Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Successful Musicals?

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PWProducer
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Topic: Successful Musicals?
Posted: 8/01/07 at 12:29pm

Good Day,

New Poster here so forgive me if this topic has been discussed before. We have been producing musicals for over 50 years in an outdoor amphitheatre....we have large casts (over 40) and we have been able to make a small profit each year which just goes back into the next years shows.

My question is what musicals have brought in 'full' houses for you in the past. For us a full house is 2-3,000. In the past we had success with Grease and the Wizard of Oz which brought in big numbers. We are looking for similar shows that are sure attendance getters.

Any suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

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Mr. Lowell
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Posted: 8/01/07 at 1:11pm

Welcome!

(Granted, we only have a 600 seat house), but our first true standing-room-only sell out show was Disney's High School Musical last March.

Other shows that did very well were old standbys like Music Man, Hello Dolly, West Side Story and Cinderella. And we found that Beauty and the Beast simply sold itself.

But the surprise hit for us was Return to the Forbidden Planet. While it's not very well known in America, the intense word of mouth eventually packed the place! And people even returned to see it again. It's unanimously the favorite show of all time among our directors, actors and crew. (See my post below regarding this show).

Good Luck! -Dana

Mr. Lowell,
Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director,
for the Linda Sloan Theatre,
in the Davison Center for the Arts,
at Greensboro Day School

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Dough Boy
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Posted: 8/01/07 at 3:00pm

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Dough Boy
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Posted: 8/01/07 at 3:03pm

Sorry about the blank above, I slipped. But I was going to say a theatre here is selling out the Buddy Holly Story. However, I think it has more to do with the guy playing the lead than the Musical itself. He is phenominal. But the Holly music is pretty special too for those of us of a certain age.

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doublezero420
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Posted: 8/01/07 at 11:38pm

We've sold-out on Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Jekyll and Hyde the Musical, Fiddler on the Roof, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

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Gaafa
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Posted: 8/02/07 at 1:25am

G'day Jeff
Any known musical will put bums on seats, or in your case on the 'Green Sward'.

One I have been atempting to get my mob interested in is 'By Jeeves' one of Lord Andys less known musicals.

However as it is a bit of a send up, it may not be suitable to your group, unless you have a lot of experiance with Pohmy Farce & Pantomimes.

http://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/shows/byjeeves/show.htm

Also the ones I have had great houses with, have been 'A Chorus Line' & 'Man Of La Mancha' which would be conducive to performing on the green.

With MOM it might be difficult to have a fly in staircase, but I'm sure you can get around this. Also MOM is descibed as being a "Play with Music', rather than a musical. But 'ACL" would be very easy to stage in the open air.

Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}

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tristanrobin
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Posted: 8/02/07 at 8:37am

The only two musicals we sold out every performance (only 1,200 seats though) were "Joseph/Dreamcoat" and "Mame." We came close to that - but didn't quite make it - with "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Grease."

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biggertigger
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Posted: 8/02/07 at 6:10pm

With successful musical there are so many factors that go into it. Yes, name recognition is a big seller, quality plays an important role, as well as what the area likes.

I have been involved with shows that keep extending because of the appeal where as other shows that you plan to have long runs close without an extension.

If you really want to find out what are going to be good shows in your area, have a survey done. See what they like, what they want to see.

The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes.

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whitebat
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Posted: 8/06/07 at 10:32pm

Our high school (~800 seats) packed the house with Disney's "Beauty and the Beast". I think they had 3-4 performances, not all as big of crowd. That's the only time besides the "Taste of Home Cooking School" I've ever seen it packed.

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Aimee
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Posted: 8/14/07 at 10:30pm

Well Cinderella was a huge sell out for us, But we also had alot of luck with Leader of the Pack and Bye Bye Birdie.

Aimee

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Author	Message
PWProducer Walk-On Joined: 8/01/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Successful Musicals? Posted: 8/01/07 at 12:29pm
	Good Day, New Poster here so forgive me if this topic has been discussed before. We have been producing musicals for over 50 years in an outdoor amphitheatre....we have large casts (over 40) and we have been able to make a small profit each year which just goes back into the next years shows. My question is what musicals have brought in 'full' houses for you in the past. For us a full house is 2-3,000. In the past we had success with Grease and the Wizard of Oz which brought in big numbers. We are looking for similar shows that are sure attendance getters. Any suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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Mr. Lowell Celebrity Joined: 1/30/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 269	Posted: 8/01/07 at 1:11pm
	Welcome! (Granted, we only have a 600 seat house), but our first true standing-room-only sell out show was Disney's High School Musical last March. Other shows that did very well were old standbys like Music Man, Hello Dolly, West Side Story and Cinderella. And we found that Beauty and the Beast simply sold itself. But the surprise hit for us was Return to the Forbidden Planet. While it's not very well known in America, the intense word of mouth eventually packed the place! And people even returned to see it again. It's unanimously the favorite show of all time among our directors, actors and crew. (See my post below regarding this show). Good Luck! -Dana
	Mr. Lowell, Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director, for the Linda Sloan Theatre, in the Davison Center for the Arts, at Greensboro Day School
	IP Logged

Dough Boy Walk-On Joined: 3/20/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 8/01/07 at 3:00pm

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Dough Boy Walk-On Joined: 3/20/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 8/01/07 at 3:03pm
	Sorry about the blank above, I slipped. But I was going to say a theatre here is selling out the Buddy Holly Story. However, I think it has more to do with the guy playing the lead than the Musical itself. He is phenominal. But the Holly music is pretty special too for those of us of a certain age.
	IP Logged

doublezero420 Star Joined: 4/13/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 50	Posted: 8/01/07 at 11:38pm
	We've sold-out on *Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Jekyll and Hyde the Musical, Fiddler on the Roof*, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 8/02/07 at 1:25am
	G'day Jeff Any known musical will put bums on seats, or in your case on the 'Green Sward'. One I have been atempting to get my mob interested in is 'By Jeeves' one of Lord Andys less known musicals. However as it is a bit of a send up, it may not be suitable to your group, unless you have a lot of experiance with Pohmy Farce & Pantomimes. http://www.reallyuseful.com/rug/shows/byjeeves/show.htm Also the ones I have had great houses with, have been 'A Chorus Line' & 'Man Of La Mancha' which would be conducive to performing on the green. With MOM it might be difficult to have a fly in staircase, but I'm sure you can get around this. Also MOM is descibed as being a "Play with Music', rather than a musical. But 'ACL" would be very easy to stage in the open air.
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
	IP Logged

tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 8/02/07 at 8:37am
	The only two musicals we sold out every performance (only 1,200 seats though) were "Joseph/Dreamcoat" and "Mame." We came close to that - but didn't quite make it - with "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Grease."
	IP Logged

biggertigger Celebrity Joined: 4/16/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 188	Posted: 8/02/07 at 6:10pm
	With successful musical there are so many factors that go into it. Yes, name recognition is a big seller, quality plays an important role, as well as what the area likes. I have been involved with shows that keep extending because of the appeal where as other shows that you plan to have long runs close without an extension. If you really want to find out what are going to be good shows in your area, have a survey done. See what they like, what they want to see.
	The two greatest days in a theater persons life, the day you start a new show and the day the damn thing closes.
	IP Logged

whitebat Celebrity Joined: 8/05/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 137	Posted: 8/06/07 at 10:32pm
	Our high school (~800 seats) packed the house with Disney's "Beauty and the Beast". I think they had 3-4 performances, not all as big of crowd. That's the only time besides the "Taste of Home Cooking School" I've ever seen it packed.
	IP Logged

Aimee Celebrity Joined: 8/31/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 156	Posted: 8/14/07 at 10:30pm
	Well Cinderella was a huge sell out for us, But we also had alot of luck with Leader of the Pack and Bye Bye Birdie.
	Aimee
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Topic: Successful Musicals?( Topic Closed)
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