PRODUCER’S PERSPECTIVE: "Oh Spidey . . . you just can't keep your name out of the papers.
And, based on the 1.8 million bucks you did over Christmas week, I bet you're starting not to care.
The latest bit of publicity about the uber-musical hit the wires late last week when Bill de Blasio, a NYC public advocate, sent a letter to the Department of Consumer Affairs stating that Spidey was in violation of the law, due to its extended preview period, and their alleged failure to disclose this information to ticket buyers.
4 comments:
I thought the info in Mr. Davenport's survey was informative, and I was not surprised to hear that 70 of the 100 random people interviewed on the TKTS line didn't care if a show they were seeing was in previews. However, I think in order to do a more thorough analysis of just what being in previews means for audience members and ticket buyers these days, he has to ask different groups. Davenport makes the point that out-of-town theatregoers often will see a show simply because it is their only chance to do so, but for the same reason, a significant amount of tourists will buy their tickets in advance, paying huge fees on top of outrageous ticket prices to see a show that is not, in the formal sense, complete and polished. I'd love to know these buyers' opinions as well in order to more fully analyze what being in previews means these days.
in fact, this showed up in the Times last week, along the same lines: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/theater-talkback-why-waiting-to-review-makes-sense/?ref=theater
This is certainly an interesting article and is an idea I've recently pondered myself while sitting in previews over winter break.
As a personal rule of thumb, I don't go to preview performances unless scheduling permits no other option. I like to see shows at the point when they are supposed to be "done." I like to give the creative team a fair shot. And honestly, I'd expect to pay less for a preview performance, and in my own personal theatre going experience in regional theaters in my home city. That's what I'm used to. Why would audiences of Broadway shows care differently? If it's in previews, it's simply not ready for prime time.
I think the show being previews is a way to make more money really. Not that there is anything wrong with that theater is a business after all, but I know if I saw a show in previews I would be more inclined to see it again later when it does open, to see what has changed. Thats why I think people are upset "Spidey" has been in preview so long. AS for how many people care i it is in preview one way or another I agree with Becca you need a larger sampling to get an accurate statistic.
I don't find the results of the survey that surprising but I do believe there is a bias in it as he mentioned the fact that the audience surveyed were TKTS goers which could represent a very specific portion of the theatre-going crowd. Some folks may be more excited to see a show in previews so that they catch it early on the wave if it ever gets big, especially if they don't live in the city.
I feel like spider-man shouldn't be charging as much as they are for preview performances even if the fact that it is a preview doesn't make much of a difference to the audience. The show still is a work in progress and therefore shouldn't be charging a top ticket price higher than that of many established shows. Other than that I don't see any issue with the show being in previews for so long, it is their call and they are still ironing the kinks out.
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