Bernadette Peters as 'Dolly' in HELLO, DOLLY- Page 5

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/21/16 at 11:47am

We see through their recent sales that they could do the show 7 days a week with just Midler. But she does have 3 weeks of vacation scheduled, so I think that's the main reason for an alternate/standby. Bring in a big Broadway name and let them do one show a week and then have them fill in when Midler has scheduled conflicts/vacations.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/21/16 at 1:09pm

Bringing in a star vacation (temp) cover is a brilliant idea, similar to what they would do years ago. Liza in Chicago, Lansbury in The King and I, etc. 

[binau]

Posted: 9/21/16 at 6:26pm

ACL2006 said: "regardless of who it is, they're not doing the matinees. Their one performance a week will be on Tuesday evenings & then filling in for any of Midler's scheduled vacations.

 

"

Is it this simple? There seems to be changes in schedule. For example, Tuesday nights are being sold in March and April but not Sundays. I hope to God the alternative starts from week 1 and not after opening. 

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 9/21/16 at 6:38pm

Lots of productions have different performance schedules during previews because the shows are still also rehearsing. There is a little part of me that wonders--- if they decide to have an alternate (and I'm still not sure they won't just decide 7 shows a week at huge ticket demand is better) --if they will indeed wait until after opening to put the alternate on to keep the early press centered on Ms Midler.

if Midler is indeed scheduled to take three weeks off, I definitely think they will bring in a name to fill in at that time. In many ways, that is a much more attractive proposition for another star actress than being a weekly alternate, because they could change the marquee and the advertising to be geared specifically towards the vacation replacement.

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/21/16 at 6:42pm

yes, Midler's scheduled to not perform for 3 weeks: June 27 - July 9 & Sept. 5 - 10. I think this is the main reason for the alternate.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 9/21/16 at 6:47pm

also, their website has no info on it. very disappointing.

 

http://www.hellodollyonbroadway.com/

[binau]

Posted: 9/21/16 at 7:57pm

Yes, I could imagine an argument for not wanting to the alternate to start until after opening to keep the press on Bette (if the alternate is well known). At the same time, if it's someone like Bernadette and they have her start after opening it's also not a good look if someone were to re-review the show completely centred around Bernadette (whereas, if she started before opening the worst that would probably happen is someone might say in a review that they prefer Bette's alternate. And at least in the off-chance there was a negative review for Bette but positive for the alternate, at least it still encourages a ticket purchase. A negative review on Bette only might persuade someone not to buy a ticket at all). Plus, there is a real financial advantage of course to starting the alternate earlier because of greater ticket sales. Of course, they probably aren't too worried about finances but a dollar is a dollar.

Still, I will investigate changing my flight just in case. The same thing happened for me when FOLLIES transferred to Broadway. 

 

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 9/21/16 at 9:45pm

Oh qolbinau, I adore your passion for Bernadette so very much. It makes me so happy to see you talk about her. For your sake alone, I hope she's the alternate. What a thrilling Dolly she'd be.

[ageorges3]

Posted: 9/21/16 at 10:21pm

Does anyone know if she's ever done any Dolly songs during her concert appearances?  Was wondering if she managed to play it at some point in a theater outside of NY, but it looks like I assumed incorrectly.  Was wondering if she'd taken on the role in one of those theaters like the Floridian one Gaveston's written so many enjoyable posts about over the years, back during the time when star performers would go on the road and did more work out of the New York area.  But after some research it doesn't look like she has.  Much has been said about her singing style, but she's definitely a unique talent and I'd love to hear her take on some of that music. 

Updated On: 9/21/16 at 10:21 PM

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 9/21/16 at 10:46pm

I highly doubt Bette's reviews will be anything less than stellar. No, Peters has never played the role. I don't know if she has ever sung anything from the score- I haven't heard it if she has.

The more I think about it, the more I have a feeling they will just do a 7 show week, and bring in a big name for when Midler goes on vacation.

As I ponder the situation, it seems unlikely to
me that Midler -in this her first Broadway musical return- would like sharing the role on a weekly basis with another big name, and I don't think the Lillias White and Faith Princes of the world, who might be willing to be a once a week alternate are enough of a draw to keep the show selling well for three weeks while Midler is on vacation. 

They have to strategize this well for sure...

Updated On: 9/21/16 at 10:46 PM

[binau]

Posted: 9/21/16 at 11:13pm

CindersGolightly said: "Oh qolbinau, I adore your passion for Bernadette so very much. It makes me so happy to see you talk about her. For your sake alone, I hope she's the alternate. What a thrilling Dolly she'd be.

 

"

Thank you. I know it might come across as a bit pathological sometimes, but I'm just a fan of her actual work. I don't, for example, even follow her twitter and I've never met her. I've only stage doored her once (FOLLIES first preview), and even then did not actually attempt to get anything signed or speak with her etc. I simply enjoy the performances.

"Does anyone know if she's ever done any Dolly songs during her concert appearances? "

If she has, it's not in her regular repertoire. One of my criticisms of her is she has pretty much been singing the same songs for decades, and she only seems to add new songs to her repertoire if she has performed the show (e.g., she added In Buddy's Eyes, Losing My Mind and Send in the Clowns). I don't quite get why she doesn't perform a completely new show sometimes with things she has never sung before. Perhaps it's a lot of work.

[ageorges3]

Posted: 9/22/16 at 1:40am

Thanks for the feedback, qolbinau!  Will definitely check out some of the other songs she's done during concert performances on youtube soon,  you've got me interested!  

[Buscee]

Posted: 9/22/16 at 12:35pm

I checked the website they are no shows scheduled for that period. They may be doing what they did for Hugh Jackman in Boy From Oz.  Just close for the weeks that she is vacationing.

[Cupid Boy2]

Posted: 9/22/16 at 3:16pm

Buscee said: "I checked the website they are no shows scheduled for that period. They may be doing what they did for Hugh Jackman in Boy From Oz.  Just close for the weeks that she is vacationing."

Or the alternate may be filling in if she's a name that could carry the production for a few weeks - we don't know yet. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 9/22/16 at 3:39pm

They did this for Hugh Jackman during his never-missed-a-performance run in THE BOY FROM OZ.  Every couple of months the entire production shut down for 2 weeks.  Entire cast and crew still were paid for these non-performances.   This kept Hugh Jackman in top form for his entire 1 year run.  

[binau]

Posted: 5/18/19 at 12:50pm

Dreams do come true.

[EdEval]

Posted: 5/18/19 at 2:18pm

No, no no it's Sutton Foster's turn to do Mame!