George Gershwin Theatre Box Office (Home to Wicked)
Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending December 26, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you most likely know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on the Great White Way. Because of last weekend's blizzards over Broadway, the weekly box office report was not released until today.
Some people live for the latest sports stats. I love poring over each week's box office totals on Broadway. So, for your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending December 26, 2010.
11:38 am December 28, 2010 - Despite snow, Broadway grosses up $1,142,016 or 4.57% to $24,993,795 last week
11:39 am December 28, 2010 - But no doubt because of blizzard, Broadway capacity up only .3% to 73.55% or 250,134 seats sold out of 330,025
11:40 am December 28, 2010 - Broadway grosses up because average ticket price up sharply last week to $91.63 from $86.28 week earlier
11:41 am December 28, 2010 - Sold-out WICKED breaks its previous box office record for Broadway show, grossing $2,153,110 last week.
11:42 am December 28, 2010 - As Broadway's toughest ticket last week, WICKED's average ticket price was a whopping $148.78 - highest among all shows
11:43 am December 28, 2010 - Broadway shows grossing $1.5 million-$2 million last week: The LION KING ($1,823,766) and ELF ($1,572,836)
11:45 am December 28, 2010 - Shows grossing $1-1.5 million last week: JERSEY BOYS, MARY POPPINS, ADDAMS FAMILY, MERCHANT, PHANTOM, BILLY ELLIOT
11:47 am December 28, 2010 - Broadway shows with 100% or more capacity: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (102.6%), SPIDER-MAN & WICKED (100% each)
11:48 am December 28, 2010 - THE MERCHANT OF VENICE remains Broadway's top grossing play: $1,099,420 on 102.6% capacity. Avg ticket price: $132.89
11:49 am December 28, 2010 - Broadway shows drawing 90-99% capacity: LION KING, FELA! JERSEY BOYS, ELF and BILLY ELLIOT
11:51 am December 28, 2010 - Despite just 4 performances (one nearly fatal), sold-out SPIDER-MAN grosses $944,138 with avg ticket price of $122.30
11:52 am December 28, 2010 - ELF proves to be major holiday fare, grossing $1,572,836 on 91.6% capacity. Average ticket price: $134.02
11:54 am December 28, 2010 - TIME STANDS STILL was last week's lowest grossing show at $117,962 on 73.4% capacity. Avg ticket price: $74.42
11:57 am December 28, 2010 - Clarification on TIME STANDS STILL: Its $117,962 gross was based on just two performances last week
11:55 am December 28, 2010 - LA BÊTE drew Broadway's lowest capacity last week. Just 40.8%. Gross: $184,011. Average ticket price: $63.91
11:56 am December 28, 2010 - Practically free? A FREE MAN OF COLOR had week's cheapest ticket averaging $39.52. Gross: $143,850 on 43.6% capacity
11:58 am December 28, 2010 - Among shows with 8 performances, A FREE MAN OF COLOR had week's lowest gross of $143,850
11:59 am December 28, 2010 - Among shows with 8 performances, ADDAMS FAMILY had week's top capacity increase of 15.8% to 86.4%. Gross: $1,100,286
12:00 noon December 28, 2010 - Among shows with 8 performances, ADDAMS FAMILY had week's top capacity increase of 15.8% to 86.4%. Gross: $1,100,286
12:01 pm December 28, 2010 - DONNY & MARIE: A BROADWAY CHRISTMAS saw 17.8% decline in capacity for 5 shows to 60.3%. Gross: $481,812.
So, dear readers, do any of these results surprise you? Is you favorite show teetering on the brink of breakaway success or failure? Either way, or if you have any other observations worth sharing, feel free to comment below.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
I want to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation to every single reader who has visited Steve On Broadway (SOB) this year.
I’ve been honored to begin many online friendships during the course of the past five years, and I’ve been thrilled that so many of them have translated offline as well. What a blessing. I feel extraordinarily fortunate.
Ostensibly, I write Steve On Broadway (SOB) for my own personal enjoyment. If there’s one characteristic about myself that I hope rings genuinely authentic, it’s my love for the theatre. Perhaps it’s that passion that sways my reviews toward the favorable overall --although I prefer to think that I’m somewhat discriminating in what I pay to see in the first place.
Never do I go to see any show with malice in my heart. Since I pay for each and every ticket, I go to enjoy and be entertained or at least enlightened. Yes, there are those occasions where I find myself disappointed by a musical or play or by specific performances therein, but I also hope that ultimately, my critiques have provided anyone out there reading them with some heartfelt guidance from an honest-to-goodness theatre lover.
Please accept my best wishes for a very Merry Christmas -- and regardless of whether you celebrity this Holiday or not, here's wishing you and yours nothing but peace and love.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
Last evening's terrifying accident at Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark certainly is leaving us hoping the best for actor (and Spider-Man stunt double) Christopher Tierney, who was reportedly in serious but stable condition after the mishap.
But the video above offers perhaps the best analysis of the inherent dangers of Broadway shows and nuanced perspective missing in other reporting. Seriously.
Here's wishing Tierney a speedy and full recovery.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB). In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
If you're among the thousands of theatregoers who have been to Broadway over the past month or so, you'll likely have heard an appeal from onstage to support Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS with a donation, no matter how large or small.
Please view the video, learn how Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS supports over 400 local agencies across the country, and then please consider joining me in supporting this vital organization. Every little bit helps. To donate, please go here.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
George Gershwin Theatre Box Office (Home to Wicked)
Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending December 19, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you most likely know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
Some people live for the latest sports stats. I love poring over each week's box office totals on the Great White Way. So, for your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending December 19, 2010.
3:45 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway box office drops 4.84% last week or $1,153,842 to $23,851,779 in gross grosses
3:46 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway capacity down last week by 2.8% to 73.16% or 259,268 seats sold out of 349,408 possible
3:47 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway's average ticket price last week was $86.28 down from $87.41 week before
3:48 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway's WICKED, LION KING, ELF, JERSEY BOYS, PROMISESx2, DONNY & MARIE, SPIDER-MAN each gross over $1 million
3:49 pm December 20, 2010 - THE MERCHANT OF VENICE only grosses $645,015 last week, but that's because it only played 4 performances
3:50 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway shows grossing between $900,000 and $1 million last week: BILLY ELLIOT, MARY POPPINS & THE ADDAMS FAMILY
3:51 pm December 20, 2010 - THE MERCHANT OF VENICE only show to sell-out last week with capacity of 102.6% (but only 4 performances)
3:52 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway shows attracting 90-99% capacity last week: SPIDER-MAN, ELF, WICKED, JERSEY BOYS, LION KING
3:53 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway's top grossing show last week: WICKED with $1,631,743 on 97.9% capacity. Avg ticket price: $115.12 97.9%
3:54 pm December 20, 2010 - THE MERCHANT OF VENICE was Broadway's toughest ticket w/4 performances, 102.6% capacity and $136.48 avg. ticket price
3:55 pm December 20, 2010 - Should have added in FELA! to shows with over 90% capacity. In final weeks FELA! at 93.6% capacity, grosses $613,717
3:56 pm December 20, 2010 - ELF is another tough ticket on Broadway, grossing $1,464,913 on 96.3% capacity. Avg. ticket price: $133.53!
3:57 pm December 20, 2010 - Another tough ticket is SPIDER-MAN at $1,036,133 on 98.9% capacity. Avg ticket price $90.45. High for show in previews!
3:58 pm December 20, 2010 - Plus, SPIDER-MAN only had 6 performances last week so gross would've been much higher than $1,036,133 w/8 performances
3:59 pm December 20, 2010 - DONNY & MARIE may have only attracted 78.1% capacity, but they grossed $1,047,740 with avg tickets priced $117.20
4:00 pm December 20, 2010 - With only 4 performances, IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST bottom gross $71,928 & avg ticket price $34.76. 69.9% capacity
4:01 pm December 20, 2010 - Among shows w/8 performances COLIN QUINN LONG STORY SHORT lowest grosser $147,620. 48.5% capacity. Av tix priced $64.77
4:02 pm December 20, 2010 - Among shows w/8 performances FREE MAN OF COLOR had lowest avg ticket price of $50.42. Gross of $214,439 on 51% capacity
4:03 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway's lowest capacity last week: LA BÊTE at 42.5%. Grosses $232,383. Average ticket price: $67.95
4:04 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway shows attracting less than 50% capacity last week? LA BÊTE, COLIN QUINN LONG STORY SHORT and AMERICAN IDIOT
4:05 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway's biggest week-over-week capacity increase? BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON up 12.4% to 79.6%. Gross: $419,303
4:06 pm December 20, 2010 - Broadway's biggest week-over-week capacity decline? MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET down 16.2% to 53%. Gross: $445,007
4:07 pm December 20, 2010 - Expect huge spike at Broadway box office this week, next for Christmas & New Year's holidays. Maybe 1 or 2 shows can gross over $2 million
So, dear readers, do any of these results surprise you? Is you favorite show teetering on the brink of breakaway success or failure? Either way, or if you have any other observations worth sharing, feel free to comment below.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
In yet another nod to the Great White Way, "The Simpsons" used this year's holiday episode to pay tribute to this season's biggest Broadway hit, Wicked.
Makes me wonder what took "The Simpsons" creators so long!
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
If you could win any original Broadway cast recording, which one would you want most?
That was essentially the question I posed via Twitter and Facebook over the past week in my latest SOB Contest. Since I have been feeling very much in the holiday spirit, I decided that my gift to some of my lucky followers would be the cast recording of their choice. I then drew the names of five lucky winners.
Congratulations to the following winners:
Lynn Gaillard (Carrollton, TX), who wanted and won [title of show] cast recording.
Jayson Kerr (New York, NY), who wanted and won The Scottsboro Boyscast recording.
Evelyn Sam (Briarwood, NY), who wanted and won The Lion Kingcast recording.
Alex Wolfe (Blue Bell, PA), who wanted and won The Scottsboro Boys cast recording.
To each of these winners, as well as to all followers, let me express my deepest appreciation for following Steve On Broadway (SOB)! To the winners, please note that once I have the cast recordings of your choice in hand, I will ship them out immediately, just in time for the holidays!
So, dear readers, if you had to choose any cast recording you just have to have in your collection, which would it be? Would it be one that is already in your possession? Would it be one you have been saving up to buy? Or would it be for a rarity that is just impossible to get? I'll be curious to hear what your selection would be.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post. In fact, I have even sprung for each of the cast recordings so that five lucky readers could enjoy listening to the ones they wanted most.
George Gershwin Theatre Box Office (Home to Wicked)
Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending December 12, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you most likely know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
Some people live for the latest sports stats. I love poring over each week's box office totals on the Great White Way. So, for your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending December 12, 2010.
3:30 pm December 13, 2010 - Broadway box office up 8.53% week over week. Up nearly $2.2 million last week to $25,632,217
3:31 pm December 13, 2010 - Broadway capacity up last week by 4.85% to 76.47% or 277,015 seats sold out of possible 357,102
3:32 pm December 13, 2010 - The average price of a Broadway ticket last week? $87.41. That's up from $86.73 the week before.
3:33 pm December 13, 2010 - The average gross for each Broadway show last week was $692,763, up from $651,274 week before.
3:34 pm December 13, 2010 - Total of 8 Broadway shows grossed over $1 million each last week
3:35 pm December 13, 2010 - Shows grossing over $1 million last week: WICKED, LION KING, ELF, JERSEY BOYS, PROMISESx2, MERCHANT OF VENICE, BILLY ELLIOT, ADDAMS FAMILY
3:37 pm December 13, 2010 - 9 Broadway shows attracted capacities of over 90% last week.
3:38 pm December 13, 2010 - Shows attracting 90%+ capacities:MERCHANT, SPIDERMAN, WICKED, JERSEY BOYS, LION KING, SCOTTSBORO BOYS, ELF, BILLY ELLIOT, DRIVING MISS DAISY
3:39 pm December 13, 2010 - 9 Broadway shows had an average ticket price of over $100 last week
3:41 pm December 13, 2010 - Shows over $100/avg ticket: MERCHANT, JERSEY BOYS, DONNY & MARIE, DRIVING MISS DAISY, ELF, LION KING, WICKED,ADDAMS FAMILY,PROMISES PROMISES
3:43 pm December 13, 2010 - Broadway's top grossing show last week: WICKED w/$1,645,313 in grosses on 98.2% capacity. Average ticket price: $115.78
3:44 pm December 13, 2010 - MERCHANT OF VENICE had Broadway's highest avg ticket price ($129.87) & highest capacity (102.6%). Gross: $1,074,410
3:45 pm December 13, 2010 - SCOTTSBORO BOYS ends run with a bang. Grosses $454,251 on 97.2% capacity (up 19.4%). Avg ticket price: $64.93
3:46 pm December 13, 2010 - Despite just 5 performances, SPIDER-MAN grosses $911,682 on 99.4% capacity. Avg ticket price: $95.02
3:47 pm December 13, 2010 - Broadway's lowest gross last week: COLIN QUINN LONG STORY SHORT at $153,081 on 48.9% capacity. Avg ticket price: $66.73
3:48 pm December 13, 2010 - Broadway's lowest capacity was for LA BÊTE playing to 46.8% full house. Grosses $253,079. Avg ticket price $67.13
3:49 pm December 13, 2010 - Broadway's lowest average ticket price: PITMEN PAINTERS at $44.89. Grosses $172,345 on 73.8% capacity
3:50 pm December 13, 2010 - THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS enjoyed week's biggest capacity increase of 19.4% to 97.2%. Grosses up $171,786 week over week
3:51 pm December 13, 2010 - BRIEF ENCOUNTER had week's largest capacity decline of 16.2% to 60.3%. Gross: $300,383. Avg ticket price: $62.13
3:53 pm December 13, 2010 - DONNY & MARIE: A BROADWAY CHRISTMAS does brisk business. 5 performances gross $881,925 on 88.1% capacity.
So, dear readers, do any of these results surprise you? Is you favorite show teetering on the brink of breakaway success or failure? Either way, or if you have any other observations worth sharing, feel free to comment below.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
I'll wager most Americans have no idea the Salvation Army is actually an organized religious faith that they're supporting every time they throw their loose change into one of their bell ringer's little red pots at this time of year.
Speaking of organized religion, I still can't help but wonder what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, more commonly known as Mormons, will think of the upcoming Broadway musical The Book Of Mormon. As I've previously said, I will vigorously defend the right to freedom of speech, but I have serious doubts the show's creators would ever have moved forward with a production lampooning the Islamic faith.
As for bell ringers, move your cursor over the doorknob on The Book Of Mormon's Web site and you'll hear a completely different variety. (At least no one was asking me for money, unless you count the show's tickets that start at $59.)
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
It really is incredibly hard to believe it was 30 years ago today that John Lennon was murdered.
Millions of us were shocked to learn the tragic news in this highly surreal fashion. The evening of December 8, 1980, hit virtually everyone around the world so extraordinarily hard. Suddenly that evening, it didn't matter if you were a fan of The Beatles or Lennon. The idea that such a creative genius who espoused peace could be gunned down so violently broke our collective hearts.
Lennon's untimely death marked the end of an era, even as he had just attempted to begin a new one for himself.
The musical icon had just emerged from a self-imposed "exile" to help raise his young son Sean. On November 17, 1980, just three short weeks prior to his murder, he and his wife Yoko Ono released the incredibly hopeful "Double Fantasy," his first studio recording in five long years.
While the recording would quickly climb to number one on the Billboard charts and go on to earn him a posthumous Grammy for 1981 Album of the Year, for those of us who purchased the recording, we were haunted by the back cover image showing Lennon and Ono outside the Dakota Apartments, just steps from where this man of profound peace met his violent end.
Rest in peace, John Lennon. Thirty years later, we're still trying to imagine the type of world you envisioned.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
George Gershwin Theatre Box Office (Home to Wicked)
Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending December 5, 2010
If you follow me on Twitter, you most likely know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
Some people live for the latest sports stats, while I love poring over each week's box office totals on the Great White Way. So, for your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the week ending December 5, 2010.
3:30 pm December 6, 2010 - After Thanksgiving box office blowout, Broadway comes back down to earth with grosses down by 9.67%
3:31 pm December 6, 2010 - Broadway grosses totaled $23,445,874 last week or an average of $651,274 per show
3:32 pm December 6, 2010 - Broadway capacity down 2.03% last week to 71.62%, or 253,436 seats sold out of 348,912 possible
3:33 pm December 6, 2010 - Broadway's average ticket price last week was $86.73, down from $89.14 during Thanksgiving week.
3:34 pm December 6, 2010 - 7 Broadway shows grossed over $1 million each: WICKED, LION KING, JERSEY BOYS, PROMISESx2, ELF, MERCHANT, BILLY ELLIOT
3:35 pm December 6, 2010 - Broadway's highest capacity (102.5%) & top grossing play ($1,085,310): MERCHANT OF VENICE's avg tix priced: $131.30
3:36 pm December 6, 2010 - MERCHANT OF VENICE could easily earn more but it's regularly had 7 or less performances each week. Last week a "full" 7
3:37 pm December 6, 2010 - Who reigns atop all Broadway shows? WICKED ($1,566,919) by just $37,900 over LION KING ($1,529,019)
3:38 pm December 6, 2010 - WICKED remains Broadway's top grossing show with $1,566,919 on 94.5% capacity. Average ticket price is $114.62
3:39 pm December 6, 2010 - JERSEY BOYS has Broadway's highest average ticket price at $132.06 narrowly edging out MERCHANT OF VENICE's $131.30
3:40 pm December 6, 2010 - THE LION KING still going strong grossing $1,529,019 on 95.6% capacity. Average ticket price: $119.17
3:41 pm December 6, 2010 - JERSEY BOYS also remains strong grossing $1,237,955 on 95.4% capacity.
3:42 pm December 6, 2010 - Broadway shows over 90% capacity: MERCHANT OF VENICE, SPIDER-MAN, LION KING, JERSEY BOYS, WICKED, BILLY ELLIOT
3:43 pm December 6, 2010 - Broadway shows w/avg tix price over $100: JERSEY BOYS, MERCHANT, DRIVING MISS DAISY, ELF, LION KING, WICKED, ADDAMS FAMILY, PROMISESx2
3:44 pm December 6, 2010 - Playing just 5 performances last week, SPIDER-MAN grosses $919,457 on 98.2% capacity. Average ticket price at $97.11
3:46 pm December 6, 2010 - Broadway's lowest grossing show: COLIN QUINN LONG STORY SHORT. Gross: $128,644. 47.1% capacity. Avg ticket price $58.10
3:47 pm December 6, 2010 - Broadway's lowest capacity: LA BÊTE at 40.4%. Gross: $216,038 Average ticket price still at $66.41
3:48 pm December 6, 2010 - Broadway's cheapest ticket? THE PITMEN PAINTERS at $45.62 average. Gross: $154,367 on 65.1% capacity
3:49 pm December 6, 2010 - THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, closing this Sunday, was at 77.8% capacity. Gross: $282,465 with $50.43 avg ticket price
3:51 pm December 6, 2010 - BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON which posted closing notice grossed $315,796 on 58.8% capacity. $65.18 avg ticket price
3:52 pm December 6, 2010 - Billie Joe Armstrong can't come back soon enough. AMERICAN IDIOT grossed $424,812 on 43.3% capacity. $71.73 Avg tix
3:54 pm December 6, 2010 - Last week's closing notice for SCOTTSBORO BOYS helped it earn Broadway's highest capacity gain of week. Up 18% to 77.8%
3:55 pm December 6, 2010 - Week's biggest capacity decline? PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, dropping 25.8% to 65.3%. Grosses $690,663, down over $333,000
So, dear readers, do any of these results surprise you? Is you favorite show teetering on the brink of breakaway success or failure? Either way, or if you have any other observations worth sharing, feel free to comment below.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
Today, I'm thrilled to send a lucky Steve On Broadway reader to see the show. Congratulations to Eleah Burman from New York, New York, who has just won two free tickets to see Rain - A Tribute To The Beatles at Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre!
Eligible entries for this SOB Contest needed to subscribe to this blog, follow me on Twitter (and then retweet one of my contest messages) and follow me on Facebook.
Congratulations again, Eleah!
Thank you to everyone who entered the contest. By subscribing to Steve On Broadway, you'll automatically be entered in all future contests!
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post. However, in conjunction with SpotCo, two tickets for Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles will be given away to one lucky reader.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value directly in exchange for this post.
Sure this post is two days late, but I've been reeling, feeling bloody awful in the wake of two high profile closingnotices that went up this week.
Although I'll have more to say on the other one shortly, let me discuss my dismay that Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson received the ax on Wednesday. (Almost immediately after the closing notice was posted, the shiny starry revival of That Championship Season -- which on paper stands to be a bigger box office success -- announced it would take BBAJ's Bernard B. Jacobs berth starting in February.)
Yes, my review was among the minority taking a dim view of the show. But I was rather enthusiastic about Michael Friedman's rollicking rock score and the brilliant star-making turn offered by Benjamin Walker as the eponymous 7th President.
My dismay is two-fold.
First, while I can't claim to be among the production's boosters, my hat is off to the enormous effort expended by director Alex Timbers and the Public Theater to make Broadway relevant to a new audience. I fully appreciate that I may be getting a little long in the tooth and may not be the type of audience a show like this was seeking. But I fully support their valiant attempt to infuse fresh new, er, blood into the Great White Way.
Second, I submit that the box office wasn't that bad. Last week, the production grossed $442,113, playing to a capacity of 64.7%. Though those are not the greatest figures, they're far from the worst, which includes shows that are barely attracting 50% and have indicated that they'll be around for a longer haul. Certainly the box office would likely have improved over the upcoming holidays, right? Unfortunately, a lot of talent will be out of work when the show closes January 2.
One silver lining at the box office has been that Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson's average ticket price was at a respectable $82.92 last week -- that's just under the average ticket price for The Phantom Of The Opera, which grossed over $1 million last week.
Perhaps BBAJ's producers should have given considerably more thought to how to attract their target audience, who simply can't afford Broadway prices. My recommendation before the show opened was for them to invest in a $20 ticket promotion -- you know, with that guy on the bill who happens to be the star of the show. My hunch is that they could have earned a major steam of buzz and the type of word-of-mouth that could have kept the show open considerably longer.
Instead, we have a closing notice coming too bloody soon.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value directly in exchange for this post.
Daly received accolades when she performed in this new Stephen Wadsworth-helmed revival first staged at Washington's Kennedy Center earlier this year. Since only a casting notice has been issued for Broadway, there is no further word at this time as to which, if any, of Daly's DC co-stars may make the transfer.
While Playbill has stated that the production will arrive on Broadway in late May -- too late for 2011 Tony nomination consideration -- it has only surmised that the play will be housed at Manhattan Theatre Club's (MTC) Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. There has been no confirmation by MTC.
The Kennedy Center described their 2010 production as follows:
Tony winner for Best Play, Master Class stars Emmy and Tony Award–winning actress Tyne Daly as Maria Callas. The play is a portrait of the opera diva told through her recollections of the glories, triumphs, and tragedies of her own life and career. Her voice is gone, her lover is long departed, and her sanity could possibly be next. All she has is a lonely itinerary of master classes and luggage packed full of the memories that are her only travel companion. Her students are the hapless targets of her sharp tongue, while she remains the picture of innocent aristocracy. Master Class shows that while the actress may have left the stage, she will never give up her audience.
As part of its promotion of the revival, the Kennedy Center offered the following video presentation with McNally:
Under Leonard Foglia's direction, Master Class first played Broadway in a lengthy 598 performance run, opening at the John Golden Theatre November 5, 1995, and closing June 29, 1997. Zoe Caldwell earned Tony and Drama Desk Awards for her turn as the opera diva. Audra McDonald won a Tony for her portrayal as Sharon, while Karen Kay Cody earned a Theatre World Award as Sophie -- her only Broadway credit. Other cast members included David Loud, Jay Hunter Morris and Michael Friel.
The $64,000 question is whether a revival presented as part of a subscription series (meaning it would have a limited run) and that opens after this season's Tony nomination cutoff will even be remembered a year later for the 2012 Tonys. If Daly provides a Master Class in acting, it just might have a shot.
In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value directly in exchange for this post.
Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles Limited run extended through May 31, 2011 (Show will go on hiatus starting January 15 and reopen at Brooks Atkinson Theatre on February 8)
Rock Of Ages - Open-ended run (Show will go on hiatus starting January 9 and reopen at Helen Hayes Theatre in March)
As someone who has been involved in both politics and public relations, it's no wonder I love watching theatre. Good or bad, it's the raw energy of seeing a live performance that gets my adrenaline pumping. From the moment I saw my very first Broadway show ("Annie" in London in 1979), I was hooked. Now I see as many as 70 shows each year ranging from soaring musicals to two-hander plays. And these eyes just may be in an audience near you!
