"Broadway productions now have more options for reopening dates"

[rkade21]

Posted: 5/28/21 at 2:13pm

Morning article in Broadway Briefing addressed several questions and debates I've seen on the board recently; i.e. what is with the 9/2 opening, wasn't it 9/14?? Why are front rows blocked?? (for social distance from actor reasons), etc... so thought I'd share:

 

https://broadwaynews.com/2021/05/28/broadway-productions-now-have-more-options-for-reopening-dates/

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/28/21 at 2:18pm

I absolutely think that at least a few shows will change their opening dates for earlier openings. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/28/21 at 2:22pm

100% agree. I can see “Six” upping their start date since it’s small and very easy to restart.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/28/21 at 2:34pm

I think it depends, and it basically depends on the same things that obtained pre-Covid. People set schedules, a lot of people make plans based on those schedules (e.g., at this time of year, what are they doing for the summer), not all of those plans are easily altered. And in some cases, some visas might be affected. While Six, as an example, is small, there are still a lot of people who need to be here, some of them pretty soon. 

[rkade21]

Posted: 5/28/21 at 2:41pm

Sutton Ross said: "I absolutely think that at least a few shows will change their opening dates for earlier openings."

It is a tough decision from a business perspective - they are likely to upset some of their most loyal and vocal fans if they do, without a thoughtful process of potentially allowing new ticketholders first access to revised openings... and it's also going to be costly (and risk very confusing messaging) to change their marketing.  It's likely not worth the added incremental profits from running two weeks (or more) earlier. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/28/21 at 2:44pm

They don't care about upsetting people, they care about making money and opening up two weeks earlier gives you more money. It's simple math. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/28/21 at 2:47pm

All tickets sold on Ticketmaster and telecharge now are fully refundable, right?

[rkade21]

Posted: 5/28/21 at 3:12pm

Sutton Ross said: "They don't care about upsetting people, they care about making money and opening up two weeks earlier gives you more money. It's simple math."

That is the short-term approach to me. Making a little extra money vs. potentially taking a hit to goodwill, I guess most people will cut them some slack due to the mess of reopening but nonetheless I'm just not so sure these big corporations behind the shows will be so willing to alter plans, re-do marketing, risk social media anger... but yeah, maybe they will!

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/28/21 at 3:24pm

rkade21 said: "Sutton Ross said: "They don't care about upsetting people, they care about making money and opening up two weeks earlier gives you more money. It's simple math."

That is the short-term approach to me. Making a little extra money vs. potentially taking a hit to goodwill, I guess most people will cut them some slack due to the mess of reopening but nonetheless I'm just not so sure these big corporations behind the shows will be so willing to alter plans, re-do marketing, risk social media anger... but yeah, maybe they will!"

It's also not an approach I have seen most producers follow. Maximizing short term revenue while ignoring marketing impact (which in this case includes the fact that early September is a chaotic time that's not theatre-focused beyond the diehards) is what tyros do. On this theory every show would be rushed to performance the day the papers are signed. [I don't think there are big corporations behind any of the shows that are even in play for being moved, but that's another matter.]

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 5/28/21 at 3:25pm

I wouldn't be surprised if Hamilton, Wicked, and Lion King move their dates up since it feels like Hadestown has stole a bit of the thunder regarding first opening date. And these are three well known shows that have a solid fan base as well. Other newer shows I'm guessing would probably keep their dates as is. Though I always wondered why Dear Evan Hansen is waiting so long to start performances again.

[ElphabaGoodman]

Posted: 5/28/21 at 3:27pm

chrishuyen said: "I wouldn't be surprised if Hamilton, Wicked, and Lion King move their dates up since it feels like Hadestown has stole a bit of the thunder regarding first opening date. And these are three well known shows that have a solid fan base as well. Other newer shows I'm guessing would probably keep their dates as is. Though I always wondered why Dear Evan Hansen is waiting so long to start performances again."

Dear Evan Hansen producers likely want a few months between the movie coming out (September 26) and reopening the Broadway and tour productions.

[Wick3]

Posted: 5/28/21 at 3:27pm

Does anyone think it's possible for Hamilton to perhaps have a performance sometime around 4th of July weekend?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/28/21 at 4:21pm

I don't think so considering that is only 5 weeks away, people tend to plan for holidays in advance. It would be pretty great though. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 5/28/21 at 5:34pm

Makes sense. I just mentioned it because back earlier this year (or late last year) I recall Hamilton was thinking of perhaps having a performance 4th of July weekend at limited capacity.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 5/29/21 at 1:23pm

When does City Center open?

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/29/21 at 1:48pm

Really all depends when producers are returning everyone to rehearsals.

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 5/29/21 at 2:13pm

Gosh, I can't wait for the preview threads on this board again. I love the first night of a show when everyone's posting first thoughts, run time, curtain pictures. Truly can't wait to read it all.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/29/21 at 5:58pm

BCfitasafiddle said: "Gosh, I can't wait for the preview threads on this board again. I love the first night of a show when everyone's posting first thoughts, run time, curtain pictures. Truly can't wait to read it all."

Hear, hear. I usually prefer seeing shows post-opening, but I just love reading these threads and getting a vast array of opinions. Yes, Whizzer will be missed, but I appreciate hearing about the latest theatrical works before the professional critics have their say. 

[JayElle]

Posted: 5/30/21 at 9:47am

Jordan Catalano said: "All tickets sold on Ticketmaster and telecharge now are fully refundable, right?"

It appears show specific. Ticketmaster has this statement.

"For the most up-to-date information regarding whether your order is eligible for a refund and/or credit, please sign into your online account, then select your event.

I have tickets for Tina and MJ. Both only give me option to transfer or sell.

Telecharge  more liberal. 

"Buy tickets now for any performance through January 17, 2022, and you can either refund or exchange your tickets into any other date until two hours before the performance. You may exchange an order up to three times and refund once per show per month".

Several of my shows have a refund or exchange button next to order.

JuJamcyn offers refunds/exchanges per its website.

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/31/21 at 12:33pm

Hearing Book of Mormon is targeting an August 31 re-opening.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/31/21 at 12:35pm

Yeah, Telecharge has a great refund policy. Ticketmaster, it seems, does not have one. When I purchased my ticket for Six, it said nothing about it being refundable. Same with SeatGeek. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/31/21 at 1:04pm

There are two players in the refund area, the landlords (who run the box offices) and the producers (who have the ultimate say, subject to any conditions imposed on them by the landlord). The ticketing platforms are just messengers. The confusion, if there is any, is that (on Broadway) Telecharge only sells tickets for its owner's houses. What seatgeek or telecharge have on their websites is irrelevant and one would not expect them to promise refunds since they would, in effect, be potentially on the hook, and that is something they NEVER do.

[herewegoabc]

Posted: 5/31/21 at 4:08pm

I might be misunderstanding, but this came with my Wicked tickets and seems to say refunds are available up to 2 hours prior to curtain.

https://broadwaydirect.com/exchanges-refunds/

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/31/21 at 4:15pm

you are understanding perfectly.

[JayElle]

Posted: 5/31/21 at 9:15pm

herewegoabc said: "I might be misunderstanding, but this came with my Wicked tickets and seems to say refunds are available up to 2 hours prior to curtain.https://broadwaydirect.com/exchanges-refunds/"

Herewegoabc, here's to those of us who actually buy tickets.  B'way direct has a generous refund/exchange policy.  They've made it easy, especially to get refund from tktmstr.