Recently, there’s been some discussion on the inter-webs regarding how large, exactly, of a part fans play in determining which shows go to Broadway. Some people believe that fans are completely irrelevant from this decision- the high-level execs are in charge, not the fans; while others believe that fans play an instrumental role. I’d like to analyze both sides of the argument, look at a few examples, and hopefully discuss a few different stances on the issue.
Throughout several social media sites (I’m looking at you, Tumblr…), there have been some harsh words exchanged between fans of different shows, arguing about how important each show’s fan-base really is. For example, “Fansies” have questioned their impact on how long Newsies has run on Broadway. Some people accuse fans of being useless, however in the case of Newsies, fans probably played a pretty substantial role in keeping the show on Broadway for as long as it has been. From an economics standpoint, fans create demand for the “product” (or in this case a show), and suppliers know they can capture a profit from it. Thus, high demand from the show has allowed it to be so successful. In that respect, fans are definitely important.
Another facet that’s been discussed is whether fans are important in the decision of what new shows to mount. The recent announcement that Disney CEO Bob Iger wants to develop Frozen into a stage show, ultimately to play on Broadway, has caused excitement and uproar throughout the fandom. Eager fans have taken some credit for influencing this decision, claiming their enthusiasm for the movie and love of the cast, many of whom are alums of the Great White Way, have played as a factor. The truth to this is debatable. While fans are responsible for making the movie such a box-office hit, it’s likely that Disney’s decision to license Frozen as a stage show was profit-driven, rather than being a move solely for fan satisfaction.
Nonetheless, fan enthusiasm is the key to promoting a show and making it successful, so one might like to think that fans play some part in the decision after all. As I explained earlier, in an economic model, fans create demand and allow the show to profit, so most decisions are influenced at least in that regard.
What do you think? Do you believe fans play a greater or smaller role in bringing shows to Broadway or determining the success of a show’s run? Weigh in in the comments!