Sure this post is two days late, but I've been reeling, feeling bloody awful in the wake of two high profile closing notices 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.
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 directly in exchange for this post.
Labels: Alex Timbers, Benjamin Walker, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Broadway, Closing Notices, Michael Friedman, Musical
The SOB Poll - Septem-ber Results
At the beginning of Septem-ber, I noted how seven new shows were starting on Broadway that month and
asked you to vote for the show you
most wanted to see.
The results are finally in.
With a plurality of the 149 votes cast,
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jack-son led the pack with 36.9%. The musical went on to receive largely positive views,
present company excluded.
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson was followed in a close race for second
place.
A Life In The Theatre (14.8%) narrowly edged critical darling
Brief Encounter (14.1%). They were followed by
La Bête (10.7%),
Lombardi (8.1%) and
The Pitmen Painters (6.7%).
How did your favorite show fare?
Tomorrow, I'll provide the results of your top picks among Broadway shows starting in October.
This is
Steve On Broadway (SOB).
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.Labels: A Life In The Theatre, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Brief Encounter, Broadway, La Bete, SOB Poll
*1/2 (out of ****)
The emperor -- er, president -- has no clothes and his name is Andrew Jackson.
Sure the mob rule in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson may be all sexypants. But sexy ain't necessarily pretty, unless you mean pretty dumb.
Proudly wearing its anachronistic satire on its tight pant leg, this emo-rock musical ever so loosely based on the life of the seventh president of the United States at least has two considerable things working in its favor: Michael Friedman's bloody good score and its game cast led by the charismatic Benjamin Walker in the title role. It's understandable how these two aspects of the show alone could provide a groundswell of support.
But then there's Alex Timbers' book. Tempted as I am to say it's clever by half, in truth it's rarely clever. There are flashes of brilliance, but too often it parades as a sophomoric "Schoolhouse Rock" with Looney Tunes sound-effects. Except this is a pottymouth history lesson you'd never want your kids to learn if you cared a wit about the all the facts.
While Timbers' anachronistic direction doesn't bother me, his often disingenous deconstruction of early American history does. Yes, there are many parallels that can be drawn between Jackson's time and today. But Timbers' obtuse book fails to connect the dots satisfactorily. So sloppily written is this show at times that you'd think Jackson's biggest headache was in dealing with a Republican-dominated Congress, even though the GOP as we know it wasn't formed until nine years after his death.
I'm fully aware that mobs of critics practically hoisted this Andrew Jackson on their shoulders, celebrating it after first opening earlier this year at the Public Theater. But populism ain't all it's cracked up to be, and I resist mobs.
So even though this mob at least rocked my world, it's incapable of ruling it. As a result, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson fails to earn my vote. Ironically, since the real Andrew Jackson championed the individual, I think he may have understood.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
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.Labels: Alex Timbers, Andrew Jackson, Benjamin Walker, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Broadway, Michael Friedman, Musical, The SOB Review
Bloody Bloody Opening Night
Tonight,
Alex Timbers and
Michael Friedman's bloody emo-rock musical
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson opens at Broadway's
Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.
After its 2008
world premiere at LA's
Kirk Douglas Theatre, the show came to New York for a limited run earlier this year at the
Public Theatre, becoming its
highest-grossing show ever. Now, proclaiming that "History just got all sexypants," the tuner finally goes before Broadway's critics.
If you're wondering what all this sexypants business has to do with America's 7th President, the
official website for
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson offers up the following description:
This spring's biggest downtown hit was undoubtedly Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Rolling Stone called it "the season's best musical" and audiences flocked to The Public Theater -- where iconic shows like A Chorus Line and Hair started out -- to see what the daring young creative team Alex Timbers (writer/director) and Michael Friedman (composer/lyricist) had cooked up. Now, by populist demand, their bloody brilliant show is packing up its tight, tight jeans and heading to Broadway!
In Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, rising star Benjamin Walker reprises his role as America's first political maverick. A.J. kicked British butt, shafted the Indians and smacked down the Spaniards all in the name of these United States -- who cares if he didn't have permission? An exhilarating and white-knuckled look at one of our nation's founding rock stars, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson recreates and reinvents the life of "Old Hickory," from his humble beginnings on the Tennessee frontier to his days as our seventh Commander-in-Chief. It also asks the question, is wanting to have a beer with someone reason enough to elect him? What if he's really, really hot?
In addition to Walker,
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson features
Maria Elena Ramirez as Rachel Jackson and
Kristine Nielsen as its storyteller, along with two other characterizations of U.S. Presidents:
Jeff Hiller as
John Quincy Adams and
Lucas Near-Verbrugghe as
Martin Van Buren.
Will critics pounce on the show like a $20 bill? I'll provide my own SOB Review shortly.
This is
Steve On Broadway (SOB).
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.Labels: Alex Timbers, Benjamin Walker, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Broadway, Jeff Hiller, Kristine Nielsen, Lucas Near-Verbrugghe, Maria Elena Ramirez, Michael Friedman, Musical
7 New Broadway Shows Begin This Month - Which Do You Most Want To See?This month, Broadway's 2010-11 Theatrical Season begins in earnest as seven new plays and musicals start previews.
They include
Mrs. Warren's Profession (September 3),
Brief Encounter (September 10),
The Pitmen Painters (September 14),
A Life In The Theatre (September 21),
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (September 20),
La Bête (September 23) and
Lombardi (September 23). Which leads me to ask in my latest SOB Poll, "Which of these productions do you
most want to see?"
Please take a moment to vote in this poll, and feel free to provide your comments below as to why.
Thank you for participating!
For the complete list of Broadway shows confirmed for this season, please click
here. For shows that have been announced, but not fully confirmed with venues and/or dates, click
here.
This is
Steve On Broadway (SOB).
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.Labels: A Life In The Theatre, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Brief Encounter, Broadway, La Bête, Lombardi, Mrs. Warren's Profession, SOB Poll, The Pitmen Painters
Bloody Bloody BroadwayYesterday,
it was confirmed that the acclaimed emo-rock musical from
Alex Timbers (book and direction) and
Michael Friedman (score) about the United States'
seventh President is coming to Broadway's
Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in September.
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson enjoyed its
world premiere at the
Kirk Douglas Theatre (Culver City, CA) in January 2008. After launching there, it became a smash hit at New York's
Public Theatre where it concluded an extended run late last month. In fact, it was the venue's
highest-grossing show ever.
LA's Center Theatre Group
describes the show as follows (take a look at this
link for an amusing promo video):
Shootouts, smallpox and scalpings—growing up on the American Frontier was killer! Hoping to kick some British butt and bitch-slap the Spaniards, thirteen-year old Andrew Jackson joins the Army and grows up to become America’s first populist president and greatest rock star since George Washington.
A fast-paced irreverent rock musical about the country we live in and the leaders we choose. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson redefines America’s seventh president, a pioneer of humble stock who invented the Democratic Party, moved Indians west, and played a kick-ass guitar.
Benjamin Walker will reprise his turn as Andrew Jackson, after
turning down a role in Fox's "
X-Men: First Class." Hollywood's loss is New York's gain. Walker last trod Broadway's boards as Le Chevalier Danceny in the 2008 revival of
Les Liaisons Dangereuses. The actor has been attached to
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson from the start.
After missing the show during its Public run, I'm looking forward to seeing it on Broadway. Only wish some innovative ticketing scheme could be implemented where all you'd have to pay is
$20. After all, why not trade one Andrew Jackson for another?
Previews begin September 21 with an opening date of October 13.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
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.Labels: Alex Timbers, Andrew Jackson, Benjamin Walker, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Broadway, First Word On New Show, Michael Friedman, Musical, Public Theater
