Broadway show closings

[sharonW]

Anyone have a list of broadway shows
that are closing in 2009?

 

[LoraJ]

I know Spring Awakening is.

 

[LuvOrlando]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/3691742/Broadway-hit-by-downturn.html

I saw this article the other day.

 

[MsAmerica]

Off the top of my head, Spring Awakening, Young Frankenstein, Spamalot, Grease, Gypsy-in March, Hairspray, Equus, All My Sons, Dividing the Estate and of course, White Christmas and The Rockette's Christmas show but they would close Jan 1 or so anyway.

A Revival of Guys and Dolls is opening in Feb but there will be a lot of empty theaters around Broadway......

MsA

 

[CapeCodTenor]

It's sad, isn't it? And MsAmerica, that sounds about like the list that I've heard.

 

[Imzadi]

It is sad. But, I hope that means the next round of Broadway shows will drop their ticket prices a more reasonable price. Nearly $150 a ticket is ridiculous.

I saw the original production of A Chorus Line with my drama club back around 1977 and the ticket was $25. Back then, that was a lot of money for a teen, when you factor in the added cost of the bus trip & meals & souvenirs.

In the current revival, the set isn't that much more elaborate, except for the finale number, but tickets are now $150/each.

Broadway used to be for the masses. Now, it's become such a pricey, elitist place. I still want to see The Lion King, and sit up front, to see the wonderful sets & costumes. But, it's a good portion of my rent for two of us to go.

 

[JenM]

13 is also closing in January. Equus ends in February.

I saw Spring Awakening last week and the theater was half-empty. The usher told us to sit wherever we wanted. It really sad - I saw the show when it first opened and there wasn't a seat left.

But I saw Jersey Boys on Wednesday and it was sold out. So there are still shows doing really well, like Wicked, Billy Elliot, The Lion King, etc...

They need to do something about their ticket prices. I love Broadway, but it's just too expensive to keep going. I saw Spring Awakening with a $40 rush ticket and Jersey Boys was a last-minute freebie, but I'm finding I have to skip a lot of shows unless I desperately want to see them. Even the TKTS booth has gotten too expensive.

 

[SamRoc]

I heard altogether that 13 Broadway shows are closing! thats awful.

 

[suzanna1066@comcast.]

Hopefully, this will force the powers that be to take a hard look a prices. There are not many shows I would be willing to shell out $150 for. Same with concerts, the prices are unbelievably insulting---not to mention the hoops you have to jump through to actually get a decent seat (pre-sales, etc.)

 

[Ohiodislover]

Hopefully, this will force the powers that be to take a hard look a prices. There are not many shows I would be willing to shell out $150 for. Same with concerts, the prices are unbelievably insulting---not to mention the hoops you have to jump through to actually get a decent seat (pre-sales, etc.)

Exactly

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Hope everyone remembers Broadway needs everyone's support now more than ever
Bypass wrapped gifts & spend time with your loved ones at the theater!

 

[sharonW]

13 is also closing in January. Equus ends in February.

I saw Spring Awakening last week and the theater was half-empty. The usher told us to sit wherever we wanted. It really sad - I saw the show when it first opened and there wasn't a seat left.

But I saw Jersey Boys on Wednesday and it was sold out. So there are still shows doing really well, like Wicked, Billy Elliot, The Lion King, etc...

They need to do something about their ticket prices. I love Broadway, but it's just too expensive to keep going. I saw Spring Awakening with a $40 rush ticket and Jersey Boys was a last-minute freebie, but I'm finding I have to skip a lot of shows unless I desperately want to see them. Even the TKTS booth has gotten too expensive.

JERSEY BOYS a FREEBIE How'd ya manage that???

 

[LoraJ]

Hopefully, this will force the powers that be to take a hard look a prices. There are not many shows I would be willing to shell out $150 for. Same with concerts, the prices are unbelievably insulting---not to mention the hoops you have to jump through to actually get a decent seat (pre-sales, etc.)

Very good point. When I lived in NYC in the theater district in 1993, I used to see Broadway shows all the time! Tickets were $50 - $60 then and you could get a good deal at TKTS. When the ticket prices went over $100 I hardly went at all. Now I just go when my parents come to town and are treating. I did see Spring Awakening twice last year because I got stage seats for $35.

If tickets were $75 or less, I think I would go a lot more.

 

[Imzadi]

Very good point. When I lived in NYC in the theater district in 1993, I used to see Broadway shows all the time! Tickets were $50 - $60 then and you could get a good deal at TKTS. When the ticket prices went over $100 I hardly went at all. Now I just go when my parents come to town and are treating. I did see Spring Awakening twice last year because I got stage seats for $35.

If tickets were $75 or less, I think I would go a lot more.

Me too! I used to go all the time when tickets were $65. I've seen the original Les Miserable three times. I live in the theatre district, but I don't want to be chasing around for deals on tickets over $100. (Although, I would like to know how to get the $40 rush tickets.)

When Spamalot first opened, if I wanted to get the $15 seats, I would have to camp out at the theatre at 7am and hoped I arrived early enough before the line cutoff. That's a ridiculous was to get a ticket!

I live within blocks of most of the Broadway theatres & don't really know what most of the deals are now. How will anyone, who doesn't live here or frequent forums which discuss this stuff find out about them? If I were them, planning a trip from out of town and I saw the normal ticket price, I'd say, "No way!"

The last two Broadway shows I went to I paid nearly $100 for, & only went because I know someone in the cast. Gone are the days of free comp tickets for them. Now, all they can get are the good house seats, (3rd row center,) but for $100 which is still an Ouch!

I missed seeing Ring of Fire, the Johnny Cash musical, even though certain nites my friend, who was understudying, got to play the lead, because I simply couldn't afford the $100 to go support him.

I'd love to go see Daniel Radcliffe grow up, stretch himself, and support his work. (No, I don't know him.) I'm sure other Harry Potter fans feel the same way, but not for $100. While this production looks interesting, and someone mentioned there are plenty of seats, I'd rather save the money for The Lion King, which I'm sure I'd like a lot more.

If both shows were more affordable, I'd see both.

 

[Planogirl]

Hopefully, this will force the powers that be to take a hard look a prices. There are not many shows I would be willing to shell out $150 for. Same with concerts, the prices are unbelievably insulting---not to mention the hoops you have to jump through to actually get a decent seat (pre-sales, etc.)

I wonder why so many of these entertainment venues decided to price themselves so high? I would think that they would make more money with people in the seats rather than charging this much and having half empty theaters.

 

[sharonW]

Me too! I used to go all the time when tickets were $65. I've seen the original Les Miserable three times. I live in the theatre district, but I don't want to be chasing around for deals on tickets over $100. (Although, I would like to know how to get the $40 rush tickets.)

When Spamalot first opened, if I wanted to get the $15 seats, I would have to camp out at the theatre at 7am and hoped I arrived early enough before the line cutoff. That's a ridiculous was to get a ticket!

I live within blocks of most of the Broadway theatres & don't really know what most of the deals are now. How will anyone, who doesn't live here or frequent forums which discuss this stuff find out about them? If I were them, planning a trip from out of town and I saw the normal ticket price, I'd say, "No way!"

The last two Broadway shows I went to I paid nearly $100 for, & only went because I know someone in the cast. Gone are the days of free comp tickets for them. Now, all they can get are the good house seats, (3rd row center,) but for $100 which is still an Ouch!

I missed seeing Ring of Fire, the Johnny Cash musical, even though certain nites my friend, who was understudying, got to play the lead, because I simply couldn't afford the $100 to go support him.

I'd love to go see Daniel Radcliffe grow up, stretch himself, and support his work. (No, I don't know him.) I'm sure other Harry Potter fans feel the same way, but not for $100. While this production looks interesting, and someone mentioned there are plenty of seats, I'd rather save the money for The Lion King, which I'm sure I'd like a lot more.

If both shows were more affordable, I'd see both.

Do you know anyone in Jersey Boys, I'd pay the price for those
house seats! Sure wish I had a connection!! I love close to the
stage seats, can't beat em!!

 

[Imzadi]

I forget which show it was, but the first show that priced itself over $100 set a bad precedent. Then everyone else started raising their prices.

Take Phantom of the Opera. I saw it the first few months after it opened. Tickets were $40 - $65. That was with Michael Crawford & Sarah Brightman, who both won the Tony awards. It's still at the same theatre, probably, pretty much the same set, lighting & production. NO stars in it, & the tickets are $130 now.

You can't tell me that jack up in price is all the real estate of the theatre or the higher pay union stage hands bargained for.

 

[LakeAriel]

Register with such sites as Playbill. (com) and most of these tickets are half what is mentioned here. I never pay full price.

 

[Imzadi]

Do you know anyone in Jersey Boys, I'd pay the price for those
house seats! Sure wish I had a connection!! I love close to the
stage seats, can't beat em!!

No, sorry. If I did, they would probably love to get tickets for people in the audience who'd really root particularly for them.


BTW, a little FYI: Say you are going to the show to see a particular star, whose name is on the marquis, above the title, like Daniel Radcliffe. If for some reason he doesn't appear that night, instead of seeing the show with his understudy, you CAN go to the box office to get a refund. This only works for stars whose name is on the marquis sign, above the title. They know this is the big draw in coming to see the show. Some people only come to see the show because of that star. At $100 a ticket, you bet people want their money back.

I remember when Usher (the singer,) unexpectedly dropped out of Chicago, (I think it was,) boy, I thought there were probably a lot of ticket returns that week.

 

[castleview]

Broadway show are not only too expensive to attend, they're SOOOOO expensive to stage that there are very few original plays out there. Steven Sondheim said it best when he said that Broadway is a "recycled" experience now. If I see one more so-so movie turned into a musical, I'm going to freak.