so what's the deal with the Producers?- Page 2

[AJ1985]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 1:29am

Yah but is everyone expecting lightning to strike twice? Another Mel Brooks show taken from one of his movies. No matter how good everyone will be like He should do something different.

Long runs: In my music theatre class we learned that until Oklahoma cam along a long run lasted one full season from September or October through may or June. Oklahoma was the first show to run 5 years. The My Fair Lady ran 6 years. Fiddler on the roof ran 8. Grease ran 9. The concept of shows running 10 years or more didn't start until the 1980s.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 2:12am

Mel may want to have two hit shows running at once. They could transfer the show to another theater and get more of a run out of it (and who says they wont get the boys back for one final hurrah? I would if I were them - at $600.00 a seat).

[WriteInNYC]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 3:26am

MargoChanning:
I absolutely agree with you. In "the old days" a run of 5 or 6 years was considered a phenomonal success--and it still is, in my book! But now, because of "Cats" and "Phantom," if a show doesn't break a record or gross hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide, it is considered a failure. Where did that logic come from? I have no idea if/when "The Producers" will close on Broadway, but it has had an amazing, profitable run and will no doubt run for years regionally.

[DirtyRottenGirl]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 4:25am

Mel Brooks has made it very clear that he loves the St. James. It is in my opinion that he is holding Producers on Broadway long enough so he can claim the St. James for the Young Frankenstein. Producers is suppose to close spring of 2007 and Young Frankenstein is going to open Fall of 2007.

[SweMozArt]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 9:19am

Well, the difference between Margos and Eatlasagnas (lol) perspectives is that Margo compares the Producers run to what was considered an exceptionally long run in the 50's and 60's and Eatlasagna compares it to the runs of the musicals from the 80's and 90's. With all due respect i think that Eatlasagnas comparison is the more logical and meaty one. This era is a better reference point than the in this respect not so "golden years" when measuring success. As someone said, before Oklahoma, hit musicals were running for only a year. That wouldn't be considered a long run today, not even, i assume, by those who possess a knowledge about Broadway history as vast as Margo:)

Now even if one compares the Producers to today's musicals it should be considered a longrun and a great commercial success. I agree with Margo in that respect. The show will most likely be among the five to ten longest running musicals of this decade. The fact that not every hit musical runs for decades should also benefit Broadway and make it a more vital and interesting place for local audiences.

If one want's to judge a shows popularity or commercial success, there are also better measures, such as the cumulated gross or profit, adjusted for inflation or the profit as a percentage of total costs. With the gross measure, the Producers are as of now probably a greater regional success then Rent (the difference in nominal terms should be great enough to be a difference in real terms as well.)

Cheers
Updated On: 11/10/06 at 09:19 AM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/10/06 at 11:17am

The deal with The producers is..... It is no longer producing

[MrsVampyre]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 11:46am

Part of the problem, is that there are not enough Broadway theatres available for the productions that are waiting for one.

The other is that the shows grosses are going down, and it's an expsensive show to put on, both in sets and casting.

Also, my understanding is that Mel Brooks wants the St. James for Young Frankistein, and the producers are trying to keep the theatre.

The better question to ask, in MHO, is why some the Disney drek is still playing, with no sign of any of them closing any time soon.

[ICEcreamAssassin]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 12:17pm

The movie was a flop and its time to let it go. Bring in YngFrank and get something new. I do agree that certain shows should just get out of broadway.. its all about money. Lets face it Rent has worn itself out with a bad movie and mediocre casting. Phantom, Batb.. just need to go.. we need new shows.

*end Rant*

[Jon]

Posted: 11/14/06 at 1:29pm

Don't you mean *end Rent*?