Motown has 16 million dollar box office advance.

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 7:40pm

has there ever been a show that had more sales pre-opening?

this is definitely going to be the next Mamma Mia.




Motown is rocking the box office with 16 million advance Updated On: 4/12/13 at 07:40 PM

[Playbilly]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 7:41pm

Sugarpie honeybunch!

Posted: 4/12/13 at 7:53pm

MOTOWN is a huge,sell-able brand name. People know it, know exactly what to expect and will pay for it.

Or at least they think they do. In my years selling records I had all kinds of people who wanted "Motown CDS" that had great Motown songs like "When a Man Loves a Woman" and "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" and, of course, neither of those songs are on Motown.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 7:58pm

It doesn't matter if this show gets good reviews or a single Tony nomination.

It will run for many years.

Witness the power of instant brand recognition (in the best of ways), plus a huge marketing campaign, and a man who knew from the beginning how to spin straw into gold.

That's entertainment.

[rhdery]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 8:00pm

Awesome. Congrats to the team!

[Jonwo]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 8:29pm

I imagine a tour and The West End is on the cards, wonder if it'll hurt other jukebox musicals currently running on Broadway.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 9:20pm

I don't think this would do well at all in the West End even though they do like some trash.

[Playbilly]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 9:38pm

Motown music is beloved in England. Diana Ross, for instance, is more more revered there than here.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 10:07pm

It looks like such an ugly show. I'm so surprised it's doing well. Oh well.

[loliveve]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 10:12pm

Just the name alone is going to bring people to the theatre who normally wouldn't go to the theatre.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 10:21pm

Really? I just never understood that. Instead of buying a $10 CD of the music you're going to buy a $120 ticket to sit and watch other people sing the songs?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 10:31pm

Instead of buying a $10 CD of the music you're going to buy a $120 ticket to sit and watch other people sing the songs?

Yes, I'm sure that is all there is to the show. It's exactly like listening to a CD, but with other people singing. Why would anyone see the revival of Chicago if they have the Original Cast recording at home? It's madness!

I don't think this would do well at all in the West End even though they do like some trash.

This is totally West End-able. With long runs of Buddy, The Rat Pack, Jersey Boys, Thriller: Live, Dreamboats and Petticoats, Mamma Mia and We Will Rock You, I think this may be a slam dunk.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 10:31pm

"Diana Ross, for instance, is more more revered there than here."


There's a reason her last tour bombed...

[Rentfan931]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 10:33pm

Congrats to the whole team. Hope it has a long run.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 10:41pm

Oh right. Sorry, Mister Matt. I forgot to add there's some step touching and some crappy sets.

[loliveve]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 10:55pm

Yes, I think it brings a lot of people to the theatre who don't normally go. First of all, it's pretty rare to see so many black people in the theatre (just being honest). Second, I heard *tons* of comments about how this was the first Broadway show people were seeing, or the first show they were seeing in years, and the Motown name is what brought them there.

Updated On: 4/12/13 at 10:55 PM

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 11:05pm

Why does Riedel think that Hands on a Hardbody is going to get a Best Musical nomination. iIt couldn't sell tickets, closed after a few weeks, was felt to be a total bore by a good portion of the people who did see it (judging from many comments on the boards among other things) and got mixed reviews at best

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 11:14pm

I forgot to add there's some step touching and some crappy sets.

You saw it when?

[Jonwo]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 11:18pm

There was a Motown musical in the UK and in the West End called Dancing in the Streets back in the 2000s so it'll interesting if Motown does come over, I'm sure it will.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 11:20pm

This is definitely the next Mamma Mia and Jersey Boys combined. It is perfect for tourists who want to know what they're getting for their $120. They know the songs by heart and will love watching them performed regardless of plot or "drama." There's a reason those shows like Smokey Joe's Cafe ran for years.

There were so many movie to musical adaptations that wanted to use these songs (Sister Act, First Wives Club, etc) but the higher ups at Motown held their cards until they had their own show. Congrats to them. This show is cheap-ish to run (no names, no huge sets, etc) and will go for years and years.

[Playbilly]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 11:28pm

Mr.Matt, totally agree. Diva, the reason people like jukebox shows is to enjoy the old tunes. An act's tour receipts doesn't reflect audience appeal.

[bobs3]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 11:38pm

"has there ever been a show that had more sales pre-opening? "

In 1991, MISS SAIGON opened with a $30 million advance. I believe that is still the record.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 4/12/13 at 11:57pm

How much was the investment? I mean don't you think 16 million could cover that already?

[Zingingtobway]

Posted: 4/13/13 at 3:56am

I agree it will be a hit on the west end. Let's not forget a few years back the Motown revue Dancing in The Street was a hit.

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 4/13/13 at 5:27am

Dancing in the streets did well as a filler type of show but was often sold at discount more than a sell out at top price