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| re: *not even just at the Vivian, but any new musical on broadway | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 03:55 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
| In reply to: re: *not even just at the Vivian, but any new musical on broadway - Singapore/Fling 02:42 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
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| What is wrong with making money? Even non-profits have a bottom line that will affect their decisions. | |
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| re: *not even just at the Vivian, but any new musical on broadway | |
| Posted by: Singapore/Fling 05:52 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
| In reply to: re: *not even just at the Vivian, but any new musical on broadway - BroadwayTonyJ 03:55 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
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| I think you misunderstand me - there’s nothing wrong with making money, and actually non-profits have to do it just as much if not more than commercial theater. My point isn’t that these revivals are bad, it’s that they’re being driven by financial concerns: running over a year in the Beaumont, spurring a National Tour, potentially transferring to the West End, and of course winning awards. That’s how LCT keeps itself in business. These things generate revenue through ticket sales, but also through prestige, which is then used to fund raise and get grants. Someone is far more likely to drop 50 grand at a gala because of “My Fair Lady” than “Flying over Sunset”. I don’t really have a value judgment for that, it’s just the way it is. |
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| re: *not even just at the Vivian, but any new musical on broadway | |
| Last Edit: Chazwaza 06:29 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
| Posted by: Chazwaza 06:26 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
| In reply to: re: *not even just at the Vivian, but any new musical on broadway - Singapore/Fling 05:52 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
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| I'd be very curious to see the books at LCT. Perhaps it has to do with government funding and donors, but LCT seemed to be doing exceptionally well, as far as non-profit theaters go, before launching a sure-fire hit revival every few years. I'd also be curious to see how The Public works, since they almost never have big revivals, hit or otherwise, to rely on for their budget. I'm also sure it depends on the donor. Were I rich, you'd much more likely get 50k out of me for producing Caroline or Change or even A Man of No Importance than you would from an excellent revival of My Fair Lady. (you'd also get more from me for their revival of Carousel than for their revival of The King & I). I'm also curious how Roundabout works! Being almost revivals of musicals for their broadway mountings. |
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| re: *not even just at the Vivian, but any new musical on broadway | |
| Last Edit: Singapore/Fling 08:12 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
| Posted by: Singapore/Fling 08:08 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
| In reply to: re: *not even just at the Vivian, but any new musical on broadway - Chazwaza 06:26 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
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| Every theater has a different brand. It’s not that you need to produce revivals to make bank, it’s just that that’s the path that has been most profitable for LCT. The Public doesn’t need revivals, because Oskar is very good at getting behind new musicals that transfer, Hamilton being the biggest in his tenure. To a large extent, I think that’s true of most on the non-profits in New York: their job is making new shows, and that’s what they’re mostly seeding into the commercial realms. Roundabout is, at this point, as much a real estate company as a theater, and they’re the only non-profit theater I know of that is run be a CEO rather than an Artistic Director. They have many irons in the fire at any one time and got where they are primarily through ruthless business acumen supported by reasonably good artistic choices, but I think it’s fair to say that “Cabaret” was a game changer for them in terms of expanding them to regularly program two Broadway theaters in addition to their Off-Broadway spaces. Bear in mind two things: the bulk of funding for these theaters still comes from private donations and foundations (which are often run by the same people who give the private donations), and that some theaters in NY are less solvent than they might appear. The occasional Hamilton or South Pacific mega-hit is the exception, but when a theater makes one, it can change their financial lives significantly. |
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| re: *not even just at the Vivian, but any new musical on broadway | |
| Posted by: Chazwaza 09:17 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
| In reply to: re: *not even just at the Vivian, but any new musical on broadway - Singapore/Fling 08:08 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
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| thanks for the thoughtful reply. | |
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| re: *not even just at the Vivian, but any new musical on broadway | |
| Last Edit: BroadwayTonyJ 07:10 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 07:09 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
| In reply to: re: *not even just at the Vivian, but any new musical on broadway - Chazwaza 06:26 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
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| Based on the above statements, if you really want answers to your questions, you need to expand your circle of acquaintances to include respected writers, historians, directors, etc. who have more knowledge and experience than you do. They all have websites and e-mail addresses. Years ago when e-mail became popular, I began corresponding with a whole circle of individuals who wrote articles in magazines like Theater Week, In Theater, Show Music, various newspapers, and other print media sources. They all returned my e-mails, and I began to learn from their knowledge and experience. I have definitely had conversations with a few of them about how funding at LCT, the Public, and Roundabout works. What I have learned from them over a period of decades does not jive with what you seem to be saying in some of your posts. Again, I like reading your posts. You bring up topics that deserve discussion. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings by suggesting that one of your posts was naive. I was just trying to respond to you as honestly and sincerely as I could. |
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| re: *not even just at the Vivian, but any new musical on broadway | |
| Last Edit: Chazwaza 09:27 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
| Posted by: Chazwaza 09:15 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
| In reply to: re: *not even just at the Vivian, but any new musical on broadway - BroadwayTonyJ 07:09 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
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| One way is to seek out the names, writings and emails of the types of people you refer to and hope to correspond with them over several years. Another way, in the meantime perhaps, would be for you, who seem to know about the stuff I'm asking (or assuming), to reply with your thoughts or information or contradictions or whatever, to the specific things you think I have wrong or don't get or could be more informed about based on my questions and statements. (I feel like I'm doing a lot of asking, or inquisitively stating... I said "i'd like to see their books", not "I don't need to see their books because I know X Y and Z". I was saying that perhaps funding and fundraising has changed because before they started doing hit revivals they were already one of the best funded non-profits in America. I said I'd like to know how the Public does it, also spending a lot of money, having what seems to be a lot of money (by non-profit theater standards), and almost never doing revivals... and what it's like for Roundabout which does almost exclusively revivals. I didn't make points or assert things I present as truths, I'm asking, and wondering out loud. I'm sorry if it didn't come off that way. I like reading your posts too. I'd love to hear from you, in this conversation thread, about your info and insights on the topics were are discussing, rather than the suggestion to change my circle of acquaintances. Let's consider each other internet acquaintances... I'm writing to you right now. BroadwayTonyJ, I'd love to know what you have to say about this stuff. You don't even have to present as an expert or reliable source... "My understanding is..." or "I've heard..." or "People I know who've worked there have said/given me the impression..."... if you'd like to engage on that level. If you can only do that in private email, I'll just email you. |
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| re: *not even just at the Vivian, but any new musical on broadway | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 11:09 am EST 01/06/22 | |
| In reply to: re: *not even just at the Vivian, but any new musical on broadway - Chazwaza 09:15 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
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| Sounds good. | |
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| re: *not even just at the Vivian, but any new musical on broadway | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 06:11 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
| In reply to: re: *not even just at the Vivian, but any new musical on broadway - Singapore/Fling 05:52 pm EST 01/05/22 | |
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| I agree with every word in your post. | |
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