Why Do Musicals Open In The Fall/Summer?

[BwayDreamer00]

Posted: 3/12/19 at 1:25am

I was thinking about this earlier and it came across my mind, why do so many musicals open in the spring (near the Tony's) and then there's the random few who open in the fall when tourism is pretty low? Disregarding theater availability because of plays and their limited engagements, wouldn't it just make more sense for a show to open in the spring when its more crowded because if a show opens in the fall, won't it get 1. forgotten/brushed by with all of the new shows 2. not get a ton of money because new york isn't really bustling January 2nd-February 28th and 3. yes this has worked for example Jersey Boys and The Color Purple, but its also really failed like Big Fish, Head Over Heels, Honeymoon In Vegas, Scottsboro Boys, and probably more...its just interesting...

[haterobics]

Posted: 3/12/19 at 1:37am

Theaters have this weird thing where they don't like sitting vacant for months on end, so many shows jump into a theater when it is available. And if you don't take an available theater, another show will...

You could also use the reverse logic of yours, and say that if a show does open in the summer, after all the Tony losers are packing up their toys and going home, you're also the only new show available...

 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 3/12/19 at 7:46am

Three things:

1. Not every show opens with the expectation of Tony awards, so they don't have to plan their opening around them.

2. The summer is a time when lots of tourists are in town, so it only makes sense that they'd want to capitalize on that.

3. Recent history has shown that musicals can still be nominated, or even win Tonys even if they open in the summer or fall. Hamilton opened in the summer, and Dear Evan Hansen, The Band's Visit, and Gentleman's Guide all opened in the fall,

Updated On: 3/12/19 at 07:46 AM

[Wick3]

Posted: 3/12/19 at 9:04am

In addition to what others have said, the successful musicals that have opened in the summer/fall all have had sold-out off broadway runs beforehand (i.e. Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Band's Visit).  

 

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/12/19 at 9:06am

During the summer, you may also get actors from television and film to come in for limited runs they wouldn't otherwise be able to do during the late fall/early winter because of taping (usually in L.A).

Jim Parsons is a great example of this. He's spent quite a few summers out here over the last decade doing theatre in between taping seasons of THE BIG BANG THEORY. During those summers, we got him in THE NORMAL HEART (though I recognize that he was part of an ensemble), HARVEY, AN ACT OF GOD, and THE BOYS IN THE BAND (also an ensemble)