Article: OPERATION MINCEMEAT... plots its course to New York- Page 2

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 4:10pm

TaffyDavenport said: "two ladies tickets said:

"We can assume that Stereophonic will be at The Golden through the end of the year"

Can we assume that?"
 

Not going by last week's grosses! It's not doing badly, and its daily wraps have probably gone up post-Tony noms, but it's not at long-term-extension numbers yet.

Of all the plays, this does feel like one that could find a broader audience and extend beyond 20 weeks (because it's kind of like a musical). But we have to wait and see.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 4:42pm

I saw "Operation Mincemeat" last summer and found it to be one of the most perfect (a word I don't use lightly) musicals I've ever seen. I had absolutely no trouble connecting/understanding (or whatever being "too British" means).

I think this show will find its audience here and could have a good run. It's certainly one I would see multiple times if it ran here and would be my first recommendation to family/friends.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 5:08pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "RippedMan said: "But the fact that this show is being capitalized as more than the recent Sweeney would be wild."

Not really.

Groban as star means SWEENEY could have a much lower pre-previews advertising budget, because a number of tickets were sold via press release. That doesn't mean 0 advertising, but much of the legwork was done.

They probably had a very small cash reserve, due to a lead producer who's richer than god (Hamilton & Rent's Jeffrey Seller), a star, a limited run, and a known title.

Seller might have cut deals with some of his Hamilton people who make bucketloads of money on that show, or promised a better backend in exchange for lower upfront fees.

A revival with no significant text changes means no developmental expenses. Maybe they did a reading or a movement lab. I don't know what, if any, for Mincemeat development would be budgeted here.

It was a fairly contained set design.

And, once again, the Mincemeat figures have not been corroborated.The London Mincemeat producers are probably not the ones leading the charge and crunching the numbers for NYC."

But also larger cast larger orchestra larger crew, etc 

[DCS]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 6:57pm

The West End vs Broadway cost numbers come directly from the Operation Mincemeat producers -- they appear in the email survey I received from them this morning. As for whether it would succeed on Broadway, I think a good comparison might be The 39 Steps from 2008 which ended up running 771 performances.  Yes, I know it had a Hitchcock connection, but in reality, most of the ticket buying public were not familiar with the original film and it was similar in some ways to Operation Mincemeat in it's style of a small cast (it only had 4 actors) playing multiple roles in a very comedic style.  It was a play rather than a musical, of course, but it certainly could have been considered too British back in 2008 (I actually saw it in the West End before it came to Broadway)

[MasterThespian 2]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 7:23pm

Looks like a new Mincemeat cast is starting. Does anyone  know these names?

https://www.westendtheatre.com/233115/news/operation-mincemeat-reveals-new-cast-to-join-the-hit-west-end-show/

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 7:36pm

I can't say I recognize any of them, but "Jonty Peach" is a fantastic name.

[TBFL]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 10:01pm

bigbelterbaby said: "Unfortunately I think the show is too British to appeal to a wide audience. There’s a lot of shows on the West End that have done well there but are so based on British culture and sensibilities that don’t translate. Just look at the tempid reception to Patriots and Cabaret and will likely happen to Sunset Boulevard."

None of those shows you mentioned are 'based on British culture and sensibilities that don't translate'

If NYC doesn't appreciate Sunset Blvd, then you're crazy. It's audacious and thrilling and it will be the 2nd best thing on Broadway.

 

[Owen22]

Posted: 5/8/24 at 10:39pm

As I've said before, the show will be a Broadway hit exclusively because of the talents of this original cast. One or two are bound to become American stars from it. It will be the show to see because of the talent. It's a fun show as well, at least as fun as Six (and far more ingenious). And not at all "too English".

[BETTY22]

Posted: 5/9/24 at 7:55am

It's no bing 'too english' that is the problem....it's that it's not based on a big hit movie or pop score that will kill it on broadway.

Don't transfer. 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 5/9/24 at 12:45pm

The running cost would be so low, of course they should transfer.  But in a small theatre in April. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 5/9/24 at 12:52pm

Broadway Flash said: "The running cost would be so low, of course they should transfer. But in a small theatre in April."

 

If you knew the slightest thing about Broadway economics, you wouldn't assume the running costs would be low -- ESPECIALLY for a British transfer if there is a team of Brits to fly over, house, pay per diems for, etc.  And theatre rents are not "discounted" in April.

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 5/9/24 at 1:40pm

Broadway Flash said: "The running cost would be so low, of course they should transfer. But in a small theatre in April."

You know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Please go away!

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 5/9/24 at 1:59pm

I wasn’t saying the theatre would be discounted in April. I was saying they should do it before Tony time and summertime.  I don’t think a show with a five person cast is expensive to run relatively speaking.  Yes I understand they need to house Brits just like they will in Sunset and Tammy Faye and probably a slew of other British plays coming in including Motive and the cue and the hills of California 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 5/9/24 at 2:12pm

ONCE AGAIN, YOU KNOW ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Nothing is confirmed yet with some of these plays! Unless you can share with all of us where you are getting this information, we cannot believe a word that comes out of your mouth! EITHER SHUT UP & GO AWAY OR SHOW US PROOF!

[Sammy232]

Posted: 5/9/24 at 2:34pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: ""Too British"usuallyfeels like a copout and a way to cover up other concerns for why it might not succeed in America.

I think audiences are more willing to embrace a culture on stage that is not their own, more than they were even 10 years ago...and the culture of this showis not THAT different from white American culture.

$14M is high but still lower than most other new Broadway musicals.Advertising, construction, rehearsal & tech costs, housing for Brit creative team members, legal & management fees (it's notfreeto have 50 co-producers above the title), a cash reserve of 1-2 million. You have to remember author and creative teamadvances will alsobe higher in America because the budget is higher,everyone else isgetting paid more, and they are riding on a successful London run. Some of those expenses may seem nominal but they do alladd up.

On the plus side, the running cost shouldn't be crazy. 9 people in the cast in London incl understudies/swings. And on Broadway it would surely play a larger house than London (its London theatre has 432 seats).

Who is producing it stateside, ATG?"

It's my understanding that co-producers do not receive any management fees, only lead producers so I'm not certain how that would impact the budget? Perhaps the exception being celebrity co-producers which seems to be a popular thing at the moment.