| re: Merrily question | |
| Last Edit: JereNYC 05:20 pm EDT 07/24/24 | |
| Posted by: JereNYC (JereNYC@aol.com) 05:19 pm EDT 07/24/24 | |
| In reply to: Merrily question - LouHarry 02:33 pm EDT 07/24/24 | |
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| The cache of this production was the three leads. That's why is was a near sell out for its entire run, why tickets were cheaper and easier to get for performances when it had been announced that Groff or Radcliffe were going to be out, and why people were so upset that Mendez was missing so many performances that were never announced ahead of time. And it's why the production's PR pushed the three leads as a group, rather than as individuals. I don't think the general public really cared what the show was or what its history was. Sure, the Sondheim fans will turn out for anything, but are they enough of them willing to pay high enough prices to sustain a long Broadway run that followed upon a long off-Broadway run. So the producers really struck gold here with the chemistry between Groff, Radcliffe, and Mendez, three actors who may not even have met before they went to work on MERRILY. It was serendipity and the chances of that lightning striking twice are slight. Remember that this was the 4th or 5th incarnation of this production and none of those other versions ever made any noise at all about transferring to Broadway. With this one, Broadway was a forgone conclusion almost from the casting announcements and I imagine those plans were falling into place once it was seen what the box office was like at NYTW and what reaction was starting with the first performances. What might have worked...and I say MIGHT...would be following the example of the most recent COMPANY revival and putting together a national tour with well-regarded theatre actors. The tour guarantees from presenters across the country might have made a tour profitable, even without a trio of stars. And, if the tour was getting stellar reviews, this might work and sell enough tickets to make it worth it. |
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