The Prom Extended?

[BWAY Baby2]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 11:37am

I am coming to NYC October 22- The Prom stops selling tickets right before that- do you think it might get extended? Or should I just book Tootsie?

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 11:54am

It is an open ended run but I am gonna assume that the release of a new block of tickets is gonna depend a LOT on what the Tony awards does for a sales boost. I would not be shocked to not see new dates released until after Tony awards because if it doesn't go well for them, they will likely come up before then.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 12:12pm

I would think THE PROM will post its closing notice the week after the Tonys. It's been limping through the season, and it would take A LOT to completely turn the sales around.

[Here I Am]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 12:19pm

Why do people think it’s not doing well? It hasn’t been on TDF since Ryan Murphy’s announcement weeks ago.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 12:21pm

Here I Am said: "Why do people think it’s not doing well? It hasn’t been on TDF since Ryan Murphy’s announcement weeks ago."

Umm, yes, it has been on TDF.  Just about every single day. It's there right now.

 

 

 

[Eliza2]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 12:26pm

Here I Am said: "Why do people think it’s not doing well? It hasn’t been on TDF since Ryan Murphy’s announcement weeks ago."

because it's only grossing about 50% of potential and has likely been hemorrhaging money all year.

Also, to the OP, keep in mind that just because a show releases a new block of tickets does not mean it's any indication of how well it's doing. A show could release a new block one week and then post a closing notice 2 weeks later. 

[Here I Am]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 12:26pm

JSquared2 said: "Here I Am said: "Why do people think it’s not doing well? It hasn’t been on TDF since Ryan Murphy’s announcement weeks ago."

Umm, yes, it has been on TDF. Just about every single day. It's there right now.

I do see it now, but I’ve checked many times recently when it wasn’t. It’s definitely not there every day. 



"

 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 12:31pm

It’s on TDF every week, if not every day.

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 12:31pm

Eliza2 said: "Here I Am said: "Why do people think it’s not doing well? It hasn’t been on TDF since Ryan Murphy’s announcement weeks ago."

because it's only grossing about 50% of potential and has likely been hemorrhaging money all year.

Also, to the OP, keep in mind that just because a show releases a new block of tickets does not mean it's any indication of how well it's doing. A show could release a new block one week and then post a closing notice 2 weeks later."

Cast-and-point, King Kong. That is one of the worst performing shows this season and yet they have tickets open until January 2020. Honestly, that show will be lucky if it makes it past Labor Day.

[Here I Am]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 12:33pm

Okay, relax. I haven’t seen it much, that’s all I’m saying. Why can’t we wish for a musical’s success instead of plotting and guessing when it’s gonna close?

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 12:37pm

Here I Am said: "Okay, relax. I haven’t seen it much, that’s all I’m saying. Why can’t we wish for a musical’s success instead of plotting and guessing when it’s gonna close?"

I mean no one here is wishing it closed, just being realistic since its grosses are only making half the money it could be for the entirety of its run. I love this show to death and wish it'd run forever but likely it won't. Also, OP wants to know if it will extend or not so thats sort of the point of this thread. 

[Here I Am]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 12:44pm

Mike Barrett said: "Here I Am said: "Okay, relax. I haven’t seen it much, that’s all I’m saying. Why can’t we wish for a musical’s success instead of plotting and guessing when it’s gonna close?"

I mean no one here is wishing it closed, just being realistic since its grosses are only making half the money it could be for the entirety of its run. I love this show to death and wish it'd run forever but likely it won't. Also, OP wants to know if it will extend or not so thats sort of the point of this thread."

Yeah, that’s true. It’s open-ended, though, so it wouldn’t be an extension, like what Roundabout does. It would just be a closing announcement. Hoping it lasts and gets some Tony love! I love it to death as well. 

 

[Eliza2]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 1:01pm

Here I Am said: "Okay, relax. I haven’t seen it much, that’s all I’m saying. Why can’t we wish for a musical’s success instead of plotting and guessing when it’s gonna close?"

I adored The Prom and would love nothing more than it to have a long life. But you asked why people thought it wasn't doing well, and I answered your question with fact. People think it's not doing well because financially, it's not. And unfortunately, that's what matters to keep a show running on Broadway.

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 1:03pm

I do wonder, does this show have a chance to win any of its noms? Id love for Brooks or Beth to win, but Im just feeling like they're constantly the #3 choice in every category. Respectable for sure, but I feel if anything Beth is the best chance for a win. Im thrilled with the nominations for this show, but I hope it wins something so its even more recognized! My guess is though, a closing for Labor Day. I plan to see it sometime soon again before the Tonys. 

[Kad]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 1:06pm

I would say it could feasibly win Best Book, but that's not a win that will get people to buy tickets to your show. 

[Here I Am]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 1:10pm

Kad said: "I would say it could feasibly win Best Book, but that's not a win that will get people to buy tickets to your show."

Yeah, that’s true. It could win that category, but you’re 100% right, unfortunately people don’t see a show because it won Best Book. I also think that Beth has a CHANCE. If it wasn’t for Block, I’d say Leavel has that win in the bag. THAT would sell some tickets. 

[dwwst12]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 1:30pm

Eliza2 said: "Here I Am said: "But you asked why people thought it wasn't doing well, and I answered your question with fact. People think it's not doing well because financially, it's not. And unfortunately, that's what matters to keep a show running on Broadway."

OK, but do you have any actual knowledge of its weekly running costs?  It's averaged $560,000 per week so far in 2019.  I've seen it said many times that 50% of potential gross -- exactly where the Prom has stayed -- is a good guess as to a musical's weekly nut.  How could they possibly be "hemorrhaging" money, as people here have said?  More likely they are breaking close to even.

 

Now, is that a common indicator of a 3-year run?  Of course not.  But the longer they stick around, the more press they get, the more Ryan Murphys come to see the show, and the more money they make on the back end via licensing, Netflix deals, whatever.

 

Also, as many TV shows have shown, sometimes lightning strikes after some period of time. Particularly in the internet age, you never know when some viral video will cause a thing to take off.  Not super likely, but why not stick around for a while -- at least until your landlord kicks you out.

 

[Eliza2]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 2:24pm

and by "breaking close to even," they are hemorrhaging the money from the initial investment that is not being paid back to the investors.

[Playbill_Trash]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 2:57pm

If the Ryan Murphy project is to rehearse a filmed version of the show on Netflix, that would only give people reason not to see the show live since they could easily watch it at home.

If they rehearse this on Netflix before the show closes, they’re shooting thebsekves in the foot.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 3:04pm

Playbill_Trash said: "If the Ryan Murphy project is to rehearse a filmed version of the show on Netflix, that would only give people reason not to see the show live since they could easily watch it at home.

If they rehearse this on Netflix before the show closes, they’re shooting thebsekves in the foot."

What do you mean by "rehearse a filmed version"? Are you saying you think this will be a behind the scenes/"making of"   -type documentary that Ryan Murphy is planning?  There's been nothing of that sort reported elsewhere.  

[Playbill_Trash]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 3:11pm

JSquared2 said: "Playbill_Trash said: "If the Ryan Murphy project is to rehearse a filmed version of the show on Netflix, that would only give people reason not to see the show live since they could easily watch it at home.

If they rehearse this on Netflix before the show closes, they’re shooting thebsekves in the foot."

What do you mean by "rehearse a filmed version"? Are you saying you think this will be a behind the scenes/"making of" -type documentary that Ryan Murphy is planning? There's been nothing of that sort reported elsewhere."

Completely a typo - my bad. I meant to say “release” a filmed version and it looks like my phone autocorrected the word, twice. 

If they release a filmed version before the show closes, that will only hinder ticket sales.

[dwwst12]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 3:18pm

Eliza2 said: "and by "breaking close to even," they are hemorrhaging the money from the initial investment that is not being paid back to the investors."

I get that.  But how does closing solve that problem?  Forgive me if I'm being dense, but it seems that staying open if you're treading water is the best hope in terms of paying that back.  Aside from eventual tour/licensing revenues, and I don't know how those are doled out...though I've read that many shows that don't recoup on Broadway ultimately make their money back and then some over a longer period of time.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 3:31pm

Not to take the metaphor too far --- but what happens when someone treads water for too long and can't keep it up? They drown.

The creative team, service providers, etc. have probably waived their weekly royalties/fees to keep it running though the Tonys; there have also been rumors that they received a Priority Loan (cash to keep it running). But waivers and priority loans can't continue forever, and there are other shows that need theaters.

Let's say $600K per week is the magic number of actual profit: they've only gone above 600 8 weeks since opening. And if below $550K is a loss, they've dipped below that for 12 weeks.

[BWAY Baby2]

Posted: 5/7/19 at 4:01pm

Thank you all so much for giving me some insight into if I should wait it out- I decided to just get the tix to Tootsie- and call it a day. The last performance they have tickets selling for is the week before I get to NY- but I do have Hadestown, Moulin Rouge and now Tootsie- so that is a pretty nice list. I do wish I could see The Prom though- I know I would love it!