can't it hit the 10 year mark... i'm not saying a 5 or 6 year run is bad... i'm saying why isn't it running longer if it was a HUGE award winner... know what i mean? i'm not knocking the show.. i'm just curious as to why you all think it's slowed down and is stunt casting the only reason a show like this could survive for longer....
#8re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 2:26am
Well, if it is REALLY going to be close, then it's simply because The Producers is not an international show. I mean, for Phantom, Les Mis, The Lion King, RENT, even Chicago are popular all over the world, and what "all over the world" means that even people in Asia know them all. I'm a Hong Kong person (though I'm now in US) and when I ask normal people about Broadway musicals, they hardly know any, but they still manage to know Phantom, Les Mis and Chicago. Anyway, these tourists go to Broadway and they will only watch these shows, so these shows get more grosses than the other shows which are not that world wide popular. These extra funds can prolong these world-wide-popular shows's lives and will also guarantee that there are constant/stable audience supplies for them (which are the tourists).
Somebody sit in my chair, and ruin my sleep, and make me aware of being alive!
Updated On: 11/9/06 at 02:26 AM
NathanLaneStalker
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#9re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 2:29amThe Producers is world wide famous. I found clips from different countries' productions such as Asia, London, Australia, Isarili (sp?) and many many others.
"I'm tellin' you, the only times I really feel the presence of God are when I'm having sex and during a great Broadway musical." - Nathan Lane - Jeffrey
#10re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 2:41am
Just because there are clips of production in other countries doesn't mean that it's world wide popular. Who knows that these production aren't flops (except the West End cause I know it's a hit). What you say about Asia is only Japan which is also in Japanese! Even though, not many Japanese knew about this show, don't even talk about China, but nearly every Asian knows about Phantom. Moreover, long-running shows need support by tourists. Tourists are shallow people. They just want to watch chandelier special effects or musicals they watched on screen, musicals that they are familiar.
Somebody sit in my chair, and ruin my sleep, and make me aware of being alive!
Updated On: 11/9/06 at 02:41 AM
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#11re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 2:46am
Maybe I'm just old (certainly) and have been around too long (definitely), but since when is a run of over well over 2,000 performances that has netted a profit in the tens of millions for the original producers (including monies taken in from road companies and movie royalties) anything less than an unmitigated success?
Right now, THE PRODUCERS has the 22nd longest run in the history of Broadway (over a 100 years, during which thousands of shows have opened and closed) and by the end of the year, it'll crack the top 20 and be at around 18th place.
Unlike nearly every show on the list ahead of it, THE PRODUCERS is truly a star vehicle, that requires major names in order to keep it running at house capacity (the one exception might be HELLO DOLLY, whose lead role was probably easier to replace than either Max or Leo, given the comedic demands the roles present).
Not to mention that, unlike some of the longer running big spectacles, the appeal of THE PRODUCERS not only depends on the casting of the leads, but also, upon the audience enjoying a specific form of vaudeville-esque, broad, old school, Borscht belt American comedy (that probably doesn't translate well to non-English language tourists).
Perhaps I'm old fashioned, but I think a 6+ year run is fairly astounding for ANY show and just because a tiny handful of shows have lasted over a decade is no reason to place the achievements of THE PRODUCERS in a negative light.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 11/9/06 at 02:46 AM
SweMozArt
Leading Actor Joined: 7/31/06
#12re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 2:56am
Mel Brooks probably thinks it's funnier to have a new show on Broadway instead of having an old show that might turn in a meager profit with offensive stunt casting. The show itself has nothing to prove considering it's Tony record. Ok having The Producers on Broadway does not necessarily exlude having Frankenstein as well but there are few available theaters and the shows would compete for similar audiences. Frankenstein would probably be the death knell for the Producers even if it premiered at another theater.
Updated On: 11/9/06 at 02:56 AM
#13re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 2:56am
I couldn't agree with you more, Margo! Now it's hard to run a Broadway show for even just a year. Having many Tony Awards doesn't mean that it will run long. To keep audience in the theatre, you need new things (special effects, beautiful costumes and sets, etc.). However, these things tend to distract your focus to the basics (music, lyrics, book...). The Producers is actually quite a show that really emphasis on the basics, adding the fact that it's so American that only Americans will tend to watch the show. A "6-year" grade is already an achievement!
P.S. The movie version of The Producers was in once shown in Hong Kong International Film Festival. I've been there and I was surprised that it was a full house because musicals are not that popular in HK. After the showing, I overheard some of the audience and they just said, "I didn't expect that it was that funny!" Obviously, they went there just because it has Uma Thurman instead of a fan of the musical...
Somebody sit in my chair, and ruin my sleep, and make me aware of being alive!
Updated On: 11/9/06 at 02:56 AM
#14re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 8:31am
As little as the grosses are for THE PRODUCERS, I know some first timers who have gone, and have loved.
My first time was July '05. I had never heard anything from the show, and only knew a bit about the plot, and I loved it.
#15re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 9:24am
It *IS* time for the show to close. I saw it a month ago and it's in horrible shape. I saw it with the OBC and it was one of the best I'd seen. It's amazing how the same exact show can change so dramatically with different actors.
The show is indeed going to close next year, IMHO. They are trying to find "names" to put in the show to keep it alive...a la Mario Lopez who turned down a role...
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
#16re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 9:37am
Thank you, Margo 
"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES---
"THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS SHOW PEOPLE... WE'RE BORN EVERY NIGHT AT HALF HOUR CALL!"--- CURTAINS
#17re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 9:51ami'm probably the only one who feels this way, but i think shows stay on Broadway too long as it is...
#18re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 1:19pm
I saw THE PRODUCERS with a replacement cast and was underwhelmed to say the least. Supposedly it will close in the spring and YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN will open in the fall at the St. James. Still, it has had an excellent run.
I agree with Margo on all counts, and at age 65 am probably old for this board. The only advantage I have is a longer perspective than some. In the 1940's, 1950's and early 1960's even musicals with good if not great reviews would run for one complete season and be able to recoup the initial investment and produce a profit. Shows (original productions) with rave reviews had runs almost always under 3,000 performances. Examples:
OKLAHOMA-- 2,248 performances
KISS ME, KATE-- 1,077 performances
SOUTH PACIFIC-- 1,925 performances
THE KING AND I-- 1,246 performances
GUYS AND DOLLS-- 1,200 performances
THE MUSIC MAN-- 1,375 performances
MY FAIR LADY-- 2,717 performances
HELLO, DOLLY!-- 2,844 performances
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF(an exception)-- 3,242 performances
And certain well loved shows with great reviews ran for under 1,000 performances in their original productions. Some examples:
CAROUSEL-- 890 performances
FINIAN'S RAINBOW-- 725 performances
BRIGADOON-- 581 performances
GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES-- 740 Performances
WONDERFUL TOWN-- 559 performances
GYPSY-- 702 performances
WEST SIDE STORY--734 performances
The reason for the success of the mega-hits of today must be attributed to tourism, especially foreign tourism, whereas in the past the greater NYC area and the suburbs provided the core of the theatregoing public. Still, if young people go to these spectacular mega-hits there is the hope that they will continue their theatregoing throughout their life.
"Madam Rose...and her daughter...Gypsy!"
Updated On: 11/9/06 at 01:19 PM
#18re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 1:19pm
BUMP__SORRY
"Madam Rose...and her daughter...Gypsy!"
Updated On: 11/9/06 at 01:19 PM
#18re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 1:19pm
Bump--Sorry
"Madam Rose...and her daughter...Gypsy!"
Updated On: 11/9/06 at 01:19 PM
#21re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 1:21pm
BUMP--SORRY
"Madam Rose...and her daughter...Gypsy!"
Updated On: 11/9/06 at 01:21 PM
#22re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 1:21pm
BUMP SORRY
"Madam Rose...and her daughter...Gypsy!"
Updated On: 11/9/06 at 01:21 PM
#23re: so what's the deal with the Producers?
Posted: 11/9/06 at 1:36pmI toatally agree with everything Margo said. If The Producers were to close tommorrow, there would be no shame at all in it closing. A run of 5 to 6 years is excellent for any show, and not every show is going to run for 10+ years like Rent, BATB, and Phantom. I think it's time to let the show close so that a fresh new show (Young Frankenstein) can take it's place.
"You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!" - Betty Parris to Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible
purpleprince101
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
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