The norm for most of my two hour sessions is about thirty minutes of get-to-know each other conversation, then an hour play time and for whatever time remains I I ask if they would like to have a beverage, which somewhat surprising I find a good number accept.
One of the most hyped musicals to come along as 'creative' and a 'fresh voice in theater' was A STRANGE LOOP from last season. Critics were mixed on it, but it got plenty of hype on talk shows. Whoopi Goldberg (who pushed it endlessly on 'The View') warned viewers "You may struggle with it". It opened in April, 2022 and won the Tony as 'Best Musical' a few months later. The box office was a disaster from opening day and seemed to do worse for the rest of the run, which ended in January, 2023. I doubt 'stunt casting' would've even saved this show.
No one wants to return to Broadway after the pandemic, and spend hundreds of dollars on a ticket to a musical to "struggle with it". They want to be entertained for two hours - not struggle with the 'social issues' of the day which they are escaping from (and playwright Michael R. Jackson couldn't understand this). Producers have to learn that both the NYC audiences and the tourists are the ones who are buying the tickets to these Broadway productions, and both groups need to be entertained (see "MJ: The Musical" for an example of success after the pandemic).
"Funny Girl" was struggling for the first few months NOT because it was a bad production or because audiences weren't interested - it was struggling because it was terribly miscast in the lead role (as well as one of the key supporting roles). Everyone questioned the casting when it was announced, and critics panned the star. (Though the first six weeks of the box office was phenomenal, as those numbers reflected pre-ordered ticket sales which were bought way before the previews and way before the reviews came out the end of April.) Once the star and the key supporting role actress were replaced, and without any major changes to the production itself by the producers or creatives, the show became the hit that it was intended to be from the beginning. As with 'The Music Man', if a splashy name brings in the crowds - so be it. It puts investors in the 'black' and keeps them away from 'the red'.
It saddens me to post this, but because of a "family obligation"I will not be able to attend the 2024 Gathering. Later today or tomorrow I will be cancelling my reservation at INNdulge.
It saddens me to post this, but because of a "family obligation"I will not be able to attend the 2024 Gathering. Later today or tomorrow I will be cancelling my reservation at INNdulge.
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