The Play That Goes Wrong Extends to July

[bdn223]

Congrats to all involved...I would expect a recoupment announcement in the coming weeks....

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/More-Chances-to-Catch-the-Disaster-PLAY-THAT-GOES-WRONG-Now-on-Sale-Through-July-1-20180103

[BroadwayConcierge]

Beyond thrilled that word of mouth is turning this show into a total hit. So well-deserving!

[Liza's Headband]

Correction: NOT a "hit" until it recoups its initial investment.... 

[BroadwayConcierge]

^lmao

[ACL2006]

Congrats! I think the extension is to get it to recoup. Hope it continues to do well.

[yankeefan7]

Let's all admit it, nobody expected it to extend to this July even with it being a cheap show to run.

[bdn223]

yankeefan7 said: "Let's all admit it, nobody expected it to extend to this July even with it being a cheap show to run."

True I was expecting an extension into June maybe, but I also don't think anybody expected this show to run past September, then see the light of 2018, and soon its first birthday,

 

[Liza's Headband]

BroadwayConcierge said: "^lmao"

 

Great contribution. Glad to see you continue bringing so much to this board, aside from your numerous Broadway preview threads. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

I wish you had considered a New Year’s resolution of being remotely pleasant instead of constantly insufferable and negative, Headband. Maybe 2019!

[Cat Guy]

"Hit" or not, I am really looking forward to seeing this play in June.

[jbird5]

Don’t forget they have many iterations of this show running all over the world. Not to mention TV specials. The thing’s a goldmine. They could afford to subsidize this production to keep a US/Broadway presence.

[Liza's Headband]

BroadwayConcierge said: "I wish you had considered a New Year’s resolution of being remotely pleasant instead of constantly insufferable and negative, Headband. Maybe 2019!"

 

Again failing to acknowledge you improperly used the word "hit."

[BroadwayConcierge]

Where is the scientific definition of “hit,” Mr. Sanctimonious? Also, it’s not even correct to say that “hit” refers only to shows that have recouped. On opening night when reviews for a show come out, if all of them are overwhelmingly positive, one might say that the show’s a hit.

[Liza's Headband]

In for-profit, commercial theatre, a "hit" is when a show has recouped its initial investment and is prepared to make a profit (hence the concept of for-profit) for its investors. Separate from commercial or financial hits, there are also critical hits. But you didn't make that clear. I don't even know if this show was a critical hit.

At the end of the day, it's a business. In the world of business, you need quantifiable metrics to gauge how closely you've met your goals or accomplished something. It's that simple. 

[JustAnotherNewYorker]

Liza's Headband said: "BroadwayConcierge said: "I wish you had considered a New Year’s resolution of being remotely pleasant instead of constantly insufferable and negative, Headband. Maybe 2019!"



Again failing to acknowledge you improperly used the word "hit.""

Where's the failure?

The quote was "Beyond thrilled that word of mouth is turning this show into a total hit."

Isn't the "turning" here the present continuous? It doesn't mean the show is already a "hit", just that we anticipate it will be and are currently making progress toward that goal. If say "my date is bringing me home" it doesn't imply I'm already there...

[UncleCharlie]

Liza's Headband said: "In for-profit, commercial theatre, a "hit" is when a show has recouped its initial investment and is prepared to make a profit (hence the concept of for-profit) for its investors. Separate from commercial or financial hits, there are also critical hits. But you didn't make that clear. I don't even know if this show was a critical hit.

At the end of the day, it's a business. In the world of business, you need quantifiable metrics to gauge how closely you've met your goals or accomplished something. It's that simple."

Look, we're not trying to cure cancer here. You are probably technically correct so I won't get into a discussion about that. But given that 80% of the people on this board seem to be completely unaware that plays without any singing or music even exist, would it be so wrong to let the few people that do enjoy plays and are fans of this one, a group in which I count myself, have 5 minutes of joy over the fact that after months of mixed financial results, it seems to finally be doing well? Is it really necessary to break people's balls about what the technical definition of "hit" is when all anyone is trying to do is express a little love for the show?

[AlfredDrakeII]

jbird5 said: "Don’t forget they have many iterations of this show running all over the world. Not to mention TV specials. The thing’s a goldmine. They could afford to subsidize this production to keep a US/Broadway presence."

This is key.

From the show's Wikipedia page:

"The Play That Goes Wrong has been translated and licensed for productions in over 20 other countries, namely China, Hungary, Poland, Spain, Greece, Israel, Scandinavia, France, Italy, Brazil, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Argentina, Uruguay, Turkey, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines and South Africa."

There is currently a long-running West End production, along with UK and Australian tours. This show and brand are literally beloved around the world. Seems fitting that producers would be confident the show could find an audience and run here.

[LizzieCurry]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/broadway-underdog-play-that-goes-wrong-finally-hits-the-right-note-1515100469

[bdn223]

LizzieCurry said: "https://www.wsj.com/articles/broadway-underdog-play-that-goes-wrong-finally-hits-the-right-note-1515100469"

 

Its behind a pay wall, can you post the text or summarize it?

[yankeefan7]

"But you didn't make that clear. I don't even know if this show was a critical hit."

Brantley raved about it so in most people's opinion that constitutes it as being a critical hit - lol.

[yankeefan7]

"Where's the failure?

The quote was "Beyond thrilled that word of mouth is turning this show into a total hit."

Isn't the "turning" here the present continuous? It doesn't mean the show is already a "hit", just that we anticipate it will be and are currently making progress toward that goal. If say "my date is bringing me home" it doesn't imply I'm already there..."

Excellent point and I agree totally.

[yankeefan7]

"Look, we're not trying to cure cancer here. You are probably technically correct so I won't get into a discussion about that. But given that 80% of the people on this board seem to be completely unaware that plays without any singing or music even exist, would it be so wrong to let the few people that do enjoy plays and are fans of this one, a group in which I count myself, have 5 minutes of joy over the fact that after months of mixed financial results, it seems to finally be doing well? Is it really necessary to break people's balls about what the technical definition of "hit" is when all anyone is trying to do is express a little love for the show?"

I agree with you. I think we should all rejoice that an original play (comedy) from England can do well enough to stay open for hopefully more than a year. I hope it does recoup and that by the time it closes we can say it was a hit.

[FrizzyAnya]

I’m glad to hear this, personally I really liked it. Do they still have those $30 rush tickets available at curtain?

[yankeefan7]

When I saw it last April, we literally got to the box office around 20-30 minutes before curtain and got $30 balcony seats.  

[Leaf Coneybear]

I went about 2 hours before curtain back in August and got second row rush seats for 30 dollars.