Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 9/8/19- Page 2

[LxGstv]

Posted: 9/9/19 at 9:04pm

haterobics said: "LxGstv said: "Last time I saw the show I easily counted more than 20 empty seats."

More than 20? I'm sure a lot of shows would love to be plagued by such horrors..."

My comment was simply a questioning on the accuracy of the attendance numbers reported.

[singer234]

Posted: 9/9/19 at 9:07pm

I don’t think Mean Girls is in danger of closing by winter or even spring, but I also think the producers/Tina need to think about trying to get some serious names for this next round of replacements. If they can get some young tv or pop stars in as the Plastics/Janis, they can chug along Waitress style.

[haterobics]

Posted: 9/9/19 at 9:11pm

LxGstv said: "My comment was simply a questioning on the accuracy of the attendance numbers reported."

They are accurate, but they are based on tickets sold, not seats filled. Lots of empty seats were often sold.

[bdn223]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 11:29am

VintageSnarker said: "I wonder how much Cursed Child was hurt by Harry Potter/The Wizarding World taking a hit as a brand after the Fantastic Beasts sequel. I can't imagine it has to do with the replacement cast since the original cast were pretty unknown."

If I had to place my finger on it, Curse Child was hurt the mostly by the prolonged delay between the releasing of ticket blocks. The show sold 85% of tickets for the first year of its Broadway run in 24 hrs. Remember tickets initially went on sale October 2017, for  tickets February 2018-February 2019. Then the second block of tickets weren't released until September of 2019, for tickets February 2019-June 2019. The most recent release of tickets was in May for tickets July 2019-March 2020. Many had bought tickets over between 6-18 months before seeing the production, giving the show the idea of being an event you had to plan to see. The issue is that as the space between release of ticket blocks and actual performance date has shrunk, the idea of that planning 6 months out hasn't. The show is a full day, or 2 day commitment, which means you have to plan for it, its not the type of show you would decided to see a week or two out. Add to that they show has waited way too long to between releasing new ticket blocks, causing demand for tickets to die down so there is not longer that initial rush for tickets like there was for the initial release. The show should of released the 2nd block of tickets the day after the Tony Awards were it won 6 awards like every other big winner at the Tonys has done. The producers are clearly treating the production more like a tourist attraction rather then a  piece of theater. The even when the production touted its Tony wins in its marketing, there were no tickets available for the general public to buy.The show has lost its SRO status, which is hard to regain once lost. The only production that have been able to do that is The Lion King. Many forget that the production was hit hard by the 2008 recession, to the point where the show was actually offering discounts for weeks that weren't part of large scale discounts like Kids Night on Broadway and Broadway 2for1 Week (I know this isn't surprising for most shows, but it was as if Hamilton had all of a sudden gone on discount at the time). Its grosses had fallen to an average of 80% potential and 90% capacity through its 15th Anniversary in 2012, where as if by Disney Magic the show was able to regain momentum and regain its SRO status, and has been playing to capacity since. Their re-brand is clearly an attempt to try recreate Disney's wall to wall marketing blitz for The Lion King's 15th Anniversary, and could help. Only time will tell though.

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 11:40am

Do these weekly grosses include Merch sales? If they don't, I can see HP making a KILLING with their merchandise for the show. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 11:42am

Mike Barrett said: "Do these weekly grosses include Merch sales? If they don't, I can see HP making a KILLING with their merchandise for the show."

 

I believe that they do NOT include merch sales. 

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 12:48pm

Mike Barrett said: "Do these weekly grosses include Merch sales? If they don't, I can see HP making a KILLING with their merchandise for the show."

I can't speak for the Cursed Child agreement, as that merch is probably tied to the production in a very different way than most, but in general it's pretty standard for a production to be getting anywhere from 20% to 30% of the merchandise sales. Those agreements are not providing the huge boost to the show's bottom line that some people seem to be under the impression that they do.

And no, the merchandise sales, no matter the agreement, would not be included in the gross reports.

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 1:13pm

Got it, appreciate the explanation! 

 

Im not sure of Cursed Child specifics either, I just know Potter merch anywhere sells like hotcakes. Ive never seen so many people buying merchandise at a show than I did this one. Granted, its a bit of a "larger" show than most on Broadway but still, I garner they have to be making something off of that. A big reason why the Wizarding World at Universal does so well is Merch sales, and not just park tickets. Park ticket and Broadway tickets are much different I know, but the Potter brand is still the same.

[VotePeron]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 1:28pm

bdn223 said: "VintageSnarker said: "The show  [Cursed Child] has lost its SRO status, which is hard to regain once lost. The only productionthat have been able to do that is The Lion King. 

Cursed Child has never played a week below 100% capacity, and does not offer SRO.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 1:32pm

VotePeron said: "bdn223 said: "VintageSnarker said: "The show [Cursed Child] has lost its SRO status, which is hard to regain once lost. The only productionthat have been able to do that is The Lion King.

Cursed Child has never played a week below 100% capacity, and does not offer SRO."

 

I think they meant SRO in the more idiomatic, symbolic sense, as in: the kind of show that has a reputation for being impossible to get a seat to, and therefore is "standing room only." 

[magictodo123]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 3:15pm

little_sally said: "I know everyone is back to school/work this week so the falls were expected but should we be worried about Mean Girls?"

Huh. I'm beginning to wonder the same thing. That's quite a drop. And I wonder how much of a draw Renee Rapp will be...maybe it can float by on name for a while? We'll see! I think it might be a lull right now but maybe it'll pick up as the holidays approach. 

[devonian.t]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 3:16pm

The show is making the creative team VERY rich.  It is far from a vanity project!

[little_sally]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 3:32pm

magictodo123 said: "little_sally said: "I know everyone is back to school/work this week so the falls were expected but should we be worried about Mean Girls?"

Huh. I'm beginning to wonder the same thing. That's quite a drop. And I wonder how much of a draw Renee Rapp will be...maybe it can float by on name for a while? We'll see! I think it might be a lull right now but maybe it'll pick up as the holidays approach."

Is she any sort of name? I feel like if they wanted to, they could cast a Disney or Nickelodeon star for one of the roles--someone like Dove Cameron.

[bdn223]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 5:06pm

little_sally said: "magictodo123 said: "little_sally said: "I know everyone is back to school/work this week so the falls were expected but should we be worried about Mean Girls?"

Huh. I'm beginning to wonder the same thing. That's quite a drop. And I wonder how much of a draw Renee Rapp will be...maybe it can float by on name for a while? We'll see! I think it might be a lull right now but maybe it'll pick up as the holidays approach."

Is she any sort of name? I feel like if they wanted to, they could cast a Disney or Nickelodeon star for one of the roles--someone like Dove Cameron."

They can also throw in the "former women" of SNL in the Various Adult Women role. Its a very easy show to stunt cast, and with Tina and Lorne's connections, they can probably actually get name talent.

[little_sally]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 5:19pm

bdn223 said: "little_sally said: "magictodo123 said: "little_sally said: "I know everyone is back to school/work this week so the falls were expected but should we be worried about Mean Girls?"

Huh. I'm beginning to wonder the same thing. That's quite a drop. And I wonder how much of a draw Renee Rapp will be...maybe it can float by on name for a while? We'll see! I think it might be a lull right now but maybe it'll pick up as the holidays approach."

Is she any sort of name? I feel like if they wanted to, they could cast a Disney or Nickelodeon star for one of the roles--someone like Dove Cameron."

They can also throw in the "former women" of SNL in the Various Adult Womenrole. Its a very easy show to stunt cast, and with Tina and Lorne's connections, they can probably actually get name talent."

I am not sure if she has any cache anymore but it would be fun to see Ana Gasteyer in the role.

[52889j]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 5:38pm

bdn223 said: "little_sally said: "magictodo123 said: "little_sally said: "I know everyone is back to school/work this week so the falls were expected but should we be worried about Mean Girls?"

Huh. I'm beginning to wonder the same thing. That's quite a drop. And I wonder how much of a draw Renee Rapp will be...maybe it can float by on name for a while? We'll see! I think it might be a lull right now but maybe it'll pick up as the holidays approach."

Is she any sort of name? I feel like if they wanted to, they could cast a Disney or Nickelodeon star for one of the roles--someone like Dove Cameron."

They can also throw in the "former women" of SNL in the Various Adult Womenrole. Its a very easy show to stunt cast, and with Tina and Lorne's connections, they can probably actually get name talent."

I'd consider seeing it again for Maya Rudolph.

[little_sally]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 6:05pm

52889j said: "bdn223 said: "little_sally said: "magictodo123 said: "little_sally said: "I know everyone is back to school/work this week so the falls were expected but should we be worried about Mean Girls?"

Huh. I'm beginning to wonder the same thing. That's quite a drop. And I wonder how much of a draw Renee Rapp will be...maybe it can float by on name for a while? We'll see! I think it might be a lull right now but maybe it'll pick up as the holidays approach."

Is she any sort of name? I feel like if they wanted to, they could cast a Disney or Nickelodeon star for one of the roles--someone like Dove Cameron."

They can also throw in the "former women" of SNL in the Various Adult Womenrole. Its a very easy show to stunt cast, and with Tina and Lorne's connections, they can probably actually get name talent."

I'd consider seeing it again for Maya Rudolph."

Ohh, same, and I think she'd be a nice draw. I still have fantasies of a Mame revival with her.

[singer234]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 6:15pm

Ana Gasteyer, Rachel Dratch, Maya Rudolph, Cheri Oteri, Molly Shannon, and Kate McKinnon should all shuffle thru this- it would be genius. Even if just for the shortest while.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 6:15pm

I’m not sure if people on here would consider her a name, but the obvious choice, for me, for the adult woman role would be Ana Gasteyer

[singer234]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 6:18pm

Not to add another SNL woman into the mix- but that’s what I’m doing. Can Cecily Strong sing? I would pay good money to see her play Mrs. George, even for a grand total of 5 minutes. When Kate Rockwell (probably) leaves this year, I could so see Dove Cameron replacing her, even if just for a limited run. From what I hear she was in deep callbacks from the very beginning for both Karen and Regina (could be fake news).

Updated On: 9/10/19 at 06:18 PM

[Jarethan]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 6:49pm

bdn223 said: "VintageSnarker said: "I wonder how much Cursed Child was hurt by Harry Potter/The Wizarding World taking a hit as a brand after the Fantastic Beasts sequel. I can't imagine it has to do with the replacement cast since the original cast were pretty unknown."

If I had to place my finger on it,Curse Childwas hurt the mostly by the prolonged delay between the releasing of ticket blocks. The show sold 85% of tickets for the first year of its Broadwayrun in 24 hrs. Remember tickets initially went on sale October 2017, for tickets February 2018-February 2019. Then the second block of tickets weren't released until September of 2019, for tickets February 2019-June 2019. The most recent release of tickets was in May for tickets July 2019-March 2020. Many had bought tickets over between 6-18 months before seeing the production, giving the show the idea of being an event you had to plan to see. The issue is that as the space between release of ticket blocks and actual performance date has shrunk, the idea of that planning 6 months out hasn't. The show is a full day, or 2 day commitment, which means you have to plan for it, its not the type of show you would decided to see a week or two out. Add to that they show has waited way too long to between releasingnew ticket blocks, causing demand for tickets to die down so there is not longer that initial rush for tickets like there was for the initial release. The show should of released the 2nd block of tickets the day after the Tony Awards were it won 6 awards like every other big winner at the Tonys has done. The producers are clearly treating the production more like a tourist attractionrather then a piece of theater. The even when the production touted its Tony wins in its marketing, there were no tickets available for the general public to buy.The show has lost its SRO status, which is hard to regain once lost. The only productionthat have been able to do that is The Lion King. Many forget that the production was hit hard by the 2008 recession, to the point where the show was actually offering discountsfor weeks that weren't part of large scale discounts like Kids Night on Broadway and Broadway 2for1 Week (I know this isn't surprising for most shows, but it was as if Hamiltonhad all of a sudden gone on discount at the time). Its grosses had fallen to an average of 80% potential and 90% capacity through its 15th Anniversary in 2012, where as if by Disney Magic the show was able to regain momentum and regain its SRO status, and has been playing to capacity since. Their re-brand is clearly an attempt to try recreate Disney's wall to wall marketing blitz forThe Lion King's15th Anniversary, and could help. Only time will tell though."

 

I think the real reason is likely related to the need to see and pay for two performances.  I have not purchased tickets yet, and one of the reasons (besides not being obsessed with HP AND needing to use 2 slots in my 2-3 times per year NYC visits) is because I have not been able to find good seats that would not but me back almost $800 for my wife and I to see it.  I can afford to pay, but I don't have enough interest to be willing to spend that much.

Since HP is a show that is certainly hoping to get a lot of family business, two performances becomes an issue for a lot of those families.

I know everyone is talking about better prices, but I don't really see it, although the ticket prices are clearly not as bad as they were a year ago.  They are still not chea, unless you  are willing to sit in the second balcony of that barn.  I will probably wait until I see discounts offered.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 9/10/19 at 7:05pm

Jarethan said: "They are still not chea, unless you are willing to sit in the second balcony of that barn."

 

A major component of the Lyric's renovation was to make the theatre feel much more intimate. Plus, the show is staged in such a way that you can sit very far away and still have a great view.