With so many flops, granted many of them are due to poor subject material, it seems like new straight plays never recoup. I'm sure I must be missing something but I can't think of the last commercial production of a new straight play that recouped. It seems the only straight plays that ever recoup are revivals of well-known classics with star-studded casts like Glengarry Glen Ross or last season's Death of a Salesman.
I knew I was missing something obvious ha yes I forgot One Man, Two Guvnors recouped. I don't think Venus in Fur did but I could be mistaken. And I should have clarified that I was discussing only plays on Broadway. Off-Broadway many plays have found success.
I really hope STARCATCHER ends up recouping. That show deserves it. Does anyone know its initial investment and/or running costs? They couldn't have been that high.
Isn't War Horse non-profit as it produced by the Lincoln Centre and the National Theatre so any money it made would back into both companies rather any investors?
Jonwo, you're correct. But they may still have announced that the show recouped its production costs. It's not often that the non-profit Broadway owners have a hit, but I'm 90% positive that Roundabout announced that their CABARET revival earned back it's upfront costs.
With a non-profit, I assume it's a hit when it extend or becomes an open run and launching a national tour in the cases of South Pacific and Anything Goes. Harvey was a huge hit for Roundabout but couldn't extend due to Jim Parson's availability, they must have made some money from its run.
joined:2/16/11
Posted: 12/26/12 at 06:59pm