DESPICABLE THEATER LANDLORD

i cant sleep. im supposed to leave the day after tomorrow with 2 kids who cant talk about anything else except the Broadway show - Grinch Who Stole Christmas. Were living in South Dakota but from New Jersey. How DARE a theater shut down a show out of spite? thats how it seens to us. Let whoever that pig is explain that to my kids. Can anyone shed some light on the situation? Better yet? please respond Mr/Mrs theayer owner?

rushmoreshadow, I feel your pain, I truly, truly do. We all do. New York City feels it. Tourists, tenants, actors, musicians, directors, business owners, and the like feel for you. The theatre community is in a rough patch right about now, and have been for 11 days. I'm sorry for your children. I myself, as well as many others on this board, have missed out on several shows because of this strike, this 'slack in negotiatoins' - The table's prepped and ready, and come Sunday, the 25th, we can all come to an agreement and put this thing behind us. This situation's rooted back to July, when the stagehands went on working without contracts. Since then, re-negotiations, and several added/removed work rules proposed by the producers fell through.

To date, It's been analyzed too many times to count, with valid points, and sometimes, invalid points, presented by both sides. On November 10th, when the strike was intiated, Patrick Page (star of HOW THE GRINCH...) stood outside the theatre, sang a few songs with and for the disappointed theatregoers. It's hard to point blame, and honestly, it's much too tiresome an idea. It won't get anyone anywhere. The League and Local One have been at each other's throats for some while now, and it's time to put the issues to bed. So, in light all of the aforementioned rushmoreshadow, I apologize on behalf of the theatre owners and the stagehands alike. May I suggest THE GAZILLION BUBBLES SHOW playing at New World Stages (340 W. 50th St.), or a trip to MARY POPPINS at the New Amsterdam, perhaps?

Whatever you pleasure, I wish you and your family a Happy (if not, lukewarm) Thanksgiving. Best Regards.

Updated On: 11/21/07 at 02:04 AM

The theatre was struck out of spite, even though there was a contract.

I'm sorry for you and your kids - but keep in mind, there are many , many other shows and events in NYC that are kid friendly and still playing.

I think you should use this as an opportunity to teach your children effective ways of dealing with disappointment (or even how to use the shift key.) Hmmm, though it seems you may not have these skills yourself. I see a double opportunity to learn here!

Maybe instead of wasting time agitating on some random theatre board, you could start exercising those crack parenting skills and get to work trying to arrange some other activity that might salvage this imaginary vacation.

PS I don't think Mr/Mrs theatre owner post here at BWW. Maybe direct communication with them would be a better option. Oh yeah, I forgot. That's not one of the tools in your belt.

I'll pray for your children.

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There's no need to be cruel.


Having said that, I agree that this is a great teaching oppertunity.

I smell sock puppet...

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You think it is going to be hard explaining this to your kids just wait until they ask you, "Mama, what is a Holocaust?"

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Your shocked at some of the responses and yet THIS is the advice you give???

"Tell your kids that the people who are responsible for putting on the shows are incredibly selfish and they don't care, they REALLY don't care, that they're ruining their Christmas plans. Then tell them that you just aren't going to bother planning on going to the theatre again because it isn't worth it. You can find something a lot more fun and a lot more reliable to do with that big bunch of money a ticket costs."

Or are you just being ironic?

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Yup, it screams sock puppet to me.

I know that every time something doesn't work out my way I stopped that activity all together. One time I went to the movies and the theatre burned down before I got there! I've never gone to a movie again. That'll learn 'em!

Mamie, as has been pointed out many times, nobody wins in these situations. But I think some people are overreacting to not being able to see a show as if it was their last "Make-a-wish" wish. There are so many more important things involved than whether these two kids get to see the overblown commercial Grinch. They would probably be just as happy seeing Mary Poppins or the wax museum. And a month from now will not even remember that they were a touch disappointed for a day or two.
Put this in perspective.

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It's the St. James Theatre.

Other than that, I love your sarcasm. Autograph, perhaps?