Threaded Order Chronological Order
| Ain't Too Proud last night | |
| Posted by: castro 02:05 pm EST 03/08/19 | |
|
|
|
| This show is definitely not breaking any new ground. It is a pretty straight forward telling of the story of the group. Derrick Baskin has the unfortunate task of narrating the entire show. He's a talented guy but he is definitely burdened with the worst aspects of the show. The show is well performed by a talented cast but all the characters are completely one dimensional which prevents any real emotional connection to the story On one level it is entertaining and will probably give fans a show that they will enjoy. | |
| reply to this message |
| re: Ain't Too Proud last night | |
| Posted by: Delvino 08:24 pm EST 03/08/19 | |
| In reply to: Ain't Too Proud last night - castro 02:05 pm EST 03/08/19 | |
|
|
|
| Likely to do well, as "Motown" did (who doesn't love these songs?), but as a sub-chapter of that bigger tale, do we find enough "there" there? Has this subgenre of juked bio run out of steam? "Beautiful" and "Jersey Boys" are gold(ish) standards, but how many of these things will swamp Times Square? Asking for a friend, as they say. | |
| reply to this message |
| Michael Jackson, Tina turner are two more | |
| Posted by: dramedy 05:21 am EST 03/09/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Ain't Too Proud last night - Delvino 08:24 pm EST 03/08/19 | |
|
|
|
| I don’t think jagged little pill is about morisette so falls into jukebox like moulin rouge to name Four musicals next season without new scores. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Ain't Too Proud last night | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 12:28 am EST 03/09/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Ain't Too Proud last night - Delvino 08:24 pm EST 03/08/19 | |
|
|
|
| Would you really say that MOTOWN did well? it had a 738 performance run, and then a two-week return to Broadway. While that's obviously not a huge flop, I wouldn't say it's considered a very good run for a new Broadway musical nowadays -- especially not for that kind of musical (as compared to THE BAND'S VISIT, for example). | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Ain't Too Proud last night | |
| Posted by: EvFoDr 12:41 pm EST 03/09/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Ain't Too Proud last night - Michael_Portantiere 12:28 am EST 03/09/19 | |
|
|
|
| I have no skin in the Motown game, in fact I didn't really like it. But in the interest of expanding on this, I think you have mis-characterized its success. Number of performances isn't the only metric. Leaving out the lackluster return to Broadway for three weeks, which didn't have the momentum of the original behind it, the grosses were enviable. They didn't have a single week under 800K and only 20 weeks were less than 1M (all in the 800K and 900K's). This out of roughly 96 weeks, and the average weekly gross was 1.2M if my math is correct. On top of that, it never fizzled out. Grosses were consistent and strong right until the end. Wasn't the rumor that they were forced out because Harvey needed a theatre for Finding Neverland? I remember being shocked when Motown announced closing because nothing in their sales patterns indicated they were going in that direction. You can pretty much tell when a show is going to announce closing (unless they have some angel pumping money in) and Motown wasn't like that. It also had very strong numbers on tour, doing business near or just below the blockbusters. There is no question that this not very good musical was very popular and did very strong business. |
|
| Link | Motown Grosses |
| reply to this message | reply to first message | |
| re: Ain't Too Proud last night | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 01:39 pm EST 03/09/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Ain't Too Proud last night - EvFoDr 12:41 pm EST 03/09/19 | |
|
|
|
| Thanks for the details about the grosses, and I had forgotten about that rumor. If MOTOWN was indeed doing that well just prior to its closing on Broadway, it's really surprising and too bad for them that they couldn't find another Broadway theater. But again, I certainly don't remember all the details of what went down at the time. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| MOTOWN | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 07:18 pm EST 03/09/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Ain't Too Proud last night - Michael_Portantiere 01:39 pm EST 03/09/19 | |
|
|
|
| The Broadway production was capitalized at $18 million and announced its recoupment shortly before it closed on Broadway. However, the 1st national company toured for 2 years, 3 months and must have made a bundle before returning to Broadway for 3 weeks (Note: during those 3 weeks the grosses were poor). The 2nd national company toured for about 7-1/2 months. Overall I would guess that the production was a significant commercial success despite the fact it was not considered a particularly distinguished show. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: MOTOWN | |
| Posted by: mikem 12:46 am EDT 03/11/19 | |
| In reply to: MOTOWN - BroadwayTonyJ 07:18 pm EST 03/09/19 | |
|
|
|
| I wonder if Motown's relative success may hurt Ain't Too Proud. Some of the potential audience may feel that they've already seen these songs live on stage (and in a show that they probably enjoyed but was not great). | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Ain't Too Proud last night | |
| Last Edit: Delvino 08:59 am EST 03/09/19 | |
| Posted by: Delvino 08:58 am EST 03/09/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Ain't Too Proud last night - Michael_Portantiere 12:28 am EST 03/09/19 | |
|
|
|
| Only grading on the juke curve. When you put it against the Donna Summer or Margaritaville. Anecdotal evidence: I know a number of people who saw “Motown” but few who bothered with the others. I’m not straining to make a point; it had a more successful profile maybe? | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| re: Ain't Too Proud last night | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 02:06 pm EST 03/09/19 | |
| In reply to: re: Ain't Too Proud last night - Delvino 08:58 am EST 03/09/19 | |
|
|
|
| "Motown" (the music, not the musical) is a huge era of songs that has always remained popular, and certainly involves the nostalgia factor for many as well. Though Donna Summer was certainly hugely popular, and a huge representative of Disco/R&B in general, maybe as a "title character" she has more of a niche appeal? Which leads to Margaritaville - not that Buffett isn't popular, but his music is definitely more of a niche appeal. I doubt one would go to see that show unless they really were a Buffett devotee. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
| so not much has changed since berkrep. Spoiler | |
| Posted by: dramedy 03:56 pm EST 03/08/19 | |
| In reply to: Ain't Too Proud last night - castro 02:05 pm EST 03/08/19 | |
|
|
|
| I disliked the narrative aspect. And the son dying near the end had no impact since we rarely saw any relationship between the absent father and his son. | |
| reply to this message | reply to first message |
Time to render: 0.040245 seconds.