Saturday, January 15, 2011
‘Spider-Man’ Producers Defend Delay
NYTimes.com: "The producers and director of “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” defended on Friday their decision to postpone the musical’s opening by another five weeks, saying that a show of this unprecedented complexity could not unfold according to Broadway tradition. New productions usually have four weeks of preview performances to work out kinks and not the record-setting 15 of “Spider-Man” before critics review it.
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7 comments:
"If they were serious about improving the show, they would shut down and do the work."
I'm really glad someone said this, because that's all I was thinking throughout this whole article. This lack of regard for deadlines and the situation it puts audience members is is just unprofessional. I know that these things happen, but really, stop selling tickets to people who think they're going to see something complete and just finish what you started. And their excuse is that this in an unprecidented musical and that they don't feel tied down by conformacy? These producers should just deal with the situation maturely, shut down the show, fix it, and the open when it's ready, which is what they claim to want.
I've been wondering for some time is Spider-Man would be the longest Broadway show in previews and now it looks like it will be. It seems almost absurd that a show in previews is gaining so much national attention and selling seats at such high prices. I was in NY the week before school started and waited in line for 2 and a half hours on 2 different days to try to get rush tickets to see the show. That didn't even work, we tried to buy regular tickets but the show was SOLD OUT for the next 6 days excluding premium seats at $250+ I think the next big question on my mind is when will the show break even? It is profitable right now but when will they make back the $65 million spent already?
Jackson:
The show hasn't even opened yet, and when it does it will still take five years for the producers to recoup their money. In my opinion, the only thing that's keeping the show open has been the truism that "no press is bad press". People go to see things go wrong, or to see the spectacle, not for the story. Sure, maybe it will turn into a Phantom, but I honestly think that once the reviews come out and they really do end up fixing all the dangers, the sold out crowds will teeter out.
They say that “No press is bad press” and I am not sure how that plays out in this situation. I will maintain that there are a great number of people in my life who have given little concern for what has happened on Broadway since CATS closed. Now they are all clamoring to tell me all the things they have read and seen about Spider-man. This is the most mainstream Broadway press I have seen since the cast of RENT was on the cover of Newsweek. May this show run till MTI releases Spider-man: Turn off the Dark JR.
Further delays aren't too surprising, and as Jackson pointed out the show's current model is very profitable (it's grossing more than Wicked), so why close if it's making money? I am fascinated with the industry norm of not publishing real reviews until a show has opened, but it's true that people who do not follow theatre have heard about this production. As I recall, the show had previously gotten into trouble for failing to properly advertise its preview status on the website, but with continued sell-outs even after revising that it doesn't seem like there's much reason for it to change the status quo. Also interesting to see the name Jeremiah Harris there in addition to the commonly mentioned Michael Cohl; Jeremiah Harris is the CEO of PRG.
More delays!!! After seeing the show I totally understand why they need more tech time. It is a Vegas type show on Broadway. It is using space created for a different type of theater and trying to work within this space. Because of the technical difficulty you are going to have lots of problems especially on things they have never done on the Broadway stage before. They are also developing new technology special for just this show which means you are going to have problems as you go.
When I saw the show they were lifting a net like thing out of the pit and they were having trouble getting out of the pit with crew coming out at one point and then one of the cables snapped. Because this show is in previews we sat there for 10 minutes waiting for them to restart after correcting the problem. The show needs a closing sequence at the end of the show, it just seemed to end. The show is a long show right now I just wonder how much more time they going to add on to it. When I see it again I want to see the finished show with all the kinks worked out.
i feel after so much gone wrong an audience member should ask themselves when they buy a preview ticket if its worth it as the same the producers should by now know that it will be awhile if ever will they recoup thier losses
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