How Did Newsies Do So Well Out of the Gate?

[drewmangroup]

Posted: 3/20/12 at 7:36pm

I don't live in NYC, but follow Broadway pretty closely. (I'm posting here, aren't I?) I am wondering how Newsies did so well from day one and am interested to hear people's opinions. I don't see the source material or any star as a new draw. Plenty of great shows never do well and plenty you think will have appeal never quite find it. Glad to see a new musical doing so well. Interested to hear your comments.

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/20/12 at 7:40pm

Out of town try out, with great publicity and word of mouth surrounding it (e.g. Macy's parade). Worked wonders.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 3/20/12 at 7:48pm

1.) It's Disney
2.) It's coming off a well-received run at the Paper Mill, a theatre that many people who regularly go to Broadway go to or at least know of.
3.) The movie does have tremendous appeal to a lot of people in their 20s. I'm in my early 20s and Newsies was one of my favorite movies as a kid that actually began my interest in musical theatre. I know many others who feel the same way.
4.) Jeremy Jordan's definitely being talked about. No, he isn't a huge star that will draw in crowds yet but a lot of people like rising stars so they can say they saw him before ... and I think that definitely applies here.
5.) Alan Menken is known for his consistent, enjoyable, and popular scores. The Newsies movie score is popular and in my opinion, one of Menken's best.
6.) It's really the only explicitly family-oriented show opening this season. If I'm a tourist family that gets to see maybe one or two shows a year and I want to pick something new, no doubt in my mind I'd pick Newsies.
7.) Word of mouth has been consistently good. Yes, I know the show has some detractors here but the buzz has been overwhelmingly positive in other circles: Twitter, Facebook, and yes, the water cooler.
8.) It was announced as a limited run. Though I and just about everyone else here were expecting an extension, when tickets were initially released, I think there was a bit of a rush among some people to try to secure tickets.
9.) Did I mention that it's Disney? Despite a few flops (Tarzan and the Little Mermaid), most people associate Disney Theatrical with its hugely successful productions: The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Mary Poppins. The brand name gives people a sense of comfort as whether or not it's true, they expect a good value, high quality production and can be rest assured that it's squeaky clean and enjoyable for the kids.

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/20/12 at 7:51pm

It's really the only explicitly family-oriented show opening this season.

Well, except for the show that starts previews next week.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 3/20/12 at 7:55pm

Peter and the Starcatcher? You're right, I should have said musical. However, I think comparing the two is really apples and oranges. Peter has a much more intimate, artistic approach that I really doubt will play huge with the family crowd. I think just about every family will pick the big musical with the flashy production numbers and the big ensemble cast with songs they can hum along to.

[singtopher]

Posted: 3/20/12 at 8:32pm

Is there nudity in NICE WORK?

(I agree with you on your points. ^)

[blaxx]

Posted: 3/20/12 at 8:40pm

Is there nudity in NICE WORK?

?

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 3/20/12 at 10:21pm

Estelle Parsons flashes some hootage.

[Hank]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 9:29am

Of all the new shows coming up, Evita and Nice Work were the two that most interesed me, until now. After reading all these posts, Newsies jumped in to the top of my list, and I'll be there next week, followed by Once soon after.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 12:32pm

"Estelle Parsons flashes some hootage."

That would be the only thing to get me to see "Nice Work". The thought of watching Matthew Broderick whine through another performance makes this the show that I have the least interest in seeing.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/21/12 at 1:53pm

3.) The movie does have tremendous appeal to a lot of people in their 20s. I'm in my early 20s and Newsies was one of my favorite movies as a kid that actually began my interest in musical theatre. I know many others who feel the same way.

Don't forget the people who were pre-teens when the movie came out. I was 13 when the movie was released and my friends and I definitely had a Newsies faze. There's a lot of nostalgia there for those of us who were seeing it in the theatres 20 years ago. Has it really been 20 years? Wow.