Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

[theaterguy11]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:12pm

With the Producers, Mel rose prices to crazy numbers after the show opened and was a hit. It had 2 huge stars with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.

With Young Frank, the only big name is Megan Mullaly (and she isn't even that big of a name.) The show hasn't opened yet, and might not be any good! People will not go. Mel will be forced to lower prices (embarrassing.) I think we're looking at a big flop.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:14pm

The show hasn't even started previews out of town yet. Wait till they start performances before you deem it a flop.

And no big names other than Mullaly? Mel Brooks isn't a big enough name?

[Dirty_Rotten_Guy]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:15pm

do we need another thread on this? we have a few threads just like this

[theaterguy11]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:16pm

As this is a Broadway message board to speculate on things, I just think Mel is making a huge mistake. I don't think the show will do well.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:18pm

"I don't think the show will do well."

Based off what? There is nothing to specualte. No reviews, no word on ticket sales (as they haven't gone on sale), nothing.

[dramarama2]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:20pm

This is speculating?

You may be right, but the show hasn't started yet. It could be brilliant!

And Sutton is a big name sorta...on broadway.

[theaterguy11]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:20pm

The cast is great and will appeal to Broadway fans

these Broadway fans (for the most part) probably won't pay the crazy ridiculous ticket prices.

Critics will probably review the show as not being worth it's prices.

(The few song I have heard are less then good.)

I think the show would stand a chance if the prices were normal.

[theaterguy11]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:21pm

Sutton Foster is crazy talented. One of my favorites.

However, nobody except Broadway fans (a small % of the population) knows who she is.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:23pm

"Critics will probably review the show as not being worth it's prices.

(The few song I have heard are less then good.)"

Really? Have you been at the rehearsels to hear these songs, and to be able to determine what critics will say?

Your speculation is ridiculous.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:27pm

i agree wonderfulwizard this is the most stupid thread , let the bloody show actually open first

[theaterguy11]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:27pm

What do you think the point of the board is?

I thought it was to talk about Broadway, and discuss things.

My speculation is far from ridiculous. The demos I have heard are mediocre and boring.

I think its strange that you think it's totally okay and normal for the ticket prices to be so high. I don't see how you don't think its a big mistake.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:30pm

i dont know what demos you have heard but the ones i have heard sound great

[me2]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:30pm

No matter how good it is, the words are going to be "not as good as THE PRODUCERS." This isn't a comment on the quality of the show, but it is a comment on the nature of reviewers and human nature.
Broadway Blog: Fixing Follies

[Weez]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:30pm

We've been discussing it in countless other threads. Why on earth have you started a new one instead of digging out an appropriate one and carrying on the discussions we've already been having on this very subject?

[theaterguy11]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:31pm

The Hilton theatre also kills shows.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:32pm

Sadly, ticket prices have been that high for a while now.

Wicked's been charging $120 for months, as have Jersey Boys and all the other popular shows.

The Young Frankenstein situation regards the amount of premium seats, many of which have been in the $300-$500 range since The Producers.

If you look at the detailed prospective pricing chart, balcony seats would be $65, like most other shows. Mid-rear mezz seats will be $81. As I understand it (unless I missed a new memo), there are plenty of reasonable pricing options....I just hope they have rush, something which Curtains missed out on.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:32pm

"I think its strange that you think it's totally okay and normal for the ticket prices to be so high. I don't see how you don't think its a big mistake."

I don't agree with the ticket prices, but I see why Brooks set them. At the height of its run, The Producers charged $480 for a seat, and the show still sold out. That's why Brooks is charging so much.

And I don't see how you can proclaim a show (that no one has seen yet, no less) by listening to a few demos.

[theaterguy11]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:37pm

I'm not saying the show is going to be bad. I'm saying that it in no way will be able to stay running with ticket prices that high.

Maybe if Hugh Jackman were in it. Or somebody with big draw. Maybe if they waited to see if the show was a hit and could sell out at 110$ prices....

but they're taking a huge gamble. and Im guessing it won't pay off.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:39pm

" I'm saying that it in no way will be able to stay running with ticket prices that high."

Unless it gets raves, like The Producers did? You really can't tell how it will do UNTIL IT OPENS. It's useless speculation.

[theaterguy11]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:40pm

I'm saying they should take a page from their own play book and WAIT to make ticket prices that ridiculous UNTIL they know it's a hit and they can sell it out at reasonable prices. They are ASSUMING the show will sell...

and we all know what happens when we assume...

[MisterRussell]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:44pm

Well, I recall saying as far back as when rumors of a YF musical began circulating (right after THE PRODUCERS) opened) that the screenplay of YF is simply too episodic to work as a cohesive stage play. Unless substantial revisions have been made, I don't think it'll do even HALF of the biz THE PRODUCERS did.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:46pm

And it makes sense for them to assume the show will sell well, especally if it gets good reviews (which we don't know if it will as the show isn't open).

Take a look at The Producers. A month after the show started performances in New York, they raised the price to $100. This was the highest ticket price in New York at the time. And the show still did VERY well. Soon after, the top price was raised to $480. If Young Frankenstein gets the same type of reviews as The Producers, it's pretty safe to assume it will sell very well.

That is why they are setting these ticket prices so high.

[theaterguy11]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:53pm

The fact that the producers didn't sell without Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick should be a sign, that the show was only successful because of them.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:59pm

This is going to follow in the steps of THE PRODUCERS and is going to be INSANELY successful. It's Mel Brooks. That alone brought THE PRODUCERS it's attention and accolades. Mel Brooks' name is going to do likewise for his YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN.

When THE PRODUCERS first started it's pre-Broadway run in Chicago, it was the whole Mel Brooks' thing that got the buzz going. When people found out afterwards that Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick were starring in it, then it added more to the pot -- but their names alone didn't bring THE PRODUCERS the success it received. They were only a fraction of it's success. The original Broadway run lasted 6 years on Broadway WITHOUT Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. This should speak for itself regarding the show. Hate it or love it -- it recouped it's entire investment 9 months into it's run. How did it do this? IT HAD A PAYING AUDIENCE that kept going to see it -- even without it's original stars.

Regardless of how it will fare with the Broadway snobs, one thing YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN will indeed have is an audience. A huge enormous one. I expect those lines around the block the day after Opening Night -- just like THE PRODUCERS had that following Friday morning.

This is a no-brainer. Seriously.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/28/07 at 6:59pm

No the show didn't sell out. However, the show was still VERY sucessful even after Broderick and Lane left, still pulling in over a million a week.


ETA: Thank you, Brody!

Updated On: 6/28/07 at 06:59 PM