Bette Midler's Final HELLO, DOLLY! Performance Will Benefit the Actors Fund- Page 2

[JustAnotherNewYorker]

Posted: 11/29/17 at 5:56pm

LesWickedly said: "...But yes, this is an unfortunate situation that is pretty disrespectful to people who purchased tickets to the expected final performance of Bette."

It's Scott Rudin. Disrespectful is his middle name, isn't it?

[10086sunset]

Posted: 11/29/17 at 6:24pm

To play devil's advocate, everyone complained when they wouldn't do a Actor's Fund performance before the Tony Awards.

Updated On: 11/29/17 at 06:24 PM

[10086sunset]

Posted: 11/29/17 at 6:32pm

[Valentina3]

Posted: 11/30/17 at 12:08am

After Eight said: "Valentina3 wrote: "Foronce, can I just not be just bitter? I already gave Actors Fund $1k this year. :)"

I realize that this might providescant consolation, but in the old days, there was inconsistency as to whether an Actors Fundperformance constitutedan "official" performance or not. That's why you'll see variances in the listed runs of certain shows, depending on the source (always a source of annoyance to me), eg. The Happiest Girlin the World,97/98; Sail Away, 167/168; Tenderloin, 216/217. I don't know ifthe ActorsFund performance is figured into a show's run nowadays, but using theolder standard, you could still maintain that you saw the last "official" performance.

In any case, this is a disappointing turn of events.I wonder why that ActorsFund performance couldn't have been scheduled earlier.

I hope these circumstanceswon't dampen your enjoyment ofthe matinee performance. I'm sure it will be a magical theatrical moment in its own right."

Thank you

I'm certain I'll enjoy it plenty, but it would have been really special to be there for her last show. It's still Hello, Dolly! so God knows I'll be elegantly putting on my Sunday clothes and say "so, long" to Bette.

[justoldbill]

Posted: 12/3/17 at 8:41am

I'm really happy that the Actors Fund will benefit from all this, after all.  Someone should.  What is leaving me confused is the accompanying announcement that after performances resume on January 20th, "HELLO, DOLLY! will celebrate a February 22 official opening at the Shubert Theatre".

What?

I thought this production already had an official opening.  Are EVEYONE'S contracts being renegotiated?  They should be, with this kind of notification.  If the producers are trying to turn this into a  "new" production at this point, they certainly are placing themselves.  I don't recall "official openings" for Ginger Rogers, Betty Grable, or any other of the original gaggle of Dollys except perhaps Pearl Bailey and her all-new company.  They weren't opening a new production, they were stepping into an existing one.  What would David Merrick say?

And speaking of David Merrick, why is this production crediting him and Gower Champion anyway?  This production doesn't come close.  At best, it's a first class, second-class production.

Updated On: 12/3/17 at 08:41 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/3/17 at 12:11pm

 

I think it's wonderful that before she goes, she's raising money for the Actors Fund.

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/3/17 at 12:24pm

justoldbill said: "I'm really happy that the Actors Fund will benefit from all this, after all. Someone should. What is leaving me confused is the accompanying announcement that after performances resume on January 20th, "HELLO, DOLLY! will celebrate a February 22 official opening at the Shubert Theatre".

What?

I thought this production already had an official opening. Are EVEYONE'S contracts being renegotiated? They should be, with this kind of notification. If the producers are trying to turn this into a "new" production at this point, they certainly are placing themselves. I don't recall "official openings" for Ginger Rogers, Betty Grable, or any other of the original gaggle of Dollys except perhaps Pearl Bailey and her all-new company. They weren't opening a new production, they were stepping into an existing one. What would David Merrick say?

And speaking of David Merrick, why is this production crediting him and Gower Champion anyway? This productiondoesn't come close. At best, it's a first class, second-class production."

In the original thread that announced Bernadette, this has been discussed.  If I remember, correctly, somewhere in there were other shows that had done a similar thing.

 

And I'm pretty sure they HAVE to credit Merrick and Champion.   

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/3/17 at 5:04pm

When I directed high school productions of CARNIVAL! and BYE BYE BIRDIE Tams -Witmark required I give credit to Gower Champion in the programs.

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 12/4/17 at 12:47pm

Just got an email from the Actors Fund saying I can buy tickets by phone for Bette's last performance. Turns out, I am no longer able to go that night, I have another event I need to attend. Enjoy everyone who gets tickets!

[sawcy259]

Posted: 12/30/17 at 2:39pm

Will Bette definitely be performing on the sunday 14th Jan Matinee showing?

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/2/18 at 9:44pm

I'm late to this news, and while I think it's great to raise money, I think it's disappointing for the fans who bought tickets to the previously announced final performance a while ago.

I was one of the few who understood and supported Bette and the producers in their decision not to have her perform during the Tony Awards. This, however, is greatly disappointing and has soured me on the production.

[haterobics]

Posted: 1/2/18 at 10:06pm

sawcy259 said: "Will Bette definitely be performing onthe sunday 14th Jan Matinee showing?"

Definitely? Who can tell. She is definitely scheduled to perform at that show.

[EthelMae]

Posted: 1/3/18 at 2:34am

I won’t be at this last performance so anyone who is going please report back about Bette’s ad lib in the Dolly number!
Wonder if it will be something like: “a little short on that one, oh well, there’s always Bernadette next Saturday!”

[MoveOnGypsy]

Posted: 1/3/18 at 7:18am

I'm going to Donna's last, Bette's last public performance, and Bernadette's first. I've never seen a show three times in two weeks. Should be interesting!

[nealb1]

Posted: 1/3/18 at 11:20am

I have my ticket.  :)  

I first saw the show in May, and purchased a ticket to that final performance - Sunday matinee, Jan 14th after speaking to the very nice man at the box office, as he was pretty sure that would be Bette's final show.  Then it August it was officially announced that it would be her final show, and I was thrilled that my gamble paid off.  So, I then purchased a ticket to see it on Saturday night, Jan 13th.  That way I could see her last 2 performances.

Then when it was announced that a final performance would be added, I bought a ticket for that, and was able to get a refund through Telecharge for that Saturday night.  I had too many tickets for HD.  Ha, ha.

I get in on Thursday and leave on Monday.  I'll get a ticket at TKTS for "Miss Saigon" on Friday night and for Thursday and both Saturday performances, I'll wing it and see what shows I can either at Rush or TKTS.  

Looking forward it!

[ace33]

Posted: 1/9/18 at 10:38am

nealb1 said: "I have my ticket. :)

I first saw the show in May, and purchased a ticket to that final performance - Sunday matinee, Jan 14th after speaking to the very nice man at the box office, as he was pretty sure that would be Bette's final show. Then it August it was officially announced that it would be her final show, and I was thrilled that my gamble paid off. So, I then purchased a ticket to see it on Saturday night, Jan 13th. That way I could see her last 2 performances.

Then when it was announced that a final performance would be added, I bought a ticket for that, and was able to get a refund through Telecharge for that Saturday night. I had too many tickets for HD. Ha, ha.

I get in on Thursday and leave on Monday. I'll get a ticket at TKTS for "Miss Saigon" on Friday night and for Thursday and both Saturday performances, I'll wing it and see what shows I can either at Rush or TKTS.

Looking forward it!"

Wait how did you get telecharge to refund you?! I was going to just sell my sunday 2pm tickets on stubhub but for some reason they are going for under face value!

[haterobics]

Posted: 1/9/18 at 12:50pm

ace33 said: "Wait how did you get telecharge to refund you?! I was going to just sell my sunday 2pm tickets on stubhub but for some reason they are going for under face value!"

Usually if you have tickets to the show already for different dates, they are more flexible, since it doesn't seem like a refund or anything. But worth a call and mentioning that you are going to the benefit show that night, and don't need to see it twice in a day?

As for why they are going under face, I think there are a lot of people who bought tickets to flip for a profit, and they are realizing that there are more of them than there are people who want high priced tickets. The benefit didn't help either, since it made this not her last show.

[Jazzman714]

Posted: 1/9/18 at 3:51pm

As for why they are going under face, I think there are a lot of people who bought tickets to flip for a profit, and they are realizing that there are more of them than there are people who want high priced tickets. The benefit didn't help either, since it made this not her last show."

Exactly right!  I was one of those poor fools who bought an orchestra ticket for the 2pm show thinking it would be her last performance. I didn't expect to make a mint - but I thought it would be an easy re-sell.  I listed it on Stubhub for $375 (not a crazy price, considering).  After a week, I had no takers and saw that there was a surplus of tickets for the performance.  So I lowered the price to $260 and sold it that afternoon. Made my initial $$ back, basically.  I loved seeing her back in April - but have no interest in seeing the show again for that price.

Updated On: 1/9/18 at 03:51 PM

[NYadgal]

Posted: 1/9/18 at 4:41pm

Let's hope she actually plays the 2pm performance...

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 1/9/18 at 4:44pm

NYadgal said: "Let's hope she actually plays the 2pm performance..."

I was thinking the same thing!

[ren598]

Posted: 1/9/18 at 4:44pm

NYadgal said: "Let's hope she actually plays the 2pm performance..."

At this point, I hope she doesn’t so I can ask for my money back.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 1/9/18 at 4:52pm

Why wouldn’t she do the matinee?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 1/9/18 at 5:16pm

TotallyEffed said: "Why wouldn’t she do the matinee?"

she hasn't done 8 shows a week up until this week where the Actor's Fund performance was added. It would SUCK if she called out for one of her shows this week.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 1/9/18 at 7:04pm

There is no reason why she would miss any shows this week. She will do all 8 performances.

[Zamedy154]

Posted: 1/9/18 at 7:08pm

If she were to not do the 2pm performance - which many diehards including myself bought tickets for at a very steep price thinking it would be her FINAL show - there will be a mini-riot outside the Shubert. I would like to think that she knows that and would not do that to her fans. KNOCK ON WOOD.

If I think too much about the fact that Rudin went ahead and added a FINAL FINAL performance on the same day, I start to get extremely upset. I spent a lot of money on tickets (and money on airfare) under the assumption that I would be seeing history. To say that I was disappointed when they actually ADDED one more show... well... it was Murphy's Law for me. I'l admit.. when I saw that this thread had been bumped, I was hoping it was because someone had posted a link to an article stating the Actor's Fund performance had been canceled.