MUSICAL THEATRE FINAL EXAM - TODAY'S BROADWAY
REVIEW QUOTES OUT OF CONTEXT
"this show sucks, but the lead is brilliant" --> the producer gets "the lead is brilliant" published
PULITZER PRIZE WINNERS
#1. Of Thee I Sing (1931) --> folly of politics #2. South Pacific (1949) --> social issues #3. Fiorello! (1959) --> politics #4. How to Succeed in Business... (1961) --> big business politics and strong individual drive #5. A Chorus Line (1975) --> artistic struggle and drive #6. Sunday in the Park with George (1984) --> artistic struggle and drive #7. Rent (1996) --> artistic struggle and social issues #8. Next to Normal (2009) --> social issues #9. Hamilton (2016) --> politics
LONGEST RUNNING MUSICALS
#1. Phantom of the Opera --> 11758+ performances #2. Chicago --> 8079+ performances #3. The Lion King --> 7682+ performances #4. Cats --> 7485 performances #5. Les Miserables --> 6680 performances #6. A Chorus Line --> 6137 performances
TOP 15 BIGGEST BROADWAY HITS OF ALL TIME
#1. The Lion King #2. Phantom of the Opera #3. Wicked #4. Mamma Mia #5. Chicago #6. Jersey Boys #7. Les Miserables #8. Beauty and the Beast #9. The Book of Mormon #10. Cats #11. Mary Poppins #12. The Producers #13. Miss Saigon #14. Rent #15. Hairspray
TOP FIVE BIGGEST BROADWAY HITS OF ALL TIME (GROSS TICKET SALES AND RUN TIME)
#1. The Lion King -- $1.25+ billion -- 18.5 years #2. Phantom of the Opera -- $1.04+ billion -- 28.5 years #3. Wicked -- $1+ billion -- 13.5 years #4. Mamma Mia -- $624.3+ million -- 14 years #5. Chicago -- $550+ million -- 19.5 years
IN THE 2014-2015 BROADWAY SEASON, HOW MUCH WERE GROSS TICKET SALES?
$1.37 billion
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE TICKET PRICE MUSICAL?
$103 (deceptive figure)
SOMETHING ROTTEN!
-1590s England -1 year on Broadway two brothers write world's first musical -an original idea -a parody and homage to Broadway
ALADDIN
-2 years on Broadway --> Disney Success -1225 fabrics and 712 styles of beads -one pair of paints in finale has 1428 real Swarovski crystals -161 pairs of custom-made shoes -made $15 million -mixed reviews --> kids loved it
THE COLOR PURPLE
-2nd revival -Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson in Broadway debut -minimal, paired down unit set
SHE LOVES ME
-2nd revival -composer/lyricist team that created Fiddler on the Roof
WHAT DO THEATRE OWNERS RECEIVE WEEKLY?
-5-6% of ticket sales weekly gross -a percentage of merchandise sales -the interest of advanced sales --> the advance is held by the box office which the theatre owner controls and the substantial interest income goes to the theatre owner rather than the producers and investors
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
-5th revival -91 year old lyricist --> Sheldon Harnick -two revivals now on Broadway
BROADWAY INDUSTRY
-89000 jobs --> up 3000 over last year -contributed $12.5 billion to NYC economy last year -generates $500 million more in taxes
HAMILTON
-9th musical to win the Pulitzer Prize because of politics -turned many corners -about Alexander Hamilton (first secretary of treasury) -Lin-Manuel Miranda --> created idea, book, music, lyrics and starred in the show -took 6 years -$57 million advanced ticket sales
TRADITIONAL MUSICALS TODAY
-An American in Paris --> George Gershwin -Wicked -The King and I
BROADWAY TIME TRAVEL TO GREAT CITIES OF AMERICA
-Beautiful -Jersey Boys -Disaster -American Psycho
JUKEBOX MUSICALS DEFYING THE ODDS FOR ONE YEAR OR MORE
-Beautiful, The Carole King Musical -Jersey Boys
RAP AND HIP-HOP MUSICALS TODAY
-Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk -Holler If Ya Hear Me --> fails, jukebox, life of Tupac -Hamilton
FLOPS FIND LIFE OVERSEAS
-Broadway costs approximately $15 million --> weekly running costs = $400000-500000 -London costs approximately $4-7 million --> weekly running costs = $200000 -London tickets were more affordable -worldwide --> theatre is subsidized by the government
HOW MUCH HAVE TICKET PRICES FOR BROADWAY AND MOVIES INCREASED IN THE PAST 5 YEARS?
-Broadway ticket prices rose 34% -movie ticket prices rose 10.8% -Broadway is pricing itself out of reach to many
TODAY'S BROADWAY ORIGINAL IDEAS
-Disaster! -On Your Feet -Bright Star -Hamilton
JERSEY BOYS
-Frankie Valley and The Four Seasons -true, high-energy story book -running for 10.5 years -features #1 hits --> pop music
NEW MUSICALS COMING SOON TO BROADWAY
-Frozen -Anastasia -Come From Away
BROADWAY TIME TRAVEL TO SMALL TOWNS AND MIDDLE AMERICA
-Fun Home -School of Rock -Waitress -Tuck Everlasting
NON-MUSICAL FILMS TO BROADWAY MUSICALS
-Grey Gardens -Hands on a Hard Body
RETURNING SOON TO BROADWAY
-Hello, Dolly! -Holiday Inn -Cats -Miss Saigon
LATIN AND CARIBBEAN MUSICALS TODAY
-Jamaica -Once on the Island -In the Heights -On Your Feet --> life story of super stars
WORST MONTHS FOR BROADWAY
-January and February --> Broadway is weak, can go to any show for the price of own -September --> back to school
BROADWAY TIME TRAVEL TO CONCERT STAGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
-Jersey Boys -Beautiful -On Your Feet
DEFYING ODDS FOR ONE YEAR OR MORE
-Kinky Boots -Matilda -Aladdin -Something Rotten! -Finding Neverland -An American in Paris
REALITY TV SHOWS ABOUT THE PRODUCTION OF BROADWAY SHOWS
-Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods (televised on MTV) -Grease: Searching for Danny and Sandy
WHERE ARE THE RETIRED GYPSY ROBES STORED?
-Lincoln Center Library -Actors' Equity NY Office -Smithsonian -3 were donated to the Museum of the City of NY
BROADWAY MUSICALS TO MOVIE MUSICALS
-Mamma Mia -Hairspray -Rock of Ages -Jersey Boys -Les Miserables
PERIOD MUSICALS TODAY
-Millie -Hairspray -Memphis --> deals with race relations, a white DJ likes black music during the rock n' roll rise
ROCK MUSICALS TODAY
-Next to Normal -American Idiot -Rock of Ages -Rent -Spring Awakening -Hedwig and the Angry Inch
MUSICALS THAT APPEARED IN VEGAS
-Phantom of the Opera --> The Venetian Casino build a $40 million theatre just for the show -Mamma Mia --> ran for 6 years in Vegas -Jersey Boys --> ran for 8 years and still going, the only unedited show because Frankie Valley would not let them edit it -Chicago -We Will Rock You -The Producers -Monty Python's Spamalot -Avenue Q -Rock of Ages -Evil Dead
THE KING AND I
-Rodgers and Hammerstein -fourth revival -Anna and the King of Siam
TODAY'S BROADWAY BASED ON A FILM NEW THIS SEASON
-School of Rock -American Psycho -Waitress -Tuck Everlasting
NY THEATRE OWNERS
-Shubert Organization owns 16.5 interest in a 17th -Nederlander Productions --> 9 -Jajamcyn Productions --> 5 -Roundabout Theatre Co. --> 3 -Disney --> 1 -Ambassador Theatre Group --> 1
BROADWAY TIME TRAVEL TO GREAT BRITAIN
-Something Rotten -Finding Neverland -Kinky Boots -Matilda
BROADWAY MUSICALS TO LIVE TV
-Sound of Music -The Wiz -Grease -Peter Pan -The Rocky Horror Show -Hairspray (next)
FLOPS FIND LIFE ON TOUR
-Tarzan, Ghost, The Adams Family, Sister Act -mega hits: The Book of Mormon, The Lion King, Jersey Boys, Wicked -spreads Broadway across the country and brings in a lot of money --> $957 million
DEFYING THE ODDS: LONG-RUNNING SUCCESSES
-The Book of Mormon -Wicked -The Lion King -Phantom of the Opera -Les Miserables -Chicago
TODAY'S BROADWAY NEW REVIVALS
-The Color Purple -She Loves Me -Fiddler on the Roof -Shuffle Along
TODAY'S BROADWAY BASED ON A BOOK
-The King and I -Fun Home
AN ACTOR'S LIFE
-US unemployment = 5% -actor's unemployment = 90% -usually the same 10% always work -no job is permanent -being an actor becomes a way of life -most must hold other jobs -constantly being retested -industry is characterized by the biggest supply with the least demand --> over-saturation -more than luck to beat the odds and more than talent to get noticed -requires 100% faith in self -in NYC... getting unemployment means you are a working actor -must work 14 weeks for 26 weeks of unemployment payments
IATSE SUB UNIONS
-USA --> United Scenic Artists -Local 306 --> represents motion picture projectionists, operators, video technicians, theatrical employees and allied crafts -Local 751 --> presents treasurers and ticket sellers -ATPAM --> Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS
-a new Gershwin musical -based on the famous 1951 film -heavy dance show --> stars come from ballet
WAITRESS
-all female creative team -based on the film -small town waitress / expert pie maker in loveless marriage wins baking contest
THE BOOK OF MORMON
-an original concept -running for 5 years with 2121+ performances -premium seat = $477 -regular orchestra seat = $165.25 -from creators of "South Park" -$11.4 million recouped only 9 months -lottery for each performance = $37 per ticket -people were caught with counterfeit tickets
UNUSUAL SHOW TIMES AND DAYS
-any day or time you can see the show -the producer has no shows on monday or sunday, shows start at 7 or 8
WHY IS BROADWAY HEALTHIER THAN EVER?
-any kind of show and music can work -rock has picked up --> any type of rock can work (soft, hard, glam, punk, heavy metal) -pop and disco has picked up --> Mamma Mia is the most successful -Hamilton brought hip-hop and rap -"traditional" music theatre -period is good --> 1920s through the 1970s -international and country struggles -latin and jazz
BROADWAY 2014-2015 SEASON - ATTENDANCE DEMOGRAPHICS
-attendance = 13.1 million people (up 1 million from last season, topping the 10 pro NY and NJ sports teams combined) -67% increase of tourists --> 23% were foreign and 6.4 million were domestic -average age = 44 -average theatergoer saw... 4 shows -68% were women -80% were caucasian -54% purchased tickets online -the lottery --> most $20-30
NOW PLAYING THIS SEASON ON BROADWAY
-based on a film --> 10 -jukebox musicals --> 3 -based on a book --> 2 -revivals --> 7 -original ideas --> 8 (3 of which are jukebox musicals)
TUCK EVERLASTING
-based on the film -young boy and girl discover secret spring that grants eternal life to whoever drinks its water
ON YOUR FEET
-biographical jukebox musical -story of Gloria and Emilio Estefan
HAMILTON
-color-blind casting will significantly change Broadway -roughly 144 words/minute -"Guns and Ships" = 6.3 words/second -took one year to write the 1st song and another year to write the 2nd song -it is "sung through" --> an opera -started as a mixtape -hip-hop and rap --> allusions to: Tupac Shakur & Notorious B.I.G., The Fugees, Mobb Deep and more -King George --> British Pop -90s American pop and jazz
THEATRES ACROSS THE US
-community theatres = 7000 -non-profit theatres = approximately 1800 (including the Roundabout Theatre Company on Broadway) -regional theatres = 74 -Broadway theatres = 40 (soon to be 41 with The Hudson) -off-Broadway = 50 -off-off-Broadway = 200
THEATRE VS PRODUCER CONTRACTS
-contract "stop clause" -producers don't rent or lease a Broadway theatre, they have a "license" to use it -only 20-30% of Broadway shows see a profit
GREY GARDENS
-documentary film turned into a Broadway musical -about 2 reclusive women --> The Beales of East Hampton -the aunt and cousin of former First Lady Jackie Kennedy
HANDS ON A HARD BODY
-documentary film turned into a Broadway musical and failed -contestants stand on a truck until the last one standing -country and gospel music
UNION-NEGOTIATED CONTRACTS
-every theatre and producer must negotiate separately with every single union -these contracts stipulate the number of people and wages of: crew (technical) members, musicians and others (ushers, ticket sellers, etc.) -these people are expected to work on a Broadway show in each individual theatre whether needed or not
BOMBAY DREAMS
-failed -Bollywood influence -in London --> $7.6 million investment and ran for 2 years -recouped in 14 months -on Broadway --> $14 million investment and closed in 9 months with 284 performances (lost every penny)
SPIDERMAN, TURN OFF THE DARK
-financially plagued -many serious injuries -lost $75 million -182 previews and 1025 performances -weekly operating costs at $1.2 million = $4.8 million/month (most shows cost $2 million/month) -music by Bono and The Edge of U2 -two versions of the show -shut down because Julie Taymor was fired -rebooted with a new director, choreographer and librettist --> but still failed, losing all their money
STARLIGHT EXPRESS
-first musical to go to Vegas -Las Vegas Hilton -gaming chips promoted the show
SHUFFLE ALONG
-first seen in 1921 -revival --> adaption includes challenges to mount original -effects on Broadway and race relations
TONYA PINKINS
-found herself at the top then she went to the very bottom -in 1992, she was in a Broadway show and won a Tony Award -the next year she had nothing
JAZZ MUSICALS TODAY
-foundation of the Broadway sound -Tip Toes -Ain't Misbehavin -After Midnight --> about Harlem
JUKEBOX MUSICALS TODAY
-getting better with stronger stories -Rock of Ages --> glam rock and heavy metal -American Idiot -Motown the Musical -Jersey Boys -Mamma Mia
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH
-glam rock musical success -starred Neil Patrick Harris in drag
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP
-help keep ticket prices from going up -Winter Garden Theatre --> Cadillac, Ford, Hilton, American Airlines Theatre -Penguin books and Annie
FINDING NEVERLAND
-how Peter became Pan -semi-autobiographical story of J.M. Barrie and the family who inspired him to write Peter Pan -ran on Broadway for 1 year -shut out by Tony Awards - no nominations -mixed reviews from critics -more than 100% capacity
BROADWAY WEST
-in 1993, Las Vegas begins open-ended runs -a "Reader's Digest" version --> don't see the full version, only 90 minutes, cut out 45 minutes and the intermission, mandate by casinos
GOSPEL MUSICALS TODAY
-influenced a lot of shows -not stand alone but often heard within a musical -Urinetown
UNION NAMES
-minimum of 12 unions -DG -IATSE --> sub unions: USA, Local 306, Local 751, ATPAM -ASCAP --> American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers -American Federation of Musicians -SDC --> Stage Directors and Choreographers Society -Actors' Equity Association -32 BJ, SEIU --> Service Employees International Union, Local 32BJ Theatre Division
OUT-OF-VIEW ORCHESTRAS
-music piped into theatre -synchronization nightmare -musicians in separate, windowless rooms and even another building -musicians watch the conductor on small screens attached to their music stands
BRIGHT STAR
-opened March 25 -critics gave it a thumbs down -bluegrass music -story, book and music by Steve Martin
DISASTER!
-opened March 3rd and closing June 3rd -not Broadway caliber --> better suited for Las Vegas -1980s disco music -original idea, but not music
PRODUCER TRICKS OF THE TRADE
-papering the house -line around the block -review quotes out of context -stunt casting -big star casting -show shills -premium ticket pricing -publicity stunts -unusual show times and days -recognizable title -reality TV shows -special promotional packages
WHAT DO PRODUCERS USUALLY PAY WEEKLY?
-part of running costs + salaries + royalties -pay theatre owners 5-6% of ticket sales weekly gross -$40000/week for ushers, janitors, concession workers and box office staff -additional negotiated flat fee --> as much as $20000/week
URINETOWN
-pay to pee -parodies: corporate greed, politics, social irresponsibility and capitalism -makes fun of Broadway itself
CONTROVERSY OVER "RECORDED" MUSIC
-producers and directors want pit space for a bigger stage/set and to add more seats -electric keyboards, etc. -didn't need as many musicians -orchestra pit disappearing --> out-of-view orchestra
SCHOOL OF ROCK
-rock music by Andrew Lloyd Webber -last Broadway success 1997 --> Sunset Boulevard -based on the film -teacher imposter has 5th graders enter Battle of the Bands
AMERICAN PSYCHO
-rock music/lyrics by Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening) -based on the film -Wall Street banker by day, serial killer by night --> 1980s NYC -NY Times review: "American Psycho" hits Broadway, so smooth, so rich, so ruthless
WICKED
-running for 13.5 years with 5199+ performances -grossed over $1 billion on Broadway
THE LION KING
-running for 19 years with 7667+ performances -grossed $1.25 billion on Broadway
CHICAGO
-running for 19.5 years -revivals continue -Bob Fosse original choreography
BEAUTIFUL, THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL
-running for 2 years -began as a songwriter to top pop vocalist -chart-topping music legend -strong, true story book
LES MISERABLES
-running for 2 years -revivals continue -one of the original British "invasion"
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
-running for 28.5 years with 11743+ performances -grossed $1.05 billion on Broadway
MATILDA
-running for 3 years -Ronald Dahl -recouped $16 million in 1.5 years -5 year old girl loves reading and overcomes many obstacles -Mrs. Trunchbull --> always played by a man in drag -4 Matilda's and 3 teams of children -a British import done well -closing in January --> 2.5 years on Broadway
KINKY BOOTS
-running for 3 years -won Tony Award for Best Musical -recouped $13.5 million in 30 weeks -old shoe factory begins making boots for drag queens -based on the film and inspired by a true story -performed at the Macy's Day Parade (controversy)
SRO
-standing room only -more than 100% capacity -stand in the back of the theatre
GYPSY ROBE
-starts out as a brand new white robe every Broadway season --> then new musicals add artwork to the robe throughout the season -a new robe is created every Broadway season -started in 1950 -the idea was from Chorus Boy in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" -Ethel Merman's rose from "Call Me Madam" added to the chorus girl's dressing robe -started as an accident -symbolized luck, tradition and community -only chorus members participate --> the gypsy with the most seniority wear the robe -26 robes survive
INTERNATIONAL MUSICALS TODAY
-struggles -Fela --> did well but did not get money back -Once -Bombay Dreams
COUNTRY MUSICALS TODAY
-struggles the most -Ring of Fire --> jukebox, Johnny Cash -Pure Country --> George Straight, never makes it to Broadway -Hands on a Hard Body --> didn't make it in a month, only had 28 performances -Bonnie and Clyde --> the book was bad, only had 36 performances
TIMES SQUARE AND THE THEATRE DISTRICT
-the crossroads of the world -historic district --> no more theatre massacres
MANHATTAN
-the economic/cultural center of the US/Global Power City -most densely populated US city --> 83 million people -22.7 squares with 72000 people per square mile
THE STREET OF BROADWAY
-used to be the Algonquin trade route in the early 1600s -one of the longest streets in the world --> 33 miles long -usually only see through the theatre district which is less than a mile
SHOW SHILLS
-wine and dine, good seats -the producer gets a whole group of people and take them out to dinner and give them the prime seats -after, the producer asks them to review so they get good reviews
FUN HOME
-won 2015 Tony Award for Best Musical -based on graphic novel of a father/daughter relationship -a "memory" play -a family "tragicomedy" -"our parents living or dead will always reign as the most familiar and elusive people we will ever encounter" -the first mainstream musical about a young lesbian -3 stages in her life -father is a closeted bi-sexual man
HOW MANY MUSICALS ARE NOW SHOWING ON BROADWAY?
28
BROADWAY TIME TRAVEL
Broadway allows you to time travel, experience something you've never experienced before and take you somewhere new.... -Elizabethan England = Something Rotten -Revolutionary America = Hamilton -roaring 20's Chicago = Chicago -1920's black Broadway = Shuffle Along -1930's depression rural George = The Color Purple -mystical world of Arabia = Aladdin -1860's Thailand = The King and I -mythical land of Oz = Wicked -savannas of Africa = The Lion King -Uganda = The Book of Mormon -1905 Russia = Fiddler on the Roof -Budapest = She Loves Me -Revolutionary France = Les Miserables -19th century Paris = Phantom of the Opera -post WWII Paris = An American in Paris
SHOW BUSINESS
about making money... art is extra
"SPECIAL SITUATION" CLAUSE
an attempt to lower minimum of 18-19 musicians in larger theatres (houses)
THE DRAMATIST GUILD (DG)
bargaining agent for all playwrights and librettists
CREATED COALITION OF BROADWAY UNIONS AND GUILDS
brings all unions together in one room at one time to get done
"STOP CLAUSE"
if ticket sales/box office gross falls below a pre-set figure two weeks in a row then theatre can evict the show
WHEN DOES A NEW BROADWAY SEASON BEGIN?
in June, right after the Tony Awards
TRADITION OF THE GYPSY ROBE
on opening night, 30 minutes before curtain... -spin counterclockwise 3 times -everyone must touch it -vist all dressing rooms
SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL PACKAGES
producer had the show closed on Broadway but hotel hosts a brunch where the characters can meet the guests and get a backstage tour
PUBLICITY STUNTS
producer has actor serve people in line for tickets and media captures it
PREMIUM TICKET PRICING
producer offered tickets at a reduced price or some type of reward as an incentive to go to the show
LINE AROUND THE BLOCK
producers close the other box offices so they have a big line and people will think its very popular
PAPERING THE HOUSE
producers give you free tickets
REALITY TV SHOWS
reality TV captures the production of the musical and becomes attached to the characters and want to see them live
INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF THEATRICAL STAGE EMPLOYEES (IATSE)
scene designers, computer technicians, ticket sellers, costume designer, hair and makeup dresser, press agents and managers, janitors --> all must be in the union
BUSIEST TIME FOR BROADWAY
spring, quality for Tony Awards
BIG STAR CASTING
the producer casts a famous star
STUNT CASTING
the producer switches big stars
RECOGNIZABLE TITLE
the producer uses a title that is commonly known
HOW MUCH OF A THEATRE'S INCOME MUST COME FROM CONTRIBUTIONS?
unlike Broadway, 61% of theatre's income must come from contributions, not ticket sales
MOST INFLUENTIAL FACTOR OF BROADWAY ATTENDANCE
word-of-mouth
