RIP Broadway 07/18/2019

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 7:50pm

Broadway's Dead, Long Live Broadway. 

Ok that's probably a bit dramatic, however, it seems to be a brutal few weeks and months ahead with all the show's posting closing notices. 

It also seems stark because I don't seem to recall a line up of shows waiting for Broadway Houses. 

What's your thoughts? Is this not unusual? The first signs of a recession? The changing tastes of Broadway audiences? 

Closing: Waitress, The Cher Show, Beautiful, Be More Chill, Pretty Woman, The Prom, King Lear, Frankie and Johnnie, King Kong, Gary: A Sequel. Am I missing any? 

Updated On: 7/17/19 at 07:50 PM

[inception]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 7:56pm

Good shows sell tickets. People get bored with old shows.

[Broadway Joe]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 7:56pm

Doesn't really matter to me, shows come and shows go. I only like seeing shows once so it works out better for me anyway.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 7:58pm

The theatres will all have new shows announcing in the coming days/ weeks. Sure, they may be empty for a bit, but I guarantee you that come spring 2020, every theatre will be occupied.

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:02pm

bwayphreak234 said: "The theatres will all have new shows announcing in the coming days/ weeks. Sure, they may be empty for a bit, but I guarantee you that come spring 2020, every theatre will be occupied."

I agree I don't see them being closed long just surprised I guess. Would this be normal or abnormal that is the rake of closings and the lack of shows announced to take over? 

 

[MollyJeanneMusic]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:03pm

Both of the long-running shows that announced their closing in the past few days - Waitress and Beautiful - have had impressive runs, but they were starting to fall below their weekly nut.  It was probably wise for both of them to quit while they were ahead, a thought which was, I will add, predicted by many people on the board.  (For the record, I chose not to believe them until a walk through Times Square in early June when I saw people in waitress uniforms selling tickets to the show in the street.)  The question will be - are there enough new productions to fill those theaters?  I could see The Secret Life of Bees, Mrs. Doubtfire, or Six eyeing a transfer on the musical front, but not much else.  (Mrs. Doubtfire might also want to wait until Tootsie has closed, so that it can hold a monopoly on the "straight man crossdressing" market, if that exists.)  I know the Stephen Sondheim Theatre isn't a Shubert, but at the same time, I would love to see Company transfer there, or maybe that rumored revival of Assassins that shows up on the chat board every few months - after all, what would be better at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre than a Stephen Sondheim show?

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:04pm

inception said: "Good shows sell tickets. People get bored with old shows."

Hello, Phantom, Les Mis (West End) Old Shows, Chicago (Broadway) definitely not a good show. 

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:09pm

MollyJeanneMusic said: "Both of the long-running shows that announced their closing in the past few days - Waitress and Beautiful - have had impressive runs, but they were starting to fall below their weekly nut. It was probably wise for both of them to quit while they were ahead, a thought which was, I will add, predicted by many people on the board. (For the record, I chose not to believe them until a walk through Times Square in early June when I saw people in waitress uniforms selling tickets to the show in the street.) The question will be - are there enough new productions to fill those theaters? I could see The Secret Life of Bees, Mrs. Doubtfire,or Six eyeing a transfer on the musical front, but not much else. (Mrs. Doubtfire might also want to wait until Tootsie has closed, so that it can hold a monopoly on the "straight man crossdressing" market, if that exists.) I know the Stephen Sondheim Theatre isn't a Shubert, but at the same time, I would love to see Company transfer there, or maybe that rumored revival of Assassins that shows up on the chat board every few months - after all, what would be better at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre than a Stephen Sondheim show?"

Didn't realise Secret Life of Bees was eyeing a transfer, is that a popular one? I'd love to see Six transfer, I'm in the UK and saw it and adored it. I just noticed it extended in the West End again till July 2021, it's in a tiny theatre so I was wondering would it not transfer to a bigger house. Would it fair well in a bigger house? 

Mrs Doubtfire will have a big fan base I'm sure from the source material being a loved family movie compared to Tootsie but I know what you mean. 

I enjoyed Company also, though I think most American's I've seen comment on it didn't like the changes. Would it be fair to say American audiences are purists compared to West End audiences? 

 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:16pm

 

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:17pm

Can we have that Bombshell/Smash musical now. And perhaps an End of the Rainbow revival to coincide with the movie. 

Also Everyone's Talking About Jamie should transfer with Bianca or Jinx or Ginger and Michelle Vissage with Judy Kuhn as Margaret. 

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:18pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "



"

And fair play to them. I saw it in London in it's early run and a UK tour. I saw it on Broadway in 2015 with Nene Leaks and it was painful. 

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:19pm

https://www.showbiz411.com/2019/07/17/broadway-carole-king-musical-beautiful-will-close-in-october-following-waitress-as-business-thins?fbclid=IwAR239JedjJQtTC-CiEzRyprgXTZOf3yqXtnotFesuBser-qm6SFuAYuovB0

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:22pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "https://www.showbiz411.com/2019/07/17/broadway-carole-king-musical-beautiful-will-close-in-october-following-waitress-as-business-thins?fbclid=IwAR239JedjJQtTC-CiEzRyprgXTZOf3yqXtnotFesuBser-qm6SFuAYuovB0"

That article seems to contradict itself saying non-movie tie ins like Beautiful are struggling but Waitress is closing too. 

 

[inception]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:24pm

Gizmo6 said: "inception said: "Good shows sell tickets. People get bored with old shows."

Hello, Phantom, Les Mis (West End) Old Shows, Chicago (Broadway) definitely not a good show."

Chicago is one of the greatest shows of all time.  I have to admit that I haven't seen it again live in 20 years, but song/book wise it is an almost perfect show. 

[MollyJeanneMusic]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:26pm

There's a difference between musicals like Waitress and The Band's Visit, which are based on movies but don't exist just as a cash grab, and musicals like Mean Girls and Frozen, which don't do as much with the source material but are still raking in money.

[MollyJeanneMusic]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:26pm

OH MY GOD MY FIRST DOUBLE POST THIS IS A MOMENTOUS OCCASION

Updated On: 7/17/19 at 08:26 PM

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:33pm

Gizmo6 said: "inception said: "Good shows sell tickets. People get bored with old shows."

Hello, Phantom, Les Mis (West End) Old Shows, Chicago (Broadway) definitely not a good show."

I HAVE to laugh at this ice cold take.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:36pm

Gizmo6 said: "Patti LuPone FANatic said: "



"

And fair play to them. I saw it in London in it's early run and a UK tour. I saw it on Broadway in 2015 with Nene Leaks and it was painful."

Well, not all casting choices turn out well.  But "Chicago's" business model is one reason that the show has lasted so long and will continue to do so.  I hope that lady from "Modern Family" (Sofia Vergara) returns as Mama Morton.  I've seen a video of her.  She's not a bad singer.

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:36pm

inception said: "Gizmo6 said: "inception said: "Good shows sell tickets. People get bored with old shows."

Hello, Phantom, Les Mis (West End) Old Shows, Chicago (Broadway) definitely not a good show."

Chicago is one of the greatest shows of all time. I have to admit that I haven't seen it again live in 20 years, but song/book wise it is an almost perfect show."

I 100% agree. I never forget seeing it in the West End as an 18 year old, Ruthie and Ute blew my mind. 

I saw a tour a few years after and nothing again until 2015, Nene Leaks as Mama was painful, the dancers seemed tired and it had lost a lot of the sex appeal which made it because I believe but open to correction some original cast are still there. 

There was nothing wrong with the material just the delivery but the thanksgiving audience ate it up, so it's only just my opinion and my companions who also was bitterly disappointed as it was her suggestion. We had been spoiled with Fun Home and King and I to name a few that trip. 

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:40pm

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "Gizmo6 said: "Patti LuPone FANatic said: "



"

And fair play to them. I saw it in London in it's early run and a UK tour. I saw it on Broadway in 2015 with Nene Leaks and it was painful."

Well, not all casting choices turn out well. But "Chicago's" business model is one reason that the show has lasted so long and will continue to do so. I hope that lady from "Modern Family" (Sofia Vergara) returns as Mama Morton. I've seen a video of her. She's not a bad singer."

Does the casting even matter? Does it matter if they are good or bad? Chicago is that rare unicorn, people want to see it. I just wish they'd have the opportunity to see the magic akin to Ute and Ruthie. 

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:44pm

I'm excited! Broadway needs some new fresh shows (or revivals).

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 8:49pm

MollyJeanneMusic said: "Both of the long-running shows that announced their closing in the past few days - Waitress and Beautiful - have had impressive runs, but they were starting to fall below their weekly nut. It was probably wise for both of them to quit while they were ahead, a thought which was, I will add, predicted by many people on the board. (For the record, I chose not to believe them until a walk through Times Square in early June when I saw people in waitress uniforms selling tickets to the show in the street.) 

Just for the record, people in Waitress costumes have been selling tickets in the street since the first year...it had nothing to do with it closing  If the weather has been nice, they are out there  

 

[MollyJeanneMusic]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 9:09pm

KathyNYC2 said: "MollyJeanneMusic said: "Both of the long-running shows that announced their closing in the past few days - Waitress and Beautiful - have had impressive runs, but they were starting to fall below their weekly nut. It was probably wise for both of them to quit while they were ahead, a thought which was, I will add, predicted by many people on the board. (For the record, I chose not to believe them until a walk through Times Square in early June when I saw people in waitress uniforms selling tickets to the show in the street.)

Justfor the record, people in Waitress costumes have been selling tickets in the street since the first year...it had nothing to do with it closing If the weather has been nice, they are out there

"

I hadn't realized that!  I don't usually walk around Times Square, but I had some time to kill between lunch and Hadestown.  I remember thinking it was a really cute way to advertise the show.  Thanks for the info!

[msmp]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 9:16pm

Gizmo6 said: "Patti LuPone FANatic said: "https://www.showbiz411.com/2019/07/17/broadway-carole-king-musical-beautiful-will-close-in-october-following-waitress-as-business-thins?fbclid=IwAR239JedjJQtTC-CiEzRyprgXTZOf3yqXtnotFesuBser-qm6SFuAYuovB0"

That article seems to contradict itself saying non-movie tie ins like Beautiful are struggling but Waitress is closing too.

"

I dunno if it's fair to call Waitress (the musical) a tie-in to Waitress (the movie). There was a big gap between the latter and the former timewise, and while the movie became a cult hit in some circles, it was an indy film that got very little press and awards attention and only grossed $22 million at the box office.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/17/19 at 9:17pm

When I've visited Times Square, , I've noticed the "Chicago" ladies (who I call Fosse Girls).  I even took a picture with them one time.