Prima Facie recoups investment

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 8:43am

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/prima-facie-jodie-comer-recoups-41-million-broadway-1235517774/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 9:01am

AMAZING!!!! Ofc this is Jodie-driven, but I am glad to see some proof that limited runs, straight plays, and heavy material can still be successful on Broadway! 

[theatergoer3]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 9:10am

Fantastic news. Good play and Comer very well deserved the Tony. 
 

It probably still had a good shot to recoup without the Tony but it seems to have done ever better post win. The rest of the run looks almost sold out. 

Updated On: 6/20/23 at 09:10 AM

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 9:31am

Has anyone tried rushing the show since the Tonys? It looks like the run is essentially sold out, and I'm curious if they are even consistently offering rush.

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 9:36am

QueenAlice said: "Has anyone tried rushing the show since the Tonys? It looks like the run is essentially sold out, and I'm curious if they are even consistently offering rush."

Based on what I've heard, they are consistently offering it, but very limited and people are showing up at 5 am to get in line. 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 10:21am

Did a dolls house recoup?

[bdn223]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 10:31am

jkcohen626 said: "QueenAlice said: "Has anyone tried rushing the show since the Tonys? It looks like the run is essentially sold out, and I'm curious if they are even consistently offering rush."

Based on what I've heard, they are consistently offering it, but very limited and people are showing up at 5 am to get in line."

On of the people I follow on Tiktok does rush reports weekly and there's consistently been 20+ people in line when they walk by. 

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 12:05pm

I know some may celebrate this, but I will rain on everyone's parade. I think this is sad, that a show with one person is competing with companies full of big ensembles that provide work for many actors, dancers, musicians, and this is just a 1 person show and of course, it recouped super fast, because it's a cheap show, but as a theater goer, I choose not to see or support this type of shows. Not what I like to see.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 12:18pm

I promise, you have rained on absolutely no one's parade. Trust. Congrats for this brilliant show! 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 12:26pm

muscle23ftl said: "I know some may celebrate this, but I will rain on everyone's parade. I think this is sad, that a show with one person is competing with companies full of big ensembles that provide work for many actors, dancers, musicians, and this is just a 1 person show and of course, it recouped super fast, because it's a cheap show, but as a theater goer, I choose not to see or support this type of shows. Not what I like to see."

There have been one-person shows since the dawn of time and each show does not have to check every box. And simply because it is a one-actor show does not make it a sure bet (see: Gabriel Byrne's show) or a "cheap" show. But you should see what you want to see, and this show won't miss your purchase :)

[Amy Archer]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 12:34pm

It is fine not to like a one-person show as a matter of personal taste, but I would add that a one-person show still requires stage management, an understudy,  a full tech crew, a general management team, plus the same advertising, press, promotional and theatre rental expenses of any other show. Prima Facie has a water effect that costs money. The production also had to house several UK-based talents for four months. Plus, cars, security detail, hair and make-up costs for Jodie Comer and whatever salary she commands. The idea that it is somehow cheap to run is wildly inaccurate. 

Updated On: 6/20/23 at 12:34 PM

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 12:36pm

Sutton Ross said: "I promise, you have rained on absolutely no one's parade. Trust. Congrats for this brilliant show!"

Well, I got a reaction out of you, since you responded, that's all I wanted. Thanks!

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 1:12pm

Amy Archer said: "It is fine not to like a one-person show as a matter of personal taste, but I would add that a one-person show still requires stage management, an understudy, a full tech crew, a general management team, plus the same advertising, press, promotional and theatre rental expenses of any other show. Prima Facie has a water effect that costs money. The production also had to house several UK-based talents for four months. Plus, cars, security detail, hair and make-up costs for Jodie Comer and whatever salary she commands. The idea that it is somehow cheap to run is wildly inaccurate."

1000%. It's ridiculous, then again that poster's fav show is like Gettin The Band Back Together so....I don't think he knows what good theater actually is?  

 

[noahseestheatre]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 1:16pm

muscle23ftl said: "Sutton Ross said: "I promise, you have rained on absolutely no one's parade. Trust. Congrats for this brilliant show!"

Well, I got a reaction out of you, since you responded, that's all I wanted. Thanks!"

Can we not act like children here

[JasonC3]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 1:30pm

muscle23ftl said: "I know some may celebrate this, but I will rain on everyone's parade. I think this is sad, that a show with one person is competing with companies full of big ensembles that provide work for many actors, dancers, musicians, and this is just a 1 person show and of course, it recouped super fast, because it's a cheap show, but as a theater goer, I choose not to see or support this type of shows. Not what I like to see."

Serious question: competing how?  For an audience?  For awards?  Recouping isn't a contest between shows, so it can't be that.  And is a two-person show acceptable?  Plays often have a very small cast.

 

[bholtzinger544]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 2:06pm

I mean, the Golden is primarily a play house with only like 2 small musicals playing there in the last 30 years. Some theatres work better with small plays in them and there is an audience for those shows out there. I tend to appreciate the fact that most one-person shows are pretty limited runs. We need shows to recoup if we want to keep seeing new works get produced. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 2:26pm

Yes, and I think Jodie Comer's ticketselling prowess has surprised many of us, outgrossing Chastain and some other more "notable" stars. It was that combination of MUST-SEE reviews + buzz from London + awards attention + relevant story + a TV/film actress trying something new. Why some of these shows work and other's don't I'll never know, but it should be celebrated!

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 3:00pm

Reading this news today made me so happy. This is such an excellent play with incredibly important subject matter and Jodie Comer is giving the best performance I've seen in at least the last decade. She deserves to be an Olivier and Tony winner for this role and I'm thrilled that the show will go down in the history books as a hit that recouped its investment. I have already seen the show three times and have tickets for one more time its final week. Congratulations to Jodie and the entire creative team. Well deserved.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 3:09pm

Any show making a profit is good for ALL shows. Things like Wicked and Hamilton make money so we can get shows like Kimberly Akimbo and A Strange Loop. It all helps each other. Congrats to them!

[perfectpenguin]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 4:32pm

Jodie Comer is giving a phenomenal and incredibly moving performance. I’m not surprised Prima Facie recouped. And I’m not surprised Prima Facie’s remaining run is entirely sold out! Congrats to all involved! Can’t wait to hear Tessa’s story one last time this weekend! 

[jagman1062]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 4:52pm

muscle23ftl said: "I know some may celebrate this, but I will rain on everyone's parade. I think this is sad, that a show with one person is competing with companies full of big ensembles that provide work for many actors, dancers, musicians, and this is just a 1 person show and of course, it recouped super fast, because it's a cheap show, but as a theater goer, I choose not to see or support this type of shows. Not what I like to see."

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but I can't say I entirely understand the logic behind it. In my opinion, the focus should be on the quality of the show and not the number of people involved in presenting it. Granted, I'm hesitant to see some one-person shows because if that performer isn't engaging, I have no place else to focus my attention to try to stay engaged. That said, I've seen some brilliant theater with only one person on stage (e.g., Jefferson Mays in I am My Own Wife and the recent A Christmas Carol; Patrick Stewart in A Christmas Carol in the 90s, Olympia Dukakis in Rose, Hal Holbrook in a revival of Mark Twain, Tonight!, and yes, Jodie Comer in Prima Facie). I understand  that you may feel a sense of social responsibility to support shows that employ more people, but to deprive yourself of excellent theater because a show employs fewer people seems misguided, but it is certainly your choice.

[perfectpenguin]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 5:05pm

jagman1062 said: “ I understand that you may feel a sense of social responsibility to support shows that employ more people, but to deprive yourself of excellent theater because a show employs fewer people seems misguided, but it is certainly your choice."

Agreed. 

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 6/20/23 at 5:20pm

Great news that this show has recouped!

I became a fan of Jodie Comer in the same way I did with Bryan Cranston - from TV. Their talent was so entertaining to watch, from Jodie's chilling/hilarious work in Killing Eve to Bryan as everyman goes bad in Breaking Bad. I  I couldn't wait to see them on Broadway and both delivered with tour-de-force performances. Estimable actors. Will gladly watch anything they're in.

[FLarnhill]

Posted: 6/21/23 at 8:50pm

Here's the understudy's take on what happened the day Comer quit for the day:

 

[Amy Archer]

Posted: 6/22/23 at 5:22am

Can't let it go, can you? Jodie Comer didn't "quit for the day." She did the evening show. Comer couldn't breathe through the thick smoke and haze, which was at its worst around the time that matinee performance was happening. 

Sorry your girl lost two Tony Awards, but time to move on.