Anyone feel hiding replacement boards is deceptive?

Saw Priscilla tonight, was excited to see Will Swenson, wasnt until 6 minutes before the show started that I discovered via alittle piece of paper that Gavin Lodge (who was still very good) would be playing the part, there replacement board is not visible when you buy tickets at the box office as it is in the lobby with the bar & merchandise , hidden behind doors until an hour before curtain, due to nick tony and will not being over the title had someone come to see it for nick, tony or will they can not get a refund, does anyone else find this a bit deceptive, has anyone else had an experience like this elsewhere?

because i didnt open the playbill til that point due to talk to people next to me.

I fail to see the issue & it's not like the names aren't put up right before the doors open anyway so WHERE they are is pointless really.

This simply points up an issue which many theatre-goers are unaware of. (I speak as a industry insider.) What you are paying to see is a SHOW, not a PERFORMER. While it is nice to want to go see performers you admire, or perhaps know, you have bought a ticket to a show, not their personal performance. An analogy is buying an airline ticket - you are entitled to be taken to your destination, but not by a specific pilot of your choice.

The only exception is when the star performer's name is ABOVE the title on the marquee. If they are out, you can legally go to the box office and insist on a refund, because in that case, you ARE paying to see a performer, since their name is more prominent than the title.

Tarzan, that pilot analogy is laughable. Airlines don't use their pilots 'celebrity' etc.. to sell tickets.

If you go to the Priscilla website and click "Who's in it", the first name is Will Swenson. Now, if his understudy is on he isn't in the show, is he? A bit misleading...

Also look at the marquee, it says Priscilla, STARRING, Will Swenson. They are marketing the names of the cast. If we were buying tickets to the show only why would they advertise the cast along side the advertisement for the show?

Clearly, these shows are advertising the cast members in order to attract ticket sales.

Now, I'm not suggesting that people should get refunds because an obscure Wicked ensemble member isn't featured in the show, but I think he should be able to get a refund if a star was out of the show.

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Updated On: 6/7/11 at 02:20 AM

I should have clarified I meant the home page image on

http://www.priscillaonbroadway.com/

Not the 'marquee'

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Updated On: 6/7/11 at 02:51 AM

I think everyone is basically trying to be an asshole/argumentative in this thread. I agree. The board should be where everyone can see it (out near the box office). People buy tickets to shows based on who's in it, star or not. It is somewhat misleading. I doubt they do it purposely, but it should be visible.

"Really? What if that "obscure" cast member happened to be your star drama student you taught and got into drama in the first place, or maybe he's your son and the reason you flew to New York to see the show, or perhaps your former roommate in college. I can think of many reasons for people to be even more disappointed by a single cast member being out than by the fact that he's "famous"."

In all of those situations you mentioned I think those people are getting free tickets in the first place from the person they know.

^ Exactly. What planet do you live on that obscure cast members get free tickets for their friends and family?

Really? What if that "obscure" cast member happened to be your star drama student you taught and got into drama in the first place, or maybe he's your son and the reason you flew to New York to see the show, or perhaps your former roommate in college. I can think of many reasons for people to be even more disappointed by a single cast member being out than by the fact that he's "famous".

Then you probably have their contact info and should be able to double check that they'll actually be on for the show you're going to.

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Sorry.. but actually. it is legal. If the name is above the title they HAVE TO honor your request for a refund in any equity production.

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You are right.. but it also applies to a above the title name.

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Yes, that rule for refunds applies to only above the title names. You are correct.