Knowing When To Leave? Promises Promises Posts Closing NoticeLate yesterday, for the
second day in a row, another Broadway show posted its closing notice.
After 291 regular performances,
Promises Promises will close on the very same day as
West Side Story: January 2, 2011.
Despite earning
mixed reviews,
Promises Promises showed enormous box office promise right up through
two weeks ago when the tuner was still grossing over $1 million in ticket sales.
The only times those figures ever went south of a cool million were when its much-loved leads --
Kristin Chenoweth and the Tony-nominated
Sean Hayes -- were temporarily away. Initially, contracts for the duo were through December 26 of this year. In their closing notice announcement,
Promises Promises producers indicated that they were able to extend those contracts through the January 2 closing date (although Chenoweth will be out October 15-27 and December 29-January 1).
With the exception of Tony-winner
Katie Finneran, who stole the show as the deliriously funny Marge and who is leaving the show October 10 due to a pregnancy, all other principals are remaining with the production until it closes. Finneran's replacement,
Molly Shannon, takes over October 12 for the balance of the performances. This will mark Shannon's Broadway debut.
Early on, this revival of
Promises Promises made headlines as Hayes seemed unnecessarily
targeted by a
Newsweek reporter, who asserted that the actor's sexuality made him unbelievable as a romantic lead. Chenoweth
fired back, labeling the gay reporter as "knee jerk homophobic." Then, when Hayes hosted the Tony Awards, he and Chenoweth enjoyed perhaps the
strangest televised liplock since Michael Jackson and
Lisa Marie Presley. But no matter -- both only seemed to fuel box office demand.
While I certainly didn't hate the show, I didn't exactly love it, either. I was somewhere in the middle with my
two-star review, mostly because I found the first act so incredibly lumbering, yet surprised in my delight with the second, buoyed by Finneran's charms. But as a fan of "
The Apartment," which served as
Promises Promises' source material, I was disappointed by how flat the musical's story fell. And the shoe-horning in of songs like "I Say A Little Prayer For You" and "A House Is Not A Home" just didn't work for me.
Still, I had hoped for a second act miracle for the production itself. Just as Finneran lifted the entire musical after
Promises Promises' intermission, the thought of an inspired recasting of the leads along the lines of
what was accomplished with
A Little Night Music intrigued me. But those hopes were dashed as it appears that the production and creative team
gave up on finding anyone suitable as a box office draw that could replace either of them. Instead, that same team appears to be limiting its focus on prepping another upcoming 60s-era revival,
How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, for Broadway in the Spring of 2011.
But suppose for a moment that the show were to receive an 11th hour reprieve, whom would
you cast as Chuck Baxter and Fran Kubelik?
This is
Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new 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: Box Office, Broadway, Closing Notices, Katie Finneran, Kristen Chenoweth, Molly Shannon, Musical, Promises Promises, Revival, Sean Hayes
Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending June 27, 2010
Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending June 27, 2010
If you follow me on
Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the
week ending June 27, 2010:
4:30 pm June 27 - WICKED, LION KING, ADDAMS FAMILY, PROMISESx2, FENCES, JERSEY BOYS, BILLY ELLIOT, MARY POPPINS each have $1MM+ weeks
4:32 pm June 28 - WICKED remains #1 at Broadway box office grossing $1,641,718 last week. Average ticket price: $113.44. 100% capacity.
4:33 pm June 28 - LION KING last week's #2 show grossing $1,551,798 on Broadway playing to 100.1% capacity. Average ticket price: $115.59
4:34 pm June 28 - FENCES remains Broadway's top grossing play: $1,138,982.Also highest average ticket: $129.89 & highest capacity: 101.6%
4:35 pm June 28 - NEXT FALL had Broadway's lowest weekly gross: $180,317. Average ticket price: $59.24. Playing to 64.6% capacity.
4:36 pm June 28 - RACE has week's lowest capacity 46.6% & lowest average ticket price $51.95. Grosses $204,944 Will show close early?
4:37 pm June 28 - Just-closed HAIR goes off with bangs! Grosses $712,008 playing to 85.3% capacity up 15.2%. Highest over week over week
4:38 pm June 28 - FELA! has week's biggest capacity decrease of 4.1% to 88.2%. Grosses $588,286. Average tickets priced $80.99
4:39 pm June 28 - FELA! and RACE are only two Broadway shows last week to lose capacity. Overall, a very strong week at box office.
4:40 pm June 28 - Despite the critics, both ADDAMS FAMILY and PROMISES PROMISES are building audiences. Each earned $1.3 million+
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
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: average ticket price, Broadway, Broadway Box Office, Capacity, Fences, Promises Promises, Race, The Addams Family, Wicked
Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending June 20, 2010
If you follow me on
Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
The week after the Tony Awards is always telling because it demonstrates which shows gained from the broadcast and which ones sadly did not.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the
week ending June 20, 2010:
4:30 pm June 20 - Broadway box office totals are up slightly over last week. Grosses $21,957,198
4:31 pm June 20 - WICKED, LION KING, ADDAMS FAMILY, PROMISES PROMISES, FENCES, BILLY ELLIOT & JERSEY BOYS each gross $1 million+
4:32 pm June 20 - Sold-out WICKED week's top grossing show on Broadway pulling in $1,620,876. Average ticket price: $112.00
4:33 pm June 20 - FENCES continues breaking records at Broadway's Cort grossing $1,135,974 with average ticket now priced at $129.53
4:34 pm June 20 - As week's top grossing play FENCES also hits capacity home run as week's highest at 101.6%. Lots of standing room only
4:35 pm June 20 - Week's highest average ticket price: $130.50-A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC bid farewell to Catherine Zeta-Jones/Angela Lansbury
4:36 pm June 20 - Grossing $950,296, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC played to 97.8% capacity last week.
4:37 pm June 20 - NEXT FALL was week's lowest grossing Broadway show: $154,207. Average ticket price: $55.31 on 59.2% capacity
4:38 pm June 20 - EVERYDAY RAPTURE had week's lowest average ticket price on Broadway: $52.99. Grosses $213,249 on 68% capacity
4:39 pm June 20 - RACE had week's lowest capacity on Broadway: 47.6%. Grosses $253,436 with average tickets priced $62.97
4:40 pm June 20 - Tony Best Musical MEMPHIS enjoys box office bump: Grosses $835,071. Up over $135K week over week. Capacity at 86.5%
4:41 pm June 20 - Tony Best Musical Revival LA CAGE gets slight bump: $687,825 gross. Capacity up 3.5% to 86.5%. Av tix priced $94.02
4:42 pm June 20 - Tony Best Play RED capacity decreases to 98.9% but increases gross by nearly $130K to $666,618. Av tix priced $104.78
4:43 pm June 20 - PROMISES PROMISES gets biggest Tony bump as capacity increases 9% to 97.2%. Grosses $1,237,426. Av tix priced $91.06
4:45 pm June 20 - COME FLY AWAY has week's biggest drop in capacity down 13.2% to just 52.3%. Grosses $667,096. Av tix priced $99.02
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
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: average ticket price, Broadway, Broadway Box Office, Capacity, Come Fly Away, Fences, La Cage Aux Folles, Memphis, Promises Promises, Wicked
Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending May 31, 2010
If you follow me on
Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway. Because of the Memorial Day holiday, we had to wait until today to get our fix.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the
week ending May 31, 2010:
3:26 pm June 2 - Last week's Broadway box office was down 2.17% from last week. Total gross was $22,320,549. Average tix priced $80.51
3:27 pm June 2 - WICKED, LION KING, ADDAMS FAMILY, BILLY ELLIOT,PROMISES PROMISES, JERSEY BOYS, FENCES each gross $1 million+ last week
3:28 pm June 2 - Sold-out WICKED Broadway's top grossing show last week pulling in $1,570,390. Average ticket priced $108.51
3:29 pm June 2 - With week's highest capacity (101.6%) FENCES gains momentum as top grossing play $1,002,741.Average tix priced $114.32
3:30 pm June 2 - A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC boasts last week's highest average ticket price of $115.52. Grosses $795,273 on 92.4% capacity
3:31 pm June 2 - COLLECTED STORIES had 2 of bottom 3.Lowest grossing show of week $134,885/lowest av tix priced $42.18. 61.5% capacity
3:32 pm June 2 - RACE had week's lowest capacity at just 48.7% down 4.3% from last week. Grossed $308,931. Average ticket price $74.89
3:34 pm June 2 - It must be tourist season, as PHANTOM OF THE OPERA had week's top capacity increase of 81.% to 94.3%. Grosses $923,158
3:37 pm June 2 - COME FLY AWAY had week's largest capacity drop: 11.7% to 57.4%.Grossed $713,653 with av tix priced $96.44
3:39 pm June 2 - ADDAMS FAMILY still strong with steady box office gross of $1,307,046. Average ticket price $112.52 w/ 95.6% capacity
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
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 Little Night Music, average ticket price, Box Office, Broadway, Broadway Box Office, Capacity, Come Fly Away, Earnings, Fences, Promises Promises, The Addams Family, The Lion King, Wicked
Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending May 23, 2010
If you follow me on
Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the
week ending May 23, 2010:
4:40 pm May 23rd - WICKED, LION KING, ADDAMS FAMILY, PROMISES PROMISES, BILLY ELLIOT, JERSEY BOYS all have million $ weeks on Broadway
4:41 pm May 23rd - Sold-out WICKED is once again Broadway's top grossing show last week with $1,576,010. Average ticket price is $108.90
4:43 pm May 23rd - FENCES once again Broadway's top grossing play w/$985,577. Also week's highest capacity: 101.7%. Av tix priced $112.30
4:44 pm May 23rd - Week's highest average ticket price: $115.67 for A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. Show grossed $751,745 on just 87.3% capacity
4:46 pm May 23rd - NEXT FALL was Broadway's lowest grossing show last week: $150,982. Capacity just 54.3%. Average ticket price: $59.05
4:47 pm May 23rd - HAIR had Broadway's lowest capacity last week: 51%. Grossed $407,172 with average ticket price of $70.71
4:49 pm May 23rdh - Broadway's cheapest ticket last week was COLLECTED STORIES' $45.79. Grossed only $156,680 on 65.8% capacity.
4:50 pm May 23rd - Snap! ADDAMS FAMILY gets last laugh as box office increases to $1,312,216 gross. Av tix priced $109.79/98.4% capacity
4:53 pm May 23rd - CHICAGO has Broadway's biggest capacity increase of week: 13.5% to 89%. Grosses $597,460. Average ticket price: $77.72
4:55 pm May 23rd - HAIR has Broadway's biggest capacity decline last week of 10% to 51%. But gross increases from $401,681 to $407,172
4:57 pm May 23rd - With several weak weeks in a row, could HAIR be showing danger signs exhibited by most Broadway fare before they announce closings?
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
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 Little Night Music, average ticket price, Box Office, Broadway, Broadway Box Office, Capacity, Earnings, Fences, Million Dollar Quartet, Promises Promises, The Addams Family, The Lion King, Wicked
Broadway Box Office Tweets - Week Ending May 16, 2010
If you follow me on
Twitter, you'll know that each Monday, I offer my quick analysis of each preceding week's box office on Broadway.
For your viewing pleasure, here are my tweets in chronological order for the
week ending May 16, 2010:
3:40 pm May 16th - WICKED, LION KING, ADDAMS FAMILY, PROMISES PROMISES, BILLY ELLIOT, JERSEY BOYS all earned $1 million+ last week
3:41 pm May 16th - Sold-out WICKED was Broadway's top earning show last week again with $1,549,754 and average ticket price of $107.09
3:42 pm May 16th - FENCES swung for second $1 million week and missed by a hair. Show still top earning Broadway play with $992,252
3:43 pm May 16th - FENCES attracted week's highest capacity on Broadway of 101.7% with average tickets selling for $113.01
3:45 pm May 16th - Broadway's top average ticket price last week was for LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC: $115.37.Show earned $821,698. 95.6% capacity
3:47 pm May 16th - Broadway's lowest earner last week was NEXT FALL: taking in just $152,021. Capacity at 52.8%. Av tix priced: $61.10
3:49 pm May 16th - GOD OF CARNAGE had last week's lowest capacity of just 51.9%. Show earned $292,793 with average tickets priced $65.37
3:50 pm May 16th - EVERYDAY RAPTURE may have had last week's lowest average ticket price-$49.19-but earned $206,516 on 70.9% capacity
3:52 pm May 16th - MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET looks almost like 1/2 million w/ week's top capacity increase of 8.3% to 57.7%. Earned $462,545
3:54 pm May 16th - HAIR had week's biggest capacity drop of 6.9% to 61%. Earned $401,681, which was up from last week.
3:55 pm May 16th - Despite critics, ADDAMS FAMILY & PROMISES PROMISES improve at box office by $20K and $43K respectively.
Feel free to comment and let me know if you're surprised by any of these results.
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 Little Night Music, average ticket price, Box Office, Broadway, Broadway Box Office, Capacity, Earnings, Fences, Million Dollar Quartet, Promises Promises, The Addams Family, The Lion King, Wicked
Promises, Promises (The SOB Review) - Broadway Theatre, New York, New York
** (out of ****)
On paper,
Rob Ashford's new revival of
Promises, Promises -- the only Broadway tuner ever written by
Burt Bacharach and
Hal David -- was not only promising, but it seemed poised to be a sure-fire hit.
Pair one of the Great White Way's most beloved contemporary musical/comedy stars (
Kristin Chenoweth) with one of the last decade's most memorable television actors (
Sean Hayes), throw in a
couple more of Bacharach and David's most popular hits, move the action of
Neil Simon's book up a half decade to capitalize on "
Mad Men," and voila! A smash, right?!
Unfortunately, the only smash comes in the form of the massive collision of sensibilities between this revival's two wildly, divergent acts (not to mention how contextually misplaced those added songs are). The first is so horrendously conceived and downright boring, that you may be tempted to leave at intermission. The only saving grace is Hayes' occasionally winning take on C.C. Baxter, the office climber who's hoping to impress office cafeteria waitress Fran Kubelik (Chenoweth, whom I regret to say is miscast). But even Hayes' C.C. too frequently comes off as just this side of
Jack.
The shocker is that the second act is so significantly better than the first that you're actually relieved you stuck this one out. That's largely because of the yeoman efforts of the superb
Katie Finneran. She not only saves the day with her deliriously funny portrayal of the tipsy Marge MacDougall, but she also salvages the show.
You can't help but contemplate the promise of what might have been had Ashford maintained the same tone throughout. Instead, I'm sorry to say, we're merely stuck with broken
Promises, Promises.
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: Broadway, Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Katie Finneran, Kristin Chenoweth, Musical, Promises Promises, Revival, Rob Ashford, Sean Hayes, The SOB Review
