Is Pirate Slowly Sinking?
Is Pirate Slowly Sinking?
What new Broadway musical was fourth from the bottom last week among all opened tuners in terms of average ticket price? It was none other than The Pirate Queen.
While the spectacle increased its overall box office capacity last week to 83.4%, its average ticket price fell from an already less-than-stellar $65.06 to just $63.07. The only musicals with lower average ticket prices are The Producers ($62.35), Rent ($57.78) and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee ($54.95). Given the sheer size of The Pirate Queen's Hilton Theatre berth (1,799 seats), there's a lot of seats being heavily discounted just to pack 'em in.
And there's fresh word from Michael Riedel in today's New York Post that as Susan Stroman is openly eyeing the Hilton as an alternate home for her upcoming stage adaptation of Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein and commenting on how much she liked its "wide aisles," one member of the current tenant's cast said: "We all had the same thought...Time to start looking for the next job." (Perhaps Brooks and Stroman are just using the Hilton as a bargaining chip with Jujamcyn Theaters -- owners of the St. James Theatre, which was previously announced as the home for Young Frankenstein -- that is now "badmouthing" Brooks' new show ever since he cut them out as a producer.)
While Riedel duly notes that a spokesman for The Pirate Queen dismisses any talk of it closing, the owners of the Hilton no doubt are examining their options. After all, considering that the comparably-sized George Gershwin Theatre's occupant Wicked earned almost double at the box office last week ($1,487,336 versus The Pirate Queen's $757,333), Riedel also is quick to remind us that "there's always a clause in the contract that allows the theater owner to evict a show if its grosses fall below a certain level."
Anyone want to wager when closing notices will be posted?
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for The Pirate Queen tickets.
Related Stories:
Critics: Pirate Queen Not See-Worthy (April 6, 2007)
Pirate Queen Attempts Broadway Throne Seizure Tonight (April 6, 2007)
Can Pirate Queen Be Salvaged? (March 23, 2007)
Can Pirate Queen Be Salvaged? (March 23, 2007)
The Hits From Coast To Coast (March 8, 2007)
Swashbuckling On Broadway (February 1, 2007)
SOB Readers Doubt Pirate Queen Will Float (November 21, 2006)
Bailing Out A Sinking Pirate (November 15, 2006)
Critics Assail The Pirate Queen (October 31, 2006)
The Pirate Queen (The SOB Review) – Cadillac Palace Theatre, Chicago, IL (October 30, 2006)
The Pirate Queen Sails Into Chicago Opening Tonight (October 29, 2006)
Pirate Queen to Sail Into Broadway's Hilton Theatre (July 27, 2006)
The Pirate Queen Musical to Sail Into Chicago This Fall (May 15, 2006)
Swashbuckling On Broadway (February 1, 2007)
SOB Readers Doubt Pirate Queen Will Float (November 21, 2006)
Bailing Out A Sinking Pirate (November 15, 2006)
Critics Assail The Pirate Queen (October 31, 2006)
The Pirate Queen (The SOB Review) – Cadillac Palace Theatre, Chicago, IL (October 30, 2006)
The Pirate Queen Sails Into Chicago Opening Tonight (October 29, 2006)
Pirate Queen to Sail Into Broadway's Hilton Theatre (July 27, 2006)
The Pirate Queen Musical to Sail Into Chicago This Fall (May 15, 2006)
Labels: Box Office, Broadway, Endangered Shows, Mel Brooks, Michael Riedel, Musical, Susan Stroman, The Pirate Queen, Young Frankenstein
posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Wednesday, April 18, 2007
2 Comments:
the day that the Tony nominations are announced and they are snubbed you will see that closing notice go up for good......
Gene, You may be right. We'll know in just a few short weeks.
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