How many shows on Broadway is *too* many shows on Broadway?? What do you think?

@rhondaharris3291

5 күн бұрын

As a major life long broadway fan who flies into the city just for the day 4-5 times per year just to see a show, I like variety. So I feel like 30-35 shows to choose from is a nice number for choice annually for me. Over the past 1-2 years I have mixed it up seeing various shows when I fly in for the day. (Camelot at Lincoln Center, Little Shop of Horrors at Westside with Jeremy Jordan, Moulin Rouge, Leopoldstadt etc.) so I really like a wide range of choices.

Totally agree with your perspective on the importance of marketing/drawing folks in. I think that's 100% the reason for the 2024 spring openings that failed quickly. I don't think in concept that Broadway is too crowded. I think the challenge is how to better space out openings. Give the shows less immediate competition on first dibs of an audience when there's too many choices, and not enough time for "once open" marketing and word of mouth to spread.

@user-py3vv1lf2q

5 күн бұрын

*especially when factoring in cost, comfort, etc.

@itskatharinequinn

4 күн бұрын

A producer friend got SO mad about a show opening in the summer, as though it was against the rules and ruining the "system" of fall/spring openings. New is scary, but different is good. What we're doing isn't working, so why not try something new?

@user-py3vv1lf2q

4 күн бұрын

@@itskatharinequinn agreed. We have try. It will make things healthier in the long run IMO...for shows to find their footing, for the industry to break its recency bias problem for awards recognition...

@jc22358

4 күн бұрын

@@itskatharinequinn That Fall/Spring opening is "traditional" but, it comes from the days of non-air conditioned theaters. Then, it became about the "drama" of opening just before Tony eligibility closed. The biggest challenge/risk is opening between Jan. 7 and March 1, due to potential weather issues. We can't manipulate weather (yet...) but, that 3-month period could be a great time to build interest in newer, less commercially-recognized works (especially if the score is really good!).

@itskatharinequinn

3 күн бұрын

@@jc22358 Jan-Feb is also ROUGH in tourist season terms, so if you're looking to build word of mouth, it's a tough tough time to do so.

Yes yes yes!!!! It’s amazing how backstage content, preview clips and interviews can make me want to see a show!

@itskatharinequinn

4 күн бұрын

Same! Falling in love with the actos and vibe of the show is key!

As someone who lives in CNY, I get to come down pretty frequently so I don't consider myself a tourist but I am not a "local." That said, decision fatigue is real. I love that the theatres are full with shows and the district is so vibrant again (although when they all let out at the same time it's a bit unsettling and I can feel unsafe), but I struggle with how to budget my time and money on which shows I feel like I'd get the most enjoyment out of and it's hard to discern through all the choices especially of new productions. Tourists who have a limited budget or time or are only in NYC for a day trip may feel like they want what's familiar, so they might gravitate toward a revival, a "tried and true" like Hamilton, or what's been getting the most press like your awesome work with Gatsby (which is also a fairly familiar IP as is Outsiders). For me, I crave new works now. Do I get excited about some revivals or juke boxes? Sure, I'd love to see Heart of Rock & Roll with my mom for a fun night of escapism. But being in my early 40's and wanting more to chew on from my theatre going experiences. I don't think there's too much on Broadway but I think it just becomes "too much" to find much value in taking the time to travel, save the money, and then spend mental energy on sifting through all the options.

Bottom line: ticket prices are too high for people who are not upper middle class. It is cost prohibitive. All of the media savvy you are talking about is coherent and true but, cost has driven the local market away largely. It is no longer a "date night" experience. It is a splurge and doesn't forgive experimentation. That's why familiar titles are looked at as a "safer" bet. The media blitz has to be singular and almost hypnotic.

@itskatharinequinn

4 күн бұрын

I totally agree. And the problem is: it isn't a luxury experience that matches its luxury price. The performances may be exquisite, but the experience isn't luxurious. So--if they want to keep the exorbitant prices and continue to treat it as a "luxury proposition," they have to up what they're offering.

@jc22358

4 күн бұрын

@@itskatharinequinn Bigger seats, more leg room; maybe a pre-&post-show meet-and-greet with your "party" (a prearranged group, like cruise ships do) to chat and nosh and maybe a complimentary drink, specifically to talk about the show. Maybe topics are pre-arranged and the group can decide which question/topic they want to dive into. Infotainment, along with a single from the new score pre-released.

I see shows with my grandma and she often says “I don’t know what’s on broadway - you choose”. I think to your point people (especially non common theater goers) do not know what’s on and do not put the effort to find out so they are not willing to see new shows

@itskatharinequinn

4 күн бұрын

Spot on. Out of curiosity--is your grandma on Facebook?

Great video! I would love to see you do a video about the current state of Broadway audience behavior, in the sense that I feel like so many phones are ringing during shows, people are talking during the show, laughing at inappropriate moments, etc.

@itskatharinequinn

4 күн бұрын

Oooof--yeah, I am unpacking that a bit in coming videos, but probably merits its own. And so glad you enjoyed this one!

@conniescorner9021

4 күн бұрын

@brihow24 that is interesting. My husband and I were just talking about this. When we go to a classic show (Phantom, Chicago, Wicked) people were so disengaged and being rude. We just did a binge of Merrily, Gatsby, and Cabaret and the audiences were really well behaved. We figured it could be the prices...or maybe new shows that people don't know by heart force may them to be attentive. 🤷‍♀️

Another problem I am seeing with general audiences is they have "made up their minds" about what IS available on Broadway. I've heard some say "its nothing but Disney shows now" ummm no, currently there are only two Disney theatrical productions. Or they'll say "its just revivals, jukebox, and movie adaptations" also not true. There are alot of them, yes, but it's not exclusively those things. I just think its funny that when I ask them to name a current show...all they know for sure is Hamilton and Back to the Future. I think if each Broadway show takes your media company approach, then they should be really clear about what is unique about their production. A show like Harmony partly failed because people heard Barry Manilow was involved and misconstrued it to be "the Barry Manilow jukebox musical" which it wasn't 🤷‍♀️ that in addition to everything you've said in other videos (price, seat comfort or lack there of, show times, etc.)

@itskatharinequinn

4 күн бұрын

to be fair, harmony would always be a tricky sell, but _yes_ I absolutely agree messaging could've been clearer. And you make a great point: musicals HAVE to highlight what sets them apart...and hard.

I don't think the number of shows is the primary problem. Yes to everything you're saying about bringing new audiences in, digital media marketing, a more comfortable experience, MORE AFFORDABLE TICKET PRICES etc. But I do think what you said about long time shows closing also matters. For people living in the city, maybe you can make it to see all the shows you want to see, assuming you can afford to. But as someone who up until now has not lived in NY, and who comes in particularly to see Broadway shows, I can't make it to most shows before they close!!! I am so grateful that when I was in NY last summer I got to see shows like Here Lies Love, The Cottage, etc. But then shows like Harmony, How to Dance In Ohio, and others, opened after I left and closed before I was able to come back. I think waiting to bring a show to Broadway until you knew you had the finances and the people's support/interest to keep it running longer would be smarter. I know, as a director and producer and performer, how exciting it is to open a show. But I do think more off-broadway runs, more time building the financial support and fan-base, before bringing it to Broadway would help some of these shows more. Especially with some of the audiences some of these shows are targeted towards. Not many of these shows are targeted towards retired seniors with money and time to spare. Many of these shows are geared to young adults who cannot afford to see so many shows and are saving up their money, or families trying to find a time everyone is available, etc. And shows close before people even get a chance to get there.

@itskatharinequinn

5 күн бұрын

@@AvivaRuth absolutely agree, but the problem is: shows like Harmony were in development for 30 YEARS! Wild. Lempicka was in development for 10. And at a certain point, the money to develop truly runs out. And sometimes when you're *in* the thing, it's near impossible to tell if it is or isn't ready. A lot of folks feel Outsiders only gelled JUST before it opened on Bway. Suffs was WILDLY improved from the Public to Broadway. But artists are ultimately mere mortals. Whether a show is ready when the developmental costs dry up is ultimately a bit up to fate. Then there's also the circumstance of vanity projects--either from wealthy producers or celebrities that can foot the cost when the money runs dry for a while. Regardless, marketing HAS to start sooner. Workshop, out of town, etc: it's gotta start now.

@AvivaRuth

5 күн бұрын

@itskatharinequinn I didn't realize Harmony was in development for 30 years!! I literally only heard about it when its Broadway opening was announced, and even then there was very little info readily available about it. Just goes to show how important the marketing is!! And from the early stages, just like you're saying. Especially when you don't live in NY or don't work in theatre you don't hear about all these shows without proper marketing

@yankee04

5 күн бұрын

@@AvivaRuth Isn’t that part of her point? Harmony could have done better getting the word out on social media. It was an excellent show, but failed to find an audience.

@AvivaRuth

5 күн бұрын

@@yankee04 Yes, I was agreeing with her. I had thought not enough development time and/or finances could have been part of it too, but then Katharine responded to that, and I saw/agreed with her point.

You are defiantly on to something about shows having to be a digital company. For those of us living far away from New York, it is impossible to see the shows in their original runs. Yes we get tours, some better than others (its often hard to know what tours are union and what aren't) And if its a popular show, tickets are sold out in advance, and tours only stay in town a few weeks, so its hard to catch them. I'm more likely to watch the pro shots than go and see a tour. Which leads us back to digital. There is a place for pro shots, and filmed concerts etc in this new digital age and it increases the reach of the show. Im reminded of when VCRs came around and Hollywood panicked and started to litigate thinking people would pirate movies and they would be ruined. It took them a while to fully realize how much they could make by selling videos, and in turn generated more interest in their movies.

@itskatharinequinn

4 күн бұрын

1000% agree. One of my primary missions is to get Broadway on board with regular streaming and pro shots, but it's definitely an uphill climb. Doable, but gonna take a beat.

@Storkus100

Күн бұрын

I recently saw in Playbill that Ana Gastyer joined "Once Upon a Mattress " with Sutton, Urie, and Brooks Ashmanskas. That is a lot of extremely funny people in one show. The only way it could get better is if they get Christian Borell and Laura Benanti, it would break Broadway. I mention this because, though I really like Suttons work, I'm not sure I like that show enough to go see it. Seen to many High school productions I guess. Now I feel like its a once in a life time thing, a must see, but, I'm out here on the west coast, and I guarantee that tickets for this will be $500+ IF you can even get them. Factor in the cost of travel and lodging and your into the thousands, for just a weekend to see one show. Yes, I am sure there will be a tour, but will it capture the madness that will be the Broadway production? Again A perfect show for a pro-shot, or a filmed version, like "Waitress" did. THAT is how you multi platform market.

Girl, you're friggin brilliant. Preach!

@itskatharinequinn

2 күн бұрын

Thank you!! So glad you enjoyed the vid :)

here is something...suppose that shows gave mat. on different days....not all on WED/SAT....like in BRITAIN

@MarcusMartn

5 күн бұрын

I always thought of that also

@rhondaharris3291

5 күн бұрын

Totally agree..more shows on Monday too. Shows offered almost every day at 1pm as well as early evenings(7)/7 days per week.

@itskatharinequinn

5 күн бұрын

Oh i *love* a varied schedule. Gatsby has Thursday matinees and Monday nights. I def think we could afford to stagger times more!

@kathleenewing3673

5 күн бұрын

And on Sun/Mon evenings

@conniescorner9021

5 күн бұрын

I whole heartedly concur. I have to take trains into NYC and they are cheaper during the day on weekdays. Just saw Gatsby last Thursday Matinee and saved so much money. Plus there were no other Matinees so finding a restaurant afterwards for dinner was a lot less stressful. The theaters on 45th are so bunched up. They need to stagger so that meals can be more pleasant.

Hamilton is already NINE years old???? I have never felt so old 😅

Excellent editing and great vid!

First, let me say that I just recently discovered you/your channel and really value the content you bring! Now: Average BWay ticket price (average!) is $168.00. Maybe ticket prices can come down! And then of course run promotionals advertising more affordable tickets. Or offer more special deals like 2 for 1, or Buy one get second ticket half off. As a Californian who has a daughter going to college in NYC I know intimately just how much a trip there costs, and then when I throw in a couple of BWay shows, well that adds a lot to overall cost. Point is, those millions of tourists who are there at any given time are spending a fortune on being in NYC. Seeing a Broadway show can truly be cost prohibitive. Also, 35 concurrent productions IS IMO too many. Can’t fill all those seats, again especially with the ticket costs

@itskatharinequinn

5 күн бұрын

So happy to have you here!! 🫶 And oh yes, ticketing strategy is HUGE. The operational costs of Broadway shows is astronomical, so that is totally something that has to be considered. That said: we're not necessarily always delivering an experience that matches the price point. I'm aalso lways a fan of a broad range of prices. I'm fine with some wildly high premium seats if you also have rush, lottery, and super cheap front row orch and back row mezz seats. And I feel like we *have* to be able to keep 41 shows running in all theatres at once. It's just not that many! But maybe I'm naively optimistic here.

@Cullenore

5 күн бұрын

@@itskatharinequinn I realize that the operational costs of each show must be sky high, and maybe another reason to run fewer simultaneously. Provide quality shows, very varied seat prices, and still meet the shows’ cost demands.

The theater district is NOT Times. Square. Side by side. Yes!! But. NOT the same

Just too expensive

Could we please get a pro version of gatsby on one of the streaming platforms. This is such a hit with great music and great story. People read the book in schools. I think it would do great on line. Just like newsies and Hamilton

My little off-topic comment: I think the recent movie musicals haven't been doing well. Though I know, the film industry and movie theaters are having their own issues. Wonka was probably the only one that was successful. Mean Giris was not received well and no one really showed up for Color Purple. They went to streaming so fast. I think the challenge is marketing to people who don't automatically hear the word "musical" and then shut their ears off because they think it's synonymous with boring and long. That's probably why all those movies haven't been advertised as one in their trailers. I think Wicked will do well (why it's 2 parts is just greedy because I don't think the 2nd act is strong enough to be its own movie). But I think what's helping that one is having celebs in it besides the ones known for being on stage. Random: I liked that Roku put a pro-shot of Heathers the musical and years ago, on Netflix I watched the ones for Shrek and Spongebob

Oh my gosh I love great. Gatsby.

@itskatharinequinn

4 күн бұрын

I'm so glad 💚💚💚

My question is... Once you've built you social media campaign, how to you spread it without a budget/a low budget or without having a large social media following in the first place? I tried promoting my movie musical and running a crowd funding campaign and it flopped. My guess is, while the subject matter has a small fan base to begin with, it was very difficult to get the word out to others on social media, no matter how much we posted.

@itskatharinequinn

4 күн бұрын

It's how you use social! Jeremy and Eva initially were like--uhhhh why are we doing Barbie memes? But then, those videos got millions of views, brought in new followers, and *then* they learned that there was a Great Gatsby musical starring those two. Trends are vital on social--and then relating them back to your brand. _then_ you can share with your audience what your media is actually about.

Broadway definitely has a problem attracting an audience. In March, I went to NYC specifically for Broadway and I tried to research beforehand. It's so hard to find information, I could've really used a comprehensive website showcasing and comparing all the shows. Like, I WANT to be convinced to watch your show! But I was sort of going around like a chicken with its head cut off. I could've used a marketing tactic to draw me in! And as for the prices... let's be real. If you're going to be selling tickets for 50% off at the booth, maaayyybe your prices are too high in the first place! I wanted to book ahead some shows but the prices were bananas. I decided to gamble the TKTS booth instead and I missed out on a lot I wanted to see. I loved every single show I saw on Broadway. But the process of getting to that point... my god. It was exhausting.

@itskatharinequinn

3 күн бұрын

What did you end up using to find your information? And what did you see??

@TiaMat99

3 күн бұрын

@@itskatharinequinn you're going to laugh... but I follow a lot of Starkid actors and fans on twitter and just seeing who they look up to and what shows they love. And some musicals I knew from movies. I saw: - Hadestown (duh. That one is famous and rightly so) - Little shop of horrors (Darren Criss is ex-Starkid, he played Seymour) - Book of mormon (because Starkid AJ Holmes used to play in it) - Sweeney Todd (from the movie... but it blew me away, incredible musical. An Aaron Tveit fan was born that day. I went twice) - Back to the future (Will Branner is in it, he's in Starkid's latest show NPMD, phenomenal! I went twice) - Five (a Six parody, but there's a Starkid Jaime Lynn Beatty in it!) Somehow I ended up going to a lot of Starkid related shows because that's who's actually active on social media so that's what I ended up picking over other shows that I just didn't know anything about. Would've loved to have seen Merrily, Six, Hamilton etc but it was either sold out or over 400 bucks for a ticket. Insanity. Btw Starkid is doing a show this month, Cinderella's Castle, your friend Curt is in it. They're going to sell digital tickets, probably $15 or $20 for a ticket. THIS is how you do modern theater. Hope you'll do a video on the digital ticket phenomenon!

For me, I don't think of shows as competing against each other. I want to see everything, so I'm usually debating sooner vs later for any given show. And because I have to travel to nyc, sometimes my math is to wait on the show with the most hype/ most "successful" marketing or obvious appeal on the assumption that it will tour, which is probably counter to most people. Instead I prioritize those mid-size shows that I think might struggle to last long or mount a tour at all, or shows I don't want to wait on (OBC cast or story that specifically appeals to me). An obstacle I see related to how to reach audience members via social media are the algorithms running literally everything at this point. The content seems to be kind of all our nothing these days. I'm so steeped in Broadway/theatre media at this point that if I'm not seeing content related to that show, I just assume their social media/ marketing team are not doing their jobs. Whereas most people (including other tourists) don't really have theatre on their radar and probably aren't seeing anything any of the shows are putting out because they've never "engaged" with any before. I see the most uninformed interest in comments when shows make content that crosses over into other fandoms, whether it's the tiktok audio of the week or an edit to a Taylor Swift song, etc. That's when I see fans of that other thing in the comments asking about the show.

@itskatharinequinn

5 күн бұрын

Oh, I think you're so spot on with your strategy of what shows to see when. Honestly, I love when Broadway content creeps into other fandoms. Even when folks ask questions that seem wild to theater fans, that's a piece of content that at _least_ alerts them to the existence of the show. Ultimately, that's always a good thing.

@ThexImperfectionist

5 күн бұрын

@@itskatharinequinn Agreed. I probably phrased that poorly. I meant that those crossovers are one of the ways I've seen shows successfully catch the attention of people who weren't previously aware of the show on social media. Definitely a good thing. I really believe every show has an audience out there that will fall in love with it but not every show is for everyone so trying to identify the correct communities to target with content vs casting as wide a net as possible is not an easy juggling act I have to imagine.

several will exit after the tony awards.......and some might not make it to the fall here is something for you to think about.....maybe the NETHERLANDER group should have kept SHUCKED.....as TOMMY did not make it and is closing

@itskatharinequinn

5 күн бұрын

I am a totally biased party--Shucked has my heart forever! But the cast of Tommy is also wildly talented. The Broadway real estate game is a tricky one for sure.

@yankee04

5 күн бұрын

@@itskatharinequinnI agree. I enjoyed Tommy quite a lot. It has a certain demographic, but I didn’t see any marketing for it. Surprised it didn’t get more nominations though.

One thing I always appreciated but almost never happens anymore is when there's a cast album before a show opens. I understand the reasons for not doing that (money being the first and that a cast needs to form their show before it should be set in stone) but I really enjoy falling in love with a soundtrack a than visiting a show. Recently I visited two shows who closed that made a cast album closely before closing or even after they're closed. Who's gonna buy that? When I'm in the audience and kove a show, the soundtrack should be available to purchase (digitally and/or) on cd the day the show opens. That's why way back we used to get studio albums and live recordings later as a bonus. This may be a very European perspective. But waiting 6 month or longer for an album where you have a thousand possible customers in the theater every night should make at least people think about that. All said with love of course. If I have to wait I'll always be patient and wait 🙂