Cabaret Canceled Tonight (3/28)- Page 2

[jess_be]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 6:08pm

I was merely voicing my surprise and frustration about an event that I had not encountered before or heard of: a Broadway show being canceled because of illness. I suppose I thought I would be offered an alternative other than “start over”. Maybe a rescheduled show, promotional offer for more expensive seats, pull some rush tickets. While everyone is equally put out and some were more economically invested than others the lack of planning surprised and frustrated me as well as it would have for you. And to find out that my money would be held as a credit and not returned was the cherry on top.

The more interesting topic (to me anyway): Has anyone heard of a Broadway show being canceled because of an illness?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 6:10pm

A monster blizzard no. An illness yes.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 6:12pm

Roundabout doesn't set aside rush tickets, they're merely whatever hasn't been sold in certain areas of the theatre.

If you press further, you should probably be able to get a refund or perhaps one of their general admission reservations, if they're doing it for this show.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 6:32pm

Jess - what lack of planning? You can't "plan" illnesses. It is not uncommon for the understudy to be unprepared this early in the run.

[binau]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 6:42pm

You can plan to rehearse an understudy though. Yes it may be common, but clearly that lack of planning in this case resulted in a lot of lost $$$ and at least one unhappy roundabout customer :P. Why don't they just rehearse the understudy earlier?

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 6:47pm

I do agree agree that the understudy SHOULD be rehearsed and ready to go, I'm just pointing that often he/she is not.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 7:07pm

Because all their time and energy is going into preparing the actors. THey don't have the time/space/personnel to rehearse both the leads and their understudies until the show is frozen. This is nearly always the case, the rare exceptions being when there is a known conflict that they are forced to plan for.

They can't just "add" a show...it goes against union rules. And even if they could, what is the likelihood that all the people holding tickets for tonights show would be available for this random added show? It wouldn't work.

Again, everyone understands your disappointment, but these things happen. Your op just comes off as whiney and entitled. How could they possibly make ONE THOUSAND people happy in this situation?

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 7:18pm

I wouldn't push for a refund. They are far more likely to help you get sorted for another show if you are still credited for missing this one. Once you get a refund, then you're just on your own....

[Simon Damon]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 7:19pm

yes they are not paying to see the understudy per se but will it kill the show to have the understudy on

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 7:33pm

It would kill the show less than canceling it to put the understudy on, had he been rehearsed at this point.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 7:43pm

It's absurd that you aren't allowed a refund.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 8:04pm

Except when you buy tix, they are non-refundable. That being said, I'm sure they would in actuality refund money if you were a tourist and pushed the rep a bit further.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 8:49pm

I understand canceling a show when Hugh Jackman is out. I don't get it for Alan Cumming. People came to see the show for some three years without him.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 8:54pm

"I understand canceling a show when Hugh Jackman is out. I don't get it for Alan Cumming."

Not sure what part of the understudy hasn't been trained to do the role yet people aren't grasping here.

In your version of reality, Alan Cumming is out sick, and... Wilkommen starts playing... who comes out to sing?

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 8:59pm

"I understand canceling a show when Hugh Jackman is out. I don't get it for Alan Cumming."

Well, I, for one, am ONLY seeing it for Alan Cumming. I've seen it on broadway a few times with outstanding emcees, but Alan is my sentimental favorite. I'd like to see everything I loved about him once again.

Of course I can't speak for everyone, but I have a feeling that a good portion of those who bought tickets to this have done so mainly to see Alan.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 10:34pm

I would be angry if I had a ticket and had to start over. I would expect a personal call from Alan, as I am Cummingses's biggest fan.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 10:57pm

You would rather see him suffer through a lackluster night?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 11:17pm

No, I want a personal call and a 7th row center seat for $25 on the date of my choice. If Mark Rylance can do it so can Allain Cumminsgs.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 11:19pm

I think you mean MARC RYELANTZ.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 11:21pm

Would they even have revived the same show again without him as the draw?

I doubt it.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 11:28pm

Yes.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 11:37pm

"Would they even have revived the same show again without him as the draw?"

Hard to separate the two... it was conceived as a package deal all along. Originally, Natasha was going to reprise her role, too. So, it was always about revisiting this production of this show - with this set, this director, this choreography, this staging, and this star.

So, while I agree that they wouldn't have done it, it seems odd to pull one element out and make that the only reason they did it. I certainly wanted to see this entire show again and I adore Alan, so it makes sense. But with Natasha no longer with us, it does make it a bit of the Alan show now.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/28/14 at 11:40pm

Do they even still have the character Natasha played?

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 3/29/14 at 12:19am

If Cumming or Williams are out, the BO will be refunding most of the house anyway-why not just cancel. I have the Playbill and I didnt seen an understudy or standby for Williams.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 3/29/14 at 12:36am

If the reason is the u/s wasn't rehearsed...then they def. should give you a refund. That's the theater's fault. If the star was out and you wanted a refund because of that then that's different.

As for an u/s not rehearsing...Look at Bullets! Second week of previews and one of their major character is out sick and her u/s went on just fine. It just depends on the show.