will Spelling Bee close soon?

#1

will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/12/07 at 4:31pm

does anyone see Spelling Bee closing in the near future? it consistently one of the lowest grossing musicals and the stunt casting they're doing isn't A-list celebs. I imagine the operating costs are low but I imagine the producers could make a lot more money off touring/regional/community productions of the show, since it will appeal to those theatres as well. any thoughts?

#2

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/12/07 at 4:34pm

You realize that the seating capacity at CitC isn't as high as most other musicals on the boards right? You can't just look at grosses to determine how a show is doing...

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#3

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/12/07 at 4:35pm

But they're also not selling out the house, craig.

#4

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/12/07 at 4:37pm

Meh. We'll see. Personally, I feel it's run its course

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#5

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/12/07 at 4:41pm

Stunt Casting? What stunt casting are you talking about? Mo Rocca? A working actor and perfectly suited for the part.

#6

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/12/07 at 4:42pm

A somewhat famous working actor... No one said stunt casting had to be bad.

#7

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/12/07 at 4:43pm

And we use the word "famous" liberally... Though everyone knows how much he loves the 80's

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#8

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/12/07 at 5:13pm

Maybe s/he is referring to Darrell Hammond.

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#9

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/12/07 at 5:18pm

Who?

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#10

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/12/07 at 5:21pm

I imagine the producers could make a lot more money off touring/regional/community productions of the show, since it will appeal to those theatres as well.

Don't they have a tour? They've also had SF, Boston, and Chicago productions.

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#11

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/12/07 at 5:21pm

Spelling Bee only needs a relatively small audience to break-even (I believe it's less than half the house). The show is doing good business so I don't think it is in danger of closing before the end of summer. I don't believe any of the show's current cast are making much more than Equity minimum, and they recently eliminated the lottery, so they are definitely saving money. Plus, there is no show that currently is looking at Circle in the Square. If it closes, I would guess it would close early next year. Personally, they should stunt cast the guest Spellers once or twice a week on the slower days. That would bring in more people.

#12

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/12/07 at 5:33pm

1.) Don't worry about the producers making money. They will be just fine.

2.) Mo Rocca is not all that "famous" outside this message board.

3.) The show is touring all around the country.

4.) Is english for "quatro".

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#13

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/12/07 at 6:16pm

In Chicago, they added on shows for an 'extended engagement.'
My common sense is telling me that they didn't just do that to fill up the Drury Lane Theatre, but because they had a demand for tickets for the show. Spelling Bee will survive...for a while at least.

#14

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/12/07 at 6:19pm

I hope not, but it has had a pretty good life.

#15

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/12/07 at 7:11pm

I'm guessing this winter-next spring.

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#16

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/13/07 at 12:28am

It's a great show, but it has diminishing returns. I believe the current B'way cast is supposed to be there until at least this winter.

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#17

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/13/07 at 12:46am

DancinThruLife you spelled 4 incorrectly.

In spanish it's cuatro
In italian it's quattro

So you put a q instead of a c or you missed a t; you pick.

#18

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/13/07 at 12:51am

Spelling Bee failed in Boston and was gone early. The theatre was full 10% of the time, even on adult night.

I know because I was there and saw it a bunch of times.

I was sad when it left but it was just not bringing in a croud.

#19

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/13/07 at 12:56am

The theatre was full 10% of the time, even on adult night.

That's a really interesting contrast to SF -- I went to four adult nights and two of those were sold out; two were almost.

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Updated On: 6/13/07 at 12:56 AM

#20

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/13/07 at 3:43am

I loved Spelling Bee, but I thought it was just the right price at the $25 lottery tickets we won. I'm still surprised it's lasted this long, because it's not a $100 ticket show.

I predict it'll be gone by Tony time next year. A fine and proud run for this great little show.

#21

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/13/07 at 4:23am

Plus, there is no show that currently is looking at Circle in the Square.

That's not what I hear.

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#22

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/13/07 at 7:20am

"Plus, there is no show that currently is looking at Circle in the Square."

I could see In the Heights wanting CITS...but Spelling Bee won't close that soon.

It's doing fine now. Don't jinx it.

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#23

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/13/07 at 7:31am

Thanks BOQ!

Wait til you see how I spell "sinko", which we all know is Spanish for "5".

Spelling Bee threads are my favorite.
Oh...that, and... SMILING!

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"To love another person is to see the face of God!"

#24

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/13/07 at 9:04am

Dancin Thru Life,

In Portuguese it's quatro.

#25

re: will Spelling Bee close soon?

Posted: 6/13/07 at 9:11am

DirtyRotten - the Bee in Boston did not close early, it closed at the end of its engagement and was even extended once. Sure, it wasn't full most of the time, but during the beginning and the end of the run it had many times when it was either full or close to it. Overall, it did well.