Is Tootsie Closing Next?

[BWAY Baby2]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 9:37am

Not sure what the weekly nut is- but these numbers do not look good or bode well for the future: 

TOOTSIEMARQUIS THEATRE$  835,622.60   $1,488,018.00-

650K below potential gross is probably unsustainable.

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 9:39am

Probably come January yes but I wouldn't expect another show to close this fall. 

[magictodo123]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 9:41am

Numbers wise it certainly does seem like a possibility. I know many people who want that more than anything. And it makes me mad. I understand the controversy people want to stir up with that show, but wishing a closing on it wishes hundreds of people out of work. Whatever your personal feelings are, you're completely ignoring that these people have bills to pay, and wishing a closing on them, even if you hate the show, is so not okay. People don't automatically go from one show to the next. So you're wishing unemployment on them is cruel. 

 

That said, it is possible given the other recent closing announcements. 

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 9:49am

magictodo123 said: "Numbers wise it certainly does seem like a possibility. I know many people who want that more than anything. And it makes me mad. I understand the controversy people want to stir up with that show, but wishing a closing on it wishes hundreds of people out of work. Whatever your personal feelings are, you're completely ignoring that these people have bills to pay, and wishing a closing on them, even if you hate the show, is so not okay. People don't automatically go from one show to the next. So you're wishing unemployment on them is cruel.



That said, it is possible given the other recent closing announcements."

The OP said nothing about wishing the show's closing. Why you felt the need to bring that into the conversation and get on your soapbox again is beyond me.

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 9:50am

I would say it will be one of those early New Years closures.

It really is quite sad to see all these shows closing. And on top of that it seems that there really isn’t any shows waiting in the wings for a theatre. I mean Diana, titanic, mrs doubtfire are all assumed for broadway. But no announcement

[Mike Barrett]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 9:54am

magictodo123 said: "Numbers wise it certainly does seem like a possibility. I know many people who want that more than anything. And it makes me mad. I understand the controversy people want to stir up with that show, but wishing a closing on it wishes hundreds of people out of work. Whatever your personal feelings are, you're completely ignoring that these people have bills to pay, and wishing a closing on them, even if you hate the show, is so not okay. People don't automatically go from one show to the next. So you're wishing unemployment on them is cruel.



That said, it is possible given the other recent closing announcements."

No one said anything about wishing it was closed in this thread except for you. No need to bring it up. 

 

Biggest issue with this show is its in a massive theatre. Im not a math wiz but I wonder if they could hypothetically sell out the theatre at around $80-$85 per ticket I wonder if that'd help them sustain longer. Idk though, we shall see. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 9:59am

At this point, they could be thinking if a third of theaters are vacant soon, we may be able to get some of that tourist dollar just because they want to see something?

[Huss417]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 10:10am

Just look at Ticketmaster for this weekend Saturday and Sunday. Amazed at the amount of seats available. With the temperatures being in the high 90s low 100s not sure how many people will be in the TKTS line.

Updated On: 7/18/19 at 10:10 AM

[Javi]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 10:14am

I have a ticket for late September and I just checked out the seating chart on Ticketmaster for that date and not many seats have been sold.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 10:26am

I think they'd be smart to hang on for a bit. There's so much closing, they're bound to get some of that business. They need a new marketing push.

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 11:28am

"It really is quite sad to see all these shows closing. And on top of that it seems that there really isn’t any shows waiting in the wings for a theatre. I mean Diana, titanic, mrs doubtfire are all assumed for broadway. But no announcement"

I agree but at least shows like "Beautiful" and "Waitress" had pretty good run.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 1:06pm

Not getting the Tony really hurt this show.

But regardlessyou would’ve thought Robert Horne Tony winning book and Santino Fontana Tony award winning performance would’ve brought a lot more people in.

[sppunk]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 1:25pm

IdinaBellFoster said: "I think they'd be smart to hang on for a bit. There's so much closing, they're bound to get some of that business. They need a new marketing push."

The show also needs a new book and score imo  

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 2:02pm

sppunk said: "IdinaBellFoster said: "I think they'd be smart to hang on for a bit. There's so much closing, they're bound to get some of that business. They need a new marketing push."

The show also needs a new book and score imo"

I'll give you the score, but working within the confines of the story as it, the book is pretty perfect.  

[Gizmo6]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 2:30pm

I don't understand the hate for this show you talk about. 

As a queer theatre practitioner/academic I champion trans rights but this phenomena to rewrite history is misguided. I adore Pose but they wrote out Drag Queens yet Drag Queens were a huge part of Ball Culture, Pepper LaBeija was a Drag Queen. I'm all for representation of transgender people but not at the expense of others. Viewing the Ball Culture through a modern lens of transgender understanding is wrong. 

It annoys me to see Marsha P Johnson referred to as a transgender woman. Marsha refereed to herself as a transvestite, let her self-identify. Lets respect the identity people chose to identify as, isn't that what we fought for all along? 

Also this need to write out homophobic or transphobic characters or even the domestic violence in Carousel. Will we not be allowed stage Bent by Martin Sherman next? 

I get annoyed when straight actors get awarded for playing gay and gay actors are said to be not believable as straight but the answer isn't to only cast gay actors in gay roles, the answer is to fight for anyone to play any role including historical figures. 

 

[FranklinDickson2018]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 2:43pm

I don't understand this "Tootsie-bashing"  It got good reviews from the critics did it not? I saw it, loved it and consider the OBC a favorite.  I really adore the music.  But there seems to be major "hate" for this show...... The night I went the audience was full of joy --- the songs and jokes really landed. 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 2:57pm

I don’t consider myself a fan of the show by any stretch (I laughed at a lot of the one-liners and supporting performances, but otherwise left thoroughly unimpressed). But I have to admit I’m surprised people are reacting like the show already has one foot out the door. Yes, there was a notable drop in the grosses, but if they can sustain the level they’re at now, they can probably keep chugging away for a little while. I think it’s too eary to say. They only JUST fell below the million mark 2 weeks ago, and then they managed to stay at a similar gross this last week despite only playing 7 shows. Does the lack of demand bode well for their long-term prospects? No. But I think we have to wait and see if the actual numbers continue to drop over the course of the summer before we start carving the show’s gravestone.

[LuPita2]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 3:00pm

I've been waiting years to see Santino live, I am going the first week in September, it needs to hold on!  

[BritCrit]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 3:31pm

Phantom of London said: "Not getting the Tony really hurt this show.

But regardlessyou would’ve thought Robert Horne Tony winning book and Santino Fontana Tony award winning performance would’ve brought a lot more people in."

Sadly, Santino winning a Tony is not the selling point that his fans would want it to be. In the last decade, Catch Me If You Can was the only other production to win Best Actor without winning either Best Musical award -  it only lasted five months...

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 8:11pm

magictodo123 said: "Numbers wise it certainly does seem like a possibility. I know many people who want that more than anything. And it makes me mad. I understand the controversy people want to stir up with that show, but wishing a closing on it wishes hundreds of people out of work. Whatever your personal feelings are, you're completely ignoring that these people have bills to pay, and wishing a closing on them, even if you hate the show, is so not okay. People don't automatically go from one show to the next. So you're wishing unemployment on them is cruel.

Flip side:a lotto people are going to waste hard-earned money to see a musical with rotten music and mediocre production numbers.

 

 

[Speed]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 8:29pm

I liked TOOTSIE very much but "wishing people out of work" actually wishes people from the new show INTO work.  If everything runs forever, there are no new shows.

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 9:01pm

haterobics said: "At this point, they could be thinking if a third of theaters are vacant soon, we may be able to get some of that tourist dollar just because they want to see something?"

^This. The wave of shows closing is a blessing for those shows willing to tough it out for a bit. The BULK of what is on the TKTS board has announced their closing and it will be a case of "no other choice" for those left behind.

[DoTheDood]

Posted: 7/18/19 at 9:13pm

BritCrit said: "In the last decade, Catch Me If You Can was the only other production to win Best Actor without winning either Best Musical award -it only lasted five months..."

Actually, if you look at the grossings of Catch Me If You Can and Tootsie, they seem eerily similar (even considering inflation and the Neil Simon being slightly smaller than the Marquis). Tootsie does have slightly better grossing at this point, but the last few weeks show that won't last that much longer. The fall is going to hit this show super hard it seems and yeah January makes the most sense for a closing.

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 7/19/19 at 12:44am

magictodo123 said: "Numbers wise it certainly does seem like a possibility. I know many people who want that more than anything. And it makes me mad. I understand the controversy people want to stir up with that show, but wishing a closing on it wishes hundreds of people out of work. Whatever your personal feelings are, you're completely ignoring that these people have bills to pay, and wishing a closing on them, even if you hate the show, is so not okay. People don't automatically go from one show to the next. So you're wishing unemployment on them is cruel.



That said, it is possible given the other recent closing announcements."

I don't think the controversy has anything to do with the grosses. I just don't think people are particularly interested. No one really asked for a musical version of this movie.

[The Other One]

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

I don't think the controversy has anything to do with the grosses. I just don't think people are particularly interested. No one really asked for a musical version of this movie."

I think you hit the nail on the head with this.  It's similar to whether or not a movie should be remade.  If it's good enough to like but somehow flawed, it is worthy of a remake.  If it's outstanding to begin with, it probably shouldn't be remade.  Or musicalized, whatever the case may be.

Most of the people I know who have seen the show have liked it, with reservations.  Nearly everyone I know who's seen the movie loves it, without reservations, to this day.