'Raisin' runneth over, recouping in 9 weeks
B'way's 'Sun' shines brightly
|
The show's lead producer, David Binder, reported the revival of Lorraine Hansberry's 1959 drama went into the black May 30.
Depending on its advertising exposure, the weekly break-even for "Raisin" has run between $200,000 and $250,000. Last week, pumped by Tony wins for actresses Phylicia Rashad and Audra McDonald, the Kenny Leon-helmed production took in its highest receipts, $603,913 -- a house record at the Royale Theater.
The cast and creative team on "Raisin" work for minimum, which comes to $1,350 a week for each actor, but they have backend participation on the show.
"It is based on the 'Iceman Cometh' model," said Binder, "which enables us to keep the weekly running costs low and to recoup quickly."
The producer credited Combs with his tireless promotion of the show, which marks his Broadway debut. "He has done MTV more times than I can count," Binder said, helping to bring in nontraditional Broadway auds.
The nine-week recoupment mirrors the time it took the 2003 revival of "Long Day's Journey Into Night," with Vanessa Redgrave and Brian Dennehy, to enter the black. The recent "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," with Ashley Judd and Jason Patric, recouped in about 12 weeks. Both shows were limited engagements, as is "Raisin," which closes July 11.
Not all revivals have come up winners at the box office. Originally skedded to close Aug. 22, the National Theater production of "Jumpers" on Broadway will shutter six weeks earlier, on July 11.
The David Leveaux-helmed production of Tom Stoppard's play was nominated for four Tonys, including play revival, but went home with no awards. Last week, its box office took the biggest hit on Broadway, falling $77,611 to a final tally of $234,595. It played to only 55.4% capacity.
In at least one respect, the "Jumpers" revival has already beaten its original 1974 Broadway production, starring Brian Bedford and Jill Clayburgh, which ran 48 perfs. When the current revival shutters, it will have played 112. Simon Russell Beale and Essie Davis headline.
