Boneheaded Producer Decisions

[Dallas Theatre Fan]

Posted: 8/14/17 at 10:30pm

Sometimes, like in The Great Comet, the producers can make some really boneheaded moves.

 The lead producer (the name escapes me) and Mel Brooks deciding to set the premium ticket price for Young Frankenstein at $470 (Or some number like that) before previews even start was kind of stupid.

 Harvey Weinstein doing a number from Finding Neverland on the Tonys before they even opened with a star that isn't even in the show was also pretty dumb and rubbed off the wrong way to people.

I'm drawling blanks on other boneheaded decisions so, what do y'all think were not the brightest moves some producers have made. 

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 8/14/17 at 11:19pm

In Transit's producers kept the show on Life Support throughout virtually it's entire run. It ran during Christmas freaking weekend, one of the most lucrative times of the year for Broadway, and couldn't even gross 500k. They should have cut their losses, posted a closing notice after a week like Amelie, and get this to amateur licensing as fast as they can so they can try to make some of their money back.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/14/17 at 11:38pm

That time when Ken Davenport did _____________

(fill in the blanks with ANYTHING he's ever done). 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 8/14/17 at 11:39pm

Dallas Theatre Fan said: "The lead producer (the name escapes me) and Mel Brooks deciding to set the premium ticket price for Young Frankenstein at $470 (Or some number like that) before previews even start was kind of stupid."

Robert F.X. Sillerman?

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 8/14/17 at 11:45pm

Shuffle Along in general.

[Back Row]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 12:02am

It seems to me that virtually everything Harvey Weinstein did with Finding Neverland would go into the Boneheaded Hall of Fame. The ham handed way he jettisoned one respected Broadway name after another virtually ensured that the knives would be out when the show opened, and that is exactly what happened. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 12:23am

Garth Drabinsky??

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 8:34am

May 1988 and though the Broadway musical adaptation of CARRIE was doing well in its advance box office ticket sales during its preview period, the German producers took the harsh reviews too literal and jumped the gun and chose to close the show a handful of days after the show opened.  Today producers would keep the puppy running as long as tickets are selling.  I'm sure it still would flop today but at least it would have lingered long enough for a cast recording, etc. 

[vampire musical]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 9:17am

Rebecca.   

 

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 9:28am

Setting On the Town in the Lyric Theater, which is a total barn and wrong for this delightful but intimate show. I absolutely adored that revival. But it had no chance in such a barn.

[Dallas Theatre Fan]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 11:25am

Call_me_jorge said: "Garth Drabinsky??

 

He knew exactly what he was doing. 

 

[JustAnotherNewYorker]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 11:29am

BrodyFosse123 said: "May 1988 and though the Broadway musical adaptation of CARRIE was doing well in its advance box office ticket sales during its preview period, the German producers took the harsh reviews too literal and jumped the gun and chose to close the show a handful of days after the show opened.  Today producers would keep the puppy running as long as tickets are selling.  I'm sure it still would flop today but at least it would have lingered long enough for a cast recording, etc. "

Nowadays they would have recorded the cast recording before the opening, so it wouldn't have mattered when they closed. 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 2:47pm

I'm glad that Harry Potter is going into the Lyric (FKA Ford Center), as I don't think it has EVER had a financially successful show in it except maybe 42nd Street like fifteen years ago. It's just too damn big, but Potter fans will finally fill it (probably for the next decade).

[bandit964]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 2:57pm

They've reported that the Lyric is shedding "1/5" of it's seats for Harry Potter.  

 

Is the Lyric a 1900 seat house or a 2000 seat house?  Either way, it'll be down to a 1520-1600 seat house after renovations.  

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 8/15/17 at 2:58pm

Hehe...the "Boneheaded Hall of Fame" should be a thing. Can we get a wall for it in Sardi's?