Broadway Grosses: Week Ending 5/4- Page 2

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 6:10pm

There's no possible way they can cover costs with grosses like that.

Well, except for maybe PASSING STRANGE. Which begs the question: how is STRANGE staying alive? Is it just really-really-rock-concert-set-cheap?

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 6:15pm

Well, except for maybe PASSING STRANGE

But PASSING STRANGE took in four times as much as GLORY DAYS. STRANGE may be able to survive on that, but I don't see how GLORY can last on less than $50,000.

And no matter what anyone feels about the show, you've gotta admit that it's pretty amazing that even after 20 years, PHANTOM still sells near 100%!

Updated On: 5/5/08 at 06:15 PM

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 7:05pm

Well, except for maybe PASSING STRANGE. Which begs the question: how is STRANGE staying alive? Is it just really-really-rock-concert-set-cheap?

Xanadu sometimes makes less than PS, and I would assume PS has low running costs.

[Ole Chum]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 7:21pm

im sure things will pick up some, but the economy is not doing well and i cant imagine that wont effect luxury purchases, like dropping $450 to take the family to see a disney show on bway or whatever

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 7:36pm

Updated On: 5/6/09 at 07:36 PM

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 7:39pm

Bad reviews taken into account, aren't A CATERED AFFAIR's numbers really good?

[BroadwayBen]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 8:06pm

Wow...this is really bad. Seems like there's something bigger going on. Why are ACL and Xanadu and Cry-Baby still running? Looks like all those foreign tourists just want to see MAMMA MIA and WICKED. A Catered Affair going up only $7,000 one week after opening, and IN THE HEIGHTS going down $100,000 already doesn't bode well for the new shows. I'm beginning to feel sorry for Producers!

[Laviebohemeb]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 8:06pm

WOAH

[wonderfulwizard11]

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

While Glory Days grosses are very low, I can't imagine it costs much to run.

[george95]

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

Congrats PHANTOM--still showing those young whippersnappers how its done.

[defyingravity07]

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

It is a bad week CHILL. The only show thatould be affected is Glory Days.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 8:09pm

At what percentage do shows start to be concerned?

It's not percentage it's the total gross vs. the weekly operating costs. Because very few shows publicly report their weekly nuts (Variety will sometimes reference these figures) it is hard for someone just looking at the grosses to know the precise state of a show's finances. Some shows operate on a contract with the creative staff so when the grosses take a dip the royalty pool is cut, somewhat lowering the operating cost.

Factor in the long-term business of the show. If it paid off long ago and has amassed significant profits it can usually survive a few slow weeks. A new show struggling to build an audience doesn't have that luxury.

Reading just the percentages or even the average ticket price doesn't really give you the full picture.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 8:27pm

The Shubert Organization is one of the producers of Passing Strange so I would assume that the cost to rent the Belasco is incredibly low or non-existant. Also, rumor is that the Belasco will under go a renovation once Passing Strange closes, so there is no financial impetus to push the show out prematurely. The same logic goes for Glory Days, unless there is a show that wants the theater for the immediate future, it makes no sense for the theater owners to enforce the stop clause because they would end up with an empty theater.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 8:32pm

Is Glory Days even meeting their payroll expenses?

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 8:35pm

That's a good question. Four actors, plus the band, house staff, and stage hands might well cost over that much money!

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 9:03pm

Sorry, had to speak up.

It really appals me that some of the posters (not ALL) take such obvious glee in the misfortunes of ANY show. I know that some shows should never have been there to start with; I know that some have outworn their welcome (excluding Chicago); I know that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and their right to express it. But it seems that some posters/people take sadistic delight in a show's failure. And please, don't give me that garbage about how dare they impose this on the people who are paying good money (most of whom have gone through all kinds of hoops to get an inexpensive ticket). NO ONE, NO ONE, starts out with the idea of writing a bad show; NO ONE starts out with the idea of producing a bad show. Things sometimes just don't work out. PERIOD. So for all you frustrated queens that have no other place to vent your feelings because there's no one in your personal lives to listen to you (for obvious reasons), just bug off and seek the mental hearth services that you so obviously need.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 9:34pm

The buzz I heard (from a very reliable source)is Cry-baby is going to stay open hrough at least the nominations becuase they think they have a shot at Best Choreography. Obvioulsy the house is hugely papered, but they are sinking a lot of cash in it to keep it running.
This explains why it is still open, when the notice should have gone up pretty quickly after the reviews came out.
Also-the papered tickets are reported as $00.00 so that is what runs the averages so low.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 10:40pm

ACL did decent for a bad week. And since Lopez joined the cast, their average ticket has gone up. I'd still expect a solid summer for A Chorus Line. It's always done very well when schools are out(Presidents week, spring breaks, etc.) so I wouldn't worry.

[scaryclowns223]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 11:33pm

I really hope GLORY DAYS picks up, I mean...this is the realization of a lifelong dream for six guys, and this is a huge opportunity for all of them. For their sake, I hope the show runs at least two months.

[jeffrey1dog]

Posted: 5/6/08 at 12:25am

Ed_Mottershead - Good for you! I was thinking the exact same thing. People love to come on here when something is not doing well and they are happy to say ha-ha and goodbye. That's just mean spirited and totally unnecessary.

I really enjoyed Cry-Baby and hope it catches on. "Glory Days" should also at least be given a chance to be seen before the naysayers have them closing their doors. And "Xanadu" IMO is the best new musical on Broadway. With 6 Drama Desk nominations I think people should go see it and find that out for themselves what joy it brings. I hope next week will be better for all Broadway shows.

[blaxx]

Posted: 5/6/08 at 12:26am

I mean...this is the realization of a lifelong dream for six guys, and this is a huge opportunity for all of them.

Closing early could also be the realization that patience and hard work is what shapes a lifelong dream and brings true opportunities.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 5/6/08 at 12:27am

The buzz I heard (from a very reliable source)is Cry-baby is going to stay open hrough at least the nominations becuase they think they have a shot at Best Choreography.

That's kind of... stupid.

A Best Score win helps. A Best Musical win really helps. A Best Choreography win... gives a teeny tiny boost for about three weeks.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/6/08 at 12:39am

And I think IN THE HEIGHTS will win the Choreography TONY.

[shh282]

Posted: 5/6/08 at 12:42am

It better.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 5/6/08 at 12:42am

This is the first week that AUGUST played the Music Box, a much smaller space than the previous Imperial, hence the big attendance percentage jump.

I saw CRY-BABY for free for the second time last week. They're comping left and right.

Last week was the first week of the SUNDAY IN THE PARK extension. The subscriber tickets are all fulfilled, so from here on out, expect the percentages to be less. This was to be expected.