What does Scott Rudin bring to a show?
What does Scott Rudin bring to a show?
JustAnotherNewYorker
Broadway Star Joined: 12/20/16
#1What does Scott Rudin bring to a show?
Posted: 6/24/17 at 3:17pm
With the recent talk (in the Andy Karl and in the Grosses threads) about GHD not doing well and possibly closing sooner rather than later, I've been thinking about the departure of Scott Rudin from Groundhog last June.
What exactly does Scott bring to a show? (apparently not everything, as can be seen from the early closing of Glass Menagerie). Are his changes in marketing? The show itself (the published reports on the GHD departure implied that he wanted changes before the NY transfer but the creatives resisted)? Casting? Cost cutting?
Wondering if anyone has any insight on what he actually does with each show, and also the actual disagreement in GHD, and whether Groundhog would have done better had those changes been made...?
#2What does Scott Rudin bring to a show?
Posted: 6/24/17 at 3:31pm
What a producer, Rudin or otherwise, "does with a show" is not some formula, and I venture to say that anyone who goes into the job with the intent of following one will be out of that job pretty quickly. That said, a producer (and Rudin perhaps in particular) brings his or her taste and gut instincts to the project (and sometimes they serve them well and sometimes they don't). They also bring drive, determination. connections, experience, marketing savvy, and the wherewithal to be wrong. In Rudin's case, all lubricated with a heavy dose of ego and sometimes hucksterism. In the case of GHD, my impression (and that's all it is) is that he didn't like not being the lead producer, especially when his input was not embraced as if he were. Would he have helped? No one will ever know.
Skimbleshanks2
Broadway Star Joined: 2/11/15
#3What does Scott Rudin bring to a show?
Posted: 6/24/17 at 3:38pm
I'm sure he wanted to make a number of tweaks... He is a smart producer and I bet they would've been good ones...
My friend asked me the other week if he would have replaced ANDY KARL.. I doubt it right?
"See that poster on the wall? Rocky Marciano." - Andy Karl as Rocky in 'ROCKY'
#4What does Scott Rudin bring to a show?
Posted: 6/24/17 at 3:38pm
Does anyone know what the running costs are for Groundhog Day? On paper, its grosses in recent weeks have looked pretty decent.
Clyde15
Leading Actor Joined: 5/9/15
#5What does Scott Rudin bring to a show?
Posted: 6/24/17 at 3:50pm
I imagine they must be pretty high, it's a huge cast, lots of tech, and the capitalization is $17.5 Million. They must need to have high operating costs in order to make back any money.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#6What does Scott Rudin bring to a show?
Posted: 6/24/17 at 4:04pm
Your ultimate question: would it be doing better is impossible to know. It is, after all, the road not taken. We can't know what the other production would look like without an alternative universe.
Maybe, maybe not. It's a crap shoot. Always.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#7What does Scott Rudin bring to a show?
Posted: 6/24/17 at 4:13pm
I know Scott Rudin usually does workshops, where the actors rehearse several months before previews begin. He also doesn't even hold any press previews nor a ton of opening night coverage.
#8What does Scott Rudin bring to a show?
Posted: 6/24/17 at 4:21pm
@Clyde I think you meant to say must need to have high grosses 
@Jeffrey huh?
Huss417
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#9What does Scott Rudin bring to a show?
Posted: 6/24/17 at 4:58pm
Last week I saw him with a cup from Starbucks. Not sure what was in the bag though.
"I hope your Fanny is bigger than my Peter."
Mary Martin to Ezio Pinza opening night of Fanny.
#10What does Scott Rudin bring to a show?
Posted: 6/24/17 at 6:34pm
Ex New York Times second stringer Theatre Critic.
