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Post by Matt on May 8, 2024 17:25:59 GMT
Does anyone think that a transfer is confirmed, they are just using this as a marketing ploy? Absolutely not. The worst thing you can do is get investors to back you, sort a broadway transfer, then put an email out saying “we aren’t sure this will work, convince everyone it will pls”. |
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Post by helenfrombath on May 8, 2024 18:05:44 GMT
This "marketing survey" is being discussed quite a bit on the Broadway message boards as well. There seems to be some thought that perhaps the venue that the producers were looking at may or may not be available when they were expecting it to be so perhaps this survey is being sent out to see whether or not they can risk putting the show into a bigger venue?
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Post by blamerobots on May 8, 2024 18:10:08 GMT
This "marketing survey" is being discussed quite a bit on the Broadway message boards as well. There seems to be some thought that perhaps the venue that the producers were looking at may or may not be available when they were expecting it to be so perhaps this survey is being sent out to see whether or not they can risk putting the show into a bigger venue? That'd be ridiculously risky if that was the case. Venues, especially on Broadway, don't like to sit in "maybe" spaces because it's real easy to fall into conflicting timetables. Real easy to go dark if plans fall through. And going dark means no money, which is not the aim. Mincemeat, if they're this unsure, should be doing try-outs OUTSIDE of Broadway, damnit! Unless there's been some kind of disaster at wherever it was scheduled to go that we're about to find out about. Hope with that budget they've not been drilling holes in the floor to hit water mains  |
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Post by Jon on May 8, 2024 19:33:22 GMT
I wonder what theatre they've booked for Broadway, I think the Booth would give the intimacy plus the capacity they need to make money.
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Post by helenfrombath on May 8, 2024 20:11:10 GMT
I wonder what theatre they've booked for Broadway, I think the Booth would give the intimacy plus the capacity they need to make money. The Booth is booked for Autumn and next Spring. The Roommate and then The Donmar Next to Normal. |
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Post by westendcub on May 8, 2024 21:02:09 GMT
Sorry to say but this was dire, I loved ‘Dear Bill’ hated the rest.
This had flashes of good when it was being serious & playing to emotional beats, the farce of it was not for me.
I truly think it would be a mistake on Broadway but wilder things have happened I guess, not for me!
2 stars, one for ‘Dear Bill’ & one for a hard working ensemble cast but I didn’t enjoy this one!
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 8, 2024 21:06:56 GMT
Sorry to say but this was dire, I loved ‘Dear Bill’ hated the rest. This had flashes of good when it was being serious & playing to emotional beats, the farce of it was not for me. I truly think it would be a mistake on Broadway but wilder things have happened I guess, not for me! 2 stars, one for ‘Dear Bill’ & one for a hard working ensemble cast but I didn’t enjoy this one! Hoorah! A sane voice! Thought I was going crazy finding this an absolute snooze fest. Deeply unfunny with student theatre level performances. |
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Post by Jonnyboy on May 8, 2024 22:08:47 GMT
...it was the full OG cast in. ... What does "OG" mean? The context suggests "original" them something beginning with "g" that has me stumped. Google says it's "gangsta" which is clearly not right. Chambers offers "own goal"! Opera Ghost? |
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Post by interval99 on May 8, 2024 22:13:45 GMT
The resistance has officially launched its counter attack.
The real life story is amazing in its daring and audacity and I had loved seeing how the show creators had built up steam before getting to the west end. Had high hopes going in which were dashed pretty quickly. Yes the cast work hard and there are some clever moments buts its a slapstick musical and the matinee I went to most of the dialogue/singing was unintelligible as it was so rushed and babbled.
Considering the tiny size of the fortune the stagehands do an amazing job storing all the desks and props and the finale scene staging but that's the only positive and the reason for the one star I gave this in the poll
A 45 minute act pulled out for a numbing two and a half hours.
Off broadway it may prove a novelty show and given the the play that goes wrong went down well on broadway there momentum for odd comedy shows but can think of safer risks for 13.5 million.
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Post by max on May 8, 2024 22:30:42 GMT
In the email this is the strangest part:
"or can we join the ranks of Six, Les Mis, and Oliver… to name a few that have successfully crossed the pond?"
Then the survey asks if those same shows can be successful in the USA, when they've just told us they are/were. If it had slipped any Brit's attention that 'Oliver!' was a success on Broadway it's understandable, so you might otherwise click 'No' on that one, but no Broadway backer would be unaware (though it was way back in 1984 for the last revival and a lot's changed in the culture since then). 'Me And My Girl' is added to their list in the survey itself (11 Tony nominations, 3 wins) but it also ran in the mid to late eighties - relevant still?
The whole survey seems to be inviting us to join in an exercise in confirmation bias to make them feel better about doubts they've heard.
They're a great company, and I found so much to enjoy in the show - but haven't they already taught the industry and themselves the path to production? Start small, and let it grow like crazy to whatever level it reaches. I wouldn't be surprised if that was a Broadway house eventually (and quite rapidly). 'Hadestown' grew their way: development productions, then Off Broadway 2016, Canada 2017, London 2018, Broadway 2019 etc.
So interesting to see the dilemma when the 'plucky outsider' that cultivates a team of 'agent' supporters has to decide whether to parachute in as the conquering hero, or approach by stealth again taking a covert route to victory.
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Post by max on May 8, 2024 22:39:38 GMT
The resistance has officially launched its counter attack. The real life story is amazing in its daring and audacity and I had loved seeing how the show creators had built up steam before getting to the west end. Had high hopes going in which were dashed pretty quickly. Yes the cast work hard and there are some clever moments buts its a slapstick musical and the matinee I went to most of the dialogue/singing was unintelligible as it was so rushed and babbled. Considering the tiny size of the fortune the stagehands do an amazing job storing all the desks and props and the finale scene staging but that's the only positive and the reason for the one star I gave this in the poll A 45 minute act pulled out for a numbing two and a half hours. Off broadway it may prove a novelty show and given the the play that goes wrong went down well on broadway there momentum for odd comedy shows but can think of safer risks for 13.5 million. I think it's more characterful physicality / physical theatre than slapstick. [Apart from at the end in the 'making of a film within a show' sequence] What I wouldn't have enjoyed is slapstick pratfalls, slapped faces, bits of set that fall apart, pretending to forget lines etc. It told the story without all of those Mischief 'Goes Wrong' or La Navete Bete company attributes. Brillliant in other places, but tiring quite soon, and I'm glad they didn't use them here (though they managed to numb you another way by over-stretch of material). Your mention of The Play That Goes Wrong's Broadway success is interesting as slapstick transcends language and culture barriers ('Mr Bean' wordlessly conquering the world with elements of it in the mix). It's a show the Operation Mincemeat company don't mention in their Broadway email/survey. Perhaps they should, because in scale and the 'company of mates' feel there are similarities in audience appeal. But '...Mincemeat' does have a greater reliance on the words, so they'd be right not to draw to much comfort from that one's success. |
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Post by ceebee on May 8, 2024 22:51:12 GMT
This show will never recoup on Broadway and the producers know it.
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Post by ceebee on May 9, 2024 5:24:06 GMT
... but can think of safer risks for 13.5 million. Exactly - Sunset Boulevard, for example. |
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Post by craigbowker on May 9, 2024 8:14:23 GMT
My guess (I would love anyone with inside info to chime in):
They and their new producers had a place booked. Producers are getting nervous for some reason and told them they went from a green light to a maybe.
Reasons I think this:
The odd way of announcing the cast change IMMEDIATELY made me think something came undone as solid inside rumours had already said this was a green light for Broadway. The drip drip of new cast and holding out on cast change was a way to buy time. THEY know it would have worked better marketing-wise to announce it all at once.
It's happened before. My Son's A Queer was literally about to LOAD IN TO THEIR THEATRE on Broadway when it got "postponed".
You have to understand that the US theatre industry is much less healthy than the British theatre industry right now. Investors are nervous, not taking risks, things are getting more and more and more expensive. Some of this is legitimate (performers are paid muuuuuch better), some of it isn't. Producers in NY are also much more insular, profit driven, and boys club-y over there. I am sure this show has some champions but someone (or several people) who are key to it happening got cold feet.
I also would not be surprised if there are some disagreements on producers wanting changes being made either to the show or the desired cast. As much as I love this show, it could be slightly tightened and there are one or two people who I would understand if the producers wanted to recast.
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Post by NorthernAlien on May 9, 2024 8:41:00 GMT
I don't know much about the economics of Broadway - other than being aware that show budgets seem to be way higher than here. Why is is such a difference from the West End budget? Is it 'venue hire'? Or something else?
I feel like this would probably be well advised to start at an 'off-Broadway' venue, and, if it goes well, transfer later (a bit like 'Merrily' did?). Would that reduce the initial outlay at all?
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Post by apubleed on May 9, 2024 9:20:26 GMT
I’m sure there a loads of reasons but Broadway salaries and theatre rental is exponentially more expensive in New York than London. It’s always been higher but something has happened especially post COVID where the costs have spiralled and it’s starting to get concerning about how viable the New York market is. But there typically is no shortage of rich investors who are willing to gamble on the likely losses (most shows in New York never recoup).
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Post by thedrowsychaperone on May 9, 2024 9:33:06 GMT
 In all the Broadway-chaos yesterday, the news got kind of buried that this social media actually confirmed May 13th as the new cast start date. I know this has been common knowledge, but I think that's the first time it's actually been confirmed by the production itself? |
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Post by greatauntedna on May 9, 2024 11:18:51 GMT
Are the standing tickets any good for this? I’d have thought they’d be too far away to get so much from it.
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Post by Being Alive on May 9, 2024 11:20:43 GMT
Are the standing tickets any good for this? I’d have thought they’d be too far away to get so much from it. Have stood right at the back corner of the upper circle and its fine(there's just no room to move in the Fortune at all) |
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Post by craigbowker on May 9, 2024 15:07:48 GMT
Salaries are *massively* different. West End principles might make 45k a year. On Broadway it's something like 125k.
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Post by Sam on May 9, 2024 16:22:02 GMT
Christian as main Hester just confirmed.
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Post by paplazaroo on May 10, 2024 11:36:36 GMT
I'd be amazed if there really is any doubt in the Broadway minds; they just want a load of pull quotes to put on the Broadway marketing strategy while capturing more emails for the mailing list. The whole impressive strategy thus far has been about mobilising and motivating a fan group to do the marketing for them, based around the idea that they're 'the little show that could...' and nothing motivates harder than feeling like you're on the side of the underdog. Whoever heads up the Mincemeat marketing team should go into politics.
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Post by stagedoorfan on May 10, 2024 11:50:27 GMT
Are the standing tickets any good for this? I’d have thought they’d be too far away to get so much from it. Would also love to know this... |
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 10, 2024 20:39:17 GMT
Are the standing tickets any good for this? I’d have thought they’d be too far away to get so much from it. I bet standing is preferable to any of the seats in this theatre |
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Post by benj on May 10, 2024 20:56:19 GMT
It’s a nice, intimate theatre but so uncomfortable! It really needs a full refurbishment. They seem to be doing it bit by bit. I hope they get to the auditorium/seating soon!
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