Broadway Journal

NEW YORK TIMES DOWNGRADES ‘SIGNIFICANT OTHER’ TO CASUAL ACQUAINTANCE

March 3, 2017 by Philip Boroff

Lindsay Mendez & Gideon Glick. Photo: Joan Marcus

In an unusual reversal caused by the departure of its No. 2 theater critic, the New York Times relinquished its support of Significant Other once it arrived on Broadway.

What Charles Isherwood deemed “an entirely delightful new play” in his 2015 review off Broadway at the Roundabout, Ben Brantley found to be a “bubbly, teary comedy” that is reminiscent of Wendy Wasserstein but “talks too much and too explicitly” and might be more satisfying 20 minutes shorter. The review, which appears on page C3 in the paper rather than the section front, isn’t cited as a “critics’ pick.”

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‘SUNSET BOULEVARD’ STORMS THE PALACE IN PREVIEWS

February 7, 2017 by Philip Boroff

Glenn-Close-as-Norma-Desmond-photo-by-Nick-Wall-WEB
Photo by Nick Wall

Broadway audiences can’t get enough of Glenn Close or Andrew Lloyd Webber.

A new revival of Sunset Boulevard grossed an impressive $834,000 in its first five previews last week at the Palace Theatre, according to figures from the trade association the Broadway League. It is Close’s 13th role on Broadway since 1974. And along with Cats, School of Rock and The Phantom of the Opera, the adaptation of the Billy Wilder classic film noir is the fourth Lloyd Webber musical running on Broadway.

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‘HAMILTON’ LEADS SEASON TO RECORD SALES & ATTENDANCE; PLAYS PLUNGE

May 23, 2016 by Philip Boroff

UPDATE WITH DRAMA SALES DECLINE: The Broadway season ended on Sunday with record attendance and sales, thanks to Hamilton. But grosses for plays in 2015-16 retreated 27 percent as star vehicles fell short.

Overall, Broadway sales rose a record 0.6 percent from a year earlier to $1.37 billion, according to the Broadway League. Attendance was up 1.6 percent, another record. Musicals carried the day, led by Lin-Manuel Miranda’s wildly popular cultural phenomenon that’s on track to run for years.

Plays without music were another story. Sales for dramas this past season declined by $66 million to $182 million, according to League statistics. It was the lowest play tally since 2010-11. As in 2014-15, 20 new plays and revivals opened in 2015-16 but they didn’t run as long or command as much.  Play attendance fell 14 percent as average admission dropped from $104.46 to $89.59.

Prices for musicals increased slightly, but not enough to compensate for dramas. Broadway’s overall average ticket price fell by $1.07, or 1 percent, to $103.11. It was Broadway’s first price drop since the League introduced its grosses database in 1984-85. The decline doesn’t take into account the four-figure sums Hamilton commands in the secondary market.

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