The Broadway show thread where we discuss all things Broadway

[Juney]

Have any of you seen "Once"? My friend wants us to get tickets for it, but I haven't heard anything about it.

Once is beautiful. It won 8 Tony Awards this year. I had never seen the movie, so I didn't have any expectations for the story line. I thought the show was wonderful and amazing and very emotional.

 

[Kitzka]

Once is beautiful. It won 8 Tony Awards this year. I had never seen the movie, so I didn't have any expectations for the story line. I thought the show was wonderful and amazing and very emotional.

I have not seen ONCE but every one of my coworkers that has. has spoken glowingly of it.

Lara

 

[tweedlemom]

Anyone ever take their kids to see Phantom? If so, how old were the kids and did they enjoy it?

 

[elgerber]

Anyone ever take their kids to see Phantom? If so, how old were the kids and did they enjoy it?

My dd saw it when she was 14 and she loved it, but it's pretty dark. I wouldn't take a kid much younger. She actually got more out of it than I did.

 

[JenM]

Have any of you seen "Once"? My friend wants us to get tickets for it, but I haven't heard anything about it.

Loved it. I saw a matinee, and when it was over I wanted to go back and see the evening performance just to see it again.

I loved the original movie, but thought the show was even better.

 

[LBIJim]

I am a huge U2 fan. After I saw Spiderman on Broadway, I wanted to punch Bono in the face.

The show is awful. I saw it before the revamp, but short of closing it down and forgetting it ever happened, nothing was going to fix that show.

The music doesn't work, the sets are overdone, and as a fan of Spiderman...that was just embarrassing.

It doesn't matter how many shows it's "outlived", the show is so expensive that it will have to run for years at capacity to even turn a profit. It plays heavily discounted and save for holidays, it's on TKTS nearly every night.

It may run for awhile, because the tourists love it, but it's really, really awful.

I haven't seen Spiderman and don't intend to. No interest. I admit I was hoping during its troubled previews that it would shut down without opening.

I suppose it's covering its weekly operating expenses, but I have no idea if it will ever turn a profit. The start-up costs were ridiculous. Some theatre expert said it would need to run at capacity at full price for two years before if becomes profitable. According to Playbill's weekly figures, its attendance varies between 80 to 95 per cent capacity and the only reason for even those attendance levels is due to heavy ticket discounting.

Jim

 

[GeorgiaH]

Have any of you seen "Once"? My friend wants us to get tickets for it, but I haven't heard anything about it.

Once is excellent. Great music, funny and very emotional. I saw it in July and I'm taking my daughter to go see it again next weekend.

 

[Juney]

the only reason for even those attendance levels is due to heavy ticket discounting.

Jim

That's the case with everything except Wicked, Lion King and BOM.

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[Kimberle]

Anyone ever take their kids to see Phantom? If so, how old were the kids and did they enjoy it?

I took my 13 yo a few weeks ago. She loved it.

 

[Art 1]

Anyone ever take their kids to see Phantom? If so, how old were the kids and did they enjoy it?

Very much so.

 

[JenM]

That's the case with everything except Wicked, Lion King and BOM.

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Except that Spiderman reportedly cost $75 million to produce, more than any other Broadway show in history. Between that and its weekly running costs, it's unlikely to make that money back and eventually close at a loss, since it relies so heavily on discounts.

 

[Juney]

Except that Spiderman reportedly cost $75 million to produce, more than any other Broadway show in history. Between that and its weekly running costs, it's unlikely to make that money back and eventually close at a loss, since it relies so heavily on discounts.

Not sure how that is applicable to my comment. Jim stated that Spiderman has 80-95% attendance because of deeply discounted tickets. I said that's the case with all of the Bway shows except the big 3. Even Once and Peter (who won the two big Tonys this year) are at TKTS at 50% discount almost everyday. Same with Annie which hasn't even been open a month.

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[JenM]

Not sure how that is applicable to my comment. Jim stated that Spiderman has 80-95% attendance because of deeply discounted tickets. I said that's the case with all of the Bway shows except the big 3. Even Once and Peter (who won the two big Tonys this year) are at TKTS at 50% discount almost everyday. Same with Annie which hasn't even been open a month.

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You only pulled the part of Jim's post about the attendance figures. His entire post was about whether or not Spiderman will ever make a profit, and that based on how it's getting those attendance levels (on discounts) that it most likely won't.

Spiderman's case, as far as making it's money back, isn't like all Broadway shows. It's the most expensive Broadway show of all time ($75 million!), and most likely has very high weekly running costs due to all of the hi-tech sets and stunt work (and probably insurance costs, considering all of the actors they've nearly killed so far). It's playing in a huge theater that they can't fill without relying on discounts, and as Jim pointed out in his post, this show needs to play at capacity for a few years before it can even break even.

Other shows can get by with discounted tickets because their budgets are much smaller. But Spiderman cost a fortune, it's going to be a long time before it ever becomes profitable.

 

[Juney]

You only pulled the part of Jim's post about the attendance figures. His entire post was about whether or not Spiderman will ever make a profit, and that based on how it's getting those attendance levels (on discounts) that it most likely won't.

Spiderman's case, as far as making it's money back, isn't like all Broadway shows. It's the most expensive Broadway show of all time ($75 million!), and most likely has very high weekly running costs due to all of the hi-tech sets and stunt work (and probably insurance costs, considering all of the actors they've nearly killed so far). It's playing in a huge theater that they can't fill without relying on discounts, and as Jim pointed out in his post, this show needs to play at capacity for a few years before it can even break even.

Other shows can get by with discounted tickets because their budgets are much smaller. But Spiderman cost a fortune, it's going to be a long time before it ever becomes profitable.

I pulled it out because THAT is the part of the post I was commenting on. LOL. All shows are deeply discounted except the big 3. That's all. Perhaps that is more a statement on the lack of affordability in this economy. *shrug*. Fortunately for Spiderman, they are filling the seats. I worry about shows like Peter. GREAT show, but just not attractive at a full ticket price. Or Annie who went 50% at TKTS one week after the hard opening. (too bad. I love Katie Finneran and I believe the show might be gone before I can make it to see her. . )

And your language is that of an alarmist. No one was "nearly killed". There were 4 accidents with Chris being the most injured. Interestingly enough, he returned to the show in the exact same role as soon as he was cleared. Regardless of controversy, I'm sure if it's still running I'll take my daughter back for a 4th time the next time we are up there.

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[JenM]

I pulled it out because THAT is the part of the post I was commenting on. LOL. All shows are deeply discounted except the big 3. That's all. Perhaps that is more a statement on the lack of affordability in this economy. *shrug*. Fortunately for Spiderman, they are filling the seats. I worry about shows like Peter. GREAT show, but just not attractive at a full ticket price. Or Annie who went 50% at TKTS one week after the hard opening. (too bad. I love Katie Finneran and I believe the show might be gone before I can make it to see her. . )

And your language is that of an alarmist. No one was "nearly killed". There were 4 accidents with Chris being the most injured. Interestingly enough, he returned to the show in the exact same role as soon as he was cleared. Regardless of controversy, I'm sure if it's still running I'll take my daughter back for a 4th time the next time we are up there.

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Obviously, you love the Spiderman show, and that's great. I hated it, but to each his own. The fact is that it had a well-documented troubled production - very serious injuries, budget problems, technical problems, awful reviews (even the revamped version only received mixed reviews) Jim was mentioning how it's budget and the way it's selling means it will probably won't make it's money back. You pulled just one part of that quote while leaving out the entire point of his post.

Peter and the Starcatcher (which I agree was really great) is closing in January. Annie just officially opened last night, and is playing in the way-too-big Palace, so it's going to lean heavily on discounts, especially with the mixed reviews it got and that it was advertised terribly, but it should hold up well enough at least until Matilda opens next year.

Again, it's great that you're a Spiderman fan. This is a fun thread because there are fans of all the shows here.

 

[crazymama]

Just a reminder for all you Broadway lovers that the cast of Newsies will be on Dancing With The Stars tonight. I believe they are doing "Seize The Day!" Yahoo!!!!! That cast blows my mind with their dance!!

 

[snapppyd]

Going to see Scandalous on Sunday. DH is a huge Carolee Carmelo fan, I got him 6th row center orchestra for our anniversary!

 

[Kimberle]

I saw Evita today. We had tickets to the 10am Radio City Christmas show. When it was over at 11:30, we made a impulse decision to walk over to the TKS booth and see what's available. I haven't done this in over 20 years. *LOL* Boy, am I glad we did! We got FRONT row seats to Evita. I was so close, I could have touched Ricky Martin if I'd wanted. It was an amazing show. I told my dd that it's a crapshoot what you get. Sometimes they hold good seats until the last minute in case a VIP wants to see the show. Oh, and the Christmas show was great as well! We had 4th row seats, which I purchased last spring.

 

[AllisonK]

I saw Evita today. We had tickets to the 10am Radio City Christmas show. When it was over at 11:30, we made a impulse decision to walk over to the TKS booth and see what's available. I haven't done this in over 20 years. *LOL* Boy, am I glad we did! We got FRONT row seats to Evita. I was so close, I could have touched Ricky Martin if I'd wanted. It was an amazing show. I told my dd that it's a crapshoot what you get. Sometimes they hold good seats until the last minute in case a VIP wants to see the show. Oh, and the Christmas show was great as well! We had 4th row seats, which I purchased last spring.

I was at Evita today, too! My friend was playing Eva today so I went to see her. I LOVED it!

I saw Annie last night with my mom and my friend and we all thought it was good. We loved Katie Finernan as Miss Hannigan!

 

[snapppyd]

We saw "Scandalous" today, loved it! I mean LOVED it! Carolee Carmello gave the performance of a lifetime, she was absolutely shining!

Here is a pic of me and Kathie Lee Gifford, she was so nice and really beautiful in person!

(Brad Pitt was on the back of the Playbill, unfortunately)