Broadway.com Article About How Important an Audience's Opinion is to Success of a Broadway Show!

Broadway Dude · Veteran Member

Broadway.com Article About How Important an Audience's Opinion is to Success of a Broadway Show!

Shadi Ladi · Guru

Yes, go "Grease"! Grease has, and always will be, an audience pleaser. It is really a fun show. You can't help but have fun when you are there....

Kristen · Guru

Broadway Dude wrote:

Quote from an article on Broadway.com about "Grease" and Other Audience Favorites!

"AUDIENCES HAVING THEIR SAY
There was a time when Broadway lived and died by the pen of the New York Times critic. Shows opened and closed based almost entirely on one mans opinion. Well, that day has come and gone, my friends. Now audiences are the hitmakers; its so democratic! Without we the people, Wicked, The Little Mermaid, Mamma Mia! and Grease (to name but a few) would not be packing em in a year or more after opening night. Are you, the audience, more important than one persons view? Yes, you are. Are you able to make a show a smashing success just by sharing your feelings with your family and friends? Yes, you can. Thats change we can believe in."

-- Edited by Broadway Dude at 17:19, 2008-11-30

Love this quote, Broadway Dude! smile

Judy · Senior Member

I love this article.I never believed that one person's opinion should hold that much weight.An opinion is just that an opinion,had I listened to opinions there would have been so many shows,albums, books and movies I would have missed.I'm happy to hear that the audiences are now the hitmakers !

MrE1111 · Guru

The critics have just as much power as they always have.

"Audience favorite" status didn't save TALE OF TWO CITIES.

GLORY DAYS closed on opening night after universally negative reviews.

HIGH FIDELITY, THE PIRATE QUEEN, LESTAT, LENNON, RING OF FIRE, etc. closed within a month or so of their opening after largely negative reviews.

GREASE, MERMAID, WICKED, etc. are still open because they have name recognition and are largely recognized as "family" shows. Not because critical opinion doesn't matter.

-- Edited by MrE1111 at 23:24, 2008-11-30

Kristen · Guru

MrE1111 wrote:

The critics have just as much power as they always have.

"Audience favorite" status didn't save TALE OF TWO CITIES.

GLORY DAYS closed on opening night after universally negative reviews.

HIGH FIDELITY, THE PIRATE QUEEN, LESTAT, LENNON, RING OF FIRE, etc. closed within a month or so of their opening after largely negative reviews.

GREASE, MERMAID, WICKED, etc. are still open because they have name recognition and are largely recognized as "family" shows. Not because critical opinion doesn't matter.

-- Edited by MrE1111 at 23:24, 2008-11-30

We're all entitled to our opinions. Mine is that "Grease" is open still because it's a great show with a talented cast. It truly is a feel-good show, and it continues to bring joy to many people. smile

Plus, it's a classic!

-- Edited by Kristen at 23:52, 2008-11-30

-- Edited by Kristen at 01:15, 2008-12-01

nad · Veteran Member

I totally agree with you Kristen...

Luvin Broadway · Veteran Member

Kristen wrote:
MrE1111 wrote:

The critics have just as much power as they always have.

"Audience favorite" status didn't save TALE OF TWO CITIES.

GLORY DAYS closed on opening night after universally negative reviews.

HIGH FIDELITY, THE PIRATE QUEEN, LESTAT, LENNON, RING OF FIRE, etc. closed within a month or so of their opening after largely negative reviews.

GREASE, MERMAID, WICKED, etc. are still open because they have name recognition and are largely recognized as "family" shows. Not because critical opinion doesn't matter.

-- Edited by MrE1111 at 23:24, 2008-11-30

We're all entitled to our opinions. Mine is that "Grease" is open still because it's a great show with a talented cast. It truly is a feel-good show, and it continues to bring joy to many people. Plus, it's a classic!

-- Edited by Kristen at 23:52, 2008-11-30

-- Edited by Kristen at 01:15, 2008-12-01

In this new world of ours, I have to agree with you Kristen....no one really cares what the critics think. The critics don't have the power of persuasion like they used to, and most people laugh at most of their so called expertise anymore. People have finally learned to have minds of their own!

Shadi Ladi · Guru

MrE1111 wrote:
The critics have just as much power as they always have.

"Audience favorite" status didn't save TALE OF TWO CITIES.

GLORY DAYS closed on opening night after universally negative reviews.

HIGH FIDELITY, THE PIRATE QUEEN, LESTAT, LENNON, RING OF FIRE, etc. closed within a month or so of their opening after largely negative reviews.

GREASE, MERMAID, WICKED, etc. are still open because they have name recognition and are largely recognized as "family" shows. Not because critical opinion doesn't matter.

-- Edited by MrE1111 at 23:24, 2008-11-30

Well Mr. E....maybe you are right about Grease,Mermaid and Wicked! Maybe smart producers should put their money into producing more "family" shows, and more name recognizable shows. These shows are making lots of money, and that had everything to do with the audiences and not the critics.