As we all continue to consider our post-pandemic reality, a random announcement from this past week is worthy of a second look.
Phantom of the Opera will end its Broadway run in early 2023. I’m not necessarily a big fan of Broadway (writing this as, ironically, my wife and mother-in-law are in New York City for a couple of days to see a few shows) but this announcement made me a bit sad. Twenty-five years ago, my wife and I went to a regional performance of Phantom on our first date.
Based on a novel published in 1909, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1986 musical was inspired by tall tales about the Paris Opera House. It isn’t the most compelling narrative, but Webber’s phenomenon characterized the resurgence of 1980’s Broadway. It remained so popular that the show will wrap up its run at 35 years—with nearly 14,000 performances. For anyone who’s visited NYC in recent decades, it’s bewildering to consider that Phantom will no longer be a Broadway offering.
Interestingly, the musical that will now claim the longest running Broadway show mantle is Chicago, which surpassed 25 years in its run. While Chicago doesn’t have the same grandiosity as Phantom, it has some attributes the allow it to continue on as the rest of Broadway struggles. There could be some lessons church leaders can glean from these ships passing in the night.
STORY
Admittedly, I’ve never seen Chicago in-person (I have watched the 2002 movie) it’s a low-key compelling story with suspense and intrigue. It has a solid score and consistent humor that’s compelling enough to keep even people on the periphery interested. Conversely, while I hold some nostalgia about Phantom because it was my first date with my wife, the story is pretty dumb. Decades later, I’m still not sure I think deeply about any of its characters. As a musical, Phantom relies more on the massive experience than it does a compelling narrative.
COST
Truth be told, this is why Phantom is closing. It’s a spectacle (massive orchestra, special effects, and even pyro), making it expensive to produce. Chicago, however, is far more efficient (one set, few costume changes, and minimal orchestra), which provides a more compelling return-on-investment. Even if ticket sales are down coming out of the pandemic, it’ll be able to meet its budget.
NOVELTY
Phantom is Phantom. You see it because it was something you need to see. Yet even though I’ve seen it multiple times now, I can’t recall any viewing being that much different. On the other end of the spectrum, the producers of Chicago has used casting as a means to raise additional interest. While its lead roles have featured Broadway veterans, they’ve utilized a cadre of A-list celebrities (Patrick Swayze) and even C-list celebrities (Wendy Williams) to keep the public talking about it. So even if you’ve seen the musical before, seeing Billy Ray Cyrus as Billy Flynn might make you consider going again.
TAKE AWAY
In short, the differences between these two shows should remind church leaders to reconsider our views of entrepreneurialism and sustainability.
While Phantom of the Opera had a successful run for decades, I doubt someone will want to finance shows like this moving forward. Spectacle has its place, but I’m not sure it will be maximized in the theater. Instead, creativity will be key. It’s why I’m curious to see how Hamilton fares as its star fades. Ultimately, I think it has a fighting change because it’s an efficient show that could follow in the footsteps of Chicago.
There’s a difference between getting something started and seeing something continue. And this is what we church leaders need to consider.
Last week, I had what has become a “Groundhog Day-like” conversation with a leader who told me about their plans for a new podcast. I minimized my sigh while reminding them that anyone can start a podcast, but not every podcast really needs to exist.
Even though church leaders love starting new things, we must be mindful of our stewardship of resources. Sure, you might have a massive idea that needs major investment to impress the masses, but will it really work in this new culture?
The era of church planting and multisite expansion encouraged leaders to be more enterprising. This is good. Yet in the post-pandemic, as contexts change at breakneck speed, our strategies of sustainability will become most challenging. Desire alone won’t impact kingdom expansion. Instead, those leaders that first consider the long term viability of initiatives will be best suited to find success . . .
. . . and all that jazz.