AVE Q Tour Canceled - Vegas Instead (Boooo!) — Page 2

Wow, it's almost like ATC and BWW switched personalities on this topic.

Anyway, considering the size of most theaters that take tours, I think Avenue Q made the right decision, or at least the best decision they could. Look at how badly Urinetown has been doing on tour- they probably looked at that and realized that being courted by Wynn is a much nicer choice. I don't blame them.

I do agree that it is disappointing that Avenue Q will not tour and instead go to the capital of chintz, Las Vegas. But hey good for them, its always nice to see an underdog score big, and the money they can make in Vegas could have some major potential. Here's just hopin the show doesn't lose steam by fall 2005.

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Okay, as pissed as I am it won't come to Los Angeles...it looks like a road trip to Vegas for me and my friends! Anyone want to come and pitch in for gas? Okay, its not a road trip, its a 5 hour drive, but anyway...I'm sad. But I hope it does well.

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Jose' not to argue with you, but if you read the article in the NY Times, you'll note that nothing is final in this business until the paperwork is signed. Disingenuous? I personally don't think so.

I don't see it as duping - especially since voters should not be basing their opinions on whether or not a show is going to tour. Idealistic as it might be, I would hope that TONY voters voted for the best musical of the season in their opinions.

Had WICKED won, would their campaign have been slammed like it is being now? I doubt it.

Ironically, if some of the TONY voters voted with their "heart" because they thought a tour was on its way and because of the $$ they would make - that wasn't really voting their heart, now was it?

There's (at least) three sides to every story my journalism teacher taught me in high school. "his story, her story and the truth".

...and I would find it hard to believe that TONY voters will come "out" and say they voted based on a tour. Maybe one or two anonymously - but clearly not publically.

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But Jose, your comments contradict what was being promoted by Avenue Q's campaign!

Their campaign was "Vote your heart!", ie. vote for the show you liked best, not because it'll make you money if it tours, etc.

If the road voters voted for Avenue Q because they hoped it would stop by their town, then they DESERVE being duped, because they didn't vote their hearts.

I think this news, and the reaction to it, really points to the hypocrisy of some Tony voters. I certainly don't think anyone is "owed" anything just because Avenue Q decides not to tour.

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The producers absoluitely made the right decision. The show would have been very difficult to sell outside major cities. IT'S THAT DIRTY PUPPET SHOW! Let's face it, most of Middle America is under the thumb of the Religious Right. George Bush may be only "for now", but narrow-mindedness is forever. With a long run in Vegas, the show can thrive on word-of mouth, like Blue Man Group.

Gee, maybe this will convince more folks to move their asses to New York to see shows. It's really not THAT expensive if you know how to travel properly.

I live in Las Vegas, but I really don't know what to say. I really don't.

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Our other shows do really well, even Starlight Express when it was at the Hilton a few years ago. When we have tours come to the Aladdin, they also do really well. We certainly have a lot of Broadway fans here, and we get a lot of Broadway fans from other parts of the country down here too. I just have a bad feeling about this.

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I think what Avenue Q is doing is incredibly smart. I think it would have a problem like Urinetown did that time they couldnt go to a city (I dont remember which one) because sales were so low. Q is my favorite, but I don't think its going to fly well in a lot of areas but I think its a great choice for them to do this Vegas thing.

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Please nix the caps. It's hard on the eyes.

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"WICKED WON AS FAR AS EVERYONE IS CONCERNED."




...well as far as I'm concerned Avenue Q won so I am stating that I am not apart of this "everyone" which is being spoken of here.

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Gee, kiddies, get a grip. Grow up.

If you want to see AVENUE Q so badly, save your pennies and buy a bus or plane ticket to either NYC or Vegas. Congratulations to Vegas and Steve Wynn for taking a chance on bringing smart theater to Vegas.

Art lovers don't throw a tantrum if a traveling exhibition they would like to see doesn't come to their hometown museum. They get off their asses and go see it.

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This from Riedel's column today re: "PUPPETGATE."

"Vote your hearts? Please!" sneered one producer. "They asked us to vote our hearts, and all the time they were looking after their wallets."



IT'S PUPPETGATE! by Michael Riedel, NYPOST 6/1/04