Ave Q - Vegas to close May 28 — Page 2

I would not assume that Wynn was losing money on Q. One report was that in order to run both Q and Spamalot at the same time, as originally planned, he would have had to cut the size of the golf course in order to build the Grail Theater. However, the golf course has proven to be very popular. Therefore, he decided that he could make best use of his resources by swapping Q for Spamalot, and keeping the golf course intact.

I think it is a bad idea for Ave. Q to tour , especially to the larger tour venues. For example - The truly horrible Broward Center for the Performing Arts is way too large for most shows (its one of these huge caverns that sits clos to 3000 people), but a show as small as Ave Q would be lost there.

One of the main reasons they opted for Vegas in the first place (beyond Wynn's deep pockets), was due to some of the feedback that they were getting from the road presenters. They were worried about having to book the show into 3000+ seat venues and wondered if the show would be swallowed up in such huge spaces. Ideally, they'd want to do a tour of 1000 seat venues nationally, but there just aren't enough of those to make a tour worthwhile.

There was also the question of how well an adult-themed satirical puppet show would play in certain areas of the country. The Bible Belt and other areas probably would likely reject it and there was the question of whether people outside the very large urban areas would like or even "get" the humor of show. In the face of so many obstacles, it was a logical and smart business decision to go with Wynn and Vegas, which alleviated all of their concerns. They should do fine in several cities on a national tour, but there are dozens of venues and cities that wouldn't be ideal or welcoming of this show.

---

Updated On: 2/15/06 at 12:54 PM

Even if they did play the 3,000 seat theaters, I don't think it would be swallowed up. Here in the bible belt, I doubt 3,000 ppl would go out to see the show, therefore only the bottom half of the theater would be filled, giving off the impression of intimacy. At least that's how I felt when I saw 42nd St. with such a small audience, I felt like i was in a tinyer theater.

Even though I am obsessed with this show, I don't think it would be wise for a tour.

It needs a small theatre like the Golden and not many theatre's around the country are like that. It's a unique show and it needs a unique place.

I'm quite worried about it going to London but I'm sure the producers will try to make it fit that 'area' as much as possible.

---

yes, please! I'd like to see a touring show stop for longer than 3-4 weeks here in SF! This is why I am happy about the Spelling Bee site down in SF.

---

Which theatre is Spelling Bee coming to? Damnit.. Looks like I've got to make another trip.

Oh well.

Did it flop in Vegas? Or did people just not like it? There's a difference, you know.

"Well, if I were a tour presenter, I sure wouldn't be offering them a sweet deal now. The show flopped in Vegas, and I would be worried the same thing would happen in my venue. I would even question booking the show at all, unless it was a really sweet deal for me (the presenter)."

That's another thing people aren't looking at. Good point. But at the same time, presenters are booking Little Women and Brooklyn, which were flops on Broadway. Vegas, in my opinion, is not a good indicator as to how well a show would do on the road, but it is a fact that presenters may cite when they refuse to book the show.

I'm assuming that's on Post ST, right?

Lady, I got to see John and the rest of the Vegas cast and I loved it. I'm going to miss seeing all the ads for it and stuff.

I've seen some taxi's that were painted orange with a white Q on them. Ah, so much fun.

If you can't bring the frat boy to the mountain, bring the mountain to the frat boy. Spamalot will run forever in Las Vegas. They attract the exact same constituency.

From the Times on 4/11/05:

Spamalot, Broadway's hottest show, drawn from the 1975 cult film 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail,' has managed to tap into a rare, highly prized Broadway demographic: men; specifically, the kinds of teenagers and 20-somethings who find jokes about fish, flatulence and the French absolutely sidesplitting and who normally wouldn't be headed to the theater unless dragged by a girlfriend, school trip or court order.

Tim Curry, who plays a very silly King Arthur in the musical, confirms this, claiming to regularly see packs of young men chortling along to the show.

'They come in pockets of four or five guys from the frat, or who four or five guys who were frat brothers,' he said, sounding a bit like the narrator of a National Geographic wildlife special.

---

It really SUCKS to be Q"

(Snickers happily to self as the Q continues to fall further and further..)

Sabrelady,
I'm surprised at your comments. Why would you want any show to fail? I am sorry Avenue Q,is closing. It is a brilliant show with heart. Hope the talented Vegas cast can go on tour.
I would hate to see Rick Lyon, John Tags and the rest of the Q team out of work.
Q is such a wonderful show. Hope it never stops running in New York.
I love Avenue Q. Q is forever.
Additionally, if you pray for a show to fail, what does that say about you? It really must suck to be you.

Updated On: 2/15/06 at 05:55 PM

It is very hard for a Broadway show to survive in Vegas. I was hoping that Avenue Q would have stayed around a while longer. It was sad that We Will Rock You had to close a few months back. Looking forward to seeing Hairspray there someday.

---

Updated On: 2/15/06 at 06:57 PM

They don't know...it hasnt even closed in vegas yet.

---