Annie Preview Thread- Page 2

[booth0882]

Posted: 10/2/12 at 6:55pm

Pre-sale right now looks really poor. It isn't like this is a new musical that needs recognition before ticket sales pick up. Annie is a well known show, that almost any avid theatre goer has seen at one point or another at SOME level.

There really is no reason why this revival will fair any better than the 1997 revival. And it has quite a bit of competition, and not really any particular new draw for sales.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 10/2/12 at 6:59pm

Well, there is ONE reason why this production might fare better than the 1997 revival. That being that the '97 revival was a replica of the original (with drabber colors), while this revival is a completely new production (new designs, new choreography, new staging and new orchestrations).

In '97 no one wanted to see the same production. People MIGHT want to see a new production this time. And if it's good, the people will come.

[JeanGudio]

Posted: 10/2/12 at 7:01pm

david hyde piece would have been good and douglas hodge can act

[booth0882]

Posted: 10/2/12 at 7:05pm

Although, I will agree that judging whether the show will succeed or not is premature before it opens, much less before previews even begin. But it really doesn't look good right now. I still think, producing a revival of Annie at the Palace was a mistake. I would have thrown it in the Music Box Theatre, or maybe the Booth.

[AKarp2013]

Posted: 10/2/12 at 7:10pm

Actually, looking at other performances throughout October it looks to be selling quite well. The weekends is really when it looks like its close to selling out. October 20, looks nearly full. I think it will be just fine. It might rely mostly on weekends when families are able to go together.

[booth0882]

Posted: 10/2/12 at 7:17pm

Well there is no way a show can only sell well on the weekends and stay afloat. Looking into November and beyond, the theatre is empty. Considering the production officially opens on the 8th of November. (If my memory serves me correctly.

[AKarp2013]

Posted: 10/2/12 at 7:24pm

The only real mistake the revival had was that it chose to play the Palace. As November gets closer it should sell. If the word of mouth is good, it will sell. If reviews are good, it will sell. It should do decently.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 10/2/12 at 7:33pm

They should advertise that the show is a new angle on Annie ( if it is),maybe it will help bring in a wider audience.Everyone has seen Annie and knows it by heart so it will be tough getting people to see it for $100 on broadway, unless it has some kind of change to it that makes it fresh.Isn't that the point of Reviving shows?

Plus it's also in a HUGE theatre so that could make or break the production also. If you want to revive a popular musical you should either wait 20-30 years or you better have a new angle on it.example:SWEENEY TODD.

"Well, it seems quite obvious that this revival will be short lived. If I were to place a bet, I would set a January closing date."

Thats my fear also and ANNIE deserves bettter than that.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/2/12 at 7:35pm

I agree. Also... what's up with them going out of their way to get ANTHONY WARLOW and then not really play up his presence at all? I realize he's not a household name, but there are a lot of people out there who grew up in the late 80s/early 90s and would love to see him in person, even if they were on the fence about the show. I know I'm not the only one who qualifies for this description.

It's great that the kids are getting press and that back-to-school photoshoot, but Warlow has hardly been touted at all.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 10/2/12 at 8:16pm

When would be a good time to revive CATS?

[wonkit]

Posted: 10/2/12 at 8:22pm

Never?

[broadway guy]

Posted: 10/2/12 at 8:24pm

New angle for CATS: CATS ON ICE! haha

[booth0882]

Posted: 10/2/12 at 8:25pm

New angle for Cats: Dogs

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 10/2/12 at 11:19pm

Why do people keep on saying that everybody's seen Annie? That's not true at all, especially for people around my age (early 20s) who didn't get to see the last revival and have thus never seen a professional production.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 10/2/12 at 11:39pm

I meant everyone has seeen and knows some form of Annie. The comic strip,the movies,broadway,the crappy middle school productions of it. If I went to the grocery store and just randomly started belting out "Tommorow" everyone at the store would know thats a song from Annie.It's a household musical name.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 10/2/12 at 11:41pm

Doesn't have to be on Bway to be "professional". As previously stated in this thread, there was a national tour not too long ago.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 10/2/12 at 11:52pm

I know that, but a national tour is very different from a sit-down production. Since I couldn't make it to MSG the brief period of time the tour stopped there, I didn't get to see it at all. And I PERSONALLY have never had the opportunity to see a production at all- no middle school, HS, college, or regional theatre under my radar produced Annie recently.

[bwayfan4ever2]

Posted: 10/3/12 at 12:07am

Annie at MSG did quite well.
http://encore.celebrityaccess.com/index.php?encoreId=59&articleId=19980
I am sure sales will pick up for the Broadway production especially around the holidays.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/3/12 at 11:53am

I found what appears to be the preshow set from what I am assuming was last night's dress. It was posted last night on the Palace Theatre foursquare page.

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 10/3/12 at 11:57am

I'm really excited about this production. As soon as tickets are cheaper I'll be sure to go. Can't wait to hear from everyone tonight.

[Famebroadway2]

Posted: 10/3/12 at 11:59am

Do i remember correctly that this was going to be a modern version of the show?

[someone.else's.story2]

Posted: 10/3/12 at 12:00pm

Love it! Like many people in my generation singing along with Annie, I hope that the revival is new and interesting. It's such a great show and I can't help but hope that another generation of little girls can grow up loving it the way I did.

I'm now really excited to hear about it as the set photo looks cool!

[wickedfan]

Posted: 10/3/12 at 12:10pm

Famebroadway- No, it is not a modern version of the show. They're keeping it in the exact time period the show is written in.

I'm most interested to read reports of Katie Finneran as the preview period continues. As I recall, at the first preview for Promises, Promises, Finneran was thought to be a weak link in the production. But as previews continued and Finneran was able to tweak her performance she became the singular highlight (and of course won a second well deserved Tony Award). It will be interesting to see how she fares during previews for Annie.

[newintown]

Posted: 10/3/12 at 12:12pm

Annie is so well-written, it's one of those shows that are just as good in an amateur production as in a professional one. In fact, I prefer seeing enthusiastic amateur children perform, rather than the hysterical artificial automatons that are pro children - the second most repellent species in the world (the first being their parents).

Although I'd be mildly interested to see what Finneran does with that strange role, I'm utterly bored by the idea of another Broadway revival of this show.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 10/3/12 at 12:31pm

The set loooks Cool.Hope Tonight goes well.Can't wait for more pictures!