News Rogers the Musical coming to the Hyperion Theater

[waltography]

The biggest appeal of the Hyperion from a park logistics standpoint is that it can soak up a decent chunk of DCA's attendance for a good chunk of time (not just in show time but also people queueing just to enter). That Rogers is already struggling to do that and fill the theater when Aladdin or Frozen easily could years after was the sign that they really couldn't extend the run.

I do hope they surprise us with a cast recording just so I can have some of the new songs in my MT playlist, but I'm not holding my breath for one since it was such a short engagement.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

For what it’s worth they cut to 3 shows today (only 1 cast I guess?) - so it’s virtual only.

Army of CM’s outside the marquee for all the complaints haha

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

That Rogers is already struggling to do that and fill the theater when Aladdin or Frozen easily could years after was the sign that they really couldn't extend the run.

Has attendance been struggling?

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Lots of people trying to get in to the 5:30 but cast members shouting “no standby available” - they act annoyed that people want to see the show haha.

 

[waltography]

Has attendance been struggling?

Prior to the closing announcement, it had been pretty easy to standby the show in recent weeks. Folks earlier in this thread have reported the balcony being closed off or slipping into the show a few minutes before the show to find themselves in a half empty mezzanine or rear orchestra seat.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Prior to the closing announcement, it had been pretty easy to standby the show in recent weeks. Folks earlier in this thread have reported the balcony being closed off or slipping into the show a few minutes before the show to find themselves in a half empty mezzanine or rear orchestra seat.

Is that different than frozen and Aladdin though?

 

[waltography]

Is that different than frozen and Aladdin though?

All of this is anecdotal of course since it’s just my experience and we don’t have the numbers, but from my personal experience, Frozen had never really struggled to fill shows in the summer; I’d even hasten to guess rarely ever had to close the balcony. I’d estimate that as hitting at least 70-80% of Hyperion capacity regularly throughout the summer (and probably at least 90% even for many shows).

I’m sure all Hyperion shows experience seasonal capacity booms and busts, but given how quickly Rogers has already gotten to that 60-70% capacity suggests Rogers isn’t inspiring many repeat views (which is a shame because I do enjoy a lot of the music in the show and hate seeing the Hyperion go dark again).

 

[gerarar]

All of this is anecdotal of course since it’s just my experience and we don’t have the numbers, but from my personal experience, Frozen had never really struggled to fill shows in the summer; I’d even hasten to guess rarely ever had to close the balcony. I’d estimate that as hitting at least 70-80% of Hyperion capacity regularly throughout the summer (and probably at least 90% even for many shows).

I’m sure all Hyperion shows experience seasonal capacity booms and busts, but given how quickly Rogers has already gotten to that 60-70% capacity suggests Rogers isn’t inspiring many repeat views (which is a shame because I do enjoy a lot of the music in the show and hate seeing the Hyperion go dark again).

I don't know why, but I had the urge to watch the Frozen show the other day. I specifically searched for late-2019/2020 recordings. A lot of them were from the balcony and one thing I noticed was that there were lots of open spots and seats.

Of course Frozen was more expensive to run, from the larger cast (its like triple the amount), more singers, stage crew, props, set pieces, etc. Wondered if that's one the main points for not returning the show post-Covid.
Does the "lower attendence/demand" offset that for Rogers with its lower budget and operational costs? Guess Disney only knows that lol.

I also want an official studio recording because some of the songs are true bangers imo (End of the Line!!). I finally found a recording the other day with an alt for young/old Cap, really different performance they give lol

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

For what it’s worth…. And I have no idea how reputable this is, but I was told today that Marvel paid for this, not parks and that’s why it’s closing after such a short run.

 

[MisterPenguin]

and the stigma of Its a Bird, Its a Plane, Its Superman, the Musical,

Now that's a deep cut.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

For what it’s worth, I found rogers to be more entertaining and have much more potential than Spider-Man haha.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

I just saw the show for the first time today. Went to the 4:00 (orchestra) and 5:30 (balcony).

It’s basically a workshop - not a fully produced show yet. Lighting is good - it’s a fun show. I’m not a marvel fan but I enjoyed it.

The lead reminds me of Aaron Teveit in next to normal…. That’s a compliment but it does say “stereotype of broadway hit” - also crazy similar “what you missed” song to Hamilton.

I’ll be seeing it again on this trip since it’s closing soon. I can definitely see them trying for a broadway run.

Personally, I love the show - and it's been packed to the rafters every time I've seen it (about half a dozen times or so), so I think there's definite value and interest enough to merit its return. That said, it's a brilliant delightful theme park show, but it would have quite a way to develop to build it out for Broadway.

I think it belongs where it is and potentially at the other parks or cruise line. It's a solid small show.

Edited: my enthusiasm for a more accurate description.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

For what it’s worth they cut to 3 shows today (only 1 cast I guess?) - so it’s virtual only.

Army of CM’s outside the marquee for all the complaints haha

It wasn't cut to three shows per my understanding; there was a final show for the day but there was very limited available seating for it. I pity the CM's who had to turn away people who had virtual queue for the last one and didn't get in. As I passed by I heard them telling people there was no standby available at all. (I'm glad I got into an earlier show for the day.)

I was glad I got to see some of the swing players, too. Saw the alternate Small Steve and alternate Nick (who was hilarious) and I finally got to see the dancer in the wheelchair, too. Might have been an alternate Tall Steve, too, but I was a bit focused on filming so wasn't as focused on faces.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

wasn't cut to three shows per my understanding; there was a final show for the day but there was very limited available seating for it.

The 4:00 was cancelled wasn’t it? There only appeared to be 3 shows on the app.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

The 4:00 was cancelled wasn’t it? There only appeared to be 3 shows on the app.

Whichever afternoon show it was that they were turning people away for. I don't remember at which point I was walking by and hearing them turn people away. My understanding - not canceled, just overbooked, from what I heard.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

The app only showed 3 performances and it didn’t appear that the 4:00 show happened.

The 5:30 they were turning people away for.

That was my understanding but it was a total cluster.

 

[TP2000]

Lots of people trying to get in to the 5:30 but cast members shouting “no standby available” - they act annoyed that people want to see the show.

Because God forbid you train these entry-level CM's to be understanding to their customers who spent a hundred bucks or more just to get into the park for the day.

Or... God forbid you have a Dockers-clad management team who expects their entry-level CM's to be polite or understanding. Even if they're just pretending for their customers who spent a hundred bucks or more to get into the park for the day.

 

[TP2000]

At the moment, nothing new is scheduled to replace “Rogers” in the Hyperion Theater. It took six months to prepare “Rogers” for its Hyperion debut — so it’s unlikely anything new will be moving into the 2,000-seat theater this year. Disneyland has not posted any Hyperion acting roles to the Disney Auditions website — typically the first sign a new show is in the works.

So either the Parks attendance softness reported out in Florida this year has spread west and looks like it will stick around into 2024, or TDA just doesn't know how to operate their 2,000 seat fancy theater venue at the most expensive theme park complex in the country.

Either option, it's not good news.

Most likely scenario is that it's a combination of both of those things. Which is even worse news.

 

[PiratesMansion]

So either the Parks attendance softness reported out in Florida this year has spread west and looks like it will stick around into 2024, or TDA just doesn't know how to operate their 2,000 seat fancy theater venue at the most expensive theme park complex in the country.

WDW is more expensive than DLR.

 

[MarvelCharacterNerd]

I'll just say, there have been a fair amount of leads around the outside of the theater helping shout at the guests to stand back and wait for their barcodes. So it's not just the regular CM's who are there shouting because that's what they're told to do.

(But seriously, at this point, it's pretty clearly an Ops cluster combined with the terrible technology system of the virtual queue they've been forced to utilize. We're two months in. The show is soaring on all thrusters once inside. But getting inside? Still a huge mess. And this is for a show with less general appeal than any Disney blockbuster they might want to put in from the hoped for Hercules to Moana to Encanto. I can only imagine the epic disasters those would be with this queuing system. JUST USE STANDBY ONLY THEN CLOSE THE LINE WHEN FULL AND IT WOULD BE FINE. #FTFY)